and killed a child in new york. >> reporter: the day etan patz disappeared was the first morning his parents let him walk alone to the bus stop, it changed the way many parents sent their children off the school. etan was the first child to appear on milk cartons. >> millions of parents sat to home and thought there by the grace of god goes my child. >> reporter: etan's parents live on the same block. they never moved hoping that the little boy would find his way home. police told etan's parents about the confession from the man who admits they snatched their child. >> pedro hernandez isn't the first man to confess to killing etan patz. how can the prosecutors be sure that he's not lying too. dan abrams say that the investigators have an arsenal of tricks. >> you get people all the time that are claiming credit for and they have to exclude him as much as hey can. so, it's possible they have suggested other crimes and said, oh, we got another case, were you involved in that one, to see if he confessed to more than one. >> little help to find dna to hernandez to the crime. or. >>> the o

police in new york city say they are holding a man who has confessed to the murder of etan patz. the six-year-old boy who vanished without a trace 33 years ago tomorrow. the enduring mystery of etan's disappearance, the anxiety felt by parents across the country, combined to revolutionize the nation's approach to missing children. after all this time, it was a telephone tip that led the police to 51-year-old pedro hernandez. now detectives have to figure out whether his confession is true. we have two reports. first, senior correspondent john miller, who has covered the patz story since the day the boy vanished. he's been talking to his sources. and he joins us now. john. >> reporter: well, scott, as you said, it is an enduring mystery but it's complicated. so far, all the police have to go on is the suspect's word that he did it. in 1979, pedro hernandez, then 18 years old, worked at his familyee small grocery in the soho neighborhood just a block from where six-year-old etan patz disappeared on his way to school. yesterday, based on a tip, detectives from new york city drove to

snapping pictures at an eyeglasses shop in manhattan's upscale soho section, and in its basement where etan patz allegedly strangled. the location just blocks from patz's apartment where his parents still live. 33 years ago the shop was what new yorkers call a bodega or convenience store. it looked out on patz's bus stop. at the time 19-year-old pedro hernandez was a stock boy. now 51, he's seen here in a photo obtained by "inside edition." >> hernandez described to the dektds how he lured young etan from the school bus stop at west broadway with the promise of a soda. he led him in the basement of the bodega, choked him there, and disposed of the body by putting it in a plastic bag and placing it in the trash. >> reporter: lisa cohen wrote a book about the patz case. she had not heard of hernandez until two days ago. he was never a suspect. but part of his story might fit with what patz's parents told her about the day their son disappeared. his first time walking to the bus stop by himself. >> i know that i had a dollar when he left for school that day, or at least that's the story i've always

a person is in custody in the etan patz case. you might remember this case. 6 1/2-year-old boy who vanished more than 30 years ago. the case happened back in 1979. he has never been found. he was walking himself to the bus stop for the very first time, two-block distance. he never returned home. he has been declared legally dead. no charges were ever brought in the case. new word this morning that someone is being held. he is not being called a suspect. ashleigh banfield has more for us. ashleigh? >> we're trying to get as many details in as we can. the police commissioner here in new york city is releasing this big nugget of information, that apparently there is a person in custody in relation to this case, someone who has apparently made it clear that he or she has a connection to this case. as you mentioned, man, this is an old case. 33 years old, etan patz went missing in a lower manhattan neighborhood, never to be seen. no one could crack this case. several weeks ago, the investigation reopened into a carpenter, a carpenter

the disappearance of 6-year-old etan patz. many of us first saw his face on the side of a milk carton 33 years ago. and now, today, a thunder bolt. a confession from a man who says he knows what happened the morning the little boy vanished. so, what is the evidence that broke open this case? abc's david muir brings us the news tonight from the street where etan patz disappeared. david? >> reporter: diane, good evening. authorities tell abc news this evening that that arrest could come as early as tonight, involving a man who worked at a small grocery store right on that walk to the school bus, that etan patz made 33 years ago it was the first morning that his parents let him make that walk to school alone. tonight, it could be the break the parents of little etan patz have waited for, for three decades. abc news has learned pedro hernandez has confessed to strangling the 6-year-old boy, putting him in a box and leaving him somewhere in new york city. etan patz vanished during that short walk to the school bus in 1979. his moth

