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Judge says he’s going to dismiss jury in Etan Patz case

Defense attorney Harvey Fishbein, left, speaks to reporters during a break in the trial of Pedro Hernandez in New York, Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Jurors deliberating in the murder trial of Hernandez, a man accused of kidnapping and killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979, says they're deadlocked — for a second time. But a judge is telling them to keep trying for a verdict. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Defense attorney Harvey Fishbein, left, speaks to reporters during a break in the trial of Pedro Hernandez in New York, Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Jurors deliberating in the murder trial of Hernandez, a man accused of kidnapping and killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979, says they're deadlocked — for a second time. But a judge is telling them to keep trying for a verdict. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

By Associated Press 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – The judge in the New York murder trial involving the 1979 disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz says he is planning to call the deliberations to an end after jurors announced for a third time they were deadlocked.

Jurors have been deliberating the case against Pedro Hernandez since April 15. They announced they were deadlocked on April 29, Tuesday and Friday.

The judge said Friday that he planned to end deliberations. He is waiting for the jury to be brought back in to declare a mistrial.

Etan was among the first missing children pictured on milk cartons. The anniversary of his disappearance is National Missing Children’s Day.

Hernandez made a confession in 2012. His lawyers say it’s false, and they’ve pointed to another suspect who wasn’t charged.