A 10-year-old boy vanished while riding his bike 30 years ago. Cops now say they have arrested his killer

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A suspect has been arrested in connection with the cold case disappearance and murder of 10-year-old George “Junior” Burdynski more than 30 years ago.

On May 24, 1993, Burdynski was riding his bike near his home in Brentwood, Maryland. He disappeared that day and was never seen again. His disappearance became one of the most high-profile missing child cases in the Washington, D.C., region at the time.

The FBI and Prince George’s County police announced Thursday that they believe they can link Joseph Lynch, 61, to Burdynski’s disappearance. He has been charged with murder, rape, and a number of other crimes related to Burdynski’s death.

Burdynski’s family members spoke during a press conference announcing the arrest, NBC 4 reports.

“Junior, I’m so sorry for what happened to you,” Burdynski’s sister, Virginia, said. “I’m so sorry for what you had to go through. We’ve held on a hope for 33 years. This is not what we prayed for. This is incredibly devastating. Our hearts are shattered.”

Police said that the search for answers about Burdynski, though long, led them to uncover other predator pedophiles in Brentwood.

Lynch is among the men police say is tied to a group of pedophiles who hurt children. According to Maryland court records he has been in jail since May on charges stemming from the alleged sexual abuse of a minor.

Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader told reporters that he and cold case detectives DJ Windsor and Nicole Visbal were led to Lynch by a man, now in his 40’s, who claims Lynch abused him when he was a child and forced him to kill Burdynski.

The individual reportedly told detectives that, when he was 13, Lynch forced him to kill Burdynski. He claims that Lynch then disposed of Burdynski’s body by throwing it in a dumpster.

Nader said he believes that there are still victims alive who were allegedly abused by Lynch.

“I absolutely believe there are other victims associated with this case,” he said. “Sometimes, victims of sexual abuse — especially when that starts as a minor — it takes a lot for them to come forward.”

The majority of the victims would likely be in their 40’s today. Detectives said they are available to assist any who decide to come forward.

According to the FBI, three men living in Burdynski’s neighborhood were child predators. One of the men, James Kowalski, gave children in the area gifts and money to gain their trust. He was sentenced to more than 250 years in prison for sex crimes, but insisted to investigators that he was not involved in Burdynski’s case.

George Burdynski Sr., the boy’s father, told NBC News 4 in 2008 that, even 15 years later, he still carried the pain of not knowing his son’s fate.

“The hurt, the wonder, it’s still there. Where’s Junior?” he said. “It’s like you’re stuck in 1993. It’s hard to go on,” he said. “You’re here and waiting and waiting and, you know, it’s just, it’s hard.”

The elder Burdynski died in 2021.

Had Burdynski survived, he would have been 44 today.