I was convicted on the basis of a DNA match made to the root of one (1) hair found in Joann's car. They theorized might've simply started a new life with another man, but this seemed absurd to everyone who knew Joann. However, it seems this was only after the bodies of Joann and Alex were found on the remote horse trail. To really understand this case, you need to sit down and read this book called Convenient Suspect written by Tammy Mal. . Patricia Taylor Allanson, the Deadly Magnolia, was released from prison in 1999. There is a 2-part episode on Wrong Man that just came out this year. Until WCJN has thought that the hair was planted but the FBI has just released a report detailing unscientific and fraudulent analysis of hair samples in criminal cases. This had been taken just 11 days before Joann's disappearance. Patricia Rorrer is imprisoned for murdering her ex-boyfriend's wife and baby out of spite. And who'd be heartless enough to kill an infant as well? No comments yet - start the conversation above. Wrong Man investigators interrogated a confidential informant, the main witness against Evaristo Salas, and he recanted his testimony. 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. Two-Part Special Premieres Sunday, March 5 at 8/7c; Features Exclusive First-Ever Interview with Inmate Patricia Rorrer (Silver Spring, Md.) 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. Read more of his work here or find him on Twitter @tsokol. McIntyre said he was accused of being the mastermind of a conspiracy to frame Rorrer. Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016. After watching the latest Starz episode of Wrong Man (a great investigative show), I started thinking about the Patricia Rorrer case again. Did investigators look for phone calls between Andrew and Patricia prior to December 11, 1994? 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. ", "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. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. Prosecutors also claimed DNA hair evidence found in the car matched Patricia's hair at the time (using what was considered valid DNA methods). 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 . More than 20 years after her conviction, Patricia Rorrer still has advocates working to exonerate her. Patricia was arrested in North Carolina in June of 1997. Image credit: Episode screen capture from, - Sarah OConnor: Joann Katrinaks Mother, - Det. The Innocence Project has declined to take her case. (180) 2017 13+. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. It was a pretty big deal, and i was excited enough to call everyone I knew. There was an error processing your request. In the Katrinak case, they did new (at the time) DNA testing to match the hairs found in the car to Patricia. Hello guys! 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. Select "match any" to find at least one field. Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. Finally, prosecutors challenged Patricia's alibi. Her book tells the truth and the real story of this case. For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. The only eyewitness to the murder a five-year-old child told police officers that a white man did it, reads the statement. His film Whitey: United States of America V. James J. Bulgeruncovered law enforcement corruption at the highest levels. The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. Docket at pp. They moved into her house in Salisbury County, staying together for about two years. Part 1. They noted houses near the murder scene would have heard a gunshot in December, when no farm equipment is making noise, and question why the murderer didnt just kill Joann inside her house instead of risking being seen in public in her car. In April 1995, the family buried Joann and Alex in a single bronze casket after a funeral mass at a Bethlehem church. It seems Patricia's own daughter and baby Alex Katrinak were very close in age. By the mid-1990s, Patricia was known for being both warm and caring as well as aggressive and loud. 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? I was like OK, maybe she was tired, you know with a new baby. Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list. Theyd been missing for four months, but their discovery only gave rise to more questions than answers, especially as the young mother had been shot once in the face before being struck on the head 19 times. Joann had been shot in the face and badly beaten. !) and detractors (This is another bs attempt to free a psycho). Our team of volunteers are committed to helping Patricia. Patricia is and has been fighting that she is innocent from the very beginning. Counsel for Patricia Rorrer, 52, . It's been more than 20 years since Patricia Rorrer was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend . Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. after the fact. 6-10. 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. (We didnt get into the specifics.). Joann was shot once, then the gun jammed. Rorrer was the ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband . When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. They were hardly decomposed after a mild winter. Based on the activity, the victims were there since at least February. Please read her story. Pulled hairs don't grow roots. . The authorities charged her with two counts of murder. She failed miserably to convince me, or anyone else who mattered, of her innocence. Four hours is a long time between Andrew getting home from work and calling the police. The six-episode documentary series examines the cases of three different inmates who are serving life sentences on murder convictions but who claim innocence. Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. - 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 . Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. He recalls that Patty also had an alibi. One of Patricia's alibis was that she was at a bar on the night of the abduction. Moreover, Patricia had been accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she cared for charges that never stuck. The Irish-Italian girl had full, fluffy dark hair, olive skin, and a pretty face. New state, new man. Patricia and her husband broke up after the babys death. Since then our team has proven that Patricia is innocent. ", "Everything is outrageous," he said. 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). It will show you that I have not committed these murders. However, a former boyfriend stated that she did own a .22 caliber chrome-plated semi-automatic weapon. Died along with his mother, Joann, as a victim of his father's jealous ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer. Patricia Rorrer is found guilty of the abduction and murder of Joann Katrinak and her infant son, Alex. Movies/Documentaries Murder in Lehigh Valley Forensic Files: A Woman Scorned Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters. Prosecutors said Rorrer beat Katrinak, shot her and left her and her baby for dead in the woods in Heidelberg Township. I am humbly asking for your help to hire a lawyer and procure a fair trial. Together they had a baby girl, Nicole. 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. The 26-year-old was recently married, and this would be four-month-old Alex's first Christmas. 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. . And, I was quite angry with the police, that they accused Andy. Is to get Patricia a fair trial that will prove her innocence, and give justice to Joann and Alex who died a horrific death. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! There is another question, though: Can anyone say . We all need justice! 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. He had worked as a semi-pro boxer in Las Vegas in his youth and later settled into his own construction business. DNA testing revealed the blood came from either Joann or her son. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. Brad Jackson was able to describe what his daughter Valiree was wearing in incredible detail, down to the color of her socks. ", "I can remember till this day, seeing that infant being lifted off the abdomen of his mother. Patricias professional life included short-lived gigs as a Century 21 real estate agent and an Oldsmobile salesperson. 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. Or identify other people in their lives who might have benefited from either the Katrinak's deaths or disappearance? They would have been held alive. But other things Patricia did also seemed strange, especially according to prosecutor Michael McIntyre. 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. ", "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. Patricia defaulted on her mortgage and then returned to North Carolina, where she eventually moved in with a boyfriend named Brian Ward. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. Joann had been shot once and then beaten over the head (presumably because the gun used only shot once). (A good point. 1919 EDA 2016 Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. Starz announces premiere date for Joe Berlinger's Wrong Man Season 2. According to the LA Times, the United States Supreme Court struck down the conviction of death row inmate Curtis Flowers, who was prosecuted six times for the same crime of quadruple murder, and by the same prosecutor, in a case riddled with evidentiary problems and allegations of racial bias, according to the press statement. Very true - I can't remember if the show went through that. Patricia Rorrer, an ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband, was found guilty of the crimes and sentenced to life in prison. She was born on Jan. 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania and moved back and forth between there and Davidson County, North Carolina. Read and download theDen of Geek Lost in Space Special Edition Magazineright here! But there was only one day in question, so it feels like Patricia might have been overselling her story. Since 2010, Tammy has been researching the 1994 Katrinak murders in Catasauqua. She does not have a lawyer, her last lawyer was sued by the prosecutor. State law requires that patrons of the bar sign-in when they come to the bar. It showed her usually all-brown hair haphazardly highlighted blond. 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. These hairs being found in the otherwise cleaned car was also odd. A hidden FBI report found a couple years ago showed that police were unsure if there were roots on the found hairs. Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. He wanted to move to Colorado and she was against it.. Where are the missing 4 hairs? Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. His father confirmed his alibi that they were doing construction work together, putting an addition on the house of friends Tom and Kathy Holschwander, at the time of Joanns disappearance. 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. 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. 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. Mizgerd said Rorrer is aware the show is airing and is hopeful it may bring new attention to her case. It was never tested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc. And yikes, he discovered someone had cut one of the houses phone lines and pried the hinge on the basement door. An early childhood introd During these 4 years, many in the Lehigh Valley, PA community developed opinions on the case. Finally, four months after that dreadful day in December, a farmer plowing his fields found what at first seemed to be a pile of discarded clothing. 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. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. 