The Timothy Wiltsey disappearance and killing, and the trial of Michelle Lodzinski (2024)

From left: Frank Bruno, Michelle Lodzinski and Cheryl Kassay with a missing poster of Timothy Wiltsey on May 29, 1991, less than a week after Lodzinski’s son was reported missing from a South Amboy Elks carnival at Kennedy Park in Sayreville by his mother. Bruno was identified as Lodzinski’s boyfriend at the time. Kassay has been a friend of Lodzinski since childhood.

Timothy Wiltsey

Michelle Lodzinski was arrested in Florida last month and charged with the death of her 5-year-old son, Timothy Wiltsey more than 23 years ago. He reportedly went missing from a 1991 carnival in Sayreville

Michelle Lodzinski

01/05/17 Michelle Lodzinski, 49, a former South Amboy resident who was convicted in May 2016 of the murder of her 5-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey in 1991, exits the courtroom after her sentencing before Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves at Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick, NJ Thursday January 5, 2017. Timothy's body was found in April 1992 almost a year after his mother had reported him missing from a carnival in Sayreville on May 25, 1991. His remains were found in Raritan Center, Edison not far from a building where his mother had once worked. Timothy's disappearance and death were one of Middlesex County's longest unsolved murder cases.

Jennifer Blair Dilcher testifies during the Michelle Lodzinski murder trial.

01/05/17 Michelle Lodzinski, 49, a former South Amboy resident who was convicted in May 2016 of the murder of her 5-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey in 1991, appears for her sentencing before Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves at Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick, NJ. She sits in between Chris Davitt, Krovatin Klingeman LLC office manager, and Gerald Krovatin, defense attorney of Krovatin Klingeman LLC.

Michele Lodzinski gets into a car after appearing before a Union County grand jury Jan. 26, 1994, in Elizabeth. Lodzinsk was charged Wednesday with her son’s murder.

Michelle Lodzinski sits beside her attorney Gerald Krovatin during her arraignment in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now a Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Michelle Lodzinski, mother of Timothy Wiltsey, the 5-year-old boy reported missing from a carnival in 1991, was charged Wednesday with her son's murder. Lodzinski, formerly of South Amboy, was arrested at about 6 p.m. in Florida and charged with killing her son, whose partial remains were found in 1992, 11 months after he was reported missing from a carnival in 1991 Here is the former home of Lodzinski and Wiltsey located at 362 & 1/2 Augusta Street in South Amboy. On Thursday August 7,2014 Photo: Mark R. Sullivan/Staff Photographer

Michelle Lodzinski holds her hand on a bible while being sworn-in before Judge Bradley Ferencz during a status conference, Tuesday, October 14, 2014, in State Superior Court in New Brunswick, NJ. Photo by Jason Towlen

Michelle Lodzinski, mother of Timothy Wiltsey, the 5-year-old boy reported missing from a carnival in 1991, was charged Wednesday with her son's murder. Lodzinski, formerly of South Amboy, was arrested at about 6 p.m. in Florida and charged with killing her son, whose partial remains were found in 1992, 11 months after he was reported missing from a carnival in 1991 John F. Kennedy Memorial Park located on Washington Street in Sayreville where Lodzinski claims Timothy went missing. On Thursday August 7,2014 Photo: Mark R. Sullivan/Staff Photographer

Michelle Lodzinski is arraigned before Judge Bradley Ferencz in state Superior Court on Tuesday in New Brunswick. Lodzinski, now a Florida resident, is accused of murdering her 5-year-old son, Timothy Wiltsey, in 1991.

Michelle Lodzinski's attorney Gerald Krovatin speaks to the media following his client's arriagnment in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Michelle Lodzinski is arraigned before Judge Bradley Ferencz in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now a Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Middlesex County assistant prosecutor Scott LaMountain addresess the court during the arraignment of Michelle Lodzinski before Judge Bradley Ferencz in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Michelle Lodzinski sits beside her attorney Gerald Krovatin during her arraignment in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now a Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Middlesex County assistant prosecutor Scott LaMountain addresess the court during the arraignment of Michelle Lodzinski before Judge Bradley Ferencz in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Michelle Lodzinski is arraigned before Judge Bradley Ferencz in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Michelle Lodzinski sits beside her attorney Gerald Krovatin during her arraignment in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now a Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Michelle Lodzinski sits beside her attorney Gerald Krovatin during her arraignment in State Superior Court, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in New Brunswick, NJ. Lodzinski, now a Florida resident, is accused of murdering her five-year-old son Timothy Wiltsey 23 years ago. Photo by Jason Towlen

Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves in New Brunswick oversees Lodzinski status conference.

Michelle Lodzinski looks towards her attorney Gerald Krovatin during an appearance before Judge Bradley Ferencz for a status conference, Tuesday, October 14, 2014, in State Superior Court in New Brunswick, NJ. Photo by Jason Towlen