Etan Patz Goes Missing 33 Years Ago
Etan Platz Missing Children Poster
It was May 25, 1979 that little Etan Patz mysteriously disappeared on his walk during his two-block walk from his house, located at 113 Prince Street in SoHo, to catch his school bus. Ironically, this was the first time that little Etan Patz was allowed to walk to the bus stop all by himself.
When Etan Patz Disappeared It Was National News
It seemed like a brush fire, spreading rapidly across the country, the way the media picked up the story of Etan Patz and his dissapearance. Etan’s story was front page news and all over Radio and Television news programs coast to coast.
The fervor over Etan Patz disappearance was so prevalent that his case was the flash point for the “Missing Kids on Milk Cartons” campaign with little Etan Patz having the unfortunate honor of being the first child to be shown on a missing kids milk carton run.
The Etan Patz Case Goes Cold
As unfortunate as it is, the Etan Patz case went cold. Police leads dried up and eventually Etan Patz was put on the shelf with other cold cases that also hadn’t been solved.
Fast forward 33 years to April, 18 2012 and news breaks that New York City police and the FBI are searching the vacant basement of a lower Manhattan building for the possible remains of none other than Etan Patz.
Spokesman for the NYPD, Paul Browne, said that investigators started the search of the 13 by 62 foot vacant basement located at 127B Prince St. and about a block from the home of Etan Patz, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time 04-18-2012.
Investigators are planning to hack-hammer and dig their way through the concrete floor and then sift the dirt for bone particles, clothing fragments and other assorted personal items that Etan Patz may have had with him at the time of his disappearance. Investigators also plan to take down walls so as to expose the original brick foundations. According to sources, this dig could take as long as a week but Investigators are hoping that they’ll be able to finish digging in as little as 5 days.
Official Statements on the Etan Patz Case
Etan Patz at 6 Years Old
Spokesman Paul Browne had this to say:
“We are looking for human remains, clothing or other personal effects of Etan Patz,” said Browne.
“Information that was known at the time is being re-examined. It does involve a suspect,” Brown stated.
The Warrant for the search of the basement was issued after a cadaver-sniffing dog picked made a “hit” for the scent of human decomposition and remains in the basement 2 weeks prior.
Interestingly, the basement at 113 Prince Street, contained a carpentry business during the time of Etan Patz disappearance. The case is starting to heat up again; Daily News reports a link with Othnie I. Miller, a handyman who gave Etan $1 for assisting him the night prior to Etan’s vanishing. Miller was questioned by Police but the basement was never searched after parents of Etan Patz assured authorities that Miller was a close family friend.
For now, old winesses are being questioned once again after Jose A. Ramos, a pedophile who sits in prison, bragged about killing Etan and jailhouse snitches reported Ramos’ admissions to authorities.
As things stand there is really very little new information that can be reported beyond what has already be stated. We will just have to be patient and wait, like everyone else, to see what, if anything, turns up in the basement, or rather under it.
In 2001 Etan Patz was declared legally dead.
UPDATE:
Monday, March 23rd 2012 Authorities suspended their search in the basement location indefinitely.
Police and FBI, spokesman stated that no remains were discovered on the premises and the section of wall, that was thought to have blood stains on it, proved to be mistaken identity. The stain wasn’t any type of blood at all. Originally authorities used chain saws to remove a section of wall which had stains on it so that they could send it to a crime lab for testing.
Police and FBI agents will continue to investigate the Etan Patz case but the building they were searching in has proved to hold no evidence of any crime related to Etan Patz.
About the author
Rick Gilbert is a veteran reporter who has retired from doing field work but still has a lot to say. We, at CoffeeCupDemocrat.com, feel very lucky to have Rick Gilbert writing for us. He is also a senior advisor regarding stories reported on Coffee Cup Democrat and works directly with the Chief Editor.
Rick continues to be very active in his community with his personal prime directive (Yes, Rick is a Star Trek fan) being to be true to the story and allow the facts to lead him to his ultimate conclusions. If he hadn't become a reporter he would have made one hell of a detective.
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