Manhattan Prosecutor Intends to Retry 1979 Missing-Boy Case

(NEW YORK) — A prosecutor says in a television interview he intends to ask for a retrial in the case of a New Jersey man who confessed to choking a 6-year-old New York City boy missing since 1979.

Pedro Hernandez in 2012 admitted killing Etan Patz (AY’-tahn payts), who disappeared while walking to school May 25, 1979, and whose body hasn’t been found.

Hernandez’s murder trial ended in a mistrial this month after jurors said they were deadlocked on the 18th day of deliberations. The defense had argued his confession was false.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. spoke Monday on MSNBC’s “The Cycle” about a June 10 court date in the case.

Etan’s photo was one of the first missing children’s images on a milk carton. His father says he’s convinced Hernandez is the killer.