An early childhood introd They never looked into Andy who failed several lie detector tests, tampered with evidence. Some recurring themes in Forensic Files facinate me. Then 31 years old, she had lived a rocky existence. Until next time, cheers. Berlingers landmark HBO documentary Paradise Lost Trilogy helped lead to the release of the wrongfully convicted West Memphis Three after 18 years of incarceration. But thats just some of the ammo on Team Patricias battleship. And why was my defense not provided with the "No Roots Attached" report which is exculpatory evidence, at trial.? Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. Copyright 2021 Patricia Rorrer - All Rights Reserved. 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. Andrew languished for weeks and then months as investigators failed to suppl any explanation for his wife's and son's mysterious disappearance. However, prosecutors contended that Patricia attacked Joann and Alex because she wanted to reconcile with her ex, and his wife had hung up the phone on her when shed called in December 1994. When I gave samples of my hair, the doctor took a total of 39 hairs, but only 35 can be accounted for. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Book her. Phil and Rell will be released on Monday, as well as Leroy Cotton and Jimmy Jackson. 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 . for the sole purpose of building a stronger case against Andy, their main suspect at the time. Keith Morrison investigates the horrific 1994 murders of Joann Katrinak and her infant son Alex, the tangled relationships surrounding the crime, and the ongoing claims that Patricia Rorrer was wrongfully convicted. Pfeiffer and Burke claimed that police Sgt. His favorite rattle, shaped like a phone, lay near the crime scene. He said that the gun had an unusual characteristic: the gun would jam after firing one shot. Why did the police not look into these things? Episode Info. EPISODE 1. It'd be plausible to reason some deniability in Patricia's role if there weren't so many indicators of her involvement. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. Deal refused. Patricia Rorrer (PA) SCI Muncy OE2170 Life Without Parole DOB: January 24,1964. But the Wrong Man team brought in their own experts to review the detailed information on the corpses. With Chris Anderson, Fatima Silva. Louise Rorrer Bryant, age 79, of Fieldale, Va., passed away on May 15, 2022. Mizgerd said she is convinced Rorrer is innocent. (A good point. Combination locks. Bio by: Karen Valentine My kid has had 99th percentile head circumference since birth. 1 talking about this. In the Katrinak case, they did new (at the time) DNA testing to match the hairs found in the car to Patricia. (We didnt get into the specifics.). The second season will continue to uncover new theories and reveal startling new evidence that could prove that three new inmates are, in fact, not guilty, according to Starzs press statement. Really? $4.99/mo. This was further disproved when her bank reported there'd been no activity on Joann's credit cards since her disappearance. He recalls that Patty also had an alibi. Since then, Patricia has appealed her case and fought for exoneration, only to always be denied. So now, lets find out everything there is to know about her, shall we? Incriminating words. Phone records confirmed Patricia placed the earlier call from North Carolina, not Pennsylvania. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . Clair is black, and no forensic evidence ties him to the crime scene.. Yet, everything changed when they lost their 3-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Inside the locked 1992 vehicle, police discovered some strands of blond hair stained with dried blood. Leave a comment below, or contact us! It's as if she had left with young Alex as planned but then somehow simply vanished. Shouldn't Andrew have mentioned this suspicious, out-of-the-blue phone call from his ex-girlfriend sooner? Probable cause of death: exposure. And because of the gun jamming, the assailant had to resort to blunt object and beat her about the head. During Patricias hours-long turn in the witness chair, Michael McIntyre grilled her relentlessly. Traupman claimed that when he reported the dispute, trooper Robert V. Egan III got mad and practically kicked him out of his office. For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. She did buy a .22 before. 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. Since then our team has proven that Patricia is innocent. As for an epilogue on ex-flame Andrew Katrinak, he has moved to Colorado and kept a low profile since the trial ended. There was an error processing your request. A newspaper account described Patricia as a soft-spoken, demure woman who had a sweet Southern accent and wore feminine clothes in court. 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). She was bubbly and likable, not disgruntled, according to friend Kathy Barber, who visited her friend in jail. Further, an early FBI report said the hairs found in the car had no roots which contain the DNA suggesting an evidence switcheroo. Our Mission. Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. After a successful first season, Starz has announced thatWrong Man season 2 will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 9:45 p.m. Where are the missing 4 hairs? 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? 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. Keith Morrison investigates the horrific 1994 murders of Joann Katrinak and her infant son Alex, the tangled relationships surrounding the crime, and the ongoing claims that Patricia Rorrer was wrongfully convicted. . 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. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. He was sentenced to life in prison. But her reputation wasnt exactly sleek and shiny. Joann was shot once, then the gun jammed. No comments yet - start the conversation above. I wasn't hung up on Andy, and I didn't want him back. On December 12, 1994, Joann answered a phone call from a woman shed never met, Patricia Rorrer, her husbands onetime girlfriend. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Or did they? It's sad looking back at those Forensic Files episodes where the science was junk but they portray it as a solid case. We all need justice! Andrew's involvement in the latter theory was dismissed when his alibi checked out. 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. My case in a nutshell is this: I was convicted on a DNA match made to the root of a hair found in the victim's car which was located 15 miles from the crime scene. He was sentenced to death after being convicted of the brutal torture and murder of a young babysitter named Linda Rodgers in 1984 in Santa Ana, California. 