Heath (Host) (2:52)

Yeah. And if you don't know this story yet, buckle up and don't forget to share this one. It is very important because the more people that know about all of these details, the better. And you guys are gonna see why.

Daphne (Host) (3:04)

This is another one of those cases that I have heard the name for so many years, but never knew any of the details. And, like, after learning everything, I cannot believe we haven't covered this one yet. Like, I'm. I'm, like, disappointed in us because it's wild.

Heath (Host) (3:17)

Yeah, there are a few of those cases out there where it's like, you've heard the name, you kind of know, like, the rough idea of the case, but you don't really know the full scope of it. And this is one of those ones. So, like we said, buckle up. Also, quickly, before we get into today's episode, just a reminder, we are going to be at CrimeCon at the end of May in Vegas. So if you want to come hang out with us, go to crimecon.com use our code goingwest10 at checkout, and we will see you guys there. And without further ado, this is episode 603 of Going West. So let's get into it.

Daphne (Host) (4:34)

In May of 2011, a boy and his mom headed out on what seemed like a spontaneous vacation, making stops at attractions across the Midwest. But the trip would take a dark and heartbreaking turn when a few days later, his mother was found dead in a hotel room. But her son was missing and eerily laid near her body was a note claiming he would never be found. With mysterious gaps of time, strange shopping trips, and surveillance footage, police would be left to figure out what happened to him. This is the disappearance of Timothy Pitson. Timothy Pittson, the only child of Amy and Jim Pitson, was born on October 18, 2004 in Aurora, Illinois, which is a western suburb of Chicago that happens to be the second most populated city in the state. Amy named Timothy after her brother, who sadly died at birth. But she added the extra M to kind of set her Timothy apart. Timothy Pitson is described as outgoing, energetic, and a natural born leader who got along with everyone he met. He loved going to the park with his friends, riding go karts, swimming, going to the zoo. And he was an aficionado of pizza from Chuck E. Cheese and anything from McDonald's. Jim said proudly, he was super smart, high energy, funny. His dad, Jim, also recalls fondly that he, quote, ran like a chubby old man, which is something that always made Jim laugh. And that his son was also fearless, adding, I had a go kart in the back shed, and when Tim was about three, I made the gas pedal so you couldn't push it all the way down. He was out in the backyard just buzzing donuts. Now, Amy and Jim met at a party in late 2002 while they were both living in Ames, Iowa. Jim had recently relocated there to work at a water treatment facility. And Amy was moving back to the suburbs of Chicago just to like be closer to her family. So they were about to be a few hours apart. But Jim was very taken with her instantly. He found her very bubbly and outgoing and worldly and educated. And Jim was a little bit more withdrawn and he lived a quiet life. But they fell in love with each other anyway and started traveling. The six or so hours drive between Antioch, Illinois, where Amy was living, and Ames, Iowa, where Jim lived and just doing things a little bit long distance. Now, initially, Amy actually didn't really want any kids. And Jim had suffered a bout of cancer early on in their relationship and wondered if that was going to make him unable to even have kids. But when Amy found out she was pregnant, they just considered it kismet and decided to lean into being parents. So they got married, and against all odds, they welcomed Timothy when Amy was 36 and he became the center of their lives. They bought a small home on the west side of the bustling community of Aurora, Illinois, and just enjoyed living their lives as a trio. Like, they would take Timothy to the zoo, amusement parks and water parks, and were always outside exploring and having adventures. According to Amy's sister, Kara Jacobs, Amy and Tim were inseparable. They were always together. They almost spoke their own language.

Heath (Host) (8:34)

But soon enough, Amy and Jim's marriage was growing a bit strained. In 2008, when Timothy was 4 years old, Jim found out that Amy had been in contact with one of her exes. Specifically a message where she and her ex were planning on meeting up while Jim was out of town, which obviously is not a good look. And by Jim's account, he said, I go, you need to stop that. I'm not good with this. And if you could make a decision, you can be with him or you want to be with me and Timothy. And of course, Jim was extremely upset by this, this whole situation. So he told Amy that if she wanted to be with this other guy, that he would file for divorce as well as petition for full custody of their son Timothy. And due to a history of mental illness and increasing fears about her instability, Amy actually did worry that Timothy would be taken away from her and that her husband Jim would be given sole custody. So because of all of this, they decided to just make things work. Though of course, it was still pretty rocky. Now Amy had a Bit of a checkered past with relationships. So by the time she had met Jim in her early 30s, she had been divorced three times. And actually this ex that she was speaking to was one of her ex husbands. And she had struggled with depression for basically her entire life. She had even attempted to take her own life two different times. Once before she met Jim and once while they were dating. The first time before she had actually met Jim, she had parked her car on a set of train tracks. Though thankfully she did change her mind at the very last minute. She then checked herself into a psychiatric facility where she remained for a few days just to receive counseling and medication until she was, you know, well enough to be released. Now, the second attempt came early on in their relationship when she was driving home from a job interview and recalled feeling just overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness. So she pulled her car to the edge of a steep embankment and took a handful of sleeping pills. So when she was feeling sedated by these sleeping pills, she actually tumbled down that embankment and she sustained hypothermia and a fractured vertebrae. So of course, Jim was shocked and was horrified to hear about this happening and was extremely worried about her well being. But she assured him that she was undergoing treatment and that she was recommitted to working on her mental health, you know, with therapy sessions and medication. But as their relationship progressed, Jim learned just how sensitive she was to speculation about her mental health, you know, naturally recalling, she'd act real funny, big highs and lows. She would become real emotional. If I asked whether she was taking her pills, she would yell at me, don't ask me about that. Jim's mom, Linda Pitson, echoed that she had a sharp temper and that she once admitted being capable of anything when she wasn't taking her medication, of course. So Amy's mental health and the Pittsons marriage was on a downward trajectory leading up to Timothy's sudden disappearance. Her behavior had become a bit erratic in the weeks and months leading up to it as well, including a surprise conversion to Mormonism, which her first husband had actually introduced her two years prior. More than anything else, her sister Cara said that she was just a lost soul who was desperate to be happy. Kara explained, my sister basically spent her life searching for something that would make her happy. You know, this job will make me happy. Living here will make me happy. I think at her core she was just unhappy and she was not able to get through that. The counseling, the medication, none of it really worked.

