Authorities in Prince George’s County arrested a man Wednesday in connection with the disappearance of 10-year-old George Burdynski Jr., a Maryland resident who went missing 33 years ago.
Burdynski was last seen May 24, 1993, biking away from his family’s home in Brentwood. County police later uncovered a child-sex-abuse ring near Burdynski’s residence in their initial investigation into his disappearance, but none of the three men convicted for those crimes were officially connected to Burdynski’s case, which remained unsolved.
County Police Chief George Nader said in a Thursday news conference that investigators who were reevaluating the cold case in the past few months spoke with a currently unnamed 46-year-old man who admitted to killing Burdynski after facing yearslong abuse from Joseph Lynch, who lived near the victim and was among those convicted after the child-sex-abuse-ring arrests.
Authorities allege Lynch sexually abused Burdynski, as well as the 46-year-old man when he was 13, before he had the then-13-year-old boy sexually abuse and murder Burdynski and dispose of his body in a dumpster.
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At the start of the news conference, Burdynski’s sister Virginia shared how the news felt to their family.
“First, I would like to say, Junior, I’m so sorry for what happened to you,” Virginia said, close to tears. “I’m so sorry for what you had to go through. We’ve held on to hope for 33 years. This is not what we prayed for. This is incredibly devastating. Our hearts are shattered. We love you, Junior.”
Due to the amount of time since the incident, Nader said recovery of Burdynski’s body is unlikely, and did not comment on how much other physical evidence authorities have that could point to Lynch’s involvement, as the investigation is still active.
Lynch faces a second-degree-murder charge in relation to the death of Burdynski as well as “associated charges,” Nader said. State’s Attorney Tara Jackson said Lynch’s bond hearing is expected to be held in district court on Friday or Monday.
These new charges come after authorities charged Lynch earlier this year with sexually abusing two teenage boys multiple times from 2007 to 2014 in Mount Rainier. He is currently in custody in connection with those assaults and a 2012 arson.
The 46-year-old man has not been charged in relation to Burdynski’s death.
“We’ve been working with the detectives to help them bring charges in this case, and we will continue to evaluate, but the charges are what they are,” Jackson said.
Nader capped the news conference by asking anyone with information about the case, or anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Lynch’s, to contact the Prince George’s County Police Department.
“I absolutely believe there are other victims associated with this case,” he said.
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