Etan Patz disappeared from his SoHo neighborhood in New York City in 1979, and his family had been on a desperate search ever since — until May 24 when Pedro Hernandez was arrested and confessed to killing the little boy. Now, Pedro is facing a judge in court — but pleading not guilty to the heinous crime.

Etan Patz Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Pedro appeared in court on Dec. 12 and plead not guilty to the charges. Even though, back in May, he confessed to killing the little boy, his lawyer says Pedro was mentally insane at the time of the confession, and therefore, the confession isn’t reliable.

However, his lawyer revealed the morbid details of Pedro’s confession from the 8 hours he was interrogated back in May– and they are very shocking, to say the least.

Etan Patz Alleged Killer’s Confession Details

“He was at work that morning, that he saw the boy at the bus stop, asked him if he would like a soda, led him to the basement of the bodega where he was employed, and for no apparent reason immediately choked the boy until the boy went limp. The defendant said he then placed the boy in a plastic bag, placed the bag in a cardboard box, and tossed the boy’s book bag behind a freezer in the basement. He then carried the box to the entranceway of a basement approximately one-and-a-half blocks away, where he placed the box on the ground just inside the open entranceway. According to the video-recorded statement by Mr. Hernandez, when he left the box, Etan Patz was still alive.”

Pedro also told prosecutors that his actions may have led to the boy’s death. Police said after Pedro’s arrest, he took them to the location where he thought he’d left the body. He also said he went back to check on the box the day after the incident, but it was gone.

Such a tragic situation. We hope Etan’s family can find peace, and that justice will be served.

What do YOU think of Pedro’s confession HollyMoms? Do you think he’s guilty?

– Christina Stiehl

More on the Etan Patz Case:

1. Etan Patz Killer Charged With Second-Degree Murder
2. Etan Patz Murderer Found? — Man In Custody For His Disappearance
3. Etan Patz Case Re-Opened — FBI Searching For Missing Boy After 33 Years

It’s been a long road, but the mystery of Etan Patz‘s disappearance and murder can finally be closed. After confessing to the police he committed the crime, Pedro Hernandez was charged May 25 with second-degree murder.

Etan Patz Killer’s Confession — SHOCKING Details Revealed In Court

“He was remorseful, and I think the detectives thought that it was a feeling of relief on his part,” New York police Commissioner Ray Kelly said during a news conference the day prior.

“He brought them to the scene of the crime, which is now a store that sells eye glasses,” the commissioner said, describing the horrible scene. “Hernandez described to the detectives how he lured young Etan from the school bus stop at West Broadway and Prince Street with the promise of a soda. He then led him into the basement of the (store), choked him there, and disposed of the body by putting it into a plastic bag, and placing it into the trash.”

Pedro was only 19 when he killed Etan, who became the first “milk carton kid.”

Even though it took decades to solve the crime, we’re so relieved Etan’s family can finally have some closure.

More On The Etan Patz Case:

1. Etan Patz Murderer Found? — Man In Custody For His Disappearance
2. Etan Patz Search Ending — FBI: No Evidence Found
3. Etan Patz Case Reopened 33 Years After He Went Missing — FBI Has New Evidence

Almost 33 years to the day he was brutally murdered and disposed of, Etan Patz will finally have the justice he deserves. Pedro Hernandez, 51, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder May 24, after confessing to the unspeakable crime.

“He was remorseful, and I think the detectives thought that it was a feeling of relief on his part,” New York police Commissioner Ray Kelly said during a news conference.

“He brought them to the scene of the crime, which is now a store that sells eye glasses,” the commissioner said, describing the horrible scene. “Hernandez described to the detectives how he lured young Etan from the school bus stop at West Broadway and Prince Street with the promise of a soda. He then led him into the basement of the (store), choked him there, and disposed of the body by putting it into a plastic bag, and placing it into the trash.”

Pedro was only 19 when he killed Etan, who became the first “milk carton kid.”

Even though it took decades to solve the crime, we’re so relieved Etan’s family can finally have some closure.

