The big question of what led to the reopening of the investigation into Timothy Wiltsey's killing was answered this week.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- When Michelle Lodzinski was indicted in 2014 for the murder of her 5-year-old son, Timothy Wiltsey, 23 years after she reported him missing from a Sayreville carnival in May 1991, the big question was -- what changed that led to the indictment?
That question was answered this week by Sgt. Scott Crocco of the major crimes unit in the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
Crocco took the witness stand Thursday morning in Lodzinski's trial and told the jury his office received an anonymous tip in June 2011 through Crime Stoppers.
He said while the tip proved unusable, investigators believed that the case could be reopened, reinvestigated and, using more modern scientific methods, "could be solved."
Crocco reviewed all of the evidence collected, re-interviewed witnesses and showed witnesses pieces of evidence they had not seen before. He also brought evidence in to laboratories for DNA testing.
Timmy's remains were found in a swampy area of Raritan Center in Edison in April 1992, 11 months after his mother reported him missing. Lodzinski became the prime suspect in the case after giving police different versions of his disappearance within the first several weeks, according to testimony during the trial.
Here's what we learned from Crocco:
1. Three people, including Lodzinski's niece, Jennifer Blair Dilcher, Dilcher's best friend, Danielle Gerding, and a former neighbor of Lodzinski's Dawn Matthews, recognized a blue blanket as one they saw in Lodzinski's apartment. The blanket was found near where Timmy's remains were found.
2. Authorities could not verify that anyone saw Timmy at the carnival the night of May 25, 1991.
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sneaker that Timmy wore the night he was reported missing were only a week old, according to his mother. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sneakers found near Timmy's remains were identified by the FBI laboratory as a matched pair, probably worn by the same child, but they could not be matched to Timmy.
4. The blue blanket and a pillowcase were taken to the N. J. State Police Laboratory for examination for trace evidence. One hair was found on each, but the hairs did not match Michelle Lodzinski's hair.
5. The hairs were brought to a private laboratory for DNA analysis to see if they matched either Lodzinski or Jennifer Blair Dilcher, who also babysat for Timmy. The hairs were "inconclusive" and therefore did not match either woman.
The trial will resume Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.