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 Murder Case

In a recent ruling, a federal judge has set a critical deadline of June 1, 2026, for the retrial of Pedro Hernandez, the man convicted of abducting and murdering six-year-old Etan Patz in New York City. If jury selection for the retrial fails to commence by this date, Hernandez will be released from custody.

The judge also granted Hernandez permission to ask the New York State Supreme Court to admit him to bail in advance of any potential retrial, citing no reason why he should not be allowed to do so.

This marks the third retrial for Hernandez in connection with Etan's disappearance and murder. The case has been a long and complex one, spanning over three decades since Etan went missing in 1979. Despite numerous trials and appeals, Hernandez remains incarcerated at the time of this writing.

It is worth noting that Hernandez had previously confessed to luring Etan into the basement of his workplace bodega, where the boy was subsequently murdered. However, his attorneys have argued that he struggled with mental illness and made a false confession during the initial interrogation.

The case gained renewed attention in 2012 when Hernandez was arrested, but the first trial ended in a hung jury. A subsequent trial resulted in Hernandez being found guilty after just nine days of deliberation and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on charges of second-degree murder and kidnapping.

However, Hernandez's attorneys appealed the verdict, arguing that the jury had been incorrectly instructed on his confession. A federal appeals court ruled in their favor, stating that the state trial court had contradicted established federal law, which they deemed not harmless.

OMG u guys the retrial deadline is like only 6 months away ! Did u know that Pedro Hernandez has been incarcerated for 47 years now? That's like, almost 50 yrs of his life lost due to this one case . The stats are wild, btw - there have been 3 retrials since Etan went missing in 1979. Let me put it into perspective: if the retrial fails to start by June 1st, Hernandez will be released . I mean, I'm all for giving people a second chance but come on! The case has been all over the news since 2012 when he was arrested, and now we're seeing it all go down again . I wonder what the chances are of him being found guilty this time around?

omg what a rollercoaster this case has been Pedro Hernandez's life is literally tied to Etan Patz's tragic disappearance i feel so bad for both of these families and the community affected by it one thing that gets me is how many times Pedro's story has changed - was he confessing under duress or just making up a wild tale?

I'm low-key worried about Pedro Hernandez's retrial - I mean, what if he actually does get off scot-free now? The whole case has been a mystery for decades and people on both sides are still super passionate about it. If the jury can't agree, I guess Hernandez will just be released back into society... which is kinda unsettling . Have you guys been following this case at all?

I'm still shook about this case ... 3 retrials and still no closure for Etan's family? I feel bad for Pedro Hernandez, his mental illness is real, but that's no excuse for what he did to a young boy . The fact that he confessed to the crime in the first place makes it hard for me to sympathize with him... on the other hand, I do think the appeals process has been a bit wonky . Like, how can you appeal a conviction based on jury instructions? Shouldn't the court be more clear on what's expected of jurors?

So like, this is a big deal for Pedro Hernandez and Etan Patz's family? I mean, it's been 46 years since Etan went missing and now we have a new deadline to worry about? My brain hurts trying to keep up with all the trials and appeals. Like, what if jury selection fails on June 1st? Will Pedro be set free or is he stuck in prison forever?

I don't get why his lawyers are even arguing that he's mentally ill. I mean, we already know he confessed to luring Etan into that basement... Can't they just admit it and move on? And what's the deal with all these appeals? It feels like we're never gonna get any real answers about what happened to Etan.

I'm also curious, do you think Pedro Hernandez is guilty or not? I mean, he confessed initially, but his lawyers say it was a false confession... Can't make my head around it.

OMG this is getting so crazy! like I'm still trying to wrap my head around it Pedro Hernandez has been through so much already and now another retrial? I feel bad for him, but at the same time, his confession was pretty damning... I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens next. The fact that he's been incarcerated for like 20+ years is wild too - it's crazy how one case can drag on for so long .

omg what a crazy case Pedro Hernandez is like the 3rd time's the charm and I'm kinda surprised he gets to try again after all the drama his mental health thingy is interesting but it's hard to feel sympathy for him given Etan's poor parents the fact that this retrial is even happening feels so premature can't they just leave Hernandez locked up forever

omg u guys!! so Pedro Hernandez is getting a retrial in 2026?? thats like, wut r they even doin here? hes been in prison for ages already & his lawyers are still tryin to say he's mentally ill & didnt really confess lol like wut? the case is soooo old its crazy etan patz went missin in 1979!! cant believe they're still dealin with this u feel me tho, justice should be served ASAP

Ugh, another retrial for Pedro Hernandez ... like we're gonna get it right this time? I mean, I feel bad for Etan's family and all, but come on, 3 tries already? It's just not fair to the person who's been locked up for so long. And what's with the mental illness card? He confessed to the crime back in 2012, and now he wants bail? Like he's gonna suddenly be a model citizen or something? And don't even get me started on the appeals process... it's just too much. Can't we just have one conviction for once?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this case... 40 years later and we're back at square one? I mean, I get it, due process is key and all that, but can't we just move on from this already? Pedro Hernandez has been sitting in prison for decades serving a sentence that's longer than some people have been alive . And now he's getting another shot, which is weird to think about. His initial confession was pretty damning, but you can never know what's going on inside someone's head, right? Mental illness or not, it's still a tragic event that took an innocent life. I'm curious to see how this all plays out... will justice be served this time around, or just more twists and turns in the case?