Pedro Hernandez, convicted of killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979, received a new trial order from a federal appeals court which found errors in the previous trial. Hernandez has been imprisoned since his 2017 conviction. The appeals court noted that the trial judge gave an incorrect response to a jury question. Hernandez, now 64, may be released unless retried within a reasonable timeframe. The case has had a significant impact on childhood safety awareness and missing children's advocacy since Etan was one of the first missing children featured on milk cartons.
The man convicted in the 1979 killing of 6-year-old Etan Patz was awarded a new trial as a federal appeals court overturned the guilty verdict.
Pedro Hernandez has been serving 25 years to life in prison since his 2017 conviction.
The appeals court said the trial judge gave a "clearly wrong" and "manifestly prejudicial" response to a jury note during Hernandez's 2017 trial.
Etan was among the first missing children pictured on milk cartons, contributing to an era of fear among American families.
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