age 51 of maple cherry, new jersey, for the murder of etan patz. >> etan patz vanished during that short walk to the school bus in 1979. >> he turned and he walked half a block across the street. another full block across west broadway and then the bus stop was right here. >> reporter: so this is a total block and a half walk? >> yes. >> reporter: a block and a half, and for a 6-year-old, about 223 steps to the bus. >> his mother could actually see children starting to line up to get on the bus. >> reporter: she saw him off that morning and went inside. never seeing him again. authorities say it comes just one month after the fbi returned to that neighborhood and began digging in a basement the boy had walked past, where a handyman once worked. authorities didn't find anything, but abc news has learned it's believed the renewed headlines from that digging prompted someone in pedro hernandez's family to call authorities, telling police, you should look at our relative again. it's believed over the years, hernandez had talked to his family members about the crime. abc news has learned inve

the suspect in the 1979 killing of etan patz is being held on suicide watch. 51-year-old pedro hernandezree murder. he told police that he lured 6-year-old etan away with the promise of a soda and then strangled him. etan's disappearance sparked a national movement to raise awareness of missing children. >>> indiana authorities are trying to figure out why a gunman took several people hostage at a real estate office and then held police at bay for seven hours before turning the gun on himself. police say the man released the hostages before he killed himself, ending yesterday's day-long standoff. they say he apparently had been looking for someone who owed him money. >>> john edwards will have to wait until at least tuesday to find out if the jury in his corruption trial has reached a verdict. jurors are home for the memorial day weekend. after wrapping up a sixth day of deliberations yesterday. the judge says that she may need to speak with both sides' attorneys tuesday about an issue involving a juror. no word on what that issue is. >>> we'll have much more news for you at the top of t

agents are still on the case of etan patz. it's the kind of response that did not happen and could not have happened on the day he went missing. but, scott, in the 33 years since that day, thousands of children have been saved because of him. >> pelley: wyatt, thanks very much. a trial in philadelphia is exposing a massive cover-up of child sex abuse by priests in the catholic church. in testimony today, monsignor william lynn said that he typed up a list of 35 alleged predator priests in the archdiocese of philadelphia but did not warn others. lynn is charged with child endangerment and conspiracy, the highest ranking member of the church to stand trial so far. elaine quijano is covering the trial. >> reporter: monsignor william lynn repeatedly defended his action through six hours of blistering questions. the prosecutors zeroed in on a secret list lynn compiled in 1994 of 35 priests suspected of sex abuse. three were diagnosed as pedophiles by mental health experts hired by the archdiocese of philadelphia. can you point to o

i'm diana perez. >> and i'm john muller. >>> the disappearance of etan patz in 1979. one of the most heartbreaking and high-profile cold cases. >> his parents and police never stopped looking for him. and today, his suspected killer will finally answer for the crime. abc's tahman bradley has the latest. >> reporter: 33 years ago today, 6-year-old etan patz vanished on his walk to his school bus. the case was never put to rest. but this morning it looks like it has come to an end. 51-year-old pedro hernandez is under arrest for the murder of young etan patz. police say that he confessed to the crime. >> 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, choked him there and disposed of the body by putting it into a plastic bag and placing it in the trash. >> reporter: hernandez was picked up in new jersey where he lived with his wife and daughter. the arrest came after the case was reopened last month. police didn't find any evidence in the basement, but they received a tip be

member and others that he had, quote, done a bad thing, and killed a child in new york. >> reporter: etan patz's parents were told of this break in the case before tonight's arrest. it was etan's mother who last saw her son on that short walk to the bus in 1979, standing at the front door of their building and seeing him off. author and generalist lisa cohen wrote the book "after etan." >> he turn and walked a block, crossed west broadway and the bus stop was right here. >> reporter: so this is a block and a half block? >> yes. >> reporter: a block and a half and for that 6-year-old, about 223 steps to that school bus. >> his mother could actually see children starting to line up to get on the bus. >> reporter: she saw him off that morning, went inside and never saw him again. etan's parents still live on that same block, never changing their phone number, never moving. the little boy's father telling abc news just three years ago that he and his wife always held out hope their boy would one day come home. >> we didn't know what had happened to him. we didn't know where he might be. so, of cours

