Great catch. Patricia Rorrer: An Update - Forensic Files Now Commonwealth's request for reconsideration (pdf) Download. http://starz.tv/FB Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list. 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. 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. My sister will get her justice, insists the 12-year-old murder victims younger sibling. <> The prosecutor in this case is so vehemently determined she is guilty that at the end of the day, you are reeling. 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. She was sentenced to two life terms in prison without parole. Joann answered and told Rorrer to leave her family alone before hanging up. Two-Part Special Premieres Sunday, March 5 at 8/7c; Features Exclusive First-Ever Interview with Inmate Patricia Rorrer . @!44` ^]5[a$iq`k7jKV&fU-Ru=$^ Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. Together they had a baby girl, Nicole. Both sides agree Joann hung up on Patricia. 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. She got 12 months of probation for shoplifting at a Walmart in Lexington, North Carolina. How could I explain to my daughter years later that I took a plea for something I didnt do? she said. The Ex Files: Directed by Rob Rosen. 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. DNA testing revealed the blood came from either Joann or her son. On Alexs diaper bag, police found strands of the same type of hair from the car. Success! Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Ch Read allPatricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. 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 Innocence Project has declined to take her case. This is a despicable crime, prosecutor says of Kelly Renee Turner approving surgery after surgery for the child. But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. Although police initially focused on Andrew as a suspect, they ruled him out and suspicion turned toward his ex-girlfriend Patricia Rorrer four months later, when Joann and Alexs bodies were discovered on a rural trail near where Patricia used to ride horses. Chris and Fatima investigate the case in search of the truth. Andrew told investigators that the unpleasant phone call between Joann and Patricia happened just three days before his wifes disappearance. Michael Workmans son, Fredrick James Workman, disappeared at age 15 and may use the alias "Fred Shields.". 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. 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. 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. Neely said, "A very substantial question as to whether the hairs that were actually tested were in fact hairs taken from the seatback or were they part of that general pile of hairs that were taken from Patricia Rorrer in North Carolina?". You might think such a thing couldnt happen, but thats exactly what did happen in the Rorrer case. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Rorrer and Andrew broke off their relationship in 1990, but they remained in regular contact even as Rorrer moved 800 miles away. Irelands husband buried it in the yard because he didnt feel comfortable with a firearm inside, she said. Highly charged case. - 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 . At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. But none of those charges ever stuck. For more on the Katrinak murder case, you can watch Autopsy Six: A Fatal Attraction for free on YouTube. Shes utterly believable. Deal refused. RR, Watch the Forensic Files episode on YouTube, Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports, 7 Unnerving Facts About the Lindberghs and the Kidnapping, The Lindbergh Kidnapping: Forensic Files Lost Episode, Dawn Fehring: A Missionary Dies Too Young, Daniel and Cynthia McDonnell: Good Cop, Bad Wife. Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby. She was born on Jan. 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania and moved back and forth between there and Davidson County, North Carolina. Young mother Michelle OConnell died under suspicious circumstances while at the house of herboyfriend, who was serving as a sheriff'sdeputy at the time. Patricia defaulted on her mortgage and then returned to North Carolina, where she eventually moved in with a boyfriend named Brian Ward. Most of all, Patricia said, she would like a rematch with prosecutor Michael McIntyre. A few eyewitnesses who didnt testify at her initial trial also back her statements of being in North Carolina on that fateful day, but nothing has been proven. (In an exclusive clip, Morrison questions the tactics of prosecutor Michael McIntyre.). Following the disappearance of Joann and Alex Katrinak, Joanns husband Andrew told police he believed someone had broken into his house, cut the telephone line and abducted his wife and son. See production, box office & company info. Patricia Rorrer was a cold woman. Another former boyfriend said she talked about Andrew frequently and liked to gaze at old photos of him. 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. Rorrer has long maintained her innocence, insisting shes has been framed. After all, one of the key pieces of evidence recovered from the crime scene and Joanns vehicle were dyed blonde hair strands. And the fact that Patricia called Andrew even after he married someone else didnt mean she was still carrying a torch for him, according to one of her friends. How could Patricia Rorrer have been convicted using DNA from a hair root that doesnt exist. "Reasonable Doubt" The Ex Files (TV Episode 2022) - IMDb Both were deceased. After Joann Katrinak, the wife of Patricia's former flame, turned up dead along . Her mother, Patricia Chambers, provided day care for their baby son, Charles. Joanns car was later found next door in the parking lot of a local tavern. 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. x\[s~L34j+Gv}P$D"UO] If you subscribe to Hulu and upgrade to Starz (theres a free one-week trial offer), you can stream the Wrong Man episodes about Patricia Rorrer. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. For more information, visit: http://www.peacockproductions.tv/. Meanwhile, interest in Patricias plight continues on social media. In addition to the Facebook page, there are Reddit threads on her case. Katrinak's husband's ex-girlfriend was convicted of the crime, but now there's a possibility the case could be reopened. 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. 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. 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. Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the worlds #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories. Rorrer was convicted of murdering Joann Katrinak and her 3 month old son. Sad discovery. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 34, damages homes, May Day: Worlds workers rally, France sees pension anger, FDIC recommends raising insured deposit limit for businesses, Biden, top lawmakers to discuss debt limit at WH May 9, What the Tech? Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her.Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had almond-shaped blue eyes, weighed 18 pounds, and was circumcised. Her sister vows to keep standing for our missing so that one day that we will be seen as the same as important., Authorities say the brothers, ages 3 and 4at the time they went missing, disappeared from their home in California City four days before Christmas 2020. He had worked as a semi-pro boxer in Las Vegas in his youth and later settled into his own construction business. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. 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. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. This all started because Rorrer filed under the Freedom of Information Act for records from the FBI. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> If you know anything about their case, please call or text the "In Pursuit with John Walsh" hotline: 833-378-7783 (3-PURSUE). Sir I would not kill somebody and I definitely wouldnt kill somebody I never met, Rorrer said. Around April 1995, the cold and badly decomposed remains of 26-year-old Joann Katrinak and her 3.5-month-old toddler Alex Katrinak were recovered from the woods in Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania. Further, an early FBI report said the hairs found in the car had no roots which contain the DNA suggesting an evidence switcheroo. By the mid-1990s, Patricia was known for being both warm and caring as well as aggressive and loud. The police report misspells his name (Troutman) and doesnt include his address, suggesting authorities didnt want anyone to track him down, according to Patricias side. It is one of those completely addictive tales where theres so much that just points in both directions, Morrison tells PEOPLE. Inside the locked 1992 vehicle, police discovered some strands of blond hair stained with dried blood. endobj Lieutenant Christopher Coble and Sergeant Suzanne Pearson would later testify that Patricia cried and apologized to 18-month-old Nicole, telling the baby, Im sorry for doing this to you and lamenting to the officers that she would never see little Nicole again. This is a genuine puzzler, Morrison tells PEOPLE about the case that inspired Sundays two-part special, Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates. t2c2ue\;,&3g^SjZGk? ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. So now, lets find out everything there is to know about her, shall we? Back in 1994, a mother, Joann Katrinak, and her baby disappeared and their bodies were later found in Heidelberg Township. 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. Investigators theorized that this action angered Patricia into a jealous rage that ended with abduction and murder. Why First Republic failed. All of STARZ blockbuster movies, epic originals, and addictive series. Incriminating words. Investigators suspect this action triggered Rorrers jealous rage, driving her to kill. Dannarriah Finley was only weeks away from turning 5-years-old when she was snatched from her bedroom in the middle of the night, police say. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence . She was also accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she owned. So lets get going on the recap of the Forensic Files episode A Woman Scorned, along with extra information drawn from internet research: Joann Marie OConnor was born on Oct. 11, 1968, the youngest of Sarah and David OConnors four children. 728 views. They also found a photo of Patricia taken 11 days before the homicide. Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. For every fact that is presented, there are two interpretations to give.. Some lawyers call microscopic hair analysis junk science that today wouldnt qualify as evidence in a trial like Rorrers. She currently has an appeal pending in Pennsylvania Superior Court. %PDF-1.5 Related: Convenient Suspect: A Wrongful Conviction In The Murder In Lehigh Valley? He said, "The only possible thing that would make any sense is to claim that the hair that was tested wasn't the hair of the case, it was somehow, some other extraneous hair that got in there. Her brother returned home but she never did. Four months later, however, when the brutally murdered bodies of Joann and Alex were discovered lying in a lonely patch of woods, the police would focus their suspicion on an entirely different suspect; 31-year-old Patricia Rorrer (top, main photo) Andy Katrinaks ex-girlfriend. On Aug. 5, 1993, Holly Piirainen, 10, and her brother went to a neighbor's house to play with puppies. They moved into her house in Salisbury County, staying together for about two years. Even though Joanne was supposed to take her mother-in-law for Christmas shopping, she never showed . 2023 Warner Bros. '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. According to court papers from Patricia 2017 appeal, DNA on the cigarette butt found near the two bodies belonged to Appellant. (Prosecutor Michael McIntyre, however, told ForensicFilesNow.com that that the cigarette butt was never actually tested). Neely said once state police started to focus on Rorrer as a potential suspect, they went to North Carolina where she was living and they obtained a sample of her hair to compare to the ones found at the scene. More hairs there. These are but a brief sampling of the many errors and inaccuracies contained in Superior Courts opinion. When she stood trial that same year, she maintained her innocence and alleged that she and Andrew Katrinak had continued to stay in touch as good friends, so she wouldn't do anything to hurt him. I dont think she was ever scared until we put the cuffs on her.. Why did they refuse to investigate a hair found in the victims right hand? Patricias defenders also say Andrew Katrinak staged the scene at his house by prying the door and cutting the phone line. Years later, conviction in Katrinak murder still raises questions Starting at. PATRICIA RORRER, : : Petitioner : v. : CIVIL ACTION NUMBER 19-01398 : WENDY K. NICHOLAS, : : Respondents : MOTION FOR DISCOVERY AND CONSOLIDATED MEMORANDUM OF LAW . Joann and Alex Katrinak both vanished in 1994. Neely said a hair with a root put Rorrer away, which sparked Neely to question the forensic investigation. 