New Trial Ordered for Convicted Killer in Etan Patz Case

A U.S. appeals court has determined that a man convicted of the 1979 murder of six-year-old Etan Patz should receive a new trial, igniting discussions around the integrity of the original trial process.

A ruling from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has mandated a new trial for Pedro Hernandez, who was found guilty in 2017 of the murder and disappearance of Etan Patz, a case that has haunted New York City since the boy vanished on his way to school in 1979. Hernandez’s conviction followed a previous trial in 2015, which ended in a hung jury. The court’s decision stems from concerns over improper jury instructions that violated established federal law, potentially influencing the outcome of the trial.

Patz's disappearance shook the city and led to a national movement for missing children, with his face appearing on milk cartons and public posters. Prosecutors based their case heavily on Hernandez's confessions, which he made after long hours of police questioning and had presented mixed reliability due to his mental health history and the circumstances under which they were obtained.

The appeal highlighted flawed jury guidance regarding the confessions, leading to the court's statement that the initial confession was not voluntary, raising fundamental questions about the fairness of the original trial. Hernandez’s attorney welcomed the ruling, urging the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to refocus efforts on finding the actual abductors of Patz, who remains missing.