The conviction was overturned today for the 1979 disappearance/murder of Etan Patz. Major news story at the time.
For those too young, this is the disappearance of a 6-year old that was one of the reasons for missing kids on milk cartoons, stranger danger, and why parents became more protective of kids leaving the house. GenX kids love to talk about how their parents let them roam free, but his disappearance (& others) scared enough parents to slowly change that stance.
Background
6 year old NYC boy walking 2 blocks to the school bus. He was alone on this walk for the first time.
He didn't make it to the bus stop.
No body was ever found.
In the mid-80s, a child molester was the main suspect with limited evidence. There was a reported jail house confession to another inmate.
The suspect admitted to raping other young boys but couldn't recall if Patz was one of his victims. He was clear that he left his victim alive. Disgusting.
A civil judgement was won by the parents against the suspect.
In 2012, a low-IQ, former convenience store clerk confessed to the murder before he was mirandized. He claimed to toss the body in the trash the day of the disappearance.
First trial was a hung jury, second trial led to a guilt verdict with a 25 year sentence.
Verdict was overturned today due to jury instruction errors by the judge: https://archive.ph/NLxkg
In today's world it would be unheard of to let a 6 year walk to a bus stop but the 70s were a different time. It wasn't NYC but I walked to the bus stop on my own at that age. It was very common. I have a definite memory of the Patz TV news stories. He would be 52 years old now.