The investigation that led to her identification and then turned up enough evidence to arrest and convict Patricia Rorrer was interesting. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. Berlingers recently directed Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, and the feature film on the infamous serial killer, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, for Netflix. Another witness, Walter Traupman, who never testified, had told state troopers that on the day of Joanns disappearance, he saw a couple who looked like Joann and Andrew arguing about the paternity of a baby. INMATE INFORMATION. Congratulations to all four of you, especially Rell and Phill, who are both co-founding members of R2R and CADBI. Patricia demonstrated a consistent habit of long-distance calls from home, then had an obvious gap while claiming she. Another case is Patricia Rorrer, who has been in prison since 1998, convicted of the murder of a young mother and her 16-week old son in Pennsylvania. In March of 1998, a jury returned two guilty verdicts against Patricia Rorrer for murder, and two more for kidnapping. Decades-old Lehigh Valley murder case back in national spotlight, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. As for the murder weapon, police didnt find a .22 caliber pistol on Patricias property, but an ex-boyfriend claimed that she owned one and it would always jam after one shot. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. He framed this woman who has been in prison 23 years! Tips to help protect your smartphone from thieves, Godfather of soft rock David Lindley dead aged 78 after months of illness, Prince George set to play key role in King Charles coronation but only if hes back in school ASAP after!, Idris Elba: Its MY prerogative to stop labelling myself a black actor, Stephen tWitch Boss widow Allison Holker tells their kids they will find courage, Which Outer Banks Character Are You? The only eyewitness to the murder a five-year-old child told police officers that a white man did it, reads the statement. This was further disproved when her bank reported there'd been no activity on Joann's credit cards since her disappearance. When I gave samples of my hair, the doctor took a total of 39 hairs, but only 35 can be accounted for. Its doors were locked, but the keys were inside the vehicle. It's as if she had left with young Alex as planned but then somehow simply vanished. Patricia denied owning a .22 caliber pistol (the type of gun used to kill Joann). There are claims that the cigarette butt wasnt examined and that the hair strands had no roots (which contain the DNA), suggesting that nothing truly ties Patricia to the homicides. Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. 6-10. Where is Patricia Rorrer Now? - The Cinemaholic The farmer's remote field bordered an isolated horseback riding trail. She is a tough one, Sheriff Gerald Hege would later tell the Morning Call in a June 29, 1997 interview. Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. But there was only one day in question, so it feels like Patricia might have been overselling her story. By: Robert S. In 1994, Joann Katrinak called her mother-in-law and made plans to go holiday shopping. . But defense lawyer Robert Pfeiffer said that plenty of evidence supported Patricias innocence. The episode claimed the jury required just two hours to deliberate, but other sources indicate it took six. These organelles, found in all eukaryotic cells, are the powerhouse of the cell. Incriminating words. Jury Rejects Alibi, Finds Rorrer Guilty In Double Kidnapping-murder Case Woman found guilty in Lehigh Slayings Convicted murderer seeks new DNA tests in '94 murder case. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . Rejection and betrayal are good enough reasons for these women to commit heinous crimes. Every time you take your infant to the Dr., they take measurements, so I'm wondering if records exist that show the baby was always in the higher percentile, or if he was say, 60-70th percentile, then suddenly BAM! Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. They broke up in 1993. Season 1 had a tangible impact on all three cases that were examined. How could I explain to my daughter years later that I took a plea for something I didnt do? she said. Patricia Rorrer Age: 51 Sex: FEMALE But if that's the main evidence against her, it seems awfully weak. Mitochondrial DNA is the small circular chromosome found inside mitochondria. I didn't see other potential suspects highlighted. Recall Jason Funk's role in Katie Froeschle's murder in Muffled Cries (s11e31) or the trail of evidence left by Earl Bramblett in Private Thoughts (s08e16). Kidnapped and killed? Wake up people this could be you! Dateline NBC's Keith Morrison Explores Claims of a Wrongful Conviction Copyright 2021 Patricia Rorrer - All Rights Reserved. When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. As for an epilogue on ex-flame Andrew Katrinak, he has moved to Colorado and kept a low profile since the trial ended. Do any of the TV episodes suggest the possibility of their being held alive for some time? This proves that whatever hair root was DNA tested and matched to me could not have been one of the hairs taken from Joann's car. Of course, Patricia denied this. As for Joanns parents, her father died a year after the murder. Perhaps police couldn't get a warrant for a sample of Patricia's hair, the color being inconsistent with the latent hairs found in the car and at the murder scene. They moved into her house in Salisbury County, staying together for about two years. They DID NOT match the bullets that killed Joann and her son. Regard a similar case where too much detail signaled investigators to look closer at their suspect in Bagging a Killer (s06e25). We need to know who killed them! Traupman claimed that when he reported the dispute, trooper Robert V. Egan III got mad and practically kicked him out of his office. Hello guys! On December 12, 1994, Joann answered a phone call from a woman shed never met, Patricia Rorrer, her husbands onetime girlfriend. