Arrest Made in 1993 Case of Abducted and Murdered Boy
WHO:
WTOP News - Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader stated that two additional victims of Lynch were located during the investigation.
WTOP News - The witness who reported Lynch's involvement is now 47 years old and was 13 at the time of Burdynski's disappearance.
TMZ - Joseph Lynch, a 61-year-old man, has been charged in the case.
WTOP News - George “Junior” Burdynski, a 10-year-old boy who went missing in 1993.
WTOP News - Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader provided details at a news conference.
WTOP News - Virginia, Burdynski’s sister, expressed her feelings about the case.
WHAT:
WTOP News - Lynch was charged with sexual abuse of minors in April of 2026 based on findings from the investigation.
WTOP News - Lynch allegedly helped dispose of Burdynski's body after the assault.
TMZ - Lynch has been charged with rape and murder in the death of Burdynski.
WTOP News - Lynch is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree rape, and second-and-third degree sex offenses.
WTOP News - Lynch has been jailed since April on charges related to other offenses discovered during the investigation.
WTOP News - A witness reported that Lynch ordered him to sexually assault Burdynski, leading to the boy's death.
WTOP News - Lynch was previously convicted in 1994 and sentenced to 20 years in prison for two sex offenses involving minors.
WHERE:
TMZ - The case involves Brentwood, Maryland, where Burdynski lived and went missing.
WTOP News - The investigation is being conducted by the Prince George’s County Police Department.
WHEN:
WTOP News - Burdynski went missing on May 24, 1993.
WTOP News - Lynch has been jailed since April of 2026.
WHY:
WTOP News - The investigation was reinvigorated by the cold case unit of the Prince George’s County Police Department, which is still active.
WTOP News - The investigation was reinvigorated by the cold case unit of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
HOW:
WTOP News - The police chief urged other potential victims to come forward, emphasizing that they are not alone and it is not their fault.
WTOP News - The breakthrough in the case came from witness interviews that revealed Lynch's involvement in the assault and murder of Burdynski.
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 23:01 UTC)
Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader announced that two additional victims of Lynch were discovered during an ongoing investigation, which was revitalized by the cold case unit of the police department. Lynch, who was charged with sexual abuse of minors in April 2026, is also accused of helping to dispose of Burdynski's body following the assault. The police chief is urging any other potential victims to come forward, assuring them that they are not alone and that it is not their fault.
--
(UPDATED September 18, 2026 16:05 UTC)
In a significant development, Joseph Lynch, a 61-year-old man, has been charged with second-degree murder, second-degree rape, and sex offenses in connection with the death of George “Junior” Burdynski, who went missing in 1993 from Brentwood, Maryland. Lynch has been jailed since April 2026 on related charges, and a witness has come forward, stating that Lynch ordered him to sexually assault Burdynski, leading to the boy's tragic death. The investigation, which has been reinvigorated by the cold case unit of the Prince George’s County Police Department, has revealed Lynch's prior conviction for sex offenses involving minors in 1994.