Daphne (Host) (12:36)

On the morning of Wednesday, May 11, 2011, Jim dropped Amy off at work because she had come home sick from work the day prior after suffering a bout of vertigo and left her car there. Now, Jim admitted that they did fight that morning, so this wasn't a very happy or positive morning for them. And initially, Amy told Jim that she planned to take Timothy to school that day, but given the fact that she hadn't been feeling well, Jim insisted on taking Timothy for her. So Jim dropped off Timothy at Greenman elementary School, where he was a kindergartner and nearing graduation into first grade. And then this is when he drove about three blocks away to Amy's office, where he kissed her goodbye and watched her head into her building before driving off. So he, they were all three in the car together, and technically then together they dropped off Timothy and then Jim dropped off Amy so that, you know, especially when you have something like vertigo, like you shouldn't be driving, it affects your, your vision. So he wanted to, to help her out and drop her off himself.

Heath (Host) (13:45)

Sure. And Amy was saying that, hey, I want to be the one to drop off Timothy at school alone. And Jim's like, I don't think that's a good idea.

Daphne (Host) (13:53)

Yeah. And then of course, since her car was already at work, you know, from the day before when he had picked her up the day before, it was like, it would have been complicated, you know, for her to drop Timothy off at school that day. Just made more sense for Jim to do the whole sweep.

Heath (Host) (14:10)

Exactly.

Daphne (Host) (14:11)

Sorry, not, not to make that confusing, trying to clear that whole situation up. But only about 30 minutes after Timothy was dropped off, Amy, who had just turned 43 the week prior, stopped by to pick him up from school, telling the school administrators that there had been a family emergency. They left the school hand in hand just after 8:30am and took off in her 2004 blue Ford Expedition SUV. And none of their family or friends would ever see them alive again. Amy then drove she and Timothy to an auto repair shop in Lagrange, Illinois, which is about 40 minutes east of their town of Aurora. And around 10am she dropped her car off for maintenance. She had a repair shop employee drive them to the Brookfield Zoo, which is a very popular Chicago land attraction located about 30 miles or 48 kilometers east of Aurora. Timothy and Amy were at the zoo until around 3pm Just having a nice day together on what was obviously supposed to be a typical school day for Timothy. Then, after picking up their vehicle when it was ready and when the car had been fixed, she and Timothy drove to the Key Lime Cove Resort. Key Lime Cove was located in Gurney, Illinois, which was another 50 miles or 80 kilometers north of, of the Brookfield Zoo. So about an hour's drive early that same afternoon, Jim arrived back at Greenman elementary to pick up his son, believing that he had been at school all day because of course, there was no family emergency. And actually, by the way, it had been a half day at school. So when he got there, he was shocked to find that Amy, against their agreement, had picked up Timothy already and that they had been unaccounted for for hours. So he started calling her dozens of times, but his calls were all ignored. Jim then alerted Amy's sister Kara, who was concerned about this whole situation as well, of course, and began calling her sister in hopes of making contact with her and kinda sussing out the situation. But Amy didn't answer her calls either.

Heath (Host) (16:38)

So at this point, you know, Jim's growing frustration at Amy's sudden decision turned to fear as Thursday rolled around. With no word from either his wife or his son that morning, which marked 24 hours since he had seen either of them, Jim called the police to report his 43 year old wife and 6 year old son missing. However, Jim was actually encouraged to hold off in hopes that Amy and Timothy would return within the day. Like, the cops were basically looking at this like, oh, you know, he's with his mother, we're sure that they'll be back. So that means that no Amber Alert was issued because they just really didn't believe that Timothy was in imminent danger. So this unfortunately lost valuable time for the investigation. Jim did admit that their marriage wasn't in the best shape at the time and that in addition to her contact with her ex husband, they had also been fighting over a recent trip that Amy took. And basically she had headed to the Bahamas with a friend, but wanted to go on her own without Jim or Timothy, which of course Jim was kind of disappointed by. But this trip with Timothy was the first time that Amy had ever disappeared with their son. And, you know, not just on her own. Her sister Kara recalled Sam, sometimes if she was upset, Amy's defense mechanism was to escape a little bit and have some time to herself and then she would be all right. So that day I wasn't really all that concerned.

Daphne (Host) (18:08)

Yeah. And I think, you know, as any person or mother would want, like everybody needs some independent time and alone time or time with a friend. So I think it's totally fair that she wanted to do this, but to take Timothy with her, not tell Timothy, Timothy's father and her husband where they're going ignore all the phone calls, like this is really dangerous.

