(SOUNBITE: MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG) "Somebody has come forward. We have a suspect in custody who has made a statement to the NYPD implicating himself"A possible big lead IN THE 33 YEAR-OLD CASE OF ETAN PATZ….POLICE SAY A man has CONFESSED TO STRANGLING THE LITTLE 6-YEAR-OLD BOY ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL BACK IN 1979SOT: Commissioner Ray Kelly, New York Police: HE WORKED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD…HERNANDEZ SAID HE SUFFOCATed THE LITTLE BOY, PUT HIS BODY IN A BOX AND DISPOSED OF IT IN AN ALLEY….(SOUNDBITE: DAN WOLLICK/NEIGHBOR)"This happened, what, 33 years ago? He's been in his own personal hell for 33 years, 'cause you don't forget that."DAN WOLLICK LIVES IN THE RENTS A UNIT IN THE SAME HOUSE WHERE HERNANDEZ AND HIS FAMILY LIVE…HE SAYS HERNANDEZ WAS QUIET, POLITE AND SEEMED TO BE A FAMILY MAN….THE THOUGHT OF HIS NEIGHBOR POSSIBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A MISSING CHILD BAFFLES HIM(SOUNDBITE: DAN WOLLICK/NEIGHBOR)"You don't do that kind of stuff to kids, you don't mess with them. Leave them alone. Take care of them. Don't kill them."(SOUNDBITE: MARY ANNE HAMMEL/NEIGHBOR)"First of all, that after 33 year years something has happened in this case is a surprise in itself. And then that it's someone who lives across the street, it kind of takes your breath away. It's shocking. And someone who looks so everyday average person."NO ONE ANSWERED THE DOOR AT THE HERNANDEZ HOUSE…POLICE SAY THEY ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AND ARE STILL CONFIRMING THE MAN'S STORY…THROUGHOUT IT ALL THE PATZ FAMILY IS STILL WITHHOLDS COMMENT….AFTER YEARS OF THE SEARCHING FOR THEIR SON….THERE IS NOW A QUIET HOPE….THE MAN WHO TOOK THEIR SON ON HIS WAY TO THE SCHOOL BUS SO LONG AGO, HAS NOW BEEN IDENTIFIED….IN CAMDEN NEW JERSEY, BONNY GHOSH, ASSOCIATED PRESS.(****END****) ANCHOR VOICE: -------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: bonny ghosh/matt friedman---------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: ap-----------------------