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. A photo at the time showed that Patricia had dyed her hair blonde, which matched the hair found. I am innocent of these crimes, and I should not have lost the best years of my life in a prison cell. Patricia Elgin Rorrer, 86, of Lynchburg, went to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 4, 2021. Morrison was 16 weeks pregnant when her lifeless body was found beaten beyond recognition and dumped along a remote country road, reads the statement. My husband passed away of a broken heart, Sarah OConnor said on the Montel Williams Show in 2001. MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J. Therefore, today, in her late 50s, Patricia is imprisoned at the maximum-security State Correctional Institution Muncy in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. -, Press J to jump to the feed. It all gave jurors a lot to think about but only for six hours. Friends and family began looking for Joann and Alex. It seems likely these bodies were dumped here months after initially thought, not killed the day they were kidnapped. 0. Wish me luck! When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. Patricia Rorrer's Story. 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. TV-14 Information Genre Documentary Released 2022 Run Time 42 min Rated TV-14 Languages Original Audio English . Since then, Patricia has appealed her case and fought for exoneration, only to always be denied. On Alexs diaper bag, police found strands of the same type of hair from the car. Both sides agree Joann hung up on Patricia. He contributed to Altvariety, Chiseler, Smashpipe, and other magazines. Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. Rorrer was convicted of killing them four years later. There was also a 2017 Dateline Keith Morrison episode which covered some of these facts. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. Documentary Sep 20, 2022 42 min iTunes. The episode claimed the jury required just two hours to deliberate, but other sources indicate it took six. 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. 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. And the kidnapping scenario became more plausible when you factor in the privacy of the alleyway behind the Katrinak house. 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. 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. 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. Andrew told investigators that the unpleasant phone call between Joann and Patricia happened just three days before his wifes disappearance. Meanwhile, interest in Patricias plight continues on social media. Bio by: Karen Valentine Shouldn't Andrew have mentioned this suspicious, out-of-the-blue phone call from his ex-girlfriend sooner? And James Pfeiffer and Jim Burke have remained on her side. Conflicting versions. DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. The premiere episode will air following the series finale of Power. On December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son Alex disappeared without a trace from . Season 1 had a tangible impact on all three cases that were examined. 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. Cop defends accused. I'm not sure to what extent it was brought up in the original trial. How would an intruder find it? I lived more than 500 miles away, was engaged to be married, was a new mother, and all of a sudden I'm arrested for murdering two people I'd never even met? How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? At 10:30 p.m., Andrew reported his wife missing. When police traveled to North Carolina to interview Patricia about the murders of Joann and Alex, she said that on the day of the homicides, she had visited a feed store, a tanning salon, and a country music club. 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. 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. Her advocates say she wasn't even in the same state at the time of the crime. 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. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! It addresses each of these issues (better than I can do, certainly). The phone wire was located at the opposite end of the basement, which was dark. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. 1 talking about this. Advocates for her innocence complain of hype surrounding the case. She fought for her life and had defensive wounds including a broken nose and a broken finger. She just stayed in touch with everybody, Kathy Barber said in her interview on NBCs Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports in 2017. 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. Search is on. I think it would really require comparison with his pediatric medical records to determine if the head circumference is relevant. Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. 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. 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. 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. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence . Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Chris and Fatima investigate the case of Patricia Rorrer, who is in prison for brutally murdering her former boyfriend's wife and baby out of spite; her lawyers claim that she was . As a result, Salas, who did not have legal representation at the time of filming, was offered pro bono representation by a Washington State attorney, who believes in his innocence. A second helping of justice will be served. 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. Wouldn't he have tried to call his mother recall it was with her Joann had planned to go Christmas shopping. Tue, Sep 27, 2022 60 mins. 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. 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? 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.
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