years in the making now a suspect has been charged with second degree murder in the disappearance of etan patzeherna admitted to killing patz with the lure of a promise of a soda. he was 6 years old when he vanished in 1979. >>> whether on the road or in the skies, expect to get up and

etan patz became one of the first missing children featured on milk cartons and billboards. >> etan's case was a case that changed america. millions of parents sat at home and thought, "there but for the grace of god goes my child." >> suarez: his parents, stan and julie patz, endured years of false leads, but clung to hope that etan might still be alive. >> the thought in the backs of our minds was always that we should be here for him. >> suarez: the couple never moved from their soho apartment or changed their phone number, in case their son ever tried to contact them. etan was finally declared legally dead in 2001. then, in 2010, police reopened the case. last month, pursuing a possible lead, they dug up the basement in an apartment building near the patz's address. they found nothing, but the publicity prompted a new tip. and la night, police arrested pedro hernandez, seen in these photos from "inside edition". police commissioner raymond kelly said he was clerking in a convenience store, a bodega, in the patz's neighborhood in 1979. >> he lured young etan from the school bus sto

while etan patz is dominating the news tonight, if you go on yahoo!type in the words "cold case," something extraordinary. story after story of cases across america going from cold to hot in just the past few days. san antonio, texas. a 13-year-old murder, solved. in glendora, california, a 17-year-old kidnapping and sexual assault case, solved. in hollywood, dna is so often the star. but what might surprise you is often the evidence cracking the old case open is something like a suitcase. like the one that an eagle-eyed investigator spotted after going back and combing through surveillance video from 15 cameras. that suitcase looked way too heavy. turned out, there was an unconscious woman inside it. in texas, police dug up an entire boat. buried by a man who had used it to hide his involvement in a fatal accident on the water nearly a decade ago. then there was that little roll of film never developed. that helped crack one of america's most famous crimes. the murder of 6-year-old adam walsh, whose father went on to host "america's most wanted." joh

. >> 33 years today since etan patz went missing in new york city. police made an arrest. 51-0 pedro hernandez is being held on a murder charge. -- 51-year-old. he confessed to luring the six- rolled by the corner store by offering him a soda. >> he lured him from the school bus stop at west broadway and prince streets with the promise of soda. then he led into the basement, choked him, and disposed of the body in a plastic bag. then placed it into the trash. >> police found out about it after they reopened the case last month. they did not find evidence, but it prompted a rrelative to give them information. >> the "godfather of go-go, chuck brown, late yesterday his family and mayor vincent gray release information on a public viewing and memorial service. john gonzalez is outside the howard theatre in northwest washington with all the details. >> that's right. the mayor's office and the family of chuck brown have announced the memorial plans next week for the late star. they include the newly refurbished howard theatre in northwest d.c., where he w

the new york city police department is announcing the arrest of pedro hernandez for the murder of etan patz. >> law enforcement sources they this man, hernandez's brother-in-law, jose lopez, alerted police, after the case burst back into the spotlight last month, when dozens of investigators searched a basement along etan's route for clues. sources say the brother-in-law says hernandez admitted many years ago, he killed the boy. investigators are now trying to determine whether that sotory i true and perhaps finally solve an iconic case that launched an era of height eened awareness about missing children across the country. etan was one of the first children on a milk carton. amber alerts would follow. meanwhile, etan's parents, stan and julie, still live in the same apartment on the same street where their son disappeared so long ago. >> no matter what the outcome of this investigation, we're going to have to go on living. >> 33 years later, police finally may be able to give them an answer. police say mr. patz was overwhelmed and surprised when told of the news of the arrest. and police

etan patz vanished on his way to school, and that mystery kick started a national discussion on missingut for the parents, it was a daily battle of heartache and fading hopes. >> mr. patz was taken aback, a little surprised, and i would say overwhelmed to a degree. he handled the information very well, but we also agreed that we'll speak as the investigation goes further. >> susan candiotti is following all of the latest developments. susan, welcome. what may happen in court today? >> reporter: well, for the very first time certainly we'll get to see this man in court, and we will hear how prosecutors plan to charge him. it's already been flagged by the police department. commissioner ray kelly saying they expect him to be charged with second degree murder. prosecutors are the final arbiter on that. so we'll find out whether he might enter a plea at this time. he doesn't have to. he's not obligated to. and the judge in this particular level of court could accept a guilty plea if he made one, but he will have a chance to address the court. also the next step after this would be that it w