Heath (Host) (18:31)

So of course obviously this is kind of alarming to Kara and Jim, but you know, they both just told themselves that Amy would never do anything to put Timothy in danger. But Amy just continued to dodge their calls that morning, which was Thursday, May 12, 2011. At around 10:30am unbeknownst to Jim, Timothy and Amy checked out of Key Lime Cove and began the two and a half hour drive to the Wisconsin Dells, which is a popular midwestern tourist attraction that has like lakes and hiking and a lot of natural beauty as well as like multiple resorts and water parks. So you know, they're continuing to go around on what would seem like Timothy's, you know, dream day, which will appear even eerier as we learn what happens next. On their way, they made two stops at convenience stores. At one, Amy bought a few items of clothing and small toys, a craft kit and kids toothpaste for Timothy. They then stopped one more time buying some gas and drinks at a rest stop that was located along I94. Then they arrived at the Kalahari Resort which is a safari themed water park and hotel. And they checked into that resort at 3:40pm that day.

Daphne (Host) (19:52)

Again, like you said, he's continuing on what would be like Timothy's dream day. They're hitting so many spots that are

Heath (Host) (19:59)

great for kids resorts. I mean Timothy must be having a ball doing all these fun things.

Daphne (Host) (20:05)

Right? But like you said, there truly is such a, a darkness behind it. Well, the next day, Friday, May 13, 2011 at 10:15am this is like 48 hours missing. They were captured on surveillance footage at the Kalahari checking out and heading toward the parking lot. And this was the last time six year old Timothy has ever been seen. And we're gonna share that footage on our socials if you guys want to go look at it. They are walking hand in hand very casually through this hotel lobby, just leaving. They headed south on I 39 and then I 88 toward the town of Sterling, Illinois. That afternoon at 1:30pm While in the car with Timothy, Amy casually placed two calls to family members to let them know that she and Timothy were, were okay.

Heath (Host) (21:01)

But these two calls were not made to Kara or Jim.

Daphne (Host) (21:05)

Yeah, which, so you know that's, these are the two people that are trying to contact them. So it's like she's seemingly purposefully not calling the two really worried people.

Heath (Host) (21:17)

Right.

Daphne (Host) (21:17)

But she is calling somebody just to check in. So basically she called her mom, Alana and then Jim's Brother Chuck. Timothy could be heard playing in the background on these phone calls and sounded like his typical happy, go lucky self, apparently complaining only that he was hungry. Chuck, who of course would then be Timothy's uncle, remembered she put Tim on the phone and he was like, uncle Chuck, we're on a mini vacation and we're having fun. I just remember her saying that she would never hurt Tim or herself. I immediately hung up the phone and called Jim, which that is so concerning in and of itself to. To mention that. To say, by the way, I would never hurt him or hurt me like that. There's. There's something so dark about that, that that thought is coming to her head and that anybody else is having that thought as well. That goes to show you how serious this was to everybody.

Heath (Host) (22:16)

And it's even more scary with what's to come, you know, with what we're gonna talk about.

Daphne (Host) (22:21)

Right. So Amy again just maintained that both she and Timothy were fine, but that they needed some alone time and assured them that they would be back in a few days. So she is. She has this loose plan, at least to them, saying, oh, yeah, we'll be back. We're just on a little vacation together. Well, when Chuck encouraged Amy to reach out to Jim and keep him in the loop of their plans, you know, her husband, Timothy's father, Amy told him, quote, tim is my son. I can do what I want. Which, like, sure, but again, gotta keep Jim in the loop.

Heath (Host) (22:56)

Yeah. And Chuck's not being aggressive about this. He's just saying, hey, I really do think that you should contact Jim.

Daphne (Host) (23:02)

Yeah, I mean, it's such a simple thing, especially if this is just a mini vacation.

Heath (Host) (23:08)

Just.

Daphne (Host) (23:08)

Just tell Jim what's going on. But she doesn't want to do that. Which is even more concerning because nobody knows if they can really believe what she's saying.

Heath (Host) (23:16)

But again, she did vow to return within a day or two.

Daphne (Host) (23:19)

Right. And they're just hoping that she means that her mom alerted Kara, you know, of course, that is Amy's sister and Chuck, of course, alerted Jim and both continued to call Amy, but she never answered. Her phone last pinged in the vicinity of Sterling, Illinois, and the next time she was spotted, she was over 50 miles or 80 kilometers northeast of Sterling in Winnebago, Illinois. And strangely, though, she had no ties to the Sterling area, you know, she didn't have any friends there, didn't have any family there, any reason to stop in that area. Her I pass, which is like a toll pass for Illinois residents, revealed that she had traveled there twice before before once in February and again in March, and although it would have taken her only about an hour to travel that distance, she wasn't captured on surveillance footage until six hours later. So that last day that Timothy is seen on surveillance cameras, she stopped in Sterling or seemingly stopped in the Sterling area for six whole hours and those mysterious six hours were unaccounted for. Her phone was also turned off during that time, which is very concerning and suspicious, and was never turned back on again. So there is no way to figure out where the hell she was during those six hours. At 7:25pm she walked into a family dollar in Winnebago, purchasing pens, paper and envelopes, and this time she was alone. She then headed to a nearby grocery store, Sullivan's foods, arriving at 8pm and bought Ritz crackers and milk. Afterward, Amy drove to the Rockford Inn, which is a motel in Rockford, Illinois just 20 minutes east of Winnebago, checking in between 11:15 and 11:30pm.

Heath (Host) (25:50)

With spring activities, sports and busy schedules, it can be tough to keep academics front and center. IXL makes it simple to stay consistent and build momentum without adding stress.

Daphne (Host) (26:01)

IXL is an award winning online learning platform for Pre K through 12th grade with personalized interactive lessons in math, reading, writing and science that adapt to each child's level and pace. Proven in all 50 states to improve grades, students who use IXL score higher on tests.

