Etan Patz
Encyclopedia
Etan Kalil Patz was a kidnapped American
child. He was 6 years old when he disappeared in lower Manhattan
, New York
on May 25, 1979. At the time, news coverage of Patz's disappearance was made into a media circus
in the New York City
area. He is arguably the most famous missing child of New York City. His disappearance helped spark the missing children's movement, including new legislation and various methods for tracking down missing children, such as the milk carton campaigns of the mid-1980s. Etan was the first child ever to be pictured on the side of a milk carton.
On May 25, 2010, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.
announced that he had reopened the case into Patz's disappearance.
apartment by himself, for the very first time, to walk the two blocks to catch the school bus
. He did not reach the bus stop.
When he did not return home from school at 3:30 that afternoon, his mother reported him missing. An intense search, using nearly 100 police officers and a team of bloodhound
s, began that evening and would continue for weeks. Various circumstances surrounding this case, such as it being Etan's first time outside alone, made it a high-profile, media-driven case.
r imprisoned in Pennsylvania
, finally admitted to direct involvement in Etan's disappearance. Ramos had been a friend of Etan's one-time babysitter. In a special feature on missing children, the New York Post
reported on October 23, 1999, that Ramos was the prime suspect in Etan's disappearance. Ramos was known to the Patz family and was the prime suspect all along, but in the early 1980s they were still unable to prosecute Ramos. Ramos was declared responsible for Etan's death in 2004 in a New York civil case but remains unprosecuted.
Etan's parents, Stanley and Julie Patz, pursued this civil case against Ramos. They were awarded a 'symbolic' sum of $2 million, which they have never collected
. Ramos is presently serving a 20-year prison term for child molestation in the State Correctional Institute, Dallas, PA. His scheduled release date is November 7, 2012.
Each year, on the anniversaries of Etan's birthday and disappearance, Stan Patz sends Ramos a copy of his son's missing child poster. On the back he types the same message: "What did you do to my little boy?".
.
, starring Kate Nelligan
and Judd Hirsch
, a 6-year-old boy disappears while walking to school in Brooklyn
. The Stanley R. Jaffe
film is loosely based on the Patz case. While in production, the film's working title was "Still Missing", based on the Beth Gutcheon novel.
published her book After Etan: The Missing Child Case that Held America Captive, detailing the case and its effect on America.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
child. He was 6 years old when he disappeared in lower Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on May 25, 1979. At the time, news coverage of Patz's disappearance was made into a media circus
Media circus
Media circus is a colloquial metaphor, or idiom, describing a news event where the media coverage is perceived to be out of proportion to the event being covered, such as the number of reporters at the scene, the amount of news media published or broadcast, and the level of media hype...
in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area. He is arguably the most famous missing child of New York City. His disappearance helped spark the missing children's movement, including new legislation and various methods for tracking down missing children, such as the milk carton campaigns of the mid-1980s. Etan was the first child ever to be pictured on the side of a milk carton.
On May 25, 2010, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.
Cyrus Vance, Jr.
Cyrus Roberts Vance, Jr. is an American trial lawyer. He is the incumbent New York County District Attorney , and was previously a principal at the law firm of Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Isaon, Anello & Bohrer, P.C...
announced that he had reopened the case into Patz's disappearance.
Disappearance
On the morning of Friday, May 25, 1979, 6-year-old Etan Patz put on his prized blue captain's hat and left his SoHoSoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
apartment by himself, for the very first time, to walk the two blocks to catch the school bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
. He did not reach the bus stop.
When he did not return home from school at 3:30 that afternoon, his mother reported him missing. An intense search, using nearly 100 police officers and a team of bloodhound
Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is a large breed of dog which, while originally bred to hunt deer and wild boar, was later bred specifically to track human beings. It is a scenthound, tracking by smell, as opposed to a sighthound, which tracks using vision. It is famed for its ability to discern human odors even...
s, began that evening and would continue for weeks. Various circumstances surrounding this case, such as it being Etan's first time outside alone, made it a high-profile, media-driven case.
Suspect
In 1991, jailhouse informants claimed that Jose Antonio Ramos, a convicted child sexual abuseChild sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
r imprisoned in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, finally admitted to direct involvement in Etan's disappearance. Ramos had been a friend of Etan's one-time babysitter. In a special feature on missing children, the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
reported on October 23, 1999, that Ramos was the prime suspect in Etan's disappearance. Ramos was known to the Patz family and was the prime suspect all along, but in the early 1980s they were still unable to prosecute Ramos. Ramos was declared responsible for Etan's death in 2004 in a New York civil case but remains unprosecuted.
Etan's parents, Stanley and Julie Patz, pursued this civil case against Ramos. They were awarded a 'symbolic' sum of $2 million, which they have never collected
Judgment proof
The term judgment proof is most commonly used in tort law contexts to refer to defendants or potential defendants who are financially insolvent...
. Ramos is presently serving a 20-year prison term for child molestation in the State Correctional Institute, Dallas, PA. His scheduled release date is November 7, 2012.
Each year, on the anniversaries of Etan's birthday and disappearance, Stan Patz sends Ramos a copy of his son's missing child poster. On the back he types the same message: "What did you do to my little boy?".
National Missing Children's Day
The day of Etan Patz's disappearance, May 25, has been designated National Missing Children's DayNational Missing Children's Day
National Missing Children's Day has been commemorated on May 25 since 1983, when it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan.In the several years preceding the establishment of National Missing Children's day a series of high-profile missing-children cases made national headlines.On May 25,...
.
Film
In the 1983 movie Without a TraceWithout a Trace (film)
Without a Trace is a 1983 dramatic film. It is based on the Beth Gutcheon novel Still Missing, which is loosely-based on the real-life disappearance of Etan Patz. The film stars Kate Nelligan, Judd Hirsch, David Dukes and Stockard Channing.-Plot:...
, starring Kate Nelligan
Kate Nelligan
Patricia Colleen "Kate" Nelligan is a Canadian BAFTA award winning stage, film and television actress.-Early life:Nelligan, the fourth of six children, was born in London, Ontario, the daughter of Josephine Alice , a schoolteacher, and Patrick Joseph Nelligan, a factory repairman and municipal...
and Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch is an American actor most known for playing Alex Rieger on the television comedy series Taxi, John Lacey on the NBC series Dear John, and Alan Eppes on the CBS series Numb3rs.-Early life and education:...
, a 6-year-old boy disappears while walking to school in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. The Stanley R. Jaffe
Stanley R. Jaffe
Stanley Richard Jaffe is an American film producer, responsible for blockbusters such as Fatal Attraction, The Accused, and Kramer vs. Kramer.-Background:...
film is loosely based on the Patz case. While in production, the film's working title was "Still Missing", based on the Beth Gutcheon novel.
Literature
On May 7, 2009, Lisa R. CohenLisa R. Cohen
Lisa R. Cohen is an Emmy award-winning television news magazine producer with more than 20 years of network news experience at ABC News and CBS News...
published her book After Etan: The Missing Child Case that Held America Captive, detailing the case and its effect on America.
External links
- Etan Patz at Findagrave.com