"early today," cold case, 33 years later a new jersey man confesses to the murder of 6-year-old etan patz. >>> conduct unbecoming, police video captures a florida doctor's violent rage during a dui arrest. >>> and chaos in kiev, why were punches thrown durg a >>> and chaos in kiev, why were punches thrown durg a ukrainian parliament session? captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> hello and good morning. welcome to our viewers across the nation including the pacific time zone. i'm lynn berry. today we begin with a shocking revelation. in a potential breakthrough in one of the nation's most baffling missing children cases, a new jersey man is under arrest in connection with the 1979 disappearance of 6-year-old etan patz. police say the former convenience store worker confessed to killing the boy. nbc's dan shenman has details. >> reporter: it has been 33 years since 6-year-old etan patz disappeared while walking to catch a school bus. now a break in the case. >> the new york city police department is announcing the arrest of pedro hernandez. >> reporter: according to police, hern

and etan patz, the story about how the missing child story that started it all was solved. >>> finally, shooting the messenger, chris christie explodes when told that new jersey's revenues are heading way short of estimates. we begin with the return of the birthers. >> birth certificates. >> many great times in the history of politics. >> with me now are two msnbc political analysts, joan walsh, "showdown." david, is there a constituency for donald trump? are there a group of americans out there who are waiting for a trump endorsement so they know what to do, or trump involvement so they know to whom to write checks. >> gosh, i really hope that's not the case, michael, because then we're in deep doo-doo. but i do think he's playing to part of the republican base which just won't give up the ghost on portraying barack ob a obama. entity. it just won't go away. and whether he doesn't get america or doesn't understand america, or that he wasn't really born here or he doesn't understand the economy or that he's a secret service muslim, so many things, it's so engrained in their view of the

his name was etan patz, and now a man is facing murder charges after confessing to the killing. tonight, he's hospitalized and on a suicide watch and awaiting the next steps in what will be a complicated legal process all these years later. it's where we begin tonight with nbc's ron allen. >> the father of etan patz returned home today to a crush of media as the man who police say admitted killing his son, pedro hernandez, was charged with murder in a new york hospital instead of a courtroom because of an undisclosed illness. hernandez is married, a father with a college-aged daughter, who most recently was a construction worker. police arrested him yesterday at the family home in new jersey. >> he was remorseful. he seemed to -- i think the detectives thought it was a feeling of relief on his part. >> police say hernandez had told relatives over the years he had once killed a child in new york and last month, when investigators launched a high profile but ultimately unsuccessful search for eton's remains, police sources say one of those relatives called in a tip. 33 years ago t

now for the first time in the long and painful public case, a suspect will face charges for etan patz murder. police say pedro hernandez who worked at a convenience store near the boy's home has confessed to the crime. patz from the bus stop with the promise of a soda only to choke him to death and dump his body in the trash about a block away. the stunning development comes just weeks after the fbi, you'll remember, searched the basement of another building in the lower manhattan neighborhood where patz lived after a police dog alerted officers to possible human remains. although that search came up empty, police commissioner ray kelly here in new york city says the renewed attention to the case generated a tip that led them to mr. hernandez. >> early this month, the nypd missing persons squad received information from an individual which led them to identify hernandez as a person of interest. in the years following etan's disappearance, hernandez had told a family member and others that he had, quote, done a bad thing and killed a child in new york. >> this is, of course, front page

