Murder of Etan Patz, one of first missing children on milk cartons, raises confession questions after reversal
Share and Follow


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The man imprisoned for kidnapping and murdering a six-year-old boy in New York City nearly 45 years ago has had his conviction overturned. 

64-year-old Pedro Hernandez has been serving 25 years to life in prison after being convicted in 2017 of killing Etan Patz in 1979. 

Patz vanished on the first day he was allowed to walk to the school bus stop by himself on May 25, 1979. He was one of the first missing children to be pictured on milk cartons in a case that drew national attention. 

President Ronald Reagan later declared May 25, 1983, the first National Missing Children’s Day in memory of Patz.

The case garnered national attention, with Patz’s photo being one of the first to be circulated on milk cartons throughout the country. His parents spent decades in the same home and with the same phone number, in hopes of their son eventually returning to them. 

The child’s family worked to help establish a national missing-children hotline and pioneered a new way for law enforcement agencies throughout the country to distribute information regarding such cases. 

“They waited and persevered for 35 years for justice for Etan, which today, sadly, may have been lost,” former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. told The Associated Press after hearing about the reversal.

The court ordered Hernandez’s release unless he receives a new trial within “a reasonable time period.” 

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

“This case highlights a broader issue in the legal system,” Alpert said. “Confessions are not always reliable. Mental illness, coercion or desperation can all lead someone to admit guilt falsely. Without physical evidence to support a confession, courts must proceed with extreme caution. Understanding the psychology behind a confession is essential before treating it as fact.” 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Law enforcement officers talk with protesters outside a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Ore., Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Federal Trial Commences Over Trump’s Controversial National Guard Deployment in Portland

In Portland, Oregon, a pivotal federal trial is set to commence on…
Trump heard on hot mic teasing plans for summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Trump Caught on Hot Mic Discussing Potential Summit with China’s President Xi Jinping

President Donald Trump is preparing for a pivotal meeting with Chinese President…
Trump jokes Xi Jinping is 'tough negotiator' at high-stakes meeting

Trump Praises Xi Jinping’s Negotiation Skills at Crucial Diplomatic Summit

Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in person for the…
Jacksonville University leadership appoints Dr. Lisa Sutherland as future interim president

Dr. Lisa Sutherland to Lead Jacksonville University as Interim President: A New Era Begins

Jacksonville University is preparing for a change in leadership as President Tim…
Thieves disguised as construction workers steal $3.2M in valuables from NYC home in broad daylight

Bold Heist: ‘Construction Workers’ Make Off with $3.2M in Valuables from NYC Residence

Authorities in New York City are on the hunt for three suspects…
President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as he receives a gift of a gold crown and an award of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, not seen, during a high honor ceremony at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump Announces US-South Korea Collaboration on Nuclear Submarine Technology

GYEONGJU, South Korea (AP) — President Donald Trump announced via social media…
El Paso man sentenced to 55 years for child sex abuse

El Paso Resident Receives 55-Year Sentence for Child Sexual Abuse

Editor’s Note: This article addresses sensitive topics related to child abuse. We…
Moon landing astronaut Buzz Aldrin loses wife, two years after wedding

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Mourns the Loss of His Wife, Two Years into Marriage

Dr. Anca Aldrin, wife of famed astronaut Buzz Aldrin, has passed away…