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Murder trial begins in the case of NY child who disappeared 35 years ago Murder trial begins in the case of Etan Patz, boy who disappeared 35 years ago
(about 2 hours later)
Opening arguments are set to begin Friday in the murder trial of a man accused of abducting Etan Patz, the six-year old New York City boy whose 1979 disappearance helped spark a national missing children’s movement. NEW YORK — Opening arguments are set to begin Friday in the murder trial of a man accused of abducting Etan Patz, the six-year old New York City boy whose 1979 disappearance helped spark a national missing children’s movement.
For years, Patz’s disappearance riveted the nation. The blonde-haired, blued-eyed child was among the first missing children to appear on a milk carton. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated the day he vanished — May 25th — National Missing Children’s Day. Yet 35 years later, after decades of investigations, no trace of him has ever been found. For years, Etan’s disappearance riveted the nation. The blonde-haired, blued-eyed child was among the first missing children to appear on a milk carton. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated the day he vanished — May 25 — National Missing Children’s Day. Yet 35 years later, after decades of investigations, no trace of him has ever been found.
On Friday, prosecutors will allege that Pedro Hernandez, who was a teenage clerk at a bodega in Patz’s neighborhood, lured the boy into the store’s basement and strangled him. Hernandez made a videotaped confession and later re-enacted the crime for investigators, according to authorities. On Friday, prosecutors will argue that Pedro Hernandez, who was a teenage clerk at a bodega in Etan’s neighborhood, lured the boy into the store’s basement and strangled him. Hernandez made a videotaped confession and later re-enacted the crime for investigators, according to authorities.
At least two witnesses — Hernandez’ ex-wife and a childhood friend — have told investigators that he confessed to them to killing Patz at various times going back to the 1980s. A new witness — identified this month as a fellow inmate — is also expected to testify that Hernandez admitted to killing the child. He has pleaded not guilty. At least two witnesses — Hernandez’ ex-wife and a childhood friend — have told investigators that he confessed to them to killing Etan at various times going back to the 1980s. A new witness — identified this month as a fellow inmate — is also expected to testify that Hernandez admitted to killing the child. He has pleaded not guilty.
Defense attorneys say the confession was coerced following six hours of interrogation, and that Hernandez has a long history of mental illness and an extremely low IQ. Among the issues the defense is expected to raise is why police didn’t videotape the six hours of interrogation that preceded the confession.Defense attorneys say the confession was coerced following six hours of interrogation, and that Hernandez has a long history of mental illness and an extremely low IQ. Among the issues the defense is expected to raise is why police didn’t videotape the six hours of interrogation that preceded the confession.
Hernandez’ arrest, which came 33 years to the day after Patz vanished, upended a long-held and widespread belief among many — including law enforcement officials, the boy’s parents and a New York civil court judge — that another man, Jose Antonio Ramos, was responsible. Hernandez’s arrest, which came 33 years to the day after Etan vanished, upended a long-held and widespread belief among many — including law enforcement officials, the boy’s parents and a New York civil court judge — that another man, Jose Antonio Ramos, was responsible.
On the day he vanished, Patz’s parents had let Etan walk the two blocks to his bus stop alone for the first time, according to news reports. His mother watched him part of the way. He never got on the bus. On the day he vanished, his parents had let Etan walk the two blocks to his bus stop alone for the first time, according to news reports. His mother watched him part of the way. He never got on the bus.
When he failed to return home from school, a massive search was launched and hundreds of police and volunteers blanketed lower Manhattan looking for him. Stan Patz, a commercial photographer, had recently shot a series of poignant photos of his son and soon the boy’s cherubic face graced missing posters and newspaper front pages all over New York City, and then across the country. For weeks the dramatic search dominated the national news.When he failed to return home from school, a massive search was launched and hundreds of police and volunteers blanketed lower Manhattan looking for him. Stan Patz, a commercial photographer, had recently shot a series of poignant photos of his son and soon the boy’s cherubic face graced missing posters and newspaper front pages all over New York City, and then across the country. For weeks the dramatic search dominated the national news.
