Categories: U.S. News

Etan Patz Disappearance: Judge Declares Mistrial in Missing Boy Case

Jurors in murder trial against Pedro Hernandez in Etan Patz disappearance case fail to finish their 16th day of deliberation without reaching verdict, making deliberation one of longest in past three decades in New York City.

A mistrial has been declared in the case of the six-year-old boy who went missing in 1979.

Defendant Pedro Hernandez confessed in 2012 to killing Etan Patz.

But Pedro Hernandez’s lawyers say the confession was false and claim he is mentally ill.

Pedro Hernandez will remain in jail as prosecutors set a new trial date.

Etan Patz vanished while walking to a school bus stop, in a prominent case that baffled authorities for decades.

The boy’s father, Stanley Patz, expressed his frustration over the jury’s inability to decide but added: “I think we have closure already.”

Etan Patz’s disappearance was one of most prominent missing person cases of the 1980s. He was the first missing child to appear on milk cartons.

In 2012, Pedro Hernandez admitted choking the boy in the basement of the shop where he worked, putting the body in a bag, putting the bag in a banana box and eventually dumping the body about two blocks away from the store.

Etan Patz’s body was never found, and no physical evidence was uncovered to link Pedro Hernandez to the crime.

Defense lawyer Harvey Fishbein said during closing arguments: “Pedro Hernandez is the only witness against himself. The stories he told over the years, including in 2012, and since, are the only evidence. Yet he is inconsistent and unreliable.”

Pedro Hernandez’s lawyers pointed to another suspect Jose Ramos.

According to a former prison informant with whom lawyers were working, Jose Ramos claimed he was with Etan Patz the day the boy vanished and admitted molesting the child.

During 18 days of deliberations, the jury was deadlocked three times before the judge declared the mistrial.

Nancy Clayson

Nancy is a young, full of life lady who joined the team shortly after the BelleNews site started to run. She is focused on bringing up to light all the latest news from the technology industry. In her opinion the hi-tech expresses the humanity intellectual level. Nancy is an active person; she enjoys sports and delights herself in doing gardening in her spare time, as well as reading, always searching for new topics for her articles.

Recent Posts

Donald Trump and Elon Musk Celebrate Election Victory at UFC 309

Image source: Wikimedia Commons President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting…

5 days ago

White House 2024: Donald Trump Wins, Kamala Harris Calls Him to Concede Election

Millions of voters across the US chose to return Donald Trump to the White House…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Donald Trump Declares Victory as He Addresses Jubilant Supporters in Florida

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.…

2 weeks ago

Stocks Soaring as Donald Trump Closes in on US Victory

Stocks around the world are rising as Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Kamala Harris Cancels Election Night Party as Path to Victory Narrows

Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala…

2 weeks ago

Quincy Jones Dead at 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray…

2 weeks ago