Suspect’s Sister Says She Reported Patz Killing

The sister of a man who confessed last week to the 1979 killing of 6-year-old Etan Patz in New York City says she went to police in Camden, N.J., years ago to report a rumor he had confessed at a prayer group.

Norma Hernandez, of Camden, tells The Associated Press she spoke to a police officer at a reception window. She says he took notes but she didn't get any paperwork back and was never brought in to talk to a detective.

The woman says she told police about a rumor that her brother Pedro had confessed to a church prayer group that he killed a boy in New York.

Pedro Hernandez, of Maple Shade, N.J., was charged last week with second-degree murder in Patz's death.

Camden police had no comment Tuesday on the woman's claim.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)