Heath (Host) (26:21)

One subscription covers every subject for all the kids in your home, often costing less than a single hour of tutoring.

Daphne (Host) (26:28)

Trusted nationwide, 1 in 4 students in the US are learning with IXL.

Heath (Host) (26:34)

IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the US

Daphne (Host) (26:38)

so make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and going West True

Heath (Host) (26:44)

Crime listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up

Daphne (Host) (26:49)

today at ixl.com goingwest visit ixl.com goingwest to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. CHIME is changing the way people bank. With fee free banking built for you,

Heath (Host) (27:06)

no overdraft and monthly fees, thousands of fee free ATMs and members can benefit from up to $1,150 in annual rewards.

Daphne (Host) (27:16)

With a Chime card, you get 5% cash back in a category of your choice like gas or groceries, and savings that grow faster with a 3.75% APY, that's nine times higher than the national average.

Heath (Host) (27:31)

Chime is not just smarter banking, it is the most rewarding way to bank. Join the millions who are already banking

Daphne (Host) (27:38)

fee free today, head to chime.com goingwest

Heath (Host) (27:42)

that's chime.com goingwest and it only takes a few minutes to sign up.

Daphne (Host) (27:47)

Chime is a fintech, not a bank. Banking services for Chime Card provided by Chime's bank Partners. Optional products and services may have fees

Heath (Host) (27:55)

or charges, stated annual percentage yield and cash back for Chime prime only. No minimum balance required. For more information on APY rates, go to chime.comdisclosures starting something new isn't just hard, it can be terrifying. Especially when you're starting a business. And that's why it helps to have a partner like Shopify by your side.

Daphne (Host) (28:18)

Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Death Wish Coffee and Magic Spoon to brands just getting started.

Heath (Host) (28:31)

Get started with your own design studio. With hundreds of ready to use templates, Shopify helps you build a beautiful online store that matches your brand style.

Daphne (Host) (28:41)

Let's be honest, Shopify is the only place to launch your business or put your pre existing business. It's easy to use, super user friendly, their customer service is amazing and you will not regret using Shopify. It's time to turn those what ifs into sales with Shopify today.

Heath (Host) (29:00)

Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com/goingwest. Go to shopify.com/goingwest that's shopify.com/goingwest.

Daphne (Host) (29:11)

If you're trying to be more intentional about what you wear day to day, Quints can help with that. They've got prices that feel easy, comfortable and still super put together.

Heath (Host) (29:21)

The great thing is that Quince uses premium materials like 100% European linen, organic cotton and ultra soft denim. Their lightweight linen pants, dresses and tops start at $30 and are effortless, breathable and easy to wear on repeat.

Daphne (Host) (29:38)

Everything at Quint's is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands because they work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen. So you're paying for quality and craftsmanship, not brand markup. I love Quint's because all of their products are so high quality. Like we're saying they're well priced and also all of their pieces feel timeless, like they're not going to go out of style. I will forever shop at Quint. I love their jeans, their cashmere. I just got the most gorgeous pair of red ballet heels from them and they have styles for men and women.

Heath (Host) (30:11)

Refresh your everyday with luxury. You'll actually use head to quints.com goingwest for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too.

Daphne (Host) (30:22)

That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com goingwest for free shipping and 365 day returns.

Heath (Host) (30:28)

Quince.com goingwest yout know, around 6pm you're starving, panicked, feeling hangry, and somehow there's nothing in your fridge. Well, Home Chef makes cooking simple, fresh food delivered, easy recipes to follow and meals that actually taste great.

Daphne (Host) (30:46)

It's perfect for busy schedules. Whether you need a 30 minute meal, an oven ready tray or even a quick microwave lunch, Home Chef has you covered.

Heath (Host) (30:55)

I mean, Home Chef is rated number one by users of other meal kits for quality, convenience, value, taste and recipe ease.

Daphne (Host) (31:04)

Whether you're carb conscious, calorie conscious, vegetarian or you eat it all, they have options for everybody.

Heath (Host) (31:09)

Filet mignon with Parmesan Buttered Baked potato and figarugula salad, Mozzarella stuffed chicken with

Daphne (Host) (31:15)

Butternut squash and kale salad, Creamy spinach

Heath (Host) (31:19)

and tomato, Pork with fingerling potatoes, Baked

Daphne (Host) (31:22)

veggie rigatoni with spinach and Swiss cheese and so much more. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering our listeners 50% off and free shipping for your first box, plus free dessert for life. Go to homechef.com goingwest that's homechef.com goingwest

Heath (Host) (31:39)

for 50% off your first box and free dessert for life.

Daphne (Host) (31:42)

Homechef.com goingwest must be an active subscriber

Heath (Host) (31:45)

to receive free dessert. Did you know that most people actually keep their bedding way longer than they should? Well, it's time to upgrade your bed with Bolen Branch.

Daphne (Host) (31:56)

Bolen Branch's signature organic cotton sheets, pillows, blankets and comforters are all designed to be breathable, incredibly soft and get better over time.

Heath (Host) (32:07)

I mean, the moment that you get into bed, you'll notice the difference.

Daphne (Host) (32:10)

Seriously, the softest, most comfortable sheets we have ever slept on. Not to call you out, Heath, I know it's not your fault, but with our old sheets the corner would always pull up on your side of the bed. I don't know what that was about.

Heath (Host) (32:22)

Every single time.

Daphne (Host) (32:24)

And it doesn't happen anymore. These sheets are incredible. The pillows are so soft on your face. We have a waffle blanket from them that is incredible.

