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Longtime suspect in Etan Patz case to be released

November 7, 2012 | Modified: November 7, 2012 at 4:01 am
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Photo - Inmate Jose A. Ramos is shown in this May 28, 2010 file photo provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Ramos, the man who was long the prime suspect in a landmark case of missing New York City boy Etan Patz is about to be released from a Pennsylvania prison where he spent more than 20 years for molesting other children. Ramos, a convicted pedophile whom authorities have called the prime suspect in the case, is set to be released Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012 from the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, in northeastern Pennsylvania, prison spokesman Michael Goyne said. (AP Photo/Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, File)
Inmate Jose A. Ramos is shown in this May 28, 2010 file photo provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Ramos, the man who was long the prime suspect in a landmark case of missing New York City boy Etan Patz is about to be released from a Pennsylvania prison where he spent more than 20 years for molesting other children. Ramos, a convicted pedophile whom authorities have called the prime suspect in the case, is set to be released Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012 from the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, in northeastern Pennsylvania, prison spokesman Michael Goyne said. (AP Photo/Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, File)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A man long considered the prime suspect in the disappearance of a New York City boy more than three decades ago is being released from a Pennsylvania prison after serving time on child molestation convictions.

Six-year-old Etan Patz (AY'-tahn PAYTS) vanished in 1979 after leaving his Manhattan home for a bus stop. His disappearance led to the movement to publicize missing children's cases.

Authorities say convicted pedophile Jose Ramos (ho-ZAY' RAH'-mohs) was considered the prime suspect. He is now 69 and is set to be released Wednesday.

A new suspect was charged this year with Etan's murder after confessing. The man's lawyer says his client is mentally ill and prosecutors are deciding whether there's evidence enough to continue a case against him.

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