Judge declares mistrial in Etan Patz murder case
One of New York City's biggest missing child cases has resulted in a mistrial.
A 12-person jury was deadlocked in their decision about whether to convict Pedro Hernandez, 54, after three weeks of deliberation. Hernandez confessed to kidnapping and murdering Patz, who was six years old, 33 years after the crime. Patz disappeared on his way to school on May 25, 1979. Police never recovered his body.
Prosecutors argued that the confession showed Hernandez was guilty, while Hernandez' lawyer said his statements were "the rantings of a mentally ill man with a low IQ," since there was no physical evidence to tie him to the crime. Hernandez told the police that he choked Patz in a bodega basement.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Justice Maxwell Wiley declared a mistrial on Friday, and a new date for the trial has been set for June 10.—Meghan DeMaria
Iframe Code
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Who are China’s Westminster spies?The Explainer MI5 warns of civilian ‘headhunters’ trying to ‘cultivate’ close contacts of MPs and peers
-
The Old Bell Hotel: whimsy and charm in historic WiltshireThe Week Recommends Giraffes, monkeys and bold, bright colours add a playful touch to this 800-year-old inn
-
Will 2026 be the Trump World Cup?In the Spotlight US president already using the world’s most popular football tournament to score political points
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
