The Supreme Court on Monday sided with New York prosecutors and declined to invalidate the conviction of Pedro Hernandez, who confessed to killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979. The decision reverses a lower court ruling that would have likely required a new trial.

Background of the Case

Etan Patz disappeared on May 25, 1979, while walking to his bus stop in SoHo, New York. His disappearance sparked a highly publicized search and brought national attention to cases of missing children. Hernandez, who worked at a bodega near the bus stop, told his ex-wife and others that he had strangled a boy years earlier. He repeated the confessions to law enforcement and was later convicted of felony murder and kidnapping.

Hernandez’s lawyers argued that his confession was false and caused by mental illness. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the lower court exceeded its authority in holding that Hernandez was entitled to relief. The court stated that federal law does not allow a federal habeas court to disturb a state-court conviction based on an evaluation of the evidence.

Reaction to the Ruling

New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg celebrated the ruling, stating that the Supreme Court agreed with the findings of multiple lower courts and upheld the trial conviction of Pedro Hernandez for the murder of Etan Patz. Bragg said that the office has remained steadfast in its pursuit of justice for Etan and the Patz family and will continue to stand by this important conviction.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.