Man Arrested For Murder Of Etan Patz In 1979

etan patz

A man has been arrested and charged with the murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz, 33 years after his death the police said on Thursday.

It’s a mystery that haunted New York – and gripped the country – and now Pedro Hernandez, 51, has confessed to choking the little boy in 1979 and he was charged with the slaying of Etan, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

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Kelly said that Hernandez told police he saw Etan on his way to school, promised him soda and lured him to a convenience store where he took him to the basement and choked him.

“He was remorseful, and I think the detectives thought that it was a feeling of relief on his part," Kelly said. PHOTOS: Celebs Who Have Done Jail Time "We believe that this is the individual responsible for the crime."

Earlier Thursday the police confirmed that they had New Jersey resident Hernandez in custody on Wednesday. His neighbors in Maple Shade, New Jersey said Hernandez lived with his wife and daughter who is in college.