Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Because when she did, she quickly began to realize that there was a lot more to the story than the public ever knew. After Tapp served nearly 21 years of his sentence, the real killer was finally found through forensic genealogy, according to Time. See Patricia Rorrer full list of movies and tv shows from their career. Patricia Rorrer is found guilty of the abduction and murder of Joann Katrinak and her infant son, Alex. Prosecutors said Rorrer beat Katrinak, shot her and left her and her baby for dead in the woods in Heidelberg Township. Despite the troubling evidence from Joann's car, detectives considered whether or not Joann had taken baby Alex and simply left. As noted earlier, there was hair found in the victims hand, fingernail fragments found on her body, and also a cigarette butt. They never looked into Andy who failed several lie detector tests, tampered with evidence. Rorrer Gets Life in Jail for Double Slaying * Jurors in The Katrinak -, Press J to jump to the feed. 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 . Dance defense. 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. I was convicted on the basis of a DNA match made to the root of one (1) hair found in Joann's car. Police slowly built a case against Patricia. In a million years, she wouldnt do anything to harm that.. 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. An exterior door to their basement had been wrenched open, the lock hasp's screws literally ripped from the wall. 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. They broke up in 1993. Rorrer was convicted of killing them four years later. . Darla Carrington, Brian Charles, Robert Pezzeca, Patricia Rorrer . 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. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . 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. 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? So much in this case, and every time she appeals with new evidence she is denied. 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. They DID NOT match the bullets that killed Joann and her son. 3126 EDA 2012 Appeal from the PCRA Order October 11, 2012 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BOWES, J., LAZARUS, J., and WECHT, J. Lawyer: New evidence in 1994 killings of woman, infant, Patricia Rorrer serving life sentence for killing Joann Katrinak, 3-month-old son, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Most prosecutors wouldn't even take such paltry evidence into court today. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? She intends to file a motion for a new trial. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Patricia Taylor Allanson, the Deadly Magnolia, was released from prison in 1999. But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. The Morning Call This is for them also and freeing an innocent woman! Police treated Joann's car as a potential crime scene, and their investigation turned up several blonde hairs on the head rest. "The issues that we are presenting are not speculative at all," Neely said. 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. On December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son Alex disappeared without a trace from their home in Catasauqua, Pa. Patricia Rorrer, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinak's husband, was convicted of the murders and has maintained her innocence for 20 years while serving life behind bars. Patricia Rorrer's Story - RIGHT TO REDEMPTION Murder victim. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had almond-shaped blue eyes, weighed 18 pounds, and was circumcised. Where is Patricia Rorrer Now? - The Cinemaholic And Patricia wasnt all edges. 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. "Our position is that Patricia Rorrer's sample hairs were switched with crime scene hair, the hair taken from the seat back of Katrinak's vehicle," Neely said. ir.library.oregonstate.edu 6-10. And why was my defense not provided with the "No Roots Attached" report which is exculpatory evidence, at trial.? She is a true crime writer who believed I was 100% guilty when she decided to write about my case. Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? It would have to have been a different gun. By the time they asked supposed witnesses, most had forgotten about that random dance class (there were many). She was also accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she owned. Patricia's investigators are petitioning to DNA test the single strain of hair found in Joann's hand. No charmed life. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! No show. On closer inspection, he saw it was the body of a woman. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates Where does one pick up flower petal in the dead of winter in PA.? . This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Both were deceased. And if nothing more, it certainly galvanized the law enforcement community and got us moving in the right direction. It's been more than 20 years since Patricia Rorrer was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend's wife, Joann Katrinak, and Katrinak's baby. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. Cancel Anytime. On Instagram, I found a post for a two-part Win at All Costs podcast featuring journalism professor Bill Mousheys interviews with Patricia Rorrer from prison in December 2019. McItyre said this is hearsay and the officer has refuted everything in an affidavit. Highly charged case. Or was it? Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. Barry Grube, one of the few, if not only, police officers sympathetic to Patricias cause, noted that Andrew didnt seem particularly frantic while authorities searched desperately for his wife and son. Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. 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? This was further disproved when her bank reported there'd been no activity on Joann's credit cards since her disappearance. She is a tough one, Sheriff Gerald Hege would later tell the Morning Call in a June 29, 1997 interview. They even lived together for about two years before parting ways for good. Mizgerd said she is convinced Rorrer is innocent. 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. Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. Wrong Man investigators interrogated a confidential informant, the main witness against Evaristo Salas, and he recanted his testimony. Shouldn't Andrew have mentioned this suspicious, out-of-the-blue phone call from his ex-girlfriend sooner? And it certainly didn't make me mad enough to jump in my car, drive 500 miles one way and kill two people I'd never met--one an infant child. I cant lose them, he told the media. MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. 