NEW YORK (AP) — The lawyer for a man accused of kidnapping and murder in the 1979 disappearance of a 6-year-old New York City boy insists his client is mentally ill.
An indictment was made public Wednesday against 51-year-old Pedro Hernandez, of Maple Shade, N.J. Authorities say he confessed six months ago to killing Etan Patz (AY'-tahn PAYTS').
Defense attorney Harvey Fishbein says "nothing that occurs in the course of this trial will answer what actually happened to Etan Patz."
Prosecutors say they believe his confession was not the product of mental illness.
Etan's disappearance led to an intensive search and spawned a movement to publicize cases of missing children.
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