Prosecutors to retry suspect in 1979 missing boy case after 1st murder trial ends in hung jury

Published May 03, 2016

Manhattan prosecutors have started the process to retry the man accused of kidnapping and killing 6-year-old Etan Patz (AY'-tahn payts) in 1979.

Pedro Hernandez's first trial ended with a hung jury last month. The 54-year-old confessed in 2012 and told several people over the years he had harmed a child in New York.

Defense attorneys brought evidence that Hernandez was mentally ill and his confessions were fictional ravings.

The previous jury voted 11-1 in favor of convicting Hernandez of murder. The lone holdout said he was concerned about Hernandez's mental state.

Etan became a national symbol for the missing children's movement. The boy's body was never found.

Several former jurors attended Wednesday's hearing, including the holdout.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/prosecutors-to-retry-suspect-in-1979-missing-boy-case-after-1st-murder-trial-ends-in-hung-jury