Historic Appeal Revives Decades-Old Case of Missing Child Etan Patz

A federal appeals court overturned the conviction of Pedro Hernandez, initially found guilty of the 1979 kidnapping and murder of Etan Patz. The ruling mandates a possible new trial due to improper instructions to the jury, sparking a review by the Manhattan DA's office and reviving a landmark child disappearance case.

A federal appeals court on Monday overturned the conviction of Pedro Hernandez, who was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Etan Patz, a child whose 1979 disappearance instigated national fear. The 6-year-old boy's case gripped the country and underscored the urgency around children's safety.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision means Hernandez must be released unless New York State opts to grant him a new trial within a reasonable time, as outlined by a federal judge. The Manhattan District Attorney's office, under Alvin Bragg, is currently assessing the situation, as this case has seen several legal twists since it began.

The case heavily relied on Hernandez's confessions, which his defense claims were coerced due to mental illness. The appeals court found that the initial handling by the state trial judge violated federal law, particularly concerning jury instructions on the confessions made during interrogation without legal counsel.

(With inputs from agencies.)