**New Trial Ordered for Convicted Man in Landmark Missing Child Case**

Fri Jul 25 2025 06:48:51 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
**New Trial Ordered for Convicted Man in Landmark Missing Child Case**

A US court grants a new trial or release for Pedro Hernandez, convicted in the infamous Etan Patz case.


The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on the basis of improper jury instructions that violated Hernandez's rights.

In a significant legal development, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered a new trial or the release of Pedro Hernandez, the man convicted in the notorious 1979 disappearance and murder of six-year-old Etan Patz in New York City. The court concluded that judicial errors during Hernandez's trial contaminated the jury's decision-making process.

Etan Patz vanished while heading to his school bus stop in Manhattan. His case captivated the nation, leading to a widespread campaign featuring his image on milk cartons and posters, and sparking greater awareness regarding missing children. Hernandez, a then-convenience store owner, confessed to luring Patz into a basement before killing him. However, his confessions came after hours of questioning without a lawyer.

John Doe, attorney for Hernandez, stated that the defense team was pleased with the ruling, emphasizing the need for a fair trial free from coercive practices. The 2017 conviction followed a previous trial in 2015 that ended in a hung jury, demonstrating the complexities and challenges associated with the high-profile case.

During the appeal, Hernandez's legal team argued that the jury was given improper instructions regarding how to interpret his confessions. One pivotal note from jurors questioned the validity of his confessions if deemed involuntary, but the trial judge indicated they must consider all confessions regardless of the circumstances surrounding them.

The court recognized that Hernandez's mental health history and intellectual capacity were critical factors that could have affected his confessions’ voluntariness. In light of these considerations, the court believed prior decisions by the trial court contravened established federal legal standards, warranting a reconsideration of the case.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office is currently reviewing the appellate ruling. Hernandez's legal representative urged the district attorneys to redirect their energy towards finding the true perpetrators responsible for Etan’s long-unsolved case. The haunting case of Etan Patz remains a chilling reminder of child abductions in America, but justice may yet change course for Hernandez with this landmark ruling.

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