I'm sure that I'm missing a lot of details here (please add in the comments) but everything seems far too convenient and circumstantial. But when did he find the evidence of the break-in? Patricias defenders also say Andrew Katrinak staged the scene at his house by prying the door and cutting the phone line. Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. More hairs there. Our team of volunteers are committed to helping Patricia. Patricia Rorrer's Story - RIGHT TO REDEMPTION Image credit: Episode screen capture from Forensic Files. But was Andrew in on this plan? Media galore. One was a convenience store clerk, who said Joann, her baby and the man were in her store for up to 20 minutes, buying a couple hundred dollars worth of supplies in this small convenience store. Watch Forensic Files: Season 5, Episode 3A Woman Scorned. I dont think she was ever scared until we put the cuffs on her.. In 2015, I discovered an FBI report that states the hair used to convict me had "No Roots Attached." Witness also recalled Rorrer's mom trying to hide a gun. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. Over 200 people were convicted using this science ( 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). The only eyewitness to the murder a five-year-old child told police officers that a white man did it, reads the statement. She does not have a lawyer, her last lawyer was sued by the prosecutor. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence testing may be the key to proving her innocence. The same source indicates Patricia Rorrer has repeatedly appealed for a retrial and exoneration, but each request has been denied. The jury found Patricia guilty in just 6 hours in 1998, 4 years after the crime. Murder victim. 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. DNA testing revealed the blood came from either Joann or her son. Patricia's investigators are petitioning to DNA test the single strain of hair found in Joann's hand. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. After watching the latest Starz episode of Wrong Man (a great investigative show), I started thinking about the Patricia Rorrer case again. Image credit: Episode screen capture from, - Sarah OConnor: Joann Katrinaks Mother, - Det. When Andrew returned from work several hours later, Joann's car wasn't in its normal spot in the alley behind their house, but otherwise everything looked ordinary. Some who still believe in Patricia Rorrer's innocence say it was long enough for him to stage the scene. Finally, prosecutors challenged Patricia's alibi. Convenient Suspect: A Wrongful Conviction In The Murder In Lehigh And dance instructor William Jarrett couldnt remember whether she attended his dance class at the club the night of Joanns disappearance. But based on his body/head size and the lack of decomposition of the bodies, it seems likely they had been alive for quite some time after being kidnapped. Right now she has no attorney and your generous donation will fund our mission. I am innocent of these crimes, and I should not have lost the best years of my life in a prison cell. Cancel Anytime. ", "Everything is outrageous," he said. '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. In the Katrinak case, they did new (at the time) DNA testing to match the hairs found in the car to Patricia. It's been more than 20 years since Patricia Rorrer was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend . S5 E7: Patricia Rorrer sits in prison for brutally murdering her ex-boyfriend's wife and baby out of spite. (Disclaimer: Im not a big fan of eyewitnesses who come forward years after the fact, but its possible). Patricia Rorrer's Story. Wrong Man says she had normally signed in for her line dancing class but didn't on the day Joann and Alex disappeared. An infant was lying face down on her stomach. The past two owners of the gun's yards were dug up and many casings of the .22 were discovered. A photo at the time showed that Patricia had dyed her hair blonde, which matched the hair found. The person responsible, needs to be punished. Apr 5, 2016. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. Convicted killer Patricia Rorrer is asking for new DNA tests in the 13-year-old murder case of her former boyfriend's wife and child. It's shocking to think that Patricia Rorrer, being a mother, could end the life of an infant. FBI didn't follow up on Patricia's alibi for months (6 months?) Thats my life.. Nailed? I have always maintained my innocence because I am innocent. A young mother and her infant son suddenly went missing just before Christmas in 1994. And, I was quite angry with the police, that they accused Andy. I dont even know its Christmas.. As noted earlier, there was hair found in the victims hand, fingernail fragments found on her body, and also a cigarette butt. An expert will be allowed to examine evidence from the 1994 . 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 either victimas the monster responsible. 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. Prosecutors at the time used this angry phone call as motive for Patricia to travel 500 miles to the Katrinak house, cut a phone line, break into the basement door, put them into Joann's car and march Joann and Alex to their eventual death - killing them in a field. Moreover, Patricia had been accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she cared for charges that never stuck. She claimed to be at a dance class in private club but her name was missing from the sign in sheet that night. Today, Patricia Lynne Rorrer resides in State Correctional Institute at Muncy, a medium and maximum security facility that has the highest rate of cancer of all prisons in Pennsylvania, according to a story from northcentralpa.com. As is the alibi (signing into a dance class), one regular at the dance club said the sign-in sheet was not regularly used by many patrons. She claimed that shed spent that fateful day at a tanning salon and a country music club, but suspicion mounted when the guest book for the latter didnt have her name and a photo shed taken 11 days prior showed her naturally brown hair dyed blonde. Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. Strands of the accuseds dyed-blond hair at two crime scenes proved it. Patricia Rorrer Age: 51 Sex: FEMALE Dance defense. Probable cause of death: exposure. Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. They moved into her house in Salisbury County, staying together for about two years. Culture Editor Tony Sokol cut his teeth on the wire services and also wrote and produced New York CitysVampyr Theatreand the rock operaAssassiNation: We Killed JFK. Ex-boyfriend Walter Blalock said that Patricia wanted him to be more like Andrew. I really never thought of it again.. Part 1. Police converged on the scene and soon realized it was not only the remains of Joann Katrinak, but sadly of Alex too. ir.library.oregonstate.edu In addition to the Facebook page, there are Reddit threads on her case. Advocates for her innocence complain of hype surrounding the case. These organelles, found in all eukaryotic cells, are the powerhouse of the cell. Patricia has been wrongfully convicted of murdering Joann and Alex Katrinak in 1994. Patricia was . It showed her usually all-brown hair haphazardly highlighted blond. She intends to file a motion for a new trial. I knew when Joann was pregnant and although surprised because Andy had once told me he didn't want children and wasn't sure he could have children, I was again happy for him. 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. Illustration of the location of mitochondrial DNA in human cells. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. She was born on Jan. 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania and moved back and forth between there and Davidson County, North Carolina. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. I also communicated with Patricia via email to get her input on some matters. During that call, Joann apparently grabbed the phone and told Patricia never to phone her husband again. If you like our work please subscribe to our second channel The History Chronicles https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChroniclesFor early access. (180) 2017 13+. Wrong Man season 2, episode 3 recap: The Hang Up - Show Snob Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby. While the police are still investigating the murder of your wife and child? The DNA presented at trial, the botching of hair evidence and the revelations in 2015 are thoroughly discussed. The FBI waiting up to 6 months to question people in the class makes it near impossible for her to prove that she was actually there on a random Thursday night. This is a list of notable female murderers whose name begins with the letter R. Those who knew Joann pointed out that she didnt like to drive in reverse and would have never parked that way. . It seems strange that Patricia would just pick up and drive 500 miles to see and ex-boyfriend from years ago on a whim, leaving her own one-year-old daughter at home in North Carolina. Someone had shot Joann in the face with a .22-caliber pistol, then beaten her about the head hitting her 19 times in all with a blunt object. Knowing that they were not killed the day they were kidnapped, but instead held for potentially months, blows the fact that she didn't make a phone call for a few days out of the water. Error! Where is Patricia Rorrer Now? - The Cinemaholic I most definitely will not personally afford Patricia a platform, Michael said in an email to ForensicFilesNow.com She had her chance to answer my questions and tell her story in court over 20 years ago. Exactly one week after Joann and Alex went missing, the FBI interviewed me at my mother's house. Catherine Howard - Fifth Wife of Henry VIII Documentary In 2015, the type of hair DNA science used was finally admitted to be junk by the FBI and incorrect in 96% of cases. I can't recall if the long distance calls were talked about in the show. Together they had a baby girl, Nicole. She was also accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she owned. E 204 Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope. I know I did not commit these murders and they need to get justice for Joann and Alex too. Patricia was convicted based on her head hairs being found in the victim's car. An exterior door to their basement had been wrenched open, the lock hasp's screws literally ripped from the wall. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. Forensic Files (season 5) - Wikipedia 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. That hang-up, they said, was the last straw. Although the prosecution used it as evidence that she was trying to create a false alibi, it actually sounded more like Patricia was simply trying to nail down the facts he had already asserted to her. Patricia Rorrer Obituary (1935 - 2021) - Lynchburg, VA - The News & Advance The couple moved into Andrews sturdy brick house at 740 Front Street in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Patricia Rorrer (PA) SCI Muncy OE2170 Life Without Parole DOB: January 24,1964. Joann had been shot in the face and badly beaten. ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, Fire broke out in a Lower Macungie apartment building, Champions of Magic's Alex McAleer gives an exciting look at the upcoming live show, Pet of the Month: Nina from Ruff Life Rescue, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor needs volunteers, Allentown Public Library celebrates Dr. Seuss's birthday with children's activities, Kindness Project teams up with Flavor Nation to give away free tacos, History's Headlines: The Lehigh Valley's music man, Berks County Parks invites people to their Winter Wellness Walk, Royals host "kids takeover" game where kids get a taste of the sports business, Wilson School students raise $83k to fight childhood cancer, Berks County Intermediate Unit receives $3.18 million in grants for Head Start programs, 'First in the nation' bill to provide free screenings for breast cancer to receive full Pa. Senate vote, Reading Area Water Authority looking for leak on North Heidelberg Township line, Former Penn State Berks soccer player among dead in violent Monroe County crash, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy costs, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South, Ukraine ally Kallas fights for reelection in Estonia vote, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, 6 Nigerian states drop suit to void presidential vote result, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills, What the Tech? For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. One she was out buying feed for horses. Docket at pp. Many of these are circumstantial, so investigators were grateful for their DNA match from the hair. The six-episode documentary series examines the cases of three different inmates who are serving life sentences on murder convictions but who claim innocence. The Free Patricia Rorrer page points to a sliver of a fingernail found at the murder site that didnt come from either Patricia or Joann. Patricia Rorrer being escorted by the police | Photo Credits: People Magazine. How would an intruder find it? Artificial intelligence and machine learning education and literacy: teacher training for primary and secondary education teachers; Chapter 2. Combine keywords and attributes to find specific items. Joann Katrinak and her infant son were brutally murdered. Episode Info. Wake up people this could be you! Did investigators look for phone calls between Andrew and Patricia prior to December 11, 1994? "When I read that petition for the first time about 30 days ago, I couldn't believe it was written by a lawyer.". Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Hair we go. Local author finds possible new evidence in 20 year old murder case Leave a comment below, or contact us! To really understand this case, you need to sit down and read this book called Convenient Suspect written by Tammy Mal. At 10:30 p.m., Andrew reported his wife missing. She asked to speak with Andrew, who was home during the call; Joann refused. (We didnt get into the specifics.). Forensic Files didnt mention it, but the hairs were actually brown at the top and the rest dyed blond, according to the show Autopsy Six: A Fatal Attraction. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. Patricia also pointed out that when author Tammy Mal started her research and speaking to me, she was not an advocate at all but she reversed and ended up advocating for Patricias innocence. This had been taken just 11 days before Joann's disappearance. 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. That's absolutely ridiculous, yet that is the only motive ever given for why I supposedly committed this crime. 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 . Wow this episode was featured on Forensic Files. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. Patricia demonstrated a habit of making almost daily, long-distance phone calls from her home in North Carolina. It's not often there's a laundry list of clear signals, but it's fun to iterate them when there are so many. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? No activity on her bank account or credit cards took place after the day she went missing, so investigators dismissed the theory that she took her child and bolted. I think it would really require comparison with his pediatric medical records to determine if the head circumference is relevant. Rejection and betrayal are good enough reasons for these women to commit heinous crimes. Friends and family began looking for Joann and Alex. Her hair color in the picture matched hairs found at two of the crime scenes. If I knew I was going to get caught, I never would have brought you into this world, the arresting officers testified they heard her say to Nicole. The authorities charged her with two counts of murder. Starz Renews 'Wrong Man' For Second Season - Deadline Read More:Where is Jacqueline Crymble Now? This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. He recalls that Patty also had an alibi. Rorrer claims the DNA evidence used to send . Andrew had an ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer, who'd been familiar with the trail, and she'd previously managed a horse stable just a mile from the scene. Patricia Allanson | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers This is the hard part. There was an error processing your request. Mitochondrial DNA is the small circular chromosome found inside mitochondria. When I gave samples of my hair, the doctor took a total of 39 hairs, but only 35 can be accounted for. Sad part is this could be your mother, father, kids, all love ones and friends! At the trial, prosecutor Michael McIntyre alleged that Patricia remained obsessed with Andrew Katrinak long after their breakup despite testimony that shed had many boyfriends and live-in lovers to occupy her bandwidth. It was later believed that his recollection was keen, since he'd been the one to dress her posthumously. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates After six hours of deliberations, in March 1998, a jury found Patricia guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of kidnapping. Find a typo or issue with the details of this case? He would be alive today if it were not for Patricia Rorrer. The mild-mannered Sarah died in 2019 at the age of 83. