Court Orders Retrial for Man Found Guilty in Etan Patz Case

The decision reopens discussions around the 1979 disappearance of six-year-old Etan Patz, whose case became emblematic of child abductions.

A New York appeals court has ruled that Pedro Hernandez, convicted in 2017 for the 1979 murder of six-year-old Etan Patz, is entitled to a new trial or must be released. The court's decision highlighted issues with jury instructions that allegedly contradicted U.S. Supreme Court rulings, raising concerns about the fairness of the original trial.

Etan Patz vanished while walking to a school bus stop in Manhattan, and his disappearance sent shockwaves through the city, sparking one of the first widespread campaigns to find missing children, including placing his face on milk cartons across the nation.

Hernandez's initial trial in 2015 ended in a hung jury, but he was later convicted after providing confessions to police, including a video recording after receiving his Miranda rights. However, Hernandez's defense cited that he has a documented history of mental illness and low IQ, raising questions about the validity of his confessions.

During jury deliberations in his 2017 trial, jurors sought clarification on whether they should disregard Hernandez's later confessions if the first one was deemed involuntary. The state judge told them they could not disregard the confession, which the appeals court ruled violated Hernandez's rights and may have influenced the jury's verdict.

Following the ruling, Hernandez's attorney expressed thanks for the opportunity for a retrial, advocating for the dismissal of the charges and urging officials to refocus their efforts on uncovering the truth behind Etan Patz’s unresolved case. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office is currently re-evaluating the implications of the appellate court's decision. The case, which has haunted New York for decades, continues to capture public interest as justice remains elusive for Etan Patz and his family.