Judge sets June 1 deadline for retrial of Pedro Hernandez in Etan Patz case

Federal Judge Sets June 1 Deadline for Pedro Hernandez's Retrial in Etan Patz Case

Pedro Hernandez, the man convicted of abducting and murdering six-year-old Etan Patz in New York City back in the 1970s, will have to face a retrial by June 1, 2026. If jury selection commences by then, Hernandez will remain behind bars; otherwise, he'll be set free.

The decision comes after the prosecution's lawyers informed the court that they're ready for a third trial in this highly publicized case. The Manhattan district attorney has declined to comment on this development at present.

To recap, Etan Patz vanished while walking to his school bus stop in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood back in 1979. Despite an extensive investigation and numerous arrests over the years, Etan's body was never found. Hernandez's confession, which he made after being arrested in 2012, claimed that he lured Etan into the basement of the bodega where he worked at the time, leading to the six-year-old's tragic death.

However, Hernandez's lawyers have maintained that their client struggled with mental illness and made a false confession. The case against Hernandez has been marked by two previous trials, both of which ended in hung juries.

Hernandez was ultimately convicted after nine days of jury deliberation and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on charges of second-degree murder and kidnapping. His lawyers have appealed the verdict, arguing that the jury received incorrect instructions regarding his confession. In a recent federal appeals court ruling, Hernandez's attorneys won the right for an appeal, citing that the state trial court had incorrectly applied federal law.

With this latest development, it remains to be seen whether prosecutors will proceed with a retrial, or if Hernandez will finally have his day in court and prove his innocence once and for all.

Ugh I feel so bad thinking about Etan Patz ... like what even happened to him? And now Pedro Hernandez is gonna get another chance to say sorry? I mean idk, I've been following this case since it was all over the news back in 2014 and it's just been so weird. First he confesses, then he says sorry, but was it really his fault or did he just get scared? It's like, what if he didn't do it? What if he's innocent? The thought of him languishing in prison for 10+ years is so unfair I hope the new trial actually gets to the truth of what happened. Fingers crossed

omg can't believe this Pedro Hernandez is going to get another chance to clear his name after all these years 25 years to life is way too much time to spend behind bars even if he did do it but what if he didn't? the prosecution's lawyers must be freaking out right now

I'm not sure how I feel about this ... like, on one hand, justice is supposed to be blind right? But on the other hand, 6 yrs old Etan was murdered and now Pedro's gonna get a do-over? What if he actually did it though? Like what if his confession was legit? I don't know man... this case has been dragging on for so long... [link to podcast discussion](https://www.podbean.com/pb/mg-5kq8/)

omg like what's going on w this guy pedro hernandez?? i feel so bad for etan patz's family & friends they've been through so much already he was just a kid and now it's like... is it really over? or will there be another trial?!?! my heart can't take it anyway, i'm all about justice & fairness so if pedro's lawyers are saying his confession was false that's got to count for something maybe the prosecution is just not ready yet but idk, i'd want to see all the facts before making a decision what do u guys think?!?!

Ugh, another case like this where justice is so complicated . So many twists and turns... like, what's the point of a retrial at this stage? Will it really make a difference? And what about Pedro's mental health struggles? Shouldn't we be focusing on getting him the help he needs instead of trying to pin blame on someone who's already been convicted and serving life in prison . I'm not saying he's innocent or anything, but do we really need another trial to figure this out? It just feels like a never-ending cycle of pain for the Patz family...

I'm just so worried about Pedro Hernandez being set free after 25 years. I mean, think about the family of Etan Patz - they've been living with this tragedy for so long . My heart goes out to them if a retrial doesn't happen soon. But at the same time, I don't want Pedro Hernandez to be wrongly imprisoned either... 25 years is a long time, and if he's actually innocent, justice needs to be served ASAP!

The Patz case is like life itself - full of twists and turns that lead us down dark alleys, but also reveal the hidden truths we try to suppress. This retrial could be seen as a chance for justice to finally be served, or it might just prolong the cycle of pain and suffering for Etan's family .

I wonder if Hernandez's mental health issues are more than just a convenient excuse for his lawyers - is there truth to the notion that our minds can play tricks on us, leading us down paths we never intended to take? It's also possible that this retrial might be about more than just finding the truth - it could be an opportunity for healing and closure for everyone involved.

But what if the truth is too complex, too messy to be unraveled in a court of law? Sometimes, I think we're all just trying to find our way out of the darkness, one step at a time .

I cant believe its been so long since Etans disappearance... 45 years is just too long . I always thought Pedro Hernendez would be behind bars for life but now he might get to walk free? Its hard not to question whether he's telling the truth or not... his lawyers say he was mentally unstable and made a false confession, but the prosecution says he confessed under duress... so who do you trust?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing ... like, Pedro Hernandez was convicted of such a heinous crime, and now there's a chance he could be set free? I mean, I know the prosecution is ready for another trial, but it just seems so... arbitrary? And what about Etan Patz's family? They've been through all this trauma and uncertainty for decades - do they really want to relive it all over again?

And then there's the mental health aspect of things... Hernandez has always claimed he was suffering from mental illness at the time, which is a pretty big mitigating factor. Is it really fair to condemn someone to life in prison based on their own self-proclaimed insanity? I guess that's what makes this whole case so complicated .

I'm just really curious to know how things will play out now - will the prosecution still push for a retrial, or will Hernandez get his chance at an appeal? And what about Etan Patz's family... are they ready to put all of this behind them, or is there still hope that justice can be served?

so like what's going on here is that some guy Pedro Hernandez who's already served 25 years in prison for allegedly killing this kid Etan Patz back in the 70s is getting a chance to prove himself innocent again? That's wild, right? The prosecution is all set to retry him and if they start jury selection by June next year, he'll still be locked up... but if not, he gets to go free. It's like this whole thing is being reopened and we get to see what really went down all those years ago.

just gotta say, 25 years is way too much time for someone who's never even got a chance to see the light of day again he's been locked up almost longer than etan was gone... hoping they'll finally get it right next time

I'm not sure what's going on here... first, Pedro Hernandez is convicted of Etan Patz's murder, then his lawyers say he was mentally ill and made a false confession, now there's talk of another trial and potentially him being set free. It's all a bit confusing, isn't it? I just hope they get to the bottom of this case once and for all... justice should be served! The fact that Hernandez has been through two previous trials with hung juries makes me wonder if he actually did do it or not .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Pedro Hernandez could potentially be set free after decades of imprisonment . It's like, what even is justice anymore? The original trial was a mess, with a hung jury no less... but now we have another chance to get it right .

But here's the thing: if prosecutors do decide to move forward with a retrial, it'll be a total 180 on Hernandez's case . And honestly, I'm still curious about what really went down that day in SoHo . Was he truly guilty? Or was there something more at play?

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out . One thing for sure: the public wants answers, and justice needs to be served . Can't help but feel a sense of unease about the whole situation... like there's still more to uncover .

This new twist is so wild , I'm both shocked and intrigued at the thought of Pedro's next chapter . A retrial by June 1? That's like, super short ! If he gets out, will we finally know what really happened to Etan ? The case has been going on for decades , and I'm curious to see how this new development unfolds . Can't wait to follow the next moves in this highly publicized trial . Will justice be served?