Prior Confession In Etan Patz Murder Case?

By Jericka Duncan,

CAMDEN, Nj (CBS) -- Pedro Hernandez was arrested last Thursday after he reportedly told authorities he killed 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979. Now there are reports Hernandez confessed in the early 80s at a prayer meeting in Camden, New Jersey. At the time, those prayer meetings were led by Tomas Rivera of Blackwood, New Jersey.

Rivera's wife, when asked if Pedro confessed to the prayer group, said she wasn't there.

According to the New York Times, Rivera was the prayer leader at St. Anthony of Padua in Camden when Hernandez made the shocking confession. Rivera told the paper it was not his place to call police almost 30 years ago because Rivera said the murder confession happened in a group of about 50 people. Mrs. Rivera said Jose Lopez, Hernandez' brother-in-law, attended many of the meetings.

"The family was at the prayer meetings," said Mrs. Rivera."They know all about it."

Last week, New York City police arrested Hernandez from his Maple Shade, New Jersey home. Police had recently re-opened the case. Monday, detectives from New York arrived back to Maple Shade to question more neighbors. Dan Wollick, who lives nearby, said he saw Hernandez' wife and daughter today.

"The mother seemed nervous," said Wollick.