Heath (Host) (32:34)

I mean just all around, 10 out of 10.

Daphne (Host) (32:37)

Like I look forward to going to bed even more than I was before. So upgrade your sleep with Bolen Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at bolenbranch.com goingwest with code

Heath (Host) (32:50)

goingwest that's BolenBranch B O L L A N D branch.com goingwest code goingwest to unlock 15% off exclusions apply. The next day Saturday, May 14, 2011 around 12:30pm, the housekeeper for the Rockford Inn knocked on the door of room108 multiple times wanting to clean the room because Amy had only checked in for a one night stay. And when she finally managed to open the door, she found that the chain remained latched from the inside. But even with the chain remaining, she could see Amy's limp body on the floor surrounded by blood. Now, when police arrived on the scene, they found that Amy had ingested an entire bottle of antihistamines, so something along the lines of Benadryl, and then gotten into the bathtub and slit her wrists and neck with a knife. At some point after sustaining those injuries, she had gotten up and stumbled towards the bedroom, collapsing on the floor on top of the knife she used. Blood spatters were left behind on the bathtub floor and sink. And eerily, despite this horrific discovery, Timothy was not in the room at the time and there was no evidence to support him ever having been there at all. Left behind in the room were a handful of Amy's items only, including a brochure from the Wisconsin Dells, a bottle of water, and a leftover bottle of children's cough syrup. She had also written a very brief five sentence suicide note which has not been fully released, though part of that note has been released and it includes that Timothy quote will never be found. But strangely, missing from Amy's possession were any of Timothy's belongings, including his backpack and toys, the clothes that Amy had been wearing in the days prior, the iPass from her car, as well as her cell phone. So within days of her suicide, Amy's mom, Alana, as well as a friend of hers both received apology notes which she had written on the stationery that she purchased from the Family Dollar and then mailed out before she checked into that motel. So that's what she was doing when she was picking up the envelopes and the pens and the paper. The letter she penned to Alana read, mom, I know you're hurt and frustrated and I wish I had something better to say than I love you, but I don't. I never really felt that I belonged here. I've tried very hard to fit in, to be happy, to be good to those around me, but somehow I've always felt apart from everything. Tim helped with that for a while. And maybe if Jim and I had been better, I would have been okay. But everything fell apart. And this time there were just too many pieces for me to pick up again. And then at the end of the note, she wrote, I can't take the chance of Jim hurting Tim because of my choices. So I've taken him somewhere safe. He will be well cared for. And he says that he loves you. Please know that there's nothing you could have said or done that would have changed my mind. I'm sorry for the hurt and difficulties I know you're going to face. I just hope that you'll be able to forgive me one day. She then added that she loved her siblings, nieces and nephews. But that quote, it was just time for me to say goodbye.

Daphne (Host) (36:53)

Ugh, that's a lot, her saying that she couldn't take the chance of Jim hurting Timothy. Like that just wouldn't have happened. Not to speculate on her mental health and mental state because it's impossible to, to know exactly what she was going through, especially because, you know, without more resolution in general, it's hard to know if anything she is saying is true or real. But she clearly had some lies and like horrific false ideas swirling her head that would lead her to do these terrifying things. And the fact that we have this six hour pocket of time that is missing and that during that time seems to be when whatever happened to Timothy happened. It's unreal.

Heath (Host) (37:36)

And I, you know, I just go back to that phone conversation that she had with Chuck where she was saying, hey, I would never do anything to hurt Timothy or myself. And you think about the fact that she said Timothy or myself, right? And then she took her own life in that hotel room. So it's kind of like, okay, so what do we really believe here? We know that Timothy is now missing. There's this six hour period of time in which she can't be accounted for and Timothy can't be accounted for. Now Timothy's missing. What, what happened here?

Daphne (Host) (38:09)

But that's a, that's a great thing to point out because you're absolutely right. How do we know what we can trust if we are already seeing the lies in those previous conversations? So of course at this point, a frantic search for Timothy ensued, with law enforcement finally taking the case seriously once Amy's body is found. Now, the knife found to have been the weapon that she used in her suicide was tested and the blood was found to match Amy's blood only. Well, Amy's car provided a key piece of evidence and investigators Hope that it would trace them back to Timothy. Because detectives were alarmed at what they found inside. What they described as a quote concerning amount of blood confirmed to belong to Timothy was in the backseat. But strangely, they couldn't be certain of the age of the blood. So actually, his family believes that this was from a bloody nose that Timothy had in his car seat, like, a year to a year and a half prior to his disappearance. Blood which was spattered throughout the car and pooled under the seat and was just, like, never cleaned up.

Heath (Host) (39:28)

Yeah, it's one of those things where it's like, yeah, we did find blood, but we don't know if this was recent blood or if this was from a while ago.

Daphne (Host) (39:35)

Right. So then the fact that the family members are saying, wait, yeah, he did have that bloody nose is like that. The fact that that could be the connection. And then, I don't know, the age of the blood thing is really, really eerie as well. And that, of course, would be a very relieving conclusion.

Heath (Host) (39:53)

But unfortunately, because this really isn't like the slam dunk that they were hoping for, it kind of just left them even more confused.

Tremphya Advertiser (Alternate) (40:01)

Yeah.

