Supreme Court reinstates murder conviction in Etan Patz case
The Supreme Court has reinstated a murder conviction related to the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz. This decision reverses a previous ruling by an appeals court. (sources: cbsnews, theguardian, abcnews)
The Supreme Court reinstated the murder conviction of Pedro Hernandez in the case of Etan Patz, who disappeared in 1979. The ruling overturns an appeals court decision that had found Hernandez was wrongly convicted.
- Etan Patz disappeared in 1979 at the age of six in New York City.
- Pedro Hernandez was convicted of murder in connection with Patz's disappearance.
- An appeals court previously ruled that Hernandez was wrongly convicted.
Why it matters
The ruling impacts the legal standing of the conviction in a high-profile case that has remained unresolved for decades.
↓ Congress can act on this
5 bills on this issue are moving right now — and the most active one is S.539: PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025.
S.539 · 119th Congress
PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025
Where do you stand on this bill?
Takes about 60 seconds
About this bill
What S.539 actually does
This story is about Supreme Court reinstates murder conviction in Etan Patz case. This bill would this bill renews the PROTECT Our Children Act, a 2008 law that sets up a national plan and special police task forces to
4 other bills moving on this issue
Take action on any of them individually.
This story is about Supreme Court reinstates murder conviction in Etan Patz case. This bill would change federal laws on child kidnapping and sexual abuse.
Take action on S.1333 →This story is about Supreme Court reinstates murder conviction in Etan Patz case. This bill would make the national missing persons database add a new field for cases where a person was last seen
Take action on S.1038 →This story is about Supreme Court reinstates murder conviction in Etan Patz case. This bill would this bill rewrites the federal crime victims' rights law so that victims' rights begin during the investigation
Take action on HR5506 →This story is about Supreme Court reinstates murder conviction in Etan Patz case. This bill would require the Attorney General to create a national working group within 90 days.
Take action on HR5538 →