The Lost Boy | Full Episode

More than three decades after 6-year-old Etan Patz went missing, police found a surprising suspect. "48 Hours" correspondent Richard Schlesinger goes inside the investigation. Is the haunting case finally over? Watch more full episodes of "48 Hours" on Pluto TV.

#48hours #crime #mystery

True crime. Real justice. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

[BuzzKillington]

My money is on Ramos. He literally dated a woman who knew the family and had access to the child. Most kids are taken by someone who knows them.

[QueenSugar]

That 6 hours without video or audio is suspicious

[daxmcanear]

I really cant imagine not knowing for 30+ years. Losing a child would break me.

[eml]

It’s very unsettling. They never found the little boy. The police didn’t record the first part of the interview with the suspect. They only recorded a confession. He doesn’t quite remember where he took the little boy. He may have mental health issues. Did they convict the right person? I’m so confused.

[WatercolorMama]

This case is heartbreaking. I remember when this was happening. Monsters who do such things to little children. There is a Special place in Hell for them.

[haleysmith]

Idk about this one. The way the detective rubbed Hernandez head and the other detective saying he was proud of him as if talking to a child tells me they recognized his mental state. It also indicated that they may have coerced him to say certain things. It sounded more like "I'm proud of you for saying what I wanted you to say". I still believe it was the first guy.

[marisaranieri]

One Man, a known Paedophile, whose girlfriend had previously, walked Etan to the school bus; confessed to killing him but it was dismissed, through lack of evidence.
A second suspect, does the same thing, there's no corroborating evidence or witnesses and he was interviewed, for six hours, without it being recorded.
But he is charged.
What an absolute shambles!!!
I think, I feel, the real culprit, is the first suspect.

[rickyrico]

I'm confused. They couldn't charge the first guy because they only had his word, but it was enough to charge the last guy based only on his word. That doesn't make any sense.

[tony_lasagna]

That juror who was the lone holdout is a hero. To be able to stick to your principle, all alone, after 18 days of stressful deliberation in a highly emotional case must have been beyond difficult. That type of determination is one of the pillars of justice in America and I suspect, unfortunately, it is not a trait most of us would exhibit in that situation.

[maiden]

I'm not 100% convinced that He did it. I'm sorry.

[gjmbarusha]

Why tf didn’t they initially have the cameras rolling during the initial interview? Smh. This is exactly how good cases are thrown out in court.

[namomme]

I'm 60. I remember this case well along with the case of Johnny Gosch. These cases were the end of innocence in that it taught us the world could be a dangerous place for children. My heart goes out to Stan and Julie Patz. To live all those years without knowing what happened to their son had to be devastating beyond words. The fact that they continued to live in the same neighborhood, the same flat is incredible. Rest in peace beautiful little Etan. Someday, your mom and dad will hold and hug you again when they come to heaven.
Forever 6 years old.

[dearmakeupdiary]

The six hours of missing recordings is a reasonable doubt for me. I would have not accused him. The other guy seemed just as guilty. I guess we will never know.

[robertj]

The first time that I have doubts about a guilty verdict in 48 Hours.

[scotshaver]

A confession without any corroborating evidence should never be enough to convict someone.

[lynette]

STUPID POLICE not taping the first 6 hours of interrogation.

[sarahcullis]

The one thing guaranteed to keep me awake, is the thought of my son frightened & alone. My heart hurts for Atons parents💔

[laprimo]

That confession should never have been allowed in. 6 hours of unrecorded time is wild. It should've been thrown out completely. This was a miscarriage of justice, and it remains unclear whether the real murderer has even been found, despite criminal and civil convictions of two different people.

[tadichaguyo]

Where it comes to children i don't forgive.
Just my feelings.

[sumhas]

I remember this case as so many do because of Etan being the first child I ever saw on a milk carton. I was a newlywed hoping to start a family and it scared me to death.