Topline: George “Junior” Burdynski was 10 when he disappeared on his bicycle, and an interview with another alleged abuse victim has now led to charges in his death.
Published: September 21, 2026 4:04 pm ET
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George “Junior” Burdynski, left, and Joseph Lynch (via National Center for Missing & Exploited Children / Prince George's County Police Department)
BRENTWOOD, MD — A former neighbor has been charged with murder and rape in the death of George “Junior” Burdynski, the 10-year-old boy who disappeared while riding his bicycle on May 24, 1993.
Joseph Lynch, 61, was charged September 16 with second-degree murder, second-degree rape and second- and third-degree sex offenses, the Prince George’s County Police Department announced. Investigators say an interview with a man who was 13 when Junior vanished provided the breakthrough. Junior’s remains have never been recovered.
Police said the man, now 47, told cold case detectives he was in a home with Junior and Lynch that day. He alleged that Lynch ordered him to sexually assault Junior and that Junior was killed during the assault.
According to NBC Washington, Police Chief George Nader said the man described years of abuse by Lynch and admitted killing Junior during forced abuse. He told investigators Lynch subsequently put Junior’s body in a dumpster. Only Lynch has been charged in Junior’s death.
The interview grew out of a separate investigation into allegations that Lynch repeatedly sexually abused two teenage boys he knew at a Mount Rainier home between 2007 and 2014. Lynch was already in custody in that case and a 2012 arson case, as Gray News reported.
The original search involved local and federal authorities and exposed sexual abuse of neighborhood boys. Lynch, Stephen Bruce Leak and James Kowalski were arrested in cases involving boys in Brentwood, Mount Rainier and Hyattsville. Lynch’s sentencing began in 1994; he was released in 2006. Detectives continued revisiting Junior’s disappearance over the ensuing decades.
Junior’s father searched after dark, distributed flyers and appealed for help. He died in 2021. His sister Virginia spoke for the family at the announcement: “We’ve held on a hope for 33 years. This is not what we prayed for,” NBC Washington reported.
The investigation also helped spur the FBI’s national effort against online child exploitation. Kowalski received a sentence exceeding 250 years but denied involvement in Junior’s disappearance, NBC Washington reported.
Lynch remained held without bond after waiving a bond review hearing September 18, according to NBC Washington. Detectives believe other people may have been victimized during the 1990s or after his 2006 release and ask anyone with information to call 301-772-4930.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Man Charged With Murder and Rape 33 Years After Maryland Boy Vanished
George “Junior” Burdynski was 10 when he disappeared on his bicycle, and an interview with another alleged abuse victim has now led to charges in his death.
By Silvia Torres
Published: September 21, 2026 4:04 pm ET
George “Junior” Burdynski, left, and Joseph Lynch (via National Center for Missing & Exploited Children / Prince George's County Police Department)
BRENTWOOD, MD — A former neighbor has been charged with murder and rape in the death of George “Junior” Burdynski, the 10-year-old boy who disappeared while riding his bicycle on May 24, 1993.
Joseph Lynch, 61, was charged September 16 with second-degree murder, second-degree rape and second- and third-degree sex offenses, the Prince George’s County Police Department announced. Investigators say an interview with a man who was 13 when Junior vanished provided the breakthrough. Junior’s remains have never been recovered.
Police said the man, now 47, told cold case detectives he was in a home with Junior and Lynch that day. He alleged that Lynch ordered him to sexually assault Junior and that Junior was killed during the assault.
According to NBC Washington, Police Chief George Nader said the man described years of abuse by Lynch and admitted killing Junior during forced abuse. He told investigators Lynch subsequently put Junior’s body in a dumpster. Only Lynch has been charged in Junior’s death.
The interview grew out of a separate investigation into allegations that Lynch repeatedly sexually abused two teenage boys he knew at a Mount Rainier home between 2007 and 2014. Lynch was already in custody in that case and a 2012 arson case, as Gray News reported.
The original search involved local and federal authorities and exposed sexual abuse of neighborhood boys. Lynch, Stephen Bruce Leak and James Kowalski were arrested in cases involving boys in Brentwood, Mount Rainier and Hyattsville. Lynch’s sentencing began in 1994; he was released in 2006. Detectives continued revisiting Junior’s disappearance over the ensuing decades.
Junior’s father searched after dark, distributed flyers and appealed for help. He died in 2021. His sister Virginia spoke for the family at the announcement: “We’ve held on a hope for 33 years. This is not what we prayed for,” NBC Washington reported.
The investigation also helped spur the FBI’s national effort against online child exploitation. Kowalski received a sentence exceeding 250 years but denied involvement in Junior’s disappearance, NBC Washington reported.
Lynch remained held without bond after waiving a bond review hearing September 18, according to NBC Washington. Detectives believe other people may have been victimized during the 1990s or after his 2006 release and ask anyone with information to call 301-772-4930.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Charged With Murder and Rape 33 Years After Maryland Boy Vanished
George “Junior” Burdynski was 10 when he disappeared on his bicycle, and an interview with another alleged abuse victim has now led to charges in his death.
By Silvia Torres
Published: September 21, 2026 4:04 pm ET
George “Junior” Burdynski, left, and Joseph Lynch (via National Center for Missing & Exploited Children / Prince George's County Police Department)
BRENTWOOD, MD — A former neighbor has been charged with murder and rape in the death of George “Junior” Burdynski, the 10-year-old boy who disappeared while riding his bicycle on May 24, 1993.
Joseph Lynch, 61, was charged September 16 with second-degree murder, second-degree rape and second- and third-degree sex offenses, the Prince George’s County Police Department announced. Investigators say an interview with a man who was 13 when Junior vanished provided the breakthrough. Junior’s remains have never been recovered.
Police said the man, now 47, told cold case detectives he was in a home with Junior and Lynch that day. He alleged that Lynch ordered him to sexually assault Junior and that Junior was killed during the assault.
According to NBC Washington, Police Chief George Nader said the man described years of abuse by Lynch and admitted killing Junior during forced abuse. He told investigators Lynch subsequently put Junior’s body in a dumpster. Only Lynch has been charged in Junior’s death.
The interview grew out of a separate investigation into allegations that Lynch repeatedly sexually abused two teenage boys he knew at a Mount Rainier home between 2007 and 2014. Lynch was already in custody in that case and a 2012 arson case, as Gray News reported.
The original search involved local and federal authorities and exposed sexual abuse of neighborhood boys. Lynch, Stephen Bruce Leak and James Kowalski were arrested in cases involving boys in Brentwood, Mount Rainier and Hyattsville. Lynch’s sentencing began in 1994; he was released in 2006. Detectives continued revisiting Junior’s disappearance over the ensuing decades.
Junior’s father searched after dark, distributed flyers and appealed for help. He died in 2021. His sister Virginia spoke for the family at the announcement: “We’ve held on a hope for 33 years. This is not what we prayed for,” NBC Washington reported.
The investigation also helped spur the FBI’s national effort against online child exploitation. Kowalski received a sentence exceeding 250 years but denied involvement in Junior’s disappearance, NBC Washington reported.
Lynch remained held without bond after waiving a bond review hearing September 18, according to NBC Washington. Detectives believe other people may have been victimized during the 1990s or after his 2006 release and ask anyone with information to call 301-772-4930.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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