Supreme Court Upholds Conviction in 1979 Etan Patz Murder Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of Pedro Hernandez, who confessed to the 1979 murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz, reversing a lower court's decision that could have led to a retrial. Patz disappeared on May 25, 1979, prompting a nationwide search and raising awareness about missing children. Hernandez, who worked at a nearby bodega, was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. His defense argued that his confession was coerced due to mental illness. The Supreme Court ruled that the Second Circuit Court overstepped its authority in suggesting Hernandez deserved a retrial, emphasizing the reliability of state court convictions. New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg hailed the ruling as a victory for justice.

Key Details: • Supreme Court decision made on a Monday, reversing a previous appellate ruling. • Pedro Hernandez was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to 25 years to life. • Etan Patz disappeared on May 25, 1979, and his body has never been found. • The case has significant implications for how confessions are treated in court.