Etan Patz MISSING

It’s been 31 years, since Etan Patz vanished from his New York City neighborhood and his case is still active. Etan’s story put missing children on the map in the United States. It is because of his abduction that the public started taking notice when a child wandered away or was taken.

Etan was actually the first child to appear on the side of a milk carton, and his case brought to light new legislation and awareness for missing children. The Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is making good on his promise to re-open the case and to take a look at it with a fresh set of eyes, even though the former DA claimed there was not enough evidence to prosecute the case.

I spoke with Erin Duggan, Communications Director from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, a few months ago and asked her if it would be difficult to close this case. She said, “There are challenges, but it’s definitely been done before.” She says that they can move forward with prosecution, even without a body.