Daphne (Host) (40:02)

Because they really don't know. Is it from the bloody nose or is it from a more recent incident? Incident, yes. Thank you. Now, the fact that Timothy's car seat was missing from her car gave investigators early hope that he had been passed off to someone and would be found soon. But it turns out that his grandma had it at her house. So during this whole trip of theirs, Amy hadn't been putting him in a car seat, which, by the way, is required for children under 8 in the state of Illinois. And Timothy, of course, was six. But her car offered even more clues. The undercarriage and tires had collected plants and gravel as well as asphalt that was manufactured with glass beads. And after extensive testing, the vehicle was found to have been backed onto a field or a meadow where black mustard and Queen Anne's lace grew, based on the pollen residue and where oak and birch trees were growing in the vicinity.

Heath (Host) (41:07)

I just think this kind of, like, forensic science is so incredibly cool. I know the fact that they can literally, like, match mud and dirt to specific areas, and that gives them, you know, a little bit more insight into what's going on here.

Daphne (Host) (41:21)

Yeah. This is how we can match this to a particular location. And, by the way, there was also likely a body of water nearby due to the water content in the soil that was collected, which is also totally wild. And the sediment was believed to have originated from either Lee county or neighboring Whiteside county in Illinois, the latter of which being where Sterling is located. As we know, of course, Sterling is the area where we had that six hour time gap. Now, the border of Lee county started about 100 miles, or 160km due west from Chicago. So this is obviously a almost, I mean, honestly, like, impossibly large area to search. But they did search as much of it as they could. And they also searched neighboring Ogle, Carroll, Stevenson, and Winnebago counties, but there was no sign of Timothy anywhere.

Heath (Host) (42:21)

So at this point, investigators came to the belief that Amy was plotting her own suicide and her son's disappearance and potentially even Timothy's murder for months leading up to when it actually occurred.

Daphne (Host) (42:34)

Which then goes back to again, what you said, Heath, about the phone call of her saying, I'm not gonna hurt him or Timothy. And, you know, knowing that she possibly knew that was a lie even then.

Heath (Host) (42:45)

Yeah. And remember earlier when we said that she had visited that area, you know, before based on her iPass data? So she had traveled to the area on February 18, 2011, and March 20, 2011, and remember, all of this is happening on and after May 11th. So detectives wondered if this pointed to her having plotted his murder and that she was kind of finding, like, a place to conceal his body. But their family feels that it's actually the opposite and that this was actually her attempt to lay the groundwork with the people who eventually took Timothy with them. Amy's laptop was forensically searched, and investigators discovered that she had a secret email account, unbeknownst to Jim. But unfortunately, there was no sign that she had been plotting anything in the days and weeks preceding her death. Detailed searches were held in the area where Amy was believed to have driven, but no sign of Timothy or his misplaced belongings were ever found. Lee and Whiteside counties alone basically encompass over a thousand square miles, and there's no guarantee that that was where he was last accounted for. Leads and sightings came in steadily in the aftermath, but none of them have ever led to Timothy. A plane circled overhead to search for him, and a K9 team was also marched through the area encompassing Sterling, Illinois. But no sign of him emerged there either. Despite the lack of developments, the people who knew Amy best. So Jim and Kara denied that Amy was capable of killing her son, but why she would have chosen to take him away from his father is a mystery that they don't have an answer to. But Kara actually believes that he was handed off to another family near Dubuque, Iowa, and that someone knows exactly what happened. To him and where he is and is concealing him so that Jim, for whatever reason, can't have access to his son.

Daphne (Host) (44:46)

There's obviously no reasoning with this decision based on everything we know, but I just wonder how this exchange would have even occurred, especially with what you explained about her emails and them not finding anything. So is this true or did something bad happen to him instead, you know, by Amy's hand? Because again, six hours, a lot can happen in that window.

Heath (Host) (45:13)

Yeah. And it's one of those things where this is tough because without any like substantial evidence that somebody else might have been involved in, like some sort of pass off of Timothy, there's really nothing to go on here.

Daphne (Host) (45:27)

But he was also only 6 years old. So I'm like, I don't even think it's out of the realm of possibility that he would have been passed off. I am just trying to figure out how that would have happened, how she would have found somebody.

Heath (Host) (45:39)

Sure.

Daphne (Host) (45:39)

And police don't have that trail.

Heath (Host) (45:42)

Yeah, because you would have had to have had some sort of trail either through email or text messages or something,

Daphne (Host) (45:48)

because there's no shot that she would have just gone to that area in February and just happened upon a family who wanted to take him months later, like especially in 2011.

Heath (Host) (45:59)

Then I also think about the fact that there's some mental health issues going on here. You know, is it possible that, you know, she, she just was, she was in that area or drove to that, that area for some reason and decided that maybe this is where she wanted Timothy's resting place to be?

Daphne (Host) (46:18)

Right.

Heath (Host) (46:19)

You know, good point.

Daphne (Host) (46:20)

Because, like why there's. She had no ties to that area, which I think is part of why, other than just the hope of it all. And knowing Amy, why the family believes that he was passed to a family there because it's like, why this particular location?

Heath (Host) (46:35)

But yeah, and I totally get that.

Daphne (Host) (46:37)

I will say though, there's a very interesting and very disturbing religious angle to this as well that could explain some of the decisions here. I mean, certainly couldn't explain explain it, but it could explain it.

Heath (Host) (46:50)

A little insight, I guess.

Daphne (Host) (46:52)

I guess, if you know what I mean. Because her family now feels that her sudden crisis of faith and transition to Mormonism is partially responsible for what happened to Timothy. Linda Pittson, Jim's mom, believes, quote, I think she wanted Tim to be raised Mormon. And I think this was her way of making sure he was after she'd gone. She never pushed it on anyone apart from Jim, but he was reluctant. And I think her church May have been pushing her a little, I don't know, but she went to a Mormon church. She wasn't raised that way. She was a convert, and that was before Jim had met her. Jim's sister, Jen west, agrees with this conclusion, actually, and maintains that it was likely that Timothy was first driven down to Texas and then brought across the border into Mexico and is presently residing in an insular Mormon community in Mexico. Jen explained Amy was the only Mormon in her family and our family. And I think she wanted Tim to be raised within the church. It's the only thing I can think of that is plausible. Where else can you go where nobody recognizes you and you can stay hidden? We think he was told something happened to his parents and you're gonna live with us now. Something along those lines. I think he's in Mexico within one of these communities that protects their own. I don't have proof, of course, but it's just a gut feeling. I want to add really quick, there is no evidence to prove that this is true. We have no idea why she thinks Mexico, why she thinks they would have crossed through Texas. This is just her quote. So we wanted to share it, but there is no evidence to back this up. But in general, just the fact that so many members of this family think something along these lines occurred, these are the people that know her best. It's such a disturbing conclusion. I mean, any conclusion that you could make with this case is so beyond disturbing. But to think that he could be out there right now and has no idea that we're sitting here right now talking about him like, is so. It just gives me the chills.

Heath (Host) (49:13)

Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, we have seen religion come into other cases similar to this. Not saying. I'm not saying that Amy did do something to Timothy, but we have seen that in, you know, the case of Andrea Yates, which. There was a great documentary that just came out about her recently. But that case particularly had to do with some religious angles. So is it possible that this has to do with her faith? I don't know.

Daphne (Host) (49:41)

Well, even in the aftermath of Timothy's devastating disappearance, Linda gave grace to Amy, saying, quote, she was trying to find something happy. And I think Tim did that for her until he started growing up and becoming more independent. And then the depression came back. I think she was searching for answers in herself and just wasn't able to find what she was looking for. But I can honestly say she was very nice to me. I loved her like a daughter. It's been very hard to deal with all that stuff and see the hurt that everybody has now, maybe if she'd got the right treatment, this might not have happened. But at the same time, treatment doesn't always work. It's one of those things. Two years passed without any developments or credible sightings in the case of Timothy's disappearance. But then in 2013, Amy's cell phone was found discarded on the side of the road between Stockton and McCarroll, Illinois, about an hour north of Sterling where her phone last pinged. And this just goes to show you again how many different directions she could have gone. Her phone is found an hour away from where they thought that she was. During that six hour gap she could have driven any amount of hours in any direction. And here her phone is an hour away from Sterling, but that just means that that's where she discarded her phone. Where did she go from there with Timothy? So a woman actually came across the phone on the side of the road and kept it for herself. She was like holding onto it until somebody she knew needed a phone and she could like pass it off to them. But then she finally charged it and she saw the surname and actually recognized it from the notoriety that the Pitson family had received, particularly in this area in this state. So she turned it into the police. But sadly the phone didn't offer any information that the police weren't already privy to. And a search of that area did not bring any more information or any more clues surrounding Timothy's disappearance.

Heath (Host) (51:52)

And that's so frustrating because it's like, damn, this is such a. We finally found her phone. Like, I wonder what's going to be on this phone. And then they check it and there's just nothing. And you're like, fuck, really? Like there's just nothing here.

Daphne (Host) (52:06)

It's so disappointing, especially because that development came two years later after the case had kind of gone stagnant. So it was such a hopeful moment.

Heath (Host) (52:15)

Well, get this guys. So in April of 2019, almost eight years exactly since Timothy vanished, a teenager in Newport, Kentucky claimed to be Timothy and described a very harrowing ordeal since his disappearance. So at this point, by the way, Timothy would have been exactly 14 and a half years old. And this spot was a seven and a half hour drive from where he was last seen in Wisconsin Dell's Wisconsin, Wisconsin. He was reported by a woman who recalled seeing him and describing him as thin and disoriented and said that she was worried about his welfare. She was headed to her car to go to work and saw this teenage boy just hovering near her car. He was complaining of stomach pain, he had bruises on his face and he looked terrified. The boy explained that he had escaped from a hotel room after being trafficked and held hostage by two men who physically and sexually abused him for the duration of his time in captivity. Now, when police got involved, he told detectives that he had crossed a bridge from Ohio into Kentucky after being held captive at a local Red Roof Inn by these two men that he described as bodybuilders. He said that one of them was wearing jeans and a Mountain Dew T shirt with black curly hair and a spiderweb tattoo on his neck, and that the other had short brown hair and a snake tattoo on his arm. He had alleged that he had been transported in a white Ford SUV with Wisconsin plates, and he specifically told the authorities that he was Timothy Pitson. However, the hopes of Timothy's family were soon dashed when DNA testing confirmed that he was in fact not Timothy Pittson and that he was actually a 23 year old man named Brian Reaney. So he wasn't even a teenager. And actually his DNA was on file already because he had a criminal record, having served prison time for both burglary and vandalism. He had been released just weeks prior after spending a year in prison on vandalism charges. So when confronted with his injury actual identity, he admitted that he had merely wanted to get away from his family and just kinda enjoyed the attention that this stunt garnered him. And this was not the first time he had posed as a male victim in order to gain sympathy. He had also confessed that he had seen the story on ABC's 2020 and again that he was just trying to get away from his family. So he memorized key details about Timothy and his life in order to tell police what they wanted to hear. So Brian served time in prison for this crime, but was released on probation. And he was ordered to undergo mental health treatment as well as therapy. And he was also ordered to maintain no contact with Timothy's family. And you know what this is really reminding me of?

