NEW YORK — The notorious case of 6-year-old Etan Patz, who vanished in 1979, is set for a retrial, as New York prosecutors announced their decision to pursue charges against Pedro Hernandez after his prior conviction was overturned.
The Manhattan District Attorney expressed confidence in the available evidence to prosecute Hernandez on charges of murder and kidnapping. Hernandez's defense team, while disappointed, is preparing a strong case asserting their client’s innocence.
Etan’s 1979 disappearance was a pivotal incident that heightened awareness of child abductions across the U.S. He was one of the first missing children to appear on milk cartons, leading to drastic changes in child safety practices and legislation regarding missing children.
Hernandez, who worked near the site where Etan was last seen, confessed to killing the boy, but his confession lacked physical evidence and has been described by his lawyers as coerced and unreliable. Following a hung jury in his first trial, he was convicted in 2017, only to have that verdict overturned last July by a federal appeals court.
As the retrial approaches, all eyes are on the process, which illustrates broader cultural changes in how society addresses child safety and the urgency surrounding missing children cases. Jury selection must start by June 1, or Hernandez will be released.
