Patricia demonstrated a habit of making almost daily, long-distance phone calls from her home in North Carolina. Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind and a few breaks in the clouds overnight. Andrew languished for weeks and then months as investigators failed to suppl any explanation for his wife's and son's mysterious disappearance. It seems Patricia's own daughter and baby Alex Katrinak were very close in age. To really understand this case, you need to sit down and read this book called Convenient Suspect written by Tammy Mal. Our Mission. We all need justice! Rorrer was the ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband Andy but the ex-couple hadn't spoken for close to a year until they had a call one day in December, 1994. Therefore, when Andrew revealed that his ex once worked in a barn near the site of his wife and sons bodies, she became a suspect. PATRICIA RORRER OBITUARY. Here is the link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc, 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. Also Rorrer had a history of run-ins with the law, including being charged with breaking and entering. Learn more about our upcoming events, fundraisers, and more! Wrong Man investigators interrogated a confidential informant, the main witness against Evaristo Salas, and he recanted his testimony. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. Patricia L. Rorrer was taken into custody from the Linwood home she shared with her boyfriend and 1-year-old daughter on June 24, 1997. ", "I think she gave us something like four or five alibis as to where she was at. He will never be able to speak if this case! Her car was soon located in a parking lot within walking distance of their home. And even prosecutor Michael McIntyre, who wrote the book Hair Trigger about the case, acknowledged to Keith Morrison that it was a little odd that the police found blood on the hairs in Joanns car but nowhere else in the vehicle. 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. She made an effort to look perfectly groomed even when she took out the trash, according to her mother, who appeared on Forensic Files. Patricia denied owning a .22 caliber pistol (the type of gun used to kill Joann). We take wrongful convictions to heart. But Patricia had moved from Pennsylvania years ago, and she'd started her own family in North Carolina. She claimed to be at a dance class in private club but her name was missing from the sign in sheet that night. 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. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had almond-shaped blue eyes, weighed 18 pounds, and was circumcised. On closer inspection, he saw it was the body of a woman. Patricia has been wrongfully convicted of murdering Joann and Alex Katrinak in 1994. Joanne and Alex needs justice to! Joann Katrinaks Killer Still Has Innocence Advocates(A Woman Scorned, Forensic Files). Yet, everything changed when they lost their 3-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In the Katrinak case, they did new (at the time) DNA testing to match the hairs found in the car to Patricia. The case rocked Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and resulted in the conviction of Patricia Rorrer, now 53, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinak's husband. Rorrer's attorney, Craig Neely, said after a report by 69 News in December that a police officer contacted him and claimed the first officer on the scene was convinced to lie about the case by the district attorney's office or he would lose his job, but the commonwealth said the first officer on the scene took back those words. One of Patricia's alibis was that she was at a bar on the night of the abduction. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. . 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. A Lehigh County jury spared convicted double murderer Patricia Rorrer's life Monday after hearing impassioned pleas for mercy from her lawyer and family, and being assured there is no parole from . Pat Rorrer received a sentence of life imprisonment for her crime. But other things Patricia did also seemed strange, especially according to prosecutor Michael McIntyre. Patricia is and has been fighting that she is innocent from the very beginning. She was bubbly and likable, not disgruntled, according to friend Kathy Barber, who visited her friend in jail. Error! During these 4 years, many in the Lehigh Valley, PA community developed opinions on the case. Patricia knew her gun tended to jam, but she used it anyway. 6-10. Episode 204 of Starz' Wrong Man winds up its coverage of the Rorrer/Katrinak case, but it leaves us with far more questions than answers. Phil and Rell will be released on Monday, as well as Leroy Cotton and Jimmy Jackson. 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. . 