The investigation into the disappearance of a 6-year-old Aurora boy has national attention and a shifted focus as officials grow increasingly concerned about his safety.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service is helping Aurora police narrow down where Timothy Pitzen and his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, were when she called her loved ones to tell them she and her son were fine last Friday.
Authorities on Wednesday concentrated their search in the Sterling/Rock Falls area, from where Amy Fry-Pitzen made several calls on her cell phone.
Sterling area is about 80 miles west of Aurora.
During at least one of the calls, Timothy talked to a family member and did not sound as though he was in peril. More than one of the people with whom his mother spoke told authorities they could hear the boy in the background saying that he was hungry, Aurora Police Chief Gregory Thomas said in a statement.
The child was last seen with his mother when the pair checked out of the Kalahari Resort at Wisconsin Dells Friday morning.
Fry-Pitzen was spotted later that night alone at Sullivan Foods in the 700 block of Elida Street in Winnebago, Ill., before checking into a Rockford motel.
She committed suicide and left a note indicating she left Timothy in others' care but didn't mention any names.
The boy's remaining family is praying for his safe return.
Timothy stands about 4 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs about 70 pounds, officials said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora Police at 630-256-5500.