Daphne (Host) (55:16)

Nicholas Barclay. Yes, I know you're fascinated by that case.

Heath (Host) (55:20)

I am very fascinated by that case. If you've never seen the documentary the Imposter, it is incredible. Basically, a kid similar to like, Timothy went missing and then this guy told everybody that he was Nicholas Barclay. And then sooner or later they found out that he in fact, was not

Daphne (Host) (55:38)

such a cruel thing to do and

Heath (Host) (55:41)

such a wild thing to do. You know, like, for what?

Daphne (Host) (55:44)

Well, Cara actually had kind of a positive outlook on this very tragic setback, saying, quote, none of us, including Jim, have any hard feelings anymore about Brian Rooney. We recognize that this is an individual who needs help and we hope that he gets the help that he needs. Even though what he put us through was very difficult and challenging, at the very least it got people talking about Tim again. In January of 2020, he pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. And during a hearing on the matter, he issued a public apology to the family saying, quote, I wish that I could just take it back. I am sorry to the family. Later, Jim's mom, so Timothy's grandmother again, Linda, said sadly, it's the not knowing that's so hard, not knowing if he's alive or dead. But I still can't believe that Amy killed him because I don't think she did. She wouldn't have done that. He was everything to her. I believe he's out there somewhere and he's at the age now, depending on the situation where he might start questioning things. Jim has since moved back to Iowa, saying that the home he used to share with his wife and son in Aurora held too many painful memories. Amy's sister Kara maintains her belief that she and her family will see Timothy again, saying, quote, tim is absolutely alive, 150% and I know this is so hard for people to see, but she would never hurt tim. On the 13 year anniversary of his son's disappearance, Jim wrote a heartbreaking letter to him that read, Dear Timothy, the years apart have been hard. I'm so looking forward for us to be reunited. There is so much of your young life I have not been able to be a part of while you have been missing. The future is bright and I look forward to spending time with you and getting to know my son again. Till I see you again. Love, dad. Timothy would now be 21 years old. the time of his disappearance, he was 4ft 2 inches tall and weighed about 70 pounds. He was last seen wearing either blue or green shorts with a brown T shirt and white socks. He also had with him a Spider man backpack filled with clothes and toys, including a few of his beloved Matchbox cars, as well as the craft set that Amy bought for him on their travels. There was also, like Heath mentioned earlier, a tube of Crest Kids toothpaste and an I pass transponder for going through tolls which was never accounted for. If you have any information about the whereabouts of Timothy Pitson, please call the national center for Missing and exploited children at 1-800-843-5678. Thank you so much everybody for listening to this episode of Going West.

Heath (Host) (59:02)

Yes. Thank you guys so much for listening to this episode. Please make sure to that you share Timothy's story. It's so very important because there is a possibility that Timothy is still out there somewhere. And, you know, we just don't know.

Daphne (Host) (59:16)

That's what's so eerie is to think that he could be out there alive. There's all of us are talking about it. People have been talking about it for years. His real family has been looking for him and he maybe has no idea. So like he said, share this case. Also follow us on socials and share the missing poster that we're gonna make for him and the post surrounding him. Because this really could be one of those kind of cases where if the right person sees it, everything could be figured out.

Heath (Host) (59:46)

Yes. And I know that some of you guys probably feel like, you know, maybe Timothy is deceased, but I will say that recently there was a case of a missing girl that went missing years and years, years ago and she was just found and identified as that girl that went missing a long time ago.

Daphne (Host) (60:04)

It happens. Hopefully he is still out there. It's just, you know, thinking back to her letter like, you will never find him. Like, what the hell happened? Please let us know what you guys think. And thank you for tuning into this one. Thank you to everybody who recommended this case. I. I can't believe it took us so long to finally cover it, but this is such an important story to share.

Heath (Host) (60:27)

Yes, it is. Thank you guys so much and we will see you guys on Friday. All right guys. So for everybody out there in the

Daphne (Host) (60:34)

world, don't be a stranger.

Heath (Host) (60:48)

Sa.

Tremphya Advertiser (Alternate) (61:29)

For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, Every choice matters. Tremphya offers self injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self inject Tremphya, proper training is required. Tremphya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions, increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them and liver problems may occur before treatment. Get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu like symptoms or need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Tremphya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit

T-Mobile Advertiser (62:27)

tremphyaradio.com Ever walk past a place for rent and wish you could just take a peek inside, maybe even explore the layout? Envision the natural light streaming through the windows, or plan where your vinyl record collection would go. At apartments.com you can. With tools like their 3D virtual tours, you can see the exact unit you could be living in. Really envision yourself in your new home with Apartments.com, the place to find a

KFC Advertiser (62:54)

place folks knew the colonel approved of his new Honey, Chili Crisp and Jalapeno Ranch sauces the moment he tasted them and said, that's right. No notes, just absolute silence. Turns out some flavors don't need explaining, they just need dipping. It's saucy season at KFC with new Honey, Chili Crisp and Jalapeno Ranch. Get dipping with a boneless bucket today.

T-Mobile Advertiser (63:23)

Prices and participation vary.

Tremphya Advertiser (Alternate) (63:25)

Why have I asked my H. Vac guy I found on Angie.com to change my grandpa's trachea tube? I was so amazed at how we replaced our air ducts, I knew I could trust him to change Pop Pop's tube?

T-Mobile Advertiser (63:34)

I think we should call a doctor,

Heath (Host) (63:35)

Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home projects at Angie Combination.