doesn't sound like it m >>> this morning on "world news now" -- 33 years after the disappearance of etan patzreak in the case. >> etan's disappearance sent shock waves across the nation a generation ago. now police hope to solve a case that's been cold for so long. it's friday, may 25th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning. i'm john muller. >> and i'm diana perez. rob and paula will be back on monday. we'll get to the confession in the etan patz case in just a moment. >>> and as memorial day weekend approaches, there are two major tropical disturbances to keep an eye on. one of them is a category 3 hurricane. >> already. and as americans head to their backyards for holiday weekend parties, here's something you don't see every day. listen to this. a herd of cows from who knows where break down the fence and start drinking the beer. >> i can't wait to see that story. >>> later on this half hour, the newly crowned "american idol" is sharing a painful secret about his health. we'll explain his condition and why it might be surprising to fans. that's later on in

. >>> exactly 33 years to the day 6-year-old etan patz disappeared, now a suspect is due in court because of that. >> sources tell cbs news the new jersey man accused of killing etan patz was taken to a hospital this morning and put on suicide watch. 51 year old pedro hernandez is expected to be arraigned today. police say he confessed to luring the young boy into a store where he was working, taking him into the basement and choking him to death. he said he put him in a garbage bag. >> there could be a sexual assault involved. whatever the driver was, he wasn't admitting to it yesterday. >> former deputy director of national intelligence john miller says hernandez's confession may not be enough to convict him. >> the jury wants the see evidence behind that and the defense attorney will challenge it. >> police brought him back here to the scene of the crime, the store where he once worked is now a designer eyeglass shop. >> he was questioned and arrested after police received a tip. authorities say hernandez told relatives he killed a child in new york. he wants to know why he waited so l

last week in a signed confession to police, hernandez admitted to killing six-year-old etan patz in 1979 patz's body was never discovered. there's no known physical evidence. which makes hernandez's confession a key component in the prosecution's case. eugene o'donnell is a former assistant district attorney in new york. >> no matter how many people he's talked to, his word and his word alone. the question for law enforcement is beyond his word alone, what do we have? >> reporter: hernandez's lawyer says his client has suffered from hallucinations and is currently undergoing psychological evaluation at a manhattan hospital. seth doane, cbs news, camden, new jersey. >> pelley: there's a bit of medical news today for older women. you've heard this before, but a government panel is recommending today that post menopausal women avoid taking hormone therapy. these therapies can prevent chronic conditions likous yoa proceed sis but the new analysis found that the benefits don't outweigh the risks including an increased chance of stroke. a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit northern italy today, foll

has the killer of etan patz been found? dave, i've downloaded a virus. yeah. ♪ dave, where are we on the new laptop? it's so slow! i'm calling dave. [ telephone rings ] [ male announcer ] in a small business, technology is all you. that's why you've got us. at the staples pc savings event, for a limited time get up to $200 off select computers. staples. that was easy. for8% every 10 years.age 40, we can start losing muscle -- wow. wow. but you can help fight muscle loss with exercise and ensure muscle health. i've got revigor. what's revigor? it's the amino acid metabolite, hmb to help rebuild muscle and strength naturally lost over time. [ female announcer ] ensure muscle health has revigor and protein to help protect, preserve, and promote muscle health. keeps you from getting soft. [ major nutrition ] ensure. nutrition in charge! [ thunk ] sweet! [ male announcer ] the solid thunk of the door on the jetta. thanks, mister! [ meow ] [ male announcer ] another example of volkswagen quality. that's the power of german engineering. right now lease the 2012

he was 19 at the time that 16-year-old the etan patz disappeared while walking on his bus stop in 1969. hernandez was working in a grocy store and living in the neighborhood that patz and his family were living in. new york's police commissioner says hernandez detailed the crime in a confession. >> 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 bodega, choked him there and disposed of the body by putting it into a plastic bag and placing it into the trash. >> just last month, police thought that they had a break in this cold case, but it turned out to be another dead end. the renewed attention produced a tip that led police to hernandez. he's due to make his first court appearance in just a few hours. and again, this is 33 years to the day that etan patz vanished. cnn's susan candiotti is live in lower manhattan. you've been working this story for some time now. what makes police think they really do have their man this time? >> reporter: you k

