Etan Patz‘s disappearance on 25 May 1979 is the is the oldest open missing child case in New York City’s history.

Six-year-old Etan had grabbed his school books and given his mother a goodbye kiss before leaving to catch the bus to school. He was never seen again.

In the months and years that followed, Etan became the symbol for lost children all over America. Then, in 1982, President Reagan proclaimed May 25, the anniversary of Etan’s disappearance, as National Missing Children’s Day. Each year since, the U.S. Department of Justice has held a ceremony to commemorate missing children and to honour men and women across the nation who have worked tirelessly to recover missing children and reunite them with their families. Sadly, Etan was never found, but National Missing Children’s Day continues to be a tribute to his memory.

In 2003, suspicion irrevocably settled upon convicted child molester and paedophile, Jose Antonio Ramos, 60, who is serving time in a Pennsylvania prison for molesting boys. He had been a friend of Etan’s baby-sitter.

In 2001, Etan’s parents declared their missing son legally dead and pursued a civil case against Ramos, who was found liable for Patz’s death in May 2004. They were awarded a sum of $2 million, which they have never collected.

Each year, on Etan’s birthday, his father sends a card to Ramos asking him: “What did you do to our son?”

In memory of those who are still missing.

 (Republishing following technical difficulties today)