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . Here is the link https://www.amazon.com/Convenient-Suspect-Investigation-Railroading-Innocent/dp/B0777SGHL4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=tammy%20mal&qid=1588982960&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR0xwJARGyijcn3BqdWAzXSX0l9C7kM-9UtBxQio4AsMv62neDLzggK1IrI. In March of 1998, a jury returned two guilty verdicts against Patricia Rorrer for murder, and two more for kidnapping. My husband passed away of a broken heart, Sarah OConnor said on the Montel Williams Show in 2001. After relocating to Pennsylvania, Patricia met the 6-foot-2-inch Andrew in a restaurant. The article also notes that most inmates earn around 19 cent an hour at their jobs and must pay $5 each time they need medical attention or medicine. Plus, two men, her babys father and his friend, testified they saw Patricia at the line-dancing club the night of the homicide. Convenient Suspect: A Double Murder, a Flawed Investigation, and the "Our position is that Patricia Rorrer's sample hairs were switched with crime scene hair, the hair taken from the seat back of Katrinak's vehicle," Neely said. Her newest book, Convenient Suspect, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2017 and recounts the murders of Joann and Alex Katrinak and the potential wrongful conviction of Patricia Rorrer. Patricias phone bill showed no record of a call to Catasauqua that day, but police noticed she didnt make any calls at all from her house in North Carolina that day either suggesting she could have been out of state and used a pay phone to dial up the Katrinaks. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates | Apple TV The premiere episode will air following the series finale of Power. Probable cause of death: exposure. MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED OCTOBER 26, 2017 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals the PCRA court's dismissal of her . He will never be able to speak if this case! There was at least one hair strand that contained enough skin tissue for a nuclear DNA match and it corroborated the mitochondrial match. Most prosecutors wouldn't even take such paltry evidence into court today. Christopher Tapp, who was convicted of the 1996 sexual assault and murder of an 18-year-old girl in Idaho, was coerced into confessing to the crime after an estimated 150 hours of interrogations. Mizgerd said Rorrer is aware the show is airing and is hopeful it may bring new attention to her case. Angry that Joann hung up on her, she stalked her for three days, then broke into her basement and cut the phone line, put a gun to Joanns head as she was placing Alex in the car, and forced her to drive to the rural area. Watch Reasonable Doubt Online | Season 5 (2022) | TV Guide Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. Criminal Division at No (s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. It would have to have been a different gun. 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. 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. Season 1 had a tangible impact on all three cases that were examined. Prosecutor pounds away. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. Louise Rorrer Bryant, age 79, of Fieldale, Va., passed away on May 15, 2022. 3126 EDA 2012 Appeal from the PCRA Order October 11, 2012 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BOWES, J., LAZARUS, J., and WECHT, J. Patricia and her husband broke up after the babys death. for the sole purpose of building a stronger case against Andy, their main suspect at the time. More importantly, the 3 month old baby was the size of a 6 month old, including to have a cranial diameter bigger than 99.99% of all 3 month olds. When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. Com v. Rorrer, P. (memorandum) - Justia Law Once, when a gun-wielding farmer and his buddy caught Patricia and Gary riding motorcycles on his field, Patricia walked up and got in their faces and argued, Gary recalled to the Morning Call. Of course, Patricia denied this. In 2015, an outside source, through a freedom of information act request, received an FBI . 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. These hairs being found in the otherwise cleaned car was also odd. The Ex Files: Directed by Rob Rosen. After a successful first season, Starz has announced thatWrong Man season 2 will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 9:45 p.m. With Chris Anderson, Fatima Silva. Detectives from the Davidson County sheriff's office took the witness stand to recall the morning of June 24, 1997, when they knocked on the door of Rorrer's Linwood, N.C., home and told her she . On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. Joann Katrinaks Killer Still Has Innocence Advocates(A Woman Scorned, Forensic Files). What would a crime show be without them? He is the TV Editor at Entertainment. Testimony from Walter Blalock contradicted Patricias claim that she never had a gun. But none of those charges ever stuck. Despite the new evidence and hypotheses, the courts have rejected all of Patricias bids for a new trial. Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. Rorrer v. Nicholas, Civil Action 19-cv-01398-GEKP - Casetext Most convictions were procured through microscopic hair comparison which has been debunked as junk science today. Better Call Saul Season 6 Episode 7: Finale Release Time and Season Recap, Tiger King Earned 34 Million Viewers in First 10 Days, Shazam! You have permission to edit this article. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. Patricia Rorrer Brutal Killing of Joanne Katrinak & Baby - FFF "Reasonable Doubt" The Ex Files (TV Episode 2022) - IMDb The Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Networks website also points to a bombshell: In 2015, the Justice Department acknowledged that most of the team members from an FBI microscopic hair comparison unit gave prosecutors flawed data from 1980 to 2000 that could have unjustly contributed to a number convictions including Patricia Rorrers. Darla Carrington, Brian Charles, Robert Pezzeca, Patricia Rorrer . The main one of course was committing murder of a young woman and her infant son over an argument. 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.