Jurors Begin Deliberations in Etan Patz Case

By
The Associated Press
WNYC News | Apr 16, 2015

Jurors have started weighing the case against a man accused of killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979.

The Manhattan jury deliberated for about 90 minutes Wednesday before going home for the day.

Pedro Hernandez made a surprise confession to authorities in 2012. The case had helped fuel the national missing-children's movement.

Hernandez said he lured Etan to a store basement by promising a soda, then choked the boy, boxed his body and left it about two blocks away.

Jurors also heard from prayer group members who said Hernandez confessed to killing a boy in New York. Hernandez's former neighbor and ex-wife also said he confessed.

His attorneys say Hernandez is mentally ill and his confession is imaginary.

Prosecutors say the admissions are sound.

Etan's body was never found.

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The Associated Press

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