Disappearance of Etan Patz

American boy who disappeared in 1979

Etan Patz was a boy from New York City who was abducted on May 25, 1979 in SoHo. He was declared dead in 2001. His disappearance started the use of milk cartons for missing children in the United States.

Etan Patz
Etan Patz on September 16, 1978
Born(1972-10-09)October 9, 1972
DisappearedMay 25, 1979 (aged 6)
West Broadway & Prince Street, New York, U.S.
StatusMissing for 45 years, 6 months and 2 days; declared dead in absentia on June 19, 2001(2001-06-19) (aged 28)
Diedc. May 25, 1979(1979-05-25) (aged 6)
Cause of deathMurder by strangulation (presumed)[a]
Known forOne of the first missing-child cases to have a photo appear on a milk carton
Height3 ft 4 in (102 cm)[1]
Parent(s)Stanley Patz
Julie Patz
Disappearance of Etan Patz
DateMay 25, 1979; 45 years ago (1979-05-25)
LocationManhattan, New York, U.S.
TypeDisappearance, presumed child murder, presumed child abduction
MotiveUnclear, allegedly sexual[2]
DeathsEtan Kalil Patz (presumed)
AccusedJose Ramos (not formally charged, but speculation exists)
ConvictedPedro Hernandez
VerdictMistrial[b] (2015; first trial)
Guilty on both counts (2017; second trial)
ConvictionsSecond-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping (2017)[3]
SentenceLife in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years

Notes

change
  1. In 2017, Pedro Hernandez was convicted of murdering Patz by strangulation. However, the location of Patz's body has never been discovered.
  2. 11-1 in favor of guilty verdict

References

change
  1. "Guilty verdict in Etan Patz missing child case | amNewYork". amNY. February 14, 2017. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  2. "Jury finds Pedro Hernandez guilty in 1979 murder, kidnapping of Etan Patz". abc7ny.com. February 14, 2017. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  3. "Inmate Information - HERNANDEZ, PEDRO". Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2022.