Mother of Etan Patz takes the stand as rebuttal witness in Pedro Hernandez trial
NEW YORK (WABC) -- It was a dramatic and emotional day in court in the trial of the man accused of killing 6 year old Etan Patz 35 years ago.
Etan's mother Julie, taking the stand as a rebuttal witness, denied that the accused killer, Pedro Hernandez, never visited her home as the defense claims.
Julie Patz told the court that after the first day or so, she stopped attending this trial, saying it was too painful to hear all the nightmarish details again.
Almost 36 years ago, her adorable little boy with the angelic smile, vanished while walking to the school bus in SoHo.
The search for Etan Patz drew national attention but his body was never found. His family was dragged through time without closure or comfort.
Then on the 33rd anniversary of his disappearance, Hernandez was arrested. He confessed to luring the boy to the basement of a local bodega, killing Etan then dumping his body with the garbage.
The defense says there is no evidence to support the confession, and that the confession was coerced.
The defense team is focused on another man, Jose Ramos. A convicted sex offender, Ramos was involved with Etan's babysitter at the time of the time of the boy's disappearance.
While defense attorneys would like the jury to consider Ramos as reasonable doubt, Mrs. Patz told the court Ramos was never in their Soho apartment.
When asked if there were other blond hair blue eye boys in her neighborhood then, Mrs. Patz said yes.
In fact, 2 weeks after Etan disappeared, another little boy, who looked just like her son, told her police had taken him into custody 4 times already, convinced they had found Etan.
It brought a chuckle to the courtroom. But of course the harsh reality is, Etan has never been found.
There has been a lot of testimony in the case but unlike most homicide trials, there is no body and no evidence to prove the details of Etan's disappearance.
Jury deliberations could begin in mid-April.
The defense rested its case Monday.