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. Andrew's second look in and around their home revealed some disturbing clues. But defense lawyer Robert Pfeiffer said that plenty of evidence supported Patricias innocence. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. Some lawyers call microscopic hair analysis junk science that today wouldnt qualify as evidence in a trial like Rorrers. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. But other things Patricia did also seemed strange, especially according to prosecutor Michael McIntyre. Because when she did, she quickly began to realize that there was a lot more to the story than the public ever knew. Its proximity to the stable she'd managed made an undeniable association to her. Joann had been shot once and then beaten over the head (presumably because the gun used only shot once). The Ex Files: Directed by Rob Rosen. 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. It certainly tugged at our heartstrings, you know, it brought a tear to my eye. Any ideas why the fact that their bodies didnt appear to have been in the woods as long as previously thought wasnt brought up in court? Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. I watched the show the other night and watched some YouTube videos afterwards and there was interview footage of Joanns sister saying that Alex was a big healthy baby. 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. In 2015, the type of hair DNA science used was finally admitted to be junk by the FBI and incorrect in 96% of cases. Andy also failed at least 2 lie detector tests, and before an arrest was made in the murders, moved almost all the way across the country without telling the police. But none of those charges ever stuck. She had a lawyer who never tried a crimsoned case let alone a murder case, she believed that it would not be a problem because she was innocent. MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! We take wrongful convictions to heart. In April 1995, the family buried Joann and Alex in a single bronze casket after a funeral mass at a Bethlehem church. This was part of Rorrer's defense strategy it seemed like an unrealistic motive to commit murder. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? I also communicated with Patricia via email to get her input on some matters. Police slowly built a case against Patricia. Two of the seasons three cases will feature female inmates. I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. Season 1. Prosecutor hiding something? Other loyal friends and associates attested to Patricias kindness toward horses and devotion to her daughter, whom she took along as she worked in stables. The investigation that led to her identification and then turned up enough evidence to arrest and convict Patricia Rorrer was interesting. Police converged on the scene and soon realized it was not only the remains of Joann Katrinak, but sadly of Alex too. Joann was fun, likable, beautiful, always happy, said her sister-in-law Cindy Wiard. Her defense was essentially that she and Andrew Katrinak had remained friendly, so she wouldn't want to hurt him. 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. INMATE INFORMATION. Moreover, Patricia had been accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she cared for charges that never stuck. 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. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. At the states request, the instructor wore a wire during a phone conversation with Patricia. Also Rorrer had a history of run-ins with the law, including being charged with breaking and entering. Her hair color in the picture matched hairs found at two of the crime scenes. Patricia has been wrongfully convicted of murdering Joann and Alex Katrinak in 1994. This is the hard part. This is for them also and freeing an innocent woman! Crime 2017. However, a former boyfriend stated that she did own a .22 caliber chrome-plated semi-automatic weapon. The team on Wrong Man tracked down the history of this gun and found that the police did so as well. To really understand this case, you need to sit down and read this book called Convenient Suspect written by Tammy Mal. The missing items included Joann's purse, car, both her and Alex's winter jackets, and the diaper bag. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. It seems Patricia's own daughter and baby Alex Katrinak were very close in age. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 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. The 26-year-old was recently married, and this would be four-month-old Alex's first Christmas. Was this on unsolved mysteries too? ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. Posted: June 22, 2022 Patricia's investigators are petitioning to DNA test the single strain of hair found in Joann's hand. I know that if I get a fair trial, I will win and be freed. After Tapp served nearly 21 years of his sentence, the real killer was finally found through forensic genealogy, according to Time. And, I was quite angry with the police, that they accused Andy. During the interview, the FBI agents noted that I had no cuts, scratches, or bruising on my hand or face, as would be expected if I had been in a life and death struggle only a week earlier. Image credit: Episode screen capture from Forensic Files. A young mother and her infant son suddenly went missing just before Christmas in 1994. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. 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. By the mid-1990s, Patricia was known for being both warm and caring as well as aggressive and loud. 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. Find where to watch Patricia Rorrer's latest movies and tv shows I really never thought of it again.. Or identify other people in their lives who might have benefited from either the Katrinak's deaths or disappearance? 99.99 or whatever it was. State police and the Philadelphia division of the FBI appealed to the public for leads. 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. Hello guys! after the fact. Based on the activity, the victims were there since at least February. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. Those who knew Joann pointed out that she didnt like to drive in reverse and would have never parked that way. The state made a case fueled by circumstantial evidence and public outrage over the deaths of a modern-day madonna and child. The $60 Murder. Docket at pp. No charmed life. Died along with his mother, Joann, as a victim of his father's jealous ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer. Regarding the gun, she claims to have said that she didn't have a gun at that time, not that she never had one. A hidden FBI report found a couple years ago showed that police were unsure if there were roots on the found hairs. 