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Senate vote, Reading Area Water Authority looking for leak on North Heidelberg Township line, Former Penn State Berks soccer player among dead in violent Monroe County crash, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy costs, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South, Ukraine ally Kallas fights for reelection in Estonia vote, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, 6 Nigerian states drop suit to void presidential vote result, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills, What the Tech? Um why is that? Meanwhile, the case of the missing mother and baby turned into colossal news across the U.S. and internationally. Its definitely getting rougher every day, Andrew told the Morning Call. 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. Police converged on the scene and soon realized it was not only the remains of Joann Katrinak, but sadly of Alex too. TV-14. But if that's the main evidence against her, it seems awfully weak. 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). He wanted to move to Colorado and she was against it.. Our team of volunteers are committed to helping Patricia. When Andrew was told of the location of his young family's remains, he offered investigators a lead. Book her. Wrong Man Season 2 Release Date Confirmed (Exclusive) The episode indicated that Andrew Katrinak informed police that Patricia Rorrer had made the phone call to his home three days before Joann's disappearance. These hairs being found in the otherwise cleaned car was also odd. FBI didn't follow up on Patricia's alibi for months (6 months?) To commit the murders, Rorrer took her victims out to a location that was familiar and significant. ", "Everything is outrageous," he said. The $60 Murder. "When I read that petition for the first time about 30 days ago, I couldn't believe it was written by a lawyer.". Season 1. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. On December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son Alex disappeared without a trace from . There was an error processing your request. Weak wages. 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. Watch Forensic Files: Season 5, Episode 3A Woman Scorned. Moreover, Patricia had been accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she cared for charges that never stuck. It will show you that I have not committed these murders. In November 2005, she shoots Keith in the head while he . He framed this woman who has been in prison 23 years! Any amount will deeply appreciated. Felix (Phil) Rosado and Terrell (Rell) Woolfolk-Carter, WELCOME HOME!!!!! 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. Patricia, who moved from PA to North Carolina, made long distance calls from her home practically every day, except for the time period between December 11 and 16. In 2015, the type of hair DNA science used was finally admitted to be junk by the FBI and incorrect in 96% of cases. And Andrews explanation of how the intruder got in through the basement door seemed contrived, according to Grube, who gave an interview to Wrong Man, a 2020 true-crime docuseries from the Starz network, which produced two episodes called The Hang Up about the Rorrer case. He contributed to Altvariety, Chiseler, Smashpipe, and other magazines. Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. What about Joann's best friend, who told the producer's of Wrong Man that Joann was saving up money and planning to leave Andy right after the holidays? Image Title Airdate Season Episode Series Episode "Sleeping with the Enemy" August 7, 2015: 1: 120 Texan Darlene Gentry is a self-centered former beauty queen who enjoys the party girl lifestyle and whose marriage to husband Keith is collapsing under the debt she has incurred. 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. There is still an appeal coming up (I believe) but everything else has failed so far to get Patricia another trial. But her reputation wasnt exactly sleek and shiny. Based on the activity, the victims were there since at least February. His favorite rattle, shaped like a phone, lay near the crime scene. S5 E7: Patricia Rorrer sits in prison for brutally murdering her ex-boyfriend's wife and baby out of spite. Read and download theDen of Geek Lost in Space Special Edition Magazineright here! Is to get Patricia a fair trial that will prove her innocence, and give justice to Joann and Alex who died a horrific death. 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. The missing items included Joann's purse, car, both her and Alex's winter jackets, and the diaper bag. Media galore. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. 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. Supposedly it was the relationship to this trail and Patricia's managing of the Silver Shadow Farms horse stable just a mile away that first brought Rorrer to detectives' attention. Shes attracted the help of writer Tammy Mal (full name Tammy Malinowski OReilly), author of Convenient Suspect, a book about the case. Finally, prosecutors challenged Patricia's alibi. Then 31 years old, she had lived a rocky existence. The investigation that led to her identification and then turned up enough evidence to arrest and convict Patricia Rorrer was interesting. Patricia was arrested on June 24, 1997. . He will never be able to speak if this case! It was never tested. Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. Regarding the gun, she claims to have said that she didn't have a gun at that time, not that she never had one. (180) 2017 13+. More hairs there. For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. Patricia Rorrer - Wrongful Conviction, Innocent, Nonprofit Her hair color in the picture matched hairs found at two of the crime scenes. Another thing never presented at trial was the fact that they found flower petals in the soles of Joann's shoes,. The police considered the possibility that Joann ran away, a theory disputed by her family. Psycho For Love: Patricia Rorrer killed her ex-boyfriend's new wife When it was only able to fire once, Rorrer had to resort to bludgeoning her victim. Please read her story. However, her name was not on the sign-in list. She was always looking for a fight, Gary Gabard told the Morning Call, which noted that he was a head shorter than Patricia. Select "match all" to require all fields. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? Joe Kennedys talks to Michael Brinkle, Patricia Rorrer's former neighbor who reaffirms that he had sold her a .22 Jennings handgun. The only eyewitness to the murder a five-year-old child told police officers that a white man did it, reads the statement. Died along with his mother, Joann, as a victim of his father's jealous ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer. They theorized might've simply started a new life with another man, but this seemed absurd to everyone who knew Joann. 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. By the mid-1990s, Patricia was known for being both warm and caring as well as aggressive and loud. Some recurring themes in Forensic Files facinate me. Part 1. The episode claimed the jury required just two hours to deliberate, but other sources indicate it took six. TV-14 Information Genre Documentary Released 2022 Run Time 42 min Rated TV-14 Languages Original Audio English . Patricia demonstrated a habit of making almost daily, long-distance phone calls from her home in North Carolina. 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. 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. 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. Find where to watch Patricia Rorrer's latest movies and tv shows He was sentenced to life in prison. "Reasonable Doubt" The Ex Files (TV Episode 2022) - IMDb It'd be plausible to reason some deniability in Patricia's role if there weren't so many indicators of her involvement. 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. His team includes renowned civil rights attorney Ron Kuby, former prosecutor Sue-Ann Robinson, retired NCIS investigator Joe Kennedy, and Ira Todd of Detroits elite Homicide Task Force. The two-hour special, called Murder in the Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates, will premiere at 8 p.m. and air again at 11 p.m. Sunday night. 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. God Bless each of you. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. This was part of Rorrer's defense strategy it seemed like an unrealistic motive to commit murder. 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. Convicted murderer seeks new DNA tests in '94 murder case I really never thought of it again.. The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. When they found Joann and Alex in a wooded area on April 9 1995. There is a 2-part episode on Wrong Man that just came out this year. Criminal Division at No (s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Probable cause of death: exposure. Lehigh Valley: Patricia Rorrer Still A Convenient Suspect? The judge didn't make a decision on the findings on Tuesday. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? The prosecution alleged that Patricia called the Katrinaks house from a pay phone in Pennsylvania. Congratulations to all four of you, especially Rell and Phill, who are both co-founding members of R2R and CADBI. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. 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. One was a convenience store clerk, who said Joann, her baby and the man were in her store for up to 20 minutes, buying a couple hundred dollars worth of supplies in this small convenience store. 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. 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. $4.99/mo. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. One she was out buying feed for horses. DNA testing revealed the blood came from either Joann or her son. How about the phone line being cut? However, it seems this was only after the bodies of Joann and Alex were found on the remote horse trail. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. 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 either victimas the monster responsible. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. She was the devoted wife of the late Alvin Haymon Rorrer. Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping. I am humbly asking for your help to hire a lawyer and procure a fair trial. The victims vanished on December 15. Detectives from the Davidson County sheriff's office took the witness stand to recall the morning of June 24, 1997, when they knocked on the door of Rorrer's Linwood, N.C., home and told her she . Sounds like prosecutors made the right call based on this. He recalls that Patty also had an alibi. . Until next time, cheers. She had a suitcase packed, Devine said. We need to know who killed them! Patricia Rorrer's Story. Bio by: Karen Valentine A young mother and her infant son suddenly went missing just before Christmas in 1994. EPISODE 1. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. Men who murder are conventional, women are sensational, posits the Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network. In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County. Obviously her husband Andy would be the main suspect (and his smirking after Patricia was found guilty was galling) but the Wrong Man team spoke to him and seem convinced that he was being truthful. A second helping of justice will be served. It was a pretty big deal, and i was excited enough to call everyone I knew. 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. 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?. This was my thought (I'm behind and just caught the 2nd half yesterday). 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. During Patricias hours-long turn in the witness chair, Michael McIntyre grilled her relentlessly. She asked to speak with Andrew, who was home during the call; Joann refused. Do any of the TV episodes suggest the possibility of their being held alive for some time? 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. . Search is on. Neely said the first officer on the scene didn't believe Rorrer committed the crime. Rorrer is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution Muncy, a prison for women in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. The past two owners of the gun's yards were dug up and many casings of the .22 were discovered. Over 200 people were convicted using this science ( 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). A young mother and her infant son suddenly went missing just before Christmas in 1994. A closer examination of the hairs showed traces of dried blood. 1994 double-murder case returns to Lehigh County Court - Lehighvalleylive 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. 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.