A 61-year-old man has been indicted on multiple charges in connection with the 1993 killing of 10-year-old George Burdynski Jr., known as “Junior,” who disappeared from his Brentwood neighborhood in Prince George’s County more than 33 years ago.
According to WTOP, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson announced Wednesday that Joseph Lynch, 61, has been indicted on charges of murder, manslaughter, accessory after the fact, second-degree child abuse and two counts of second-degree sex offense.
The indictment comes weeks after Prince George’s County Police announced a breakthrough in the decades-old cold case. Junior was last seen riding his bicycle on May 24, 1993, prompting an extensive investigation involving local and federal authorities. His body has never been recovered.
According to investigators, the breakthrough came after detectives interviewed a now-47-year-old man who was 13 years old when Junior disappeared. The man told police he was inside a home with Junior and Lynch on the day of the disappearance and alleged that Lynch ordered him to sexually assault the younger boy. Investigators said Junior died during the assault and Lynch allegedly helped dispose of his body.
WTOP reports that police consider the witness, who was also allegedly sexually abused by Lynch, a victim and that he will not face charges in connection with Junior’s death.
Lynch was previously convicted in connection with a 1993 investigation involving the sexual abuse of boys in the Mount Rainier, Brentwood and Hyattsville areas. Although investigators learned of a group of men targeting boys in those communities, they were unable to establish a connection to Junior’s disappearance at the time.
Lynch has been in custody since April on charges stemming from separate investigations. He was previously charged with sexually abusing two teenage boys between 2007 and 2014 and in connection with a 2012 arson case.
Police have said Lynch is the only person charged in connection with Junior’s killing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact investigators at 301-772-4930.