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Judge's Order Granting Discovery (pdf) Download. ", Neely said, "If there were no hair roots when this hair went to the FBI, where did a hair with a hair root come from?". (Disclaimer: Im not a big fan of eyewitnesses who come forward years after the fact, but its possible). Read More:Where is Jacqueline Crymble Now? Joann Katrinaks car was later found next door in the parking lot of a local tavern. Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. Our investigators unravel the mysteries behind Vonda Smiths' possible wrongful conviction and Jessie Morrison's brutal murder. This Sunday, Investigation Discovery and velvety-voiced Dateline NBC correspondent Keith Morrison will revisit the double-homicide. Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. Have You Seen Missing Colorado Man Jance Wesly Varela? 2 0 obj Patricia and her husband broke up after the babys death. After Patricia and Andrew broke up in 1990, she moved back to North Carolina but the two remained in touch through sporadic visits and phone calls. Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. But thats just some of the ammo on Team Patricias battleship. stream There are claims that the cigarette butt wasnt examined and that the hair strands had no roots (which contain the DNA), suggesting that nothing truly ties Patricia to the homicides. 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. That's according to Craig Neely, who worked on the case for years as the defense attorney. 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. Is to get Patricia a fair trial that will prove her innocence, and give justice to Joann and Alex who died a horrific death. He said the court ruled it was not allowed to be tested because of a concept in the law called the law of the case, which he says basically means the evidence didn't have an impact on the case. Neely wants another hair to be looked at as well that he says was found in the victim's hand, but does not match the defendant or the victim. WATCH: ID Examines 1994 Lehigh Valley Double-Murder - People Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. The organization purports that if there were awards for distorted reporting, the Morning Callwould win high honors.. According to the prosecution it was enough to convict. (A good point. Shes just extremely happy with Andy, her brother, Michael OConnor, told the media. However, as profiled on IDs Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters, Joanns husbands ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer, was eventually identified as their perpetrator. She failed miserably to convince me, or anyone else who mattered, of her innocence. Pick up PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: Cases That Shocked America, on sale now, for the latest on Casey Anthony, JonBent Ramsey and more. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. At 10:30 p.m., Andrew reported his wife missing. Peacock Productions, a division of NBC News, is a nonfiction production company that combines the editorial expertise, technical resources, and seasoned talent of NBCUniversal to create series, events, and live specials for global audiences. Smith will face charges for allegedly killing her husband, Antione Smith. I dont even know its Christmas.. Motion for Discovery (pdf) Download. 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. Puny policy. Lehigh Valley: Patricia Rorrer Still A Convenient Suspect? 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. She is sitting in Muncey Women's Correctional Facility for over 23 years now for something. She was a real estate agent, a salesperson, and an equestrian, but she also had a rap sheet that included a 12-month probation sentence for shoplifting from a North Carolina Walmart. Patricia Rorrer was wrongfully convicted of Murder. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Gabby Petitos fianc and person of interest in her fatal strangulation disappeared in mid-September after saying he was going for a hike. But it wasnt until the police linked Rorrer to the crime through a DNA match between her and a hair recovered from Joanns car that they finally had enough to arrest her. She was bubbly and likable, not disgruntled, according to friend Kathy Barber, who visited her friend in jail. !) and detractors (This is another bs attempt to free a psycho). $8.99/mo. As for Joanns parents, her father died a year after the murder. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. With Chris Anderson, Fatima Silva. An infant was lying face down on her stomach. i-InD6g~v~}saG\R -(QdB]+[1xlm>Hv%} i{Fb=i~{/7=hn/JzF3XuccBb Everything from compromised crime scenes and contaminated evidence, to suspects who were never cleared, witness statements that were withheld from the defense, and crucial evidence that was simply dismissed and ignored has cast doubt on Rorrers guilt and led to a number of unanswered questions. Stable situation. . Partly to mostly cloudy, brisk, and cool. In fifty years, this is the most complicated case Ive ever been involved in, an investigator says of the search for Andrea Knabel. 'Dateline NBC' Correspondent Keith Morrison Explores Claims of a After a very early failed marriage, the 24-year-old Joann scored a new husband in Andrew Katrinak, 38, whom she met at a club. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. 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. The family of Joseph Smedley, who was found dead in a lake in 2015, still want answers about a mysterious text message and a backpack full of rocks. Patricia's Most Recent Federal Appeals. You can read the court documents in their entirety here. Both bodies were found four months later along a rural trail close to where Rorrer used to ride horses. I also communicated with Patricia via email to get her input on some matters. Sundays special is the first of at least two Morrison is working on with Investigation Discovery, who he says have given me unlimited freedom to look into cases that interest me.. Why did the police focus on a young mother from another state, who had never met either victim and had not had a romantic relationship with Andy Katrinak in more than five years? <>>> Or did they? Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand Up, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Prosecutor pounds away. 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. Nailed? In North Carolina, she reportedly enjoyed some success as a horse trader, riding instructor, and rodeo competitor.
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