More On The Etan Patz Case:

1. Etan Patz Murderer Found? — Man In Custody For His Disappearance
2. Etan Patz Search Ending — FBI: No Evidence Found
3. Etan Patz Case Reopened 33 Years After He Went Missing — FBI Has New Evidence

The family of Etan Patz may be one step closer to justice.

A man who has implicated himself in the case is currently being held in custody, Commissioner Ray Kelly of the New York Police Department said on May 24. The police identified the suspect as Pedro Hernandez, who police picked up in Camden, New Jersey on the night of May 23 for questioning in New York City.

Pedro Hernandez’s Confession — Horrific Details Of Etan Patz’s Murder Revealed In Court

Pedro “has made statements to NYPD detectives implicating himself in the disappearance and death of Etan Patz 33 years ago,” the commissioner said in a statement.

Those statements included enticing Etan with candy, before stabbing the young boy, cutting up his body, and placing him in plastic bags, a law enforcement source told The New York Post.

Pedro is not new to the case, law enforcement sources told NBC 4. He lived and worked in Etan’s neighborhood when the boy disappeared.

Etan Patz was 6-years-old when he went missing in 1979 a block away from his home in the NYC neighborhood of Soho. Etan was officially declared dead in 2001.

What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Weigh in below.

UPDATE: Etan Patz Case SOLVED — Killer In Custody 33 Years Later

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Etan Patz disappeared on May 25, 1979 at the age of six and has never been found, but 33 years later, new evidence tipped off the authorities to re-open the case. Sadly, after police dug up a basement in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, little evidence came from the search. The Patz family was informed that nothing significant was found on April 22 — no human remains or any other evidence was recovered from the basement on Prince Street, ABC News reports.

There was material found, including some human hair and a possible blood stain. The hair found was not the hair from Etan, but the possible blood stain was sent to a FBI forensic lab in Virginia.

UPDATE: Etan Patz Killer Found — Milk Carton Kid Case Closed 33 Years Later

The FBI said in a statement that there is still not a significant amount of solid new evidence to report currently.

“It’s important not to read too much into anything at this time,” the statement reports. “The process of removing material, sorting it and analyzing it proceeds at a deliberate pace.

Our hearts go out to the Patz family!

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A cadaver dog led police to the home of Othniel Miller, 75, on April 19, where they are searching for the body of a boy who disappeared in 1979.

Etan Patz was six years old when he went missing from his family’s Soho home more than three decades ago. He was the first missing child to have his face printed on milk cartons.

Etan Patz Case Update — Murderer In Custody 33 Years After Abduction

Etan Patz was six years old when he went missing on May 25, 1979. He was last seen leaving his 133 Prince Street home in New York for school at 8 a.m., and although the case remains unsolved, the FBI just got new evidence to re-open it!

Police are currently searching a basement and tearing up the floor for any evidence about a block away from where he used to live for his remains or pieces of his clothing, ABC News reports.

Etan Patz Case Solved — Milk Carton Kid Killer Arrested

“It’s a joint FBI- NYPD search for human remains clothing or personal effects,” Paul Browne, NYPD spokesman says after investigators entered the building using a search warrant.

No one was ever charged with the disappearance of Etan, but investigators are examining an old assumption that he was abducted by convicted pedophile Jose Ramos. He is currently in prison for an unrelated case.

There are other assumptions involving another suspect. The night before Etan went missing he was in the basement where a handyman befriended Etan, Federal sources tell ABC News.

A cadaver dog picked up a scent, law enforcement are claiming is the scent that resurfaced close to the time of his disappearance. If a dog is trained, sources say, it could pick up a scent decades later — even if it was kept for 24 hours or less then moved!

The search for Etan Patz has been one of the largest, longest lasting in recent history. May 25 has been declared National Missing Children’s Day in honor of Etan by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

Our heart goes out to the Patz family!

More Missing Child Cases:

1. Casey Anthony’s Reaction To The Discovery Of Caylee’s Body Revealed! Shocking Video!
2. Elizabeth Smart: My Abductor Went From ‘Marrying Me To Raping Me’
3. Philip Garrido Pleads NOT Guilty In Jaycee Dugard Kidnap & She May Face Him Again!