what really happened to etan patz? >> i am in fairfax virginia. >> we are following a developing story from the state of maine tonight. a nuclear-powered submarine caught fire. seven crew members were hurt. officials say radioactive material is on board the sub but the fire was stopped before the flames reached it. there may be a huge break in a decades-old missing persons case in new york city. investigators are trying to confirm the account pedro hernandez in the death of etan patz. prosecutors reopen the case months ago and investigators tore open the basement of a building looking for his remains. >> as a father, i cannot imagine what they have gone through and i hope we are one step closer to bringing them some measure of relief. >> sources tell us that prosecutors say they are not ready to charge hernandezechargetan's family never moved from the neighborhood, hoping he would one day come home. >> still no verdict in the john edwards' campaign finance fraud trial. the jury is trying to decide if the former preside

a new jersey man being questioned in the disappearance of this little boy, etan patz. will the new suspect give police clues? >>> mitt romney says he can bring the unemployment rate down to 6% in four years. we'll put his claim to the test. >>> a new recording of george zimmerman surfaces and his relationship with police. >>> we've seen dash cam video before but nothing like this. "newsroom" begins right now. good morning to you. i'm carol costello. we begin with breaking news on a mystery that focused national attention on child abductions a generation ago. after 33 years, we may finally have some answers in the disappearance of 6-year-old etan patz. the new york police department has man in custody and will release more details later today. mary snow is tracking the latest developments from new york. what did you find out? >> reporter: the new york city police commissioner is saying the man in custody made statements to detectives implicating himself in the disappearance and death of etan patz and here's what we're learning. cnn's susan candiotti spoke to two law enf

has the killer of etan patz been found? ♪ i can do anything ♪ i can do anything today ♪ i can go anywhere ♪ i can go anywhere today ♪ la la la la la la la [ male announcer ] dow solutions help millions of people by helping to make gluten free bread that doesn't taste gluten free. together, the elements of science and the human element can solve anything. solutionism. the new optimism. >> this evening the new york city police department is announcing the arrest of pedro hernandez of mapleshade, new jersey, for the murder of etan pats. he has confessed to choking etan 33 years ago tomorrow. in the basement of a bod ega located at 448 west broadway in manhattan. >> etan patz was 6 when he vanished in manhattan. tonight a man has confessed to the killing. he's in custody. a stunning turn of events. susan candiotti has the latest. >> thanks, piers. this is stunning because we are learning from police that this man is confessing in a three and a half hour long videotaped confession, saying that he is responsible for the death of

has the killer of etan patz been found?f america, we're lending and investing in communities across the country. from helping to revitalize a neighborhood in brooklyn... financing industries that are creating jobs in boston... providing funding for the expansion of a local business serving a diverse seattle community... and lending to ensure a north texas hospital continues to deliver quality care. because the more we can do in local neighborhoods and communities, the more we can help make opportunity possible. you can see from the quarterly projections it's all about the d word "distribution" what happened to his shirt ? he reached his shirt limit for the month i hate shirt limits bottom line is... voiceover: shirts don't have limits he really should of planned ahead huh idiot the internet should be like shirts get clear unlimited 4g take it with you internet with no data limits and no long term contracts plans starting at $34.99 a month call or go online today clear the way the internet should be agents, say hello to the

. >> the latest developments in the etan patz case.hey dismissed a person yearis ago when he told them about hernandez's part in the murder. he confess to do a prayer group about killing patz. he is charged with second degree murder. we will have a live report later in the show. >> the obama administration is leading to plans to arm. the sale would make italy the only foreign country other than the u.s. armed with missiles and also laser guided bombs. they plan on using the drones in afghanistan. once the sale is officially announced congress will have 15 days if they want to block it. several lawmakers say such a move is unlikely. >> he may look like your average 6-year-old but this little girl is much more than that. lori ann madison is the youngest person to ever qualify for the scripts national spelling bee it starts today. she started reading at age 2. her mother says she tried to enroll her in a private school for the gifted but the head mistress shafdz too smart and would need to be home schooled. >>> it is shaping up to be a ve