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Patricia Rorrer | Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network - WCJN The victim in this crime had a hair clutched in her right hand, and three pieces of fingernail found on her body, none of which has ever been tested. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Why would someone want to kidnap and murder the young mother? And their phone line had been cut someone had not wanted the Katrinaks to be able to call for help. Season 9 aired from August 7, 2015, to November 6, 2015. (QUIZ), RAW: FILE: CHRIS ROCK IS SET TO MAKE NETFLIX HISTORY, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. McIntyre said a conspiracy theory is preposterous and he's surprised Rorrer is making another attempt to get out of prison. Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! A local murder case that made national headlines will be back in the national spotlight Sunday night. No charmed life. The $60 Murder. The episode made a special point about locating the photograph of Patricia Rorrer with dyed blonde hair. Patricia was convicted based on her head hairs being found in the victim's car. Two-Part Special Premieres Sunday, March 5 at 8/7c; Features Exclusive First-Ever Interview with Inmate Patricia Rorrer (Silver Spring, Md.) Watch Forensic Files: Season 5, Episode 3A Woman Scorned. Weak wages. Patricia Rorrer is imprisoned for murdering her ex-boyfriend's wife and baby out of spite. They theorized might've simply started a new life with another man, but this seemed absurd to everyone who knew Joann. Please take the time to read my story. Murder victim. further reading: True Detective Season 3 and the West Memphis Three. After watching the latest Starz episode of Wrong Man (a great investigative show), I started thinking about the Patricia Rorrer case again.. Rorrer was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Joann Katrinak and her 3-4 month old son Alex in 1994 by forcing them our of their home and driving them to a wooded area where they were shot and killed. Success! Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? Regarding the gun, she claims to have said that she didn't have a gun at that time, not that she never had one. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. When she stood trial that same year, she maintained her innocence and alleged that she and Andrew Katrinak had continued to stay in touch as good friends, so she wouldnt do anything to hurt him. Born on January 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania, Patricia Rorrer spent most of her life going back and forth between the Keystone State and North Carolina. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. She was thus sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an added 10-20 years for the kidnapping charges, to be served consecutively. Clair is black, and no forensic evidence ties him to the crime scene.. Crime 2017. Forensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. Strands of the accuseds dyed-blond hair at two crime scenes proved it. "I'm hoping this [show] will be very close to the truth," said Sandy Mizgerd. The police report misspells his name (Troutman) and doesnt include his address, suggesting authorities didnt want anyone to track him down, according to Patricias side. McIntyre said he was accused of being the mastermind of a conspiracy to frame Rorrer. Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby. DNA testing revealed the blood came from either Joann or her son. Her book tells the truth and the real story of this case. "Reasonable Doubt" The Ex Files (TV Episode 2022) - IMDb Then, despite her multiple alibis, she has an inexplicable five-day gap in this pattern. Lawyer: New evidence in 1994 killings of woman, infant Patricia was arrested in North Carolina in June of 1997. Her defense was essentially that she and Andrew Katrinak had remained friendly, so she wouldn't want to hurt him. Wrong Man says she had normally signed in for her line dancing class but didn't on the day Joann and Alex disappeared. Joann had been shot once and then beaten over the head (presumably because the gun used only shot once). Joanne and baby Alex Katrinak kidnapping and murder by Patricia Rorrer. Right now she has no attorney and your generous donation will fund our mission. A medical examiner said it was impossible for the two bodies to have been in that wooded area for 4 months (December to April when they were found). Right to Redemption Wouldn't he have tried to call his mother recall it was with her Joann had planned to go Christmas shopping. It's possible he was just a big baby/growing faster than average, but if there's some indication that they were alive for some time after their abduction, then it would seem to be an entirely different kind of crime than was first thought. Flaw in reasoning. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates | Apple TV Watch Reasonable Doubt Online | Season 5 (2022) | TV Guide You couldnt fire a second shot. Rorrer offered her attendance at a private club in North Carolina as one of her alibies, but the club (per a state regulation) required members to sign in. Andrew's involvement in the latter theory was dismissed when his alibi checked out. She claimed to have been home during this period how did her defense team justify such a departure from Patricia's norm? And if nothing more, it certainly galvanized the law enforcement community and got us moving in the right direction. These hairs being found in the otherwise cleaned car was also odd. I have always maintained my innocence because I am innocent. One detail the cops noted was how many times Joann was beaten, something like 20 times, the husband was a boxer so it's doubtful he'd need that many. An early childhood introd Andrew mentioned to police that his former live-in girlfriend Patricia Rorrer once managed a horse stable two miles from the bodies location and would have been familiar with the riding trails close to the murder scene. Image Title Airdate Season Episode Series Episode "Sleeping with the Enemy" August 7, 2015: 1: 120 Texan Darlene Gentry is a self-centered former beauty queen who enjoys the party girl lifestyle and whose marriage to husband Keith is collapsing under the debt she has incurred. In addition to the Facebook page, there are Reddit threads on her case. I think you might have mistaken what's being mentioned in the Washington Post article; that is talking about microscopic hair analysis, which is when they compare two strands of hair for a match. In a million years, she wouldnt do anything to harm that.. Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list. Rorrer is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution Muncy, a prison for women in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. . After all, one of the key pieces of evidence recovered from the crime scene and Joanns vehicle were dyed blonde hair strands. 'Wrong Man" is a six-episode series from acclaimed award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost Trilogy) that examines cases of inmates who have been incarcerated for decades and claim they're innocent. Shes attracted the help of writer Tammy Mal (full name Tammy Malinowski OReilly), author of Convenient Suspect, a book about the case. Donna Fisher/Allentown Morning Call/TNS via Getty Image. The woman (who owned the salon) stated that they were closed that day and that she and her husband were out of town celebrating his birthday. Whether she suffocated him or left him to die of exposure, there's a special place in hell for someone who's able to live with themselves after such a heinous crime. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/fbi-overstated-forensic-hair-matches-in-nearly-all-criminal-trials-for-decades/2015/04/18/39c8d8c6-e515-11e4-b510-962fcfabc310_story.html, https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/convenient-suspect-a-wrongful-conviction-in-the-murder-in-lehigh-valley. The person responsible, needs to be punished. Wow this episode was featured on Forensic Files. More hairs there. Was this on unsolved mysteries too? Ive seen the forensics files episode a few times and Im shocked at how it could be so wrong! It seems Patricia's own daughter and baby Alex Katrinak were very close in age. Mizgerd said she is convinced Rorrer is innocent. The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. Rorrer claims the DNA evidence used to send her away is junk science., read more: Why Netflixs Ted Bundy Movie Avoids Violence, The third inmate whose case is under examination is Kenneth Clair. Catherine Howard - Fifth Wife of Henry VIII Documentary Well, that really caught our attention of course.". Joann was shot once, then the gun jammed. Search is on. Meticulous primping. Its definitely getting rougher every day, Andrew told the Morning Call. ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. The second is Patricia Rorrer, who has been in prison since 1998 after being convicted of the horrific murder of a young mother, Joann Katrinak, and her 15-week old son in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Innocent nonprofit Wrongful Conviction. Both sides agree Joann hung up on Patricia. A hidden FBI report found a couple years ago showed that police were unsure if there were roots on the found hairs. As usual, Rebecca at Forensic Files Now has a thoroughly researched article about the Patricia Rorrer case and events since her conviction. This state is corrupt as in every state! For more on the Katrinak murder case, you can watch Autopsy Six: A Fatal Attraction for free on YouTube. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. "Wrong Man" Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope (TV Episode 2020 On Alexs diaper bag, police found strands of the same type of hair from the car. Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. I dont even know its Christmas.. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. I can't recall if the long distance calls were talked about in the show. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Combine keywords and attributes to find specific items. In February 2008, Patricia Taylor Allanson, age 70, was arrested and charged with doctor shopping for thousands of pain pills over the past year. "Deadly Women" Green-Eyed Monsters (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb Patricia has been wrongfully convicted of murdering Joann and Alex Katrinak in 1994. The DNA presented at trial, the botching of hair evidence and the revelations in 2015 are thoroughly discussed. The prosecution asked for the death penalty, but the jury chose to sentence me to life in prison without parole which, actually, is just a slower death sentence. Prosecutor hiding something? It was a pretty big deal, and i was excited enough to call everyone I knew. Patricia Rorrer (PA) SCI Muncy OE2170 Life Without Parole DOB: January 24,1964. -, Press J to jump to the feed. In TV clips, Andrew didnt come off as anguished. I also communicated with Patricia via email to get her input on some matters. Joann Marie O'Connor Katrinak (1968-1994) - Find a Grave By that time, we had both moved on and I had no romantic feelings for him. Patricia Rorrer Brutal Killing of Joanne Katrinak & Baby - FFF ", "I can remember till this day, seeing that infant being lifted off the abdomen of his mother. The defense called into question both the motive and the shaky DNA hair evidence at the time. Rorrer was convicted at trial in March 1998 of kidnapping Joann Katrinak, 26, and her 3-month-old son, Alex, on Dec. 15, 1994, from their Catasauqua home . And because of the gun jamming, the assailant had to resort to blunt object and beat her about the head. Mizgerd said Rorrer is aware the show is airing and is hopeful it may bring new attention to her case. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? And the kidnapping scenario became more plausible when you factor in the privacy of the alleyway behind the Katrinak house. 1 talking about this. ", "Due to the fact that she sustained one gunshot wound to the face, and then approximately 19 blows to the head led us to believe that the gun probably had jammed. Its proximity to the stable she'd managed made an undeniable association to her. Very true - I can't remember if the show went through that. Detective Barry Grube found it odd that Andrew fixed the severed phone line before police examined it in essence tampering with evidence. With Chris Anderson, Fatima Silva. Most prosecutors wouldn't even take such paltry evidence into court today. After Tapp served nearly 21 years of his sentence, the real killer was finally found through forensic genealogy, according to Time. No show. Rorrer was convicted of killing them four years later. PATRICIA RORRER OBITUARY. I was so excited that I called everyone, and Joanne picked up the phone and she said Andy is married, and I said I know, then she said we have a baby, and I said yea I know, then she said dont ever call here again. I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. However, a former boyfriend stated that she did own a .22 caliber chrome-plated semi-automatic weapon. There was at least one hair strand that contained enough skin tissue for a nuclear DNA match and it corroborated the mitochondrial match. It certainly tugged at our heartstrings, you know, it brought a tear to my eye. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Free Patricia Rorrer - Facebook She fought for her life and had defensive wounds including a broken nose and a broken finger. When she stood trial that same year, she maintained her innocence and alleged that she and Andrew Katrinak had continued to stay in touch as good friends, so she wouldn't do anything to hurt him. I was like OK, maybe she was tired, you know with a new baby. Shes just extremely happy with Andy, her brother, Michael OConnor, told the media. 0. On December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son Alex disappeared without a trace from . This is the hard part. It'd be plausible to reason some deniability in Patricia's role if there weren't so many indicators of her involvement. Probable cause of death: exposure. . Did investigators look for phone calls between Andrew and Patricia prior to December 11, 1994? Psycho For Love: Patricia Rorrer killed her ex-boyfriend's new wife Four months later, when their bodies were found in a lonely patch of woods, the police would launch a three-year investigation leading to the arrest of Patricia Lynne Rorrera young mother who had never met . She needs to be freed! Witness also recalled Rorrer's mom trying to hide a gun. MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J. At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. Breaking News - "Dateline NBC" Correspondent Keith Morrison Explores By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Wrong Man investigators interrogated a confidential informant, the main witness against Evaristo Salas, and he recanted his testimony. Sad part is this could be your mother, father, kids, all love ones and friends! After retracing the prosecutor's claim of Patricia breaking into the basement door, private investigators found it highly unlikely someone like Patricia would have all the tools and know-how to unscrew all the bolts and then navigate through a very long, confusing dark basement to cut a phone line. "When I read that petition for the first time about 30 days ago, I couldn't believe it was written by a lawyer.". The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. How about the phone line being cut? It's really terrifying that that was regarded as damning evidence, especially now that the rest of the case that might have appeared to give it context has been so undermined. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. They returned with a guilty verdict and a sentence of two life terms. And in a piece of salacious testimony, Patricia Rorrers half sister, Sandra Ireland, said that in May 1995, about six months after the murder, their mother, Patricia Chambers, stopped by the house and asked her to hold onto or hide a gun, or both. after the fact. DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. There was an error processing your request. But thats just some of the ammo on Team Patricias battleship. Police treated Joann's car as a potential crime scene, and their investigation turned up several blonde hairs on the head rest. Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping.