NBC New York reports that the ruling effectively forces prosecutors to decide the next step soon.
Hundreds of Hidden NYC Gems to Open During OHNY Weekend – USA Herald
Prosecutors Weigh Options as Time Runs Out
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo, representing Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s office, said prosecutors might not decide for several months whether to retry Hernandez or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Colangelo noted that time has made retrial preparations difficult. Many of the 50 witnesses from the 2017 trial have either moved away or cannot be located. “We’ve spoken to about two dozen of them,” Colangelo said, highlighting the challenges facing the prosecution.
Judge McMahon acknowledged the difficulty, saying it was not her role “to read the tea leaves and make predictions.” Still, she ruled that if jury selection does not begin by June 1, 2026, Hernandez must be released.
A Case That Still Haunts SoHo
Nearly 50 years after Etan Patz disappeared, the case continues to shape the nation’s understanding of justice, memory, and loss.
