The disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz in Manhattan in 1979 shocked New Yorkers. This case marked the beginning of anxious parenting trends and took decades to reach an apparent resolution.
On Monday, a previous conviction regarding the case was overturned, rekindling one of New York City’s most haunting mysteries of the 1970s. Here’s a look at the timeline of Etan’s disappearance and the protracted investigation into his presumed killer.
1979
Etan Patz vanished on May 25, 1979, while walking alone for the first time to his school bus stop less than two blocks away in his SoHo neighborhood. At the time, SoHo was a gritty area known for its industrial landscape. Etan never reached the bus stop.
His parents reported him missing that afternoon when he failed to return from school. The police launched a thorough search that lasted weeks, but his body was never recovered.
1980s
The case of Etan Patz was among the first to attract nationwide attention regarding missing children. During the 1980s, it became a cautionary tale, influencing many parents to limit their child’s outdoor activities and teach them to be wary of strangers.
Etan’s photograph was distributed widely, appearing on billboards and milk cartons across the country. His parents, Stanley and Julie Patz, became vocal advocates, frequently addressing the media. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan recognized May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day to honor Etan’s legacy.
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