“There were just so many images of Etan everywhere that it just touched everyone’s heart, and it brought awareness,” said Robert Lowery Jr. of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who was a St. Louis Police Department cadet in 1979. “Other missing children were being abducted, but none seemed to capture the attention of the country the way that Etan did.”“There were just so many images of Etan everywhere that it just touched everyone’s heart, and it brought awareness,” said Robert Lowery Jr. of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who was a St. Louis Police Department cadet in 1979. “Other missing children were being abducted, but none seemed to capture the attention of the country the way that Etan did.”
The case went unsolved for years, despite thousands of tips and reported sightings run down all over the globe by federal agents and New York City police detectives.The case went unsolved for years, despite thousands of tips and reported sightings run down all over the globe by federal agents and New York City police detectives.
In 1982, investigators began looking at Ramos, a mentally disturbed Bronx man. He had dated one of Patz’s babysitters, who would later accuse him of molesting her son. Police learned that Ramos had tried to lure some boys into a drainpipe in the Bronx, and found pictures of young boys resembling Patz inside the pipe. Ramos also made incriminating statements to authorities, but never admitted to killing the boy — leaving prosecutors without enough evidence to charge him. In 1982, investigators began looking at Ramos, a mentally disturbed Bronx man. He had dated one of Etan’s babysitters, who would later accuse him of molesting her son. Police learned that Ramos had tried to lure some boys into a drainpipe in the Bronx, and found pictures of young boys resembling Etan inside the pipe. Ramos also made incriminating statements to authorities, but never admitted to killing the boy — leaving prosecutors without enough evidence to charge him.
In 2001, Patz’s parents had their son declared legally dead so they could sue Ramos in civil court. In 2004, the court declared Ramos responsible for Patz’s death. Ramos served more than 20 years on a child molestation conviction in an unrelated Pennsylvania case. He has been ordered to testify as a material witness in the Hernandez trial. In 2001, Etan’s parents had their son declared legally dead so they could sue Ramos in civil court. In 2004, the court declared Ramos responsible for Etan’s death. Ramos served more than 20 years on a child molestation conviction in an unrelated Pennsylvania case. He has been ordered to testify as a material witness in the Hernandez trial.
Then in 2012, New York City police arrested Hernandez, after receiving a tip from a relative. He was indicted by a grand jury in November of that year.Then in 2012, New York City police arrested Hernandez, after receiving a tip from a relative. He was indicted by a grand jury in November of that year.
Hernandez’s arrest has been jarring for Julie and Stan Patz, their civil attorney told the Associated Press recently.Hernandez’s arrest has been jarring for Julie and Stan Patz, their civil attorney told the Associated Press recently.
“We spent many years of our lives pursuing one individual and were totally convinced that he committed the crime,” attorney Brian O’Dwyer said. “It’s hard after all of these years to let go of that. ... but on the other hand, you have to let it play out. This is all very strange for all of us.”“We spent many years of our lives pursuing one individual and were totally convinced that he committed the crime,” attorney Brian O’Dwyer said. “It’s hard after all of these years to let go of that. ... but on the other hand, you have to let it play out. This is all very strange for all of us.”
Despite its grim denouement, Lowery said that the Patz case helped revolutionize the way law enforcement responds to potential child abductions.Despite its grim denouement, Lowery said that the Patz case helped revolutionize the way law enforcement responds to potential child abductions.
“Of course, technology has changed so dramatically and that’s had a major impact, but we have so many more resources as a result of the Patz case. Now we have things like the FBI’s CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) teams, which are response teams specially-trained by the Justice Department to deal with child abductions. ... We have Amber Alerts, sex offender mapping software,” he said. “If Etan went missing today, we would have a world of resources to help track him down.”“Of course, technology has changed so dramatically and that’s had a major impact, but we have so many more resources as a result of the Patz case. Now we have things like the FBI’s CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) teams, which are response teams specially-trained by the Justice Department to deal with child abductions. ... We have Amber Alerts, sex offender mapping software,” he said. “If Etan went missing today, we would have a world of resources to help track him down.”