Its proximity to the stable she'd managed made an undeniable association to her. Patricia Rorrer | Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network - WCJN Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. At 10:30 p.m., Andrew reported his wife missing. Prosecutors also claimed DNA hair evidence found in the car matched Patricia's hair at the time (using what was considered valid DNA methods). Convenient Suspect - Alliance Digital Media Library - OverDrive However, her name was not on the sign-in list. The premiere episode will air following the series finale of Power. Strands of the accuseds dyed-blond hair at two crime scenes proved it. Mike McIntyre, the first assistant district attorney in Lehigh County during the case, said the petition is "crazy. 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. It'd be plausible to reason some deniability in Patricia's role if there weren't so many indicators of her involvement. . Exactly one week after Joann and Alex went missing, the FBI interviewed me at my mother's house. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. Men who murder are conventional, women are sensational, posits the Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network. Any amount will deeply appreciated. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Forensic Files (season 5) - Wikipedia Everyone needs to wake up because this could be you, your wife, your husband, your mother, your father, your children! State law requires that patrons of the bar sign-in when they come to the bar. Or identify other people in their lives who might have benefited from either the Katrinak's deaths or disappearance? 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. ", "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. . As noted earlier, there was hair found in the victims hand, fingernail fragments found on her body, and also a cigarette butt. Then, despite her multiple alibis, she has an inexplicable five-day gap in this pattern. Patricia supposedly still cared for Andrew Katrinak, but murdering his son contradicts this notion. He was sentenced to life in prison. 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. Based on body decomposition alone, it seems near impossible that they were kidnapped and killed in the same day or even within weeks. One on one? Neely said the first officer on the scene didn't believe Rorrer committed the crime. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. 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. 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. Here is the link https://www.amazon.com/Convenient-Suspect-Investigation-Railroading-Innocent/dp/B0777SGHL4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=tammy%20mal&qid=1588982960&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR0xwJARGyijcn3BqdWAzXSX0l9C7kM-9UtBxQio4AsMv62neDLzggK1IrI. She claimed to be at a dance class in private club but her name was missing from the sign in sheet that night. 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? On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. 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. . I cant lose them, he told the media. I dont think she was ever scared until we put the cuffs on her.. Season 1 had a tangible impact on all three cases that were examined. Police slowly built a case against Patricia. Where are the missing 4 hairs? Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! Louise Rorrer Bryant, age 79, of Fieldale, Va., passed away on May 15, 2022. Bio by: Karen Valentine PATRICIA RORRER OBITUARY. Documentary Sep 20, 2022 42 min iTunes. That hang-up, they said, was the last straw. Wake up people this could be you! 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. Most prosecutors wouldn't even take such paltry evidence into court today. 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. But there was only one day in question, so it feels like Patricia might have been overselling her story. It's as if she had left with young Alex as planned but then somehow simply vanished. (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. 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. The prosecution asked for the death penalty, but the jury chose to sentence me to life in prison without parole which, actually, is just a slower death sentence. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. In addition to the Facebook page, there are Reddit threads on her case. "The DA threatened if he ever said that to anybody he would never work in law enforcement again," Neely said. By the mid-1990s, Patricia was known for being both warm and caring as well as aggressive and loud. Criminal Division at No (s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. INMATE INFORMATION. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had almond-shaped blue eyes, weighed 18 pounds, and was circumcised. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. After a successful first season, Starz has announced thatWrong Man season 2 will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 9:45 p.m. 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. Why did the police not look into these things? WATCH: ID Examines 1994 Lehigh Valley Double-Murder - Peoplemag Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. Illustration of the location of mitochondrial DNA in human cells. And the kidnapping scenario became more plausible when you factor in the privacy of the alleyway behind the Katrinak house. However, a former boyfriend stated that she did own a .22 caliber chrome-plated semi-automatic weapon. Breaking News - "Dateline NBC" Correspondent Keith Morrison Explores Patricia Allanson | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers I know I did not commit these murders and they need to get justice for Joann and Alex too. But Patricia had moved from Pennsylvania years ago, and she'd started her own family in North Carolina. Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. 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. Patricia seemed like the girl next door but all of a sudden, something snapped, Katrinak later told Wrong Man investigators. further reading: True Detective Season 3 and the West Memphis Three. Therefore, today, in her late 50s, Patricia is imprisoned at the maximum-security State Correctional Institution Muncy in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. Rorrer is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution Muncy, a prison for women in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. 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? Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. 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. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports is also available on YouTube, but it costs $1.99 to view (Keith comes off as an advocate for Patricias innocence on the episode). Wow this episode was featured on Forensic Files. She was also accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she owned. The investigation that led to her identification and then turned up enough evidence to arrest and convict Patricia Rorrer was interesting. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. Patricia Rorrer Age: 51 Sex: FEMALE 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. Episode 7. And Patricia wasnt all edges. I am innocent of these crimes, and I should not have lost the best years of my life in a prison cell. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. The past two owners of the gun's yards were dug up and many casings of the .22 were discovered. The phone wire was located at the opposite end of the basement, which was dark. So, this pointed to a theory that Joann had either left on her own or encountered foul play within her home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc. 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. She was the devoted wife of the late Alvin Haymon Rorrer. To my knowledge these items have never been DNA tested but the prosecutor stipulated that the hair in Joann's hand does not belong to me, and Dr. Tom Jensen, the PSP forensic scientist noted that the fingernail is to large to belong to me.. Who does this evidence belong to? Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? She needs to be freed! 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. Most of all, Patricia said, she would like a rematch with prosecutor Michael McIntyre. Patricia Rorrer has been in prison since 1998, convicted of the horrific murder of a young mother, Joann Katrinak, and her 16-week old son, in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Mizgerd said she acts as Patricia Rorrer's spiritual advisor and often visits her in prison. Read more of his work here or find him on Twitter @tsokol. Error! No charmed life. She intends to file a motion for a new trial. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. She claimed that shed spent that fateful day at a tanning salon and a country music club, but suspicion mounted when the guest book for the latter didnt have her name and a photo shed taken 11 days prior showed her naturally brown hair dyed blonde. Detective Robert Werts stated Rorrer offered four or five alibis for the time of the incident. ", "I can remember till this day, seeing that infant being lifted off the abdomen of his mother. The episode claimed the jury required just two hours to deliberate, but other sources indicate it took six. I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. In 2015, the type of hair DNA science used was finally admitted to be junk by the FBI and incorrect in 96% of cases. Shes attracted the help of writer Tammy Mal (full name Tammy Malinowski OReilly), author of Convenient Suspect, a book about the case. Andrew mentioned to police that his former live-in girlfriend Patricia Rorrer once managed a horse stable two miles from the bodies location and would have been familiar with the riding trails close to the murder scene. Rejection and betrayal are good enough reasons for these women to commit heinous crimes. Joe Berlingers documentary series Wrong Man shows what long form documentary journalism can achieve. 6-10. Most prosecutors wouldn't even take such paltry evidence into court today. Yet, everything changed when they lost their 3-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 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. Counsel for Patricia Rorrer, 52, . Forensic tests suggested the hair found in the car and at the murder scene came from Patricia. Chapter 1. When O'Reilly started doing the research, she believed Patricia (Patty) had been . And James Pfeiffer and Jim Burke have remained on her side. This was my thought (I'm behind and just caught the 2nd half yesterday). Convicted murderer seeks new DNA tests in '94 murder case She does not have a lawyer, her last lawyer was sued by the prosecutor. She seemed like quite an unlikely suspect at least at first. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. 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. He said she did own a firearm, with its serial numbers filed off. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. 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. At the very least, prosecutors got their story very wrong as they convicted Patricia. "I'm very angry, very very very angry," McIntyre said. Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. 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. 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). Joanne and Alex needs justice to! Joann and her 4-month-old son, Alex, were abducted from their home in Catasauqua, PA, and murdered in a rural wooded area near Germansville. Incriminating words. So now, lets find out everything there is to know about her, shall we? 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. Reasonable Doubt: Season 5, Episode 7 - Rotten Tomatoes In June of 2016 Patricia Rorrer's petition for a new trial was been thrown out. Donna Fisher/Allentown Morning Call/TNS via Getty Image. There was an error processing your request. Meanwhile, the case of the missing mother and baby turned into colossal news across the U.S. and internationally. There is a 2-part episode on Wrong Man that just came out this year. Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. With 400 (and 6) episodes, this progress bar indicates my progress toward finishing all of them. 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. TV-14 Information Genre Documentary Released 2022 Run Time 42 min Rated TV-14 Languages Original Audio English . ir.library.oregonstate.edu Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. Phone records confirmed Patricia placed the earlier call from North Carolina, not Pennsylvania. But was Andrew in on this plan? Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. It will show you that I have not committed these murders. I didn't see other potential suspects highlighted. Most convictions were procured through microscopic hair comparison which has been debunked as junk science today. . Jury Rejects Alibi, Finds Rorrer Guilty In Double Kidnapping-murder Case Woman found guilty in Lehigh Slayings Convicted murderer seeks new DNA tests in '94 murder case. Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? Her alibi about going to the club, called Cowboys Nitelife, got fuzzy when investigators discovered she hadnt signed the guest book on that day. Hair we go. The 26-year-old was recently married, and this would be four-month-old Alex's first Christmas. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. Brad Jackson was able to describe what his daughter Valiree was wearing in incredible detail, down to the color of her socks. After six hours of deliberations, in March 1998, a jury found Patricia guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of kidnapping. Great catch. - 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 . Convenient Suspect: A Double Murder, a Flawed Investigation, and the Later, they both worked 12-hour graveyard shifts at a textile factory. Or did they? Regard a similar case where too much detail signaled investigators to look closer at their suspect in Bagging a Killer (s06e25). What would a crime show be without them? ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. The person responsible, needs to be punished. Sad part is this could be your mother, father, kids, all love ones and friends! Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. List of female murderers by name | R | Murderpedia After all, one of the key pieces of evidence recovered from the crime scene and Joanns vehicle were dyed blonde hair strands. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Watch Reasonable Doubt Online | Season 5 (2022) | TV Guide Pulled hairs don't grow roots. Based on the activity, the victims were there since at least February. Combine keywords and attributes to find specific items. 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. Error! Mizgerd said she is convinced Rorrer is innocent. How would an intruder find it? Joann was shot once, then the gun jammed. 1 hr 25 min Mar 5, 2017 TV-14. But other things Patricia did also seemed strange, especially according to prosecutor Michael McIntyre. A local murder case that made national headlines will be back in the national spotlight Sunday night. Some lawyers call microscopic hair analysis junk science that today wouldnt qualify as evidence in a trial like Rorrers. In November 2005, she shoots Keith in the head while he . Microsoft Apps 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. A photo at the time showed that Patricia had dyed her hair blonde, which matched the hair found. Suzanne Pearson fabricated quotes from Patricia including her claim that Patricia said, Im going to the electric chair upon her arrest because a conviction would boost Pearsons career. Pal stays true. During Patricias hours-long turn in the witness chair, Michael McIntyre grilled her relentlessly. They had a son, Alex Martin, in August of 1994. 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. She failed miserably to convince me, or anyone else who mattered, of her innocence. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. Also she worked as a realtor so it's not that unreasonable for her to know which line to cut. Starting at. Patricias professional life included short-lived gigs as a Century 21 real estate agent and an Oldsmobile salesperson. 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 . An exterior door to their basement had been wrenched open, the lock hasp's screws literally ripped from the wall. Shes just extremely happy with Andy, her brother, Michael OConnor, told the media. But based on his body/head size and the lack of decomposition of the bodies, it seems likely they had been alive for quite some time after being kidnapped. Better Call Saul Season 6 Episode 7: Finale Release Time and Season Recap, Tiger King Earned 34 Million Viewers in First 10 Days, Shazam! Conflicting versions. Oscar-nominated and Emmywinning director Berlinger (Paradise Lost, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes), a leading voice in non-fiction film and television for over two decades, returns to keep checks on the criminal justice system. Another case is Patricia Rorrer, who has been in prison since 1998, convicted of the murder of a young mother and her 16-week old son in Pennsylvania. DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. Clair is black, and no forensic evidence ties him to the crime scene.. Her book tells the truth and the real story of this case. Rorrer has filed a petition to get new evidence admissible that he said could set her free. Patricia Rorrer (PA) SCI Muncy OE2170 Life Without Parole DOB: January 24,1964. Since then our team has proven that Patricia is innocent. She had money put aside. After Tapp served nearly 21 years of his sentence, the real killer was finally found through forensic genealogy, according to Time. Detective Barry Grube found it odd that Andrew fixed the severed phone line before police examined it in essence tampering with evidence. Berlingers recently directed Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, and the feature film on the infamous serial killer, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, for Netflix. Andrew's second look in and around their home revealed some disturbing clues. Great communicator. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates | Apple TV 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. Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope - YouTube But if that's the main evidence against her, it seems awfully weak. 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. 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? It's sad looking back at those Forensic Files episodes where the science was junk but they portray it as a solid case. Today, Patricia Lynne Rorrer resides in State Correctional Institute at Muncy, a medium and maximum security facility that has the highest rate of cancer of all prisons in Pennsylvania, according to a story from northcentralpa.com. For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. Part 1. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. Or was it? ", "I think she gave us something like four or five alibis as to where she was at. The Free Patricia Rorrer page responds to comments from supporters (How is this even possible that this woman is still in jail?!? Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. 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). The victim in this crime had a hair clutched in her right hand, and three pieces of fingernail found on her body, none of which has ever been tested. He gave an audio interview to the Wrong Man investigators when they made a surprise visit to his house, but he declined to appear on camera. Her mother, Patricia Chambers, provided day care for their baby son, Charles. I have always maintained my innocence because I am innocent. 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 . Wrong Man season 2, episode 4 recap: Under the Microscope - Show Snob Patricia Rorrer - Forensic Files Now Um why is that? 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. But her reputation wasnt exactly sleek and shiny. He is the TV Editor at Entertainment. Success! 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?. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates While the police are still investigating the murder of your wife and child? Witness also recalled Rorrer's mom trying to hide a gun. There was at least one hair strand that contained enough skin tissue for a nuclear DNA match and it corroborated the mitochondrial match. Share Memories & Support the Family. Mizgerd said Rorrer is aware the show is airing and is hopeful it may bring new attention to her case. The $60 Murder. So I was convicted of 2 counts of first degree murder and 2 counts of kidnapping. $4.99/mo. The jury found Patricia guilty in just 6 hours in 1998, 4 years after the crime. Despite the troubling evidence from Joann's car, detectives considered whether or not Joann had taken baby Alex and simply left.