Third Trial for Etan Patz’s Kidnapping and Murder

A former warehouse clerk is set to go on trial for the third time regarding the kidnapping and murder of Etan Patz, a young boy whose disappearance in 1979 left the nation reeling, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office confirms it’s ready to proceed with the case against Pedro Hernandez, 64, who admitted to killing Patz. However, his prior murder conviction from 2017 was overturned by an appeals court in July.

Assistant District Attorney Sara Marquez outlined in a letter to Manhattan Supreme Court that after reviewing the evidence, they support the charges of murder and kidnapping against Hernandez.

The federal court ruling states that jury selection for the trial needs to commence by June 1; otherwise, Hernandez might be released from his prison in upstate New York.

This trial continues a perplexing saga that has captivated the public for decades. Patz vanished while walking alone to a bus stop in Soho on May 25, 1979, marking the first time he was allowed to do so.

Hernandez was identified as a suspect in 2012 after police learned of a confession he made during a prayer group about killing a child in New York. He subsequently recorded a confession in which he claimed to have lured the 6-year-old into a warehouse basement with a promise of soda, then strangled him.

Despite Hernandez’s confession, Patz’s body was never found, and there’s no physical evidence tying him to the crime.

The first trial concluded in 2015 with the jury finding Hernandez guilty. His defense attorneys argue that he’s innocent and that his confession stemmed from mental health issues.

Defense attorney Harvey Fishbein expressed disappointment in the decision to retry Hernandez, saying, “We are very disappointed in the New York County district attorney’s decision to retry Pedro Hernandez for a third time.” However, he added that they are prepared if the case proceeds.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s office is seeking the U.S. Supreme Court’s assistance in reinstating Hernandez’s 2017 conviction, following an appellate court’s ruling that found the trial judge had misinstructed the jury.

Bragg’s office has appointed a new team of prosecutors in recent months to reach out to witnesses and evaluate whether the case is ready for trial a third time.