Longtime suspect to be freed in Patz case

Longtime suspect to be freed in Patz case

new york

While prosecutors weigh what to do about a suspect who surprisingly surfaced this spring in the landmark 1979 disappearance case of Etan Patz, the man who was the prime suspect for years is about to go free after more than two decades in prison for molesting other children.

These two threads in the tangled story are set to cross next month, a twist that evokes decades of uncertainties and loose ends in the search for what happened to the sandy-haired 6-year-old last seen walking to his Manhattan school bus stop.

The new suspect, Pedro Hernandez, has been charged with Etan’s murder after police said he emerged as a suspect and confessed this spring. But there’s no public indication that authorities have found anything beyond his admission to implicate him, and his lawyer has said Hernandez is mentally ill.

The Pennsylvania inmate, Jose Ramos, was declared responsible for Etan’s death in a civil court, but the Manhattan district attorney’s office has said there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him criminally. After serving 25 years on child molestation convictions in Pennsylvania, he’s set to be freed Nov. 7, about a week before prosecutors are due to indicate whether they believe there’s evidence enough to keep going after Hernandez.

Ukraine ruling party claims a victory

kiev, ukraine

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s party claimed victory Sunday in a parliamentary vote tainted by the jailing of the country’s top opposition leader.

Despite a strong showing of pro-Western opposition parties in the proportional portion of the vote, Yanukovych’s Party of Regions was likely to retain its parliamentary majority as its candidates were expected to take the lead in individual races in the country.

Palestinians to seek UN recognition

ramallah, west bank

The Palestinian president is moving forward with his plan to seek upgraded observer status at the United Nations next month, despite American and Israeli threats of financial or diplomatic retaliation, officials said Sunday.

The decision sets the stage for a new showdown between Israel and the Palestinians at the world body, after last year’s attempt by the Palestinians to seek status as a full member state. Although that initiative failed to pass the U.N. Security Council, it caused months of diplomatic tensions with Israel.

Skydiver killed

chester, S.c.

A skydiver died Sunday after a hard landing at an airport in South Carolina, authorities said.

Chester County Emergency Management director Eddie Murphy said authorities were called to an airport in Chester just after 10:15 a.m. Sunday.

The skydiver was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., where he died. His name was not immediately released.

7.7 quake hits off coast of Canada

vancouver, british columbia

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the west coast of Canada, but there were no reports of major damage. Residents in parts of British Columbia were evacuated, but the province appeared to escape the biggest quake in Canada since 1949 largely unscathed.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the powerful temblor hit the Queen Charlotte Islands Saturday night.

Associated Press