The disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz in Manhattan in 1979 shocked New Yorkers. It led to an era marked by cautious parenting and took decades to seemingly resolve. On Monday, the conviction thought to have closed the case was overturned, reopening one of the most haunting episodes from New York City’s tumultuous 1970s.

1979: The Disappearance

Etan Patz vanished on May 25, 1979. He was walking alone to the school bus, just two blocks from his home in SoHo, a neighborhood of Manhattan. It was the first time his mother allowed him to walk to the bus alone. Unfortunately, he never reached his destination. Concerned, his parents reported him missing when he failed to return home from school.

The police launched a search that lasted weeks. Despite their efforts, they never found his body. This marked the start of a prolonged and heart-wrenching saga for his family.

1980s: National Attention

Etan’s case was among the first involving missing children to gain national attention. During the 1980s, it served as a warning for many parents, prompting them to limit their children’s activities and emphasize caution around strangers.

The boy’s image appeared on milk cartons and billboards throughout the country, accompanied by details of his case. His parents, Stanley and Julie Patz, frequently spoke to the media, keeping their son’s memory alive.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the anniversary of Etan’s disappearance as National Missing Children’s Day, underscoring the significance of the case and its lasting impact on public awareness.