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. Detective Barry Grube found it odd that Andrew fixed the severed phone line before police examined it in essence tampering with evidence. According to a Morning Call account from March 5, 1998: McIntyre leaned forward conspiratorially like someone trying to persuade another to tell a secret, lowered his voice and said: Heres what I want to know: After you killed Joann Katrinak, did you kill that baby or just leave it to die?. He is the TV Editor at Entertainment. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. 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 . "I'm hoping this [show] will be very close to the truth," said Sandy Mizgerd. After the premiere episode, Wrong Man will air on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. 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. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. Of course, Patricia denied this. 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 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. She does not have a lawyer, her last lawyer was sued by the prosecutor. At 6 a.m. on June 24, 1997, police arrested Patricia at her modest house in Linwood, North Carolina, and took her back to Pennsylvania. And she would just call out of the blue., According to the Free Patricia Rorrer page on Facebook:I called him to let him know that I was going to the USA finals for a horse show. Sad discovery. 0. For this week, I looked into the defenders reasoning as well as Patricias whereabouts today. 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. Read More:Where is Jacqueline Crymble Now? Morrison was 16 weeks pregnant when her lifeless body was found beaten beyond recognition and dumped along a remote country road, reads the statement. Detective Robert Werts stated Rorrer offered four or five alibis for the time of the incident. And the kidnapping scenario became more plausible when you factor in the privacy of the alleyway behind the Katrinak house. Her alibi about going to the club, called Cowboys Nitelife, got fuzzy when investigators discovered she hadnt signed the guest book on that day. In addition to the Facebook page, there are Reddit threads on her case. There was at least one hair strand that contained enough skin tissue for a nuclear DNA match and it corroborated the mitochondrial match. 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? . Damning for Patricia was that this field was only a couple miles from a horse farm that she used to have access to. The authorities charged her with two counts of murder. It's been more than 20 years since Patricia Rorrer was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend . DNA testing revealed the blood came from either Joann or her son. But was Andrew in on this plan? Joann grabbed her purse, the diaper bag, and their coats against the December chill in Pennsylvania. I was able to email with Patricia via the PrisonConnect platform around Christmastime. Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. Joann had been shot in the face and badly beaten. 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. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. Joann had been shot once and then bludgeoned in the head. Finally, prosecutors challenged Patricia's alibi. 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. When Andrew was told of the location of his young family's remains, he offered investigators a lead. Joann Katrinaks Killer Still Has Innocence Advocates(A Woman Scorned, Forensic Files). In North Carolina, she reportedly enjoyed some success as a horse trader, riding instructor, and rodeo competitor. 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. !) and detractors (This is another bs attempt to free a psycho). By that time, we had both moved on and I had no romantic feelings for him. Movies/Documentaries Murder in Lehigh Valley Forensic Files: A Woman Scorned Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters. Trash-talking ex. Witness also recalled Rorrer's mom trying to hide a gun. She said that shes no fan of Forensic Files and that the show had many misrepresentations about her case and that shed heard ForensicFilesNow.com mixed up some facts as well. 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. DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. Patricias accusers theorized that she resented Joanns domestic bliss with the tall, athletic Andrew Katrinak. Patricia Rorrer, an ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband, was found guilty of the crimes and sentenced to life in prison. Share Memories & Support the Family. And yikes, he discovered someone had cut one of the houses phone lines and pried the hinge on the basement door. FILED DECEMBER 13, 2013 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals from the order entered in the . A closer examination of the hairs showed traces of dried blood. ", "An unusual feature about the gun, he [Rorrers ex-boyfriend] stated was the fact that you fire one shot out of the gun, and the gun would jam. . Decades-old Lehigh Valley murder case back in national spotlight, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Starting at. Unbloody vehicle. He had worked as a semi-pro boxer in Las Vegas in his youth and later settled into his own construction business. When O'Reilly started doing the research, she believed Patricia (Patty) had been . The person responsible, needs to be punished. Watch Forensic Files: Season 5, Episode 3A Woman Scorned. They would have been held alive. We affirm. Watch enough true crime shows and you're bound to hear one of these gems. We work hard to help with things that can not be accomplished in prison. Rorrer was tried and convicted in 1994 for the brutal killing of Katrinak and her three-month-old son. Patricia Rorrer (right) is led to her hearing in Lehigh County Courthouse Wednesday morning, August 26, 1998 by a sheriff's deputy, at left. Plus, two men, her babys father and his friend, testified they saw Patricia at the line-dancing club the night of the homicide. She was also no stranger to law enforcement because she had a history of violence which included an arrest for getting into a bar brawl with another patron over a guy. I wonder if any of Alex's pediatrician records still exist after all this time. Keith Morrison investigates the horrific murders of Joann Katrinak and her infant son Alex, and the ongoing claims that Patricia Rorrer, the woman who has already served 19 years in prison for the murders, was wrongfully convicted. Shes attracted the help of writer Tammy Mal (full name Tammy Malinowski OReilly), author of Convenient Suspect, a book about the case. Advocates for her innocence complain of hype surrounding the case. An infant was lying face down on her stomach. On closer inspection, he saw it was the body of a woman. Highly charged case. However, her name was not on the sign-in list. Right now she has no attorney and your generous donation will fund our mission.