The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, restored the 2017 murder conviction of Pedro Hernandez for the disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz over four decades ago. The ruling overturns an appeals court decision that had cited improper jury instructions regarding Hernandez's confession. The Patz case famously changed how the U.S. handles missing children, leading to the "Milk Carton Kids" campaign.
Supreme Court ruling
- ▪The U.S. Supreme Court restored the conviction of Pedro Hernandez for the murder of Etan Patz on June 22, 2026
- ▪The ruling reversed a 2025 decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that would have granted Hernandez a new trial
- ▪Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg affirmed his office would "stand by this important conviction" following the court's decision
- ▪The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision was delivered in an unsigned opinion
Hernandez conviction history
- ▪Pedro Hernandez was convicted in 2017, during his second trial, of kidnapping and murdering 6-year-old Etan Patz
- ▪Hernandez, a former store clerk, confessed to the crime in 2012, but his defense argued the confession was false due to mental illness
- ▪Hernandez's first murder trial ended in a hung jury, and he was later sentenced to 25 years to life in prison
Jury instruction dispute
- ▪The disputed jury instructions concerned how to consider a confession Hernandez made before he was advised of his Miranda rights
- ▪The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had overturned the conviction, finding that jurors received improper instructions from the trial judge
- ▪New York prosecutors argued a retrial would be difficult because of the time that had passed and the death of some witnesses
Etan Patz disappearance
- ▪Etan Patz was a 6-year-old boy who disappeared near his New York City home more than 40 years ago, and his body has never been found
- ▪Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the "horrific murder" of Etan Patz as an event that "changed a generation of New Yorkers."
Missing children policy impact
- ▪The disappearance of Etan Patz, along with Adam Walsh, helped transform how law enforcement agencies handle missing children cases
- ▪Etan Patz was one of the first missing children to be featured on milk cartons in the 1980s as part of the "Milk Carton Kids" movement
Story comments
Loading comments…