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 North Carolina, she reportedly enjoyed some success as a horse trader, riding instructor, and rodeo competitor. Not gender neutral. Patricia Rorrer's Story. She claimed to have been home during this period how did her defense team justify such a departure from Patricia's norm? And Patricia wasnt all edges. Where are the missing 4 hairs? If Patricia drove it back from the murder scene after she shot Joann and then beat her to death, luminal would have lit up the interior. This is the hard part. Some lawyers call microscopic hair analysis junk science that today wouldnt qualify as evidence in a trial like Rorrers. The 26-year-old was recently married, and this would be four-month-old Alex's first Christmas. And because some of Patricias advocates have suggested Andrew Katrinak had a motive for murder, I checked into whether he had a life insurance payout to gain upon Joanns demise. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. The bodies of Joann Katrinak and her baby were found in a wooded area of Heidelberg Township in 1994. Movies/Documentaries Murder in Lehigh Valley Forensic Files: A Woman Scorned Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters. I dont think she was ever scared until we put the cuffs on her.. The premiere episode will air following the series finale of Power. My husband passed away of a broken heart, Sarah OConnor said on the Montel Williams Show in 2001. On December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son Alex disappeared without a trace from their home in Catasauqua, Pa. Patricia Rorrer, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinak's husband, was convicted of the murders and has maintained her innocence for 20 years while serving life behind bars. Men who murder are conventional, women are sensational, posits the Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network. Fury of the Gods Brings Back the "Shazamily": Inside DC's New Superhero Adventure, Scream 6's Brutal NYC Trip: "You Can't Trust Anyone" This Time, Cocaine Bear Is Not Just About a Killer "Coked-Up" Bear, It's Also an "Underdog Story", How Marvel's Wastelanders Podcast Created an Exciting Story with No Visual Safety Net, Wrong Man Season 2 Release Date Confirmed (Exclusive). Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. It all gave jurors a lot to think about but only for six hours. (McIntyre said that Egan ignored Traupman because he was a nut who said that the man he saw arguing with the woman in a car was Hispanic but wearing a fake mustache and a toupee. Wow this episode was featured on Forensic Files. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Pulled hairs don't grow roots. She had a suitcase packed, Devine said. 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. I know that if I get a fair trial, I will win and be freed. One she was out buying feed for horses. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Really? The first, Vonda Smith, was convicted of murdering her grandchilds mother, 21-year-old Jessie Morrison. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Its definitely getting rougher every day, Andrew told the Morning Call. It's not often there's a laundry list of clear signals, but it's fun to iterate them when there are so many. (180) 2017 13+. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. 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. Charles Robert, the 3-month-old son she had with Gary Gabard, died of sudden infant death syndrome; Patricia found him blue in his crib. Both were deceased. . [1] The mitochondria, and thus mitochondrial DNA, are passed exclusively from mother to offspring through the egg cell. Back in March of 2017, Investigation Discovery ran Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates which questioned the conviction of . - On December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son Alex disappeared without a trace from their home in Catasauqua, Pa. Patricia Rorrer, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinak's husband, was convicted of the murders and has maintained . Where does one pick up flower petal in the dead of winter in PA.? ", "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. Patricia Rorrer has been portrayed as a bully, petty thief, neglectful horse owner, and heartless killer or a sweet, caring friend railroaded by authorities desperate to solve a double-murder case that snagged worldwide interest. Mal told Keith Morrison that Patricias dance teacher originally confirmed her alibi that she was in class on the day of the murder, then changed his mind. Further, an early FBI report said the hairs found in the car had no roots which contain the DNA suggesting an evidence switcheroo. With 400 (and 6) episodes, this progress bar indicates my progress toward finishing all of them. Patricia Rorrer has been portrayed as a bully, petty thief, neglectful horse owner, and heartless killer or a sweet, caring friend railroaded by authorities desperate to solve a double-murder case that snagged worldwide interest. The state made a case fueled by circumstantial evidence and public outrage over the deaths of a modern-day madonna and child. With Lynnanne Zager, Joann Katrinak, Alex Katrinak, Patricia Rorrer. Dance defense. Success! But her reputation wasnt exactly sleek and shiny. Rorrer and Andrew broke off their . After her arraignment, she had to walk past a crowd of dozens of locals screeching hang her! and baby killer! Patricia clung to a Polaroid picture showing her and her own little girl. Four months after Joanns disappearance, farmer Paul Kovalchik reported seeing what at first looked like a pile of clothes on his land in Heidelberg Township woods, about 15 miles from the Katrinaks house. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. An expert will be allowed to examine evidence from the 1994 . Theres also the matter of a woman who suddenly remembered she saw Joann with another man at a Food Mart store five days after the disappearance. He said she did own a firearm, with its serial numbers filed off. The victims vanished on December 15. But if that's the main evidence against her, it seems awfully weak. 1 hr 25 min Mar 5, 2017 TV-14. 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. Kidnapped and killed? Since then our team has proven that Patricia is innocent. Tue, Sep 27, 2022 60 mins. The episode claimed the jury required just two hours to deliberate, but other sources indicate it took six. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. And who'd be heartless enough to kill an infant as well? Cancel Anytime. Supposedly it was the relationship to this trail and Patricia's managing of the Silver Shadow Farms horse stable just a mile away that first brought Rorrer to detectives' attention. One she was at a private club. How would an intruder find it? Lawyer: New evidence in 1994 killings of woman, infant, Patricia Rorrer serving life sentence for killing Joann Katrinak, 3-month-old son, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. Clair is black, and no forensic evidence ties him to the crime scene.. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. It's now up to a judge to decide whether to allow that information, as well as information questioning the validity of hair samples that helped put Rorrer behind bars. In November 2005, she shoots Keith in the head while he . In 2015, I discovered an FBI report that states the hair used to convict me had "No Roots Attached." Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! The system is broken sending innocent people to prison! Patricia L. Rorrer was taken into custody from the Linwood home she shared with her boyfriend and 1-year-old daughter on June 24, 1997. Most convictions were procured through microscopic hair comparison which has been debunked as junk science today. She was the devoted wife of the late Alvin Haymon Rorrer. Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping. Great catch. Wake up people this could be you! I didn't see other potential suspects highlighted. She asked to speak with Andrew, who was home during the call; Joann refused. . (Media sources vary as to whether she actually worked at the stable or just rented a stall there for her own horse.). Hair we go. They were hardly decomposed after a mild winter. Deal refused. Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby. Shes just extremely happy with Andy, her brother, Michael OConnor, told the media. Many of these are circumstantial, so investigators were grateful for their DNA match from the hair. Finally, prosecutors challenged Patricia's alibi. McIntyre said a conspiracy theory is preposterous and he's surprised Rorrer is making another attempt to get out of prison. 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. She had dropped out of school at the age of 17 to marry her partner and subsequently worked long graveyard shifts at a textile factory to provide for their family. The footage was quite old and filmed well before the show and theory so it caught my notice after the show stated his percentiles being nearly off the chart. Um why is that? 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. Patricia had won a prize at an out-of-state horse-riding competition less than two weeks before the murders, and she allowed herself to be photographed. Read more of his work here or find him on Twitter @tsokol. Rorrer was tried and convicted in 1994 for the brutal killing of Katrinak and her three-month-old son. I cant lose them, he told the media. Berlingers landmark HBO documentary Paradise Lost Trilogy helped lead to the release of the wrongfully convicted West Memphis Three after 18 years of incarceration. She seemed like quite an unlikely suspect at least at first. Moreover, Patricia had been accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she cared for charges that never stuck. And Andrews explanation of how the intruder got in through the basement door seemed contrived, according to Grube, who gave an interview to Wrong Man, a 2020 true-crime docuseries from the Starz network, which produced two episodes called The Hang Up about the Rorrer case. 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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 example, the weight of each organ was listed, it was clear they were not very decomposed. Her alibi about going to the club, called Cowboys Nitelife, got fuzzy when investigators discovered she hadnt signed the guest book on that day. 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. I'm not sure to what extent it was brought up in the original trial. My kid has had 99th percentile head circumference since birth. 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. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. 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. 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.
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