Man Convicted in Etan Patz Murder Should Be Retried or Released, Appeals Court Rules
The Wall Street JournalMonday, July 21, 2025 at 9:12:00 PM
A New York appeals court has ruled that Pedro Hernandez, the man convicted of murdering 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979, should either get a new trial or be released. Hernandez, who confessed to the crime decades later, was sentenced to 25 years to life, but the court found issues with how his case was handled.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about one case—it’s about how confessions, evidence, and decades-old investigations hold up in court. Etan Patz’s disappearance was a national tragedy that changed how missing children cases are handled. Now, the legal system is grappling with whether justice was truly served or if procedural missteps mean the case needs another look. For New Yorkers and anyone who remembers Etan’s story, this ruling opens old wounds but also raises big questions about fairness in high-profile trials.
— Curated via WP Now’s
