Federal Court Overturns Etan Patz Case Conviction, Orders New Trial

A federal appeals court has overturned the 2017 conviction of Pedro Hernandez in the infamous 1979 disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz. The court ruled that a critical error made during jury instructions in the trial warranted a new trial.

Hernandez, now 64, was serving a 25-years-to-life sentence after being found guilty in one of the most high-profile missing child cases in U.S. history. His lawyers have maintained his innocence, arguing that his confession was false and influenced by mental illness and a low IQ.

Why the Verdict Was Overturned

The ruling focused on a jury question regarding Hernandez’s confessions during police interrogations. The jury had asked whether it must disregard the two recorded confessions if the initial, unrecorded one was deemed invalid. The trial judge said no, but the appeals court found this response “manifestly prejudicial.” It ruled that the jury should have been instructed on the option to dismiss all confessions.

If Hernandez is not retried within a reasonable time frame, he must be released, the court said.

The Case That Changed America

Etan Patz vanished on May 25, 1979, while walking alone to his school bus stop in Manhattan — the first day he had been allowed to do so. His disappearance shocked the nation and brought major changes in how missing child cases are handled. Etan became one of the first children featured on milk cartons, and May 25 was later declared National Missing Children’s Day.

His parents fought for decades for justice and were instrumental in advancing national protocols for tracking missing children.

Questions Surrounding the Confession

Hernandez, a teenage stock clerk at the time of Etan’s disappearance, confessed to the crime in 2012. Police questioned him for seven hours before informing him of his rights. He later repeated the confession on tape.

Defense attorneys claimed that Hernandez’s mental health issues made him prone to false memories. His daughter testified that he experienced hallucinations and delusions. Prosecutors countered by questioning the severity of his condition.

The defense also pointed to a convicted child molester as a possible alternative suspect, but that individual was never charged.

The Road Ahead

This reversal does not end the case. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, which initially prosecuted Hernandez, is reviewing the decision. If a new trial is not scheduled promptly, Hernandez could be released after more than a decade of legal proceedings.

The Patz family, who kept the same home and phone number for decades in case their son ever returned, have yet to issue a statement. Their long pursuit of justice now faces an uncertain path forward.

Source: AP News