Rorrer and Andrew broke off their relationship in 1990, but they remained in regular contact even as Rorrer moved 800 miles away. Men who murder are conventional, women are sensational, posits the Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network. (A good point. Rorrer was convicted of murdering Joann Katrinak and her 3 month old son. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. 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. Andrew Katrinak reported missing his wife, Joanne and 3.5-month-old son, Alex, in December 1994. New state, new man. 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. This is a despicable crime, prosecutor says of Kelly Renee Turner approving surgery after surgery for the child. Since then, Patricia has appealed her case and fought for exoneration, only to always be denied. Most of all, Patricia said, she would like a rematch with prosecutor Michael McIntyre. The cause of death has not been determined, according to officials. A hair that does, Why did they fail to test a piece of flesh adhering to a torn fingernail fragment recovered from Joann's chest? Hair we go. I dont think she was ever scared until we put the cuffs on her.. Patricias defenders also say Andrew Katrinak staged the scene at his house by prying the door and cutting the phone line. The Atlanta Child Murders rocked the nation as Black children from Atlanta disappeared and then turned up dead. 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. For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. During Patricias hours-long turn in the witness chair, Michael McIntyre grilled her relentlessly. That's according to Craig Neely, who worked on the case for years as the defense attorney. She had money put aside. She has never deviated. The Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Networks website also points to a bombshell: In 2015, the Justice Department acknowledged that most of the team members from an FBI microscopic hair comparison unit gave prosecutors flawed data from 1980 to 2000 that could have unjustly contributed to a number convictions including Patricia Rorrers. It showed her usually all-brown hair haphazardly highlighted blond. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created an age enhancement of what he may look like at age 23. Traupman claimed that when he reported the dispute, trooper Robert V. Egan III got mad and practically kicked him out of his office. But her reputation wasnt exactly sleek and shiny. 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. Its definitely getting rougher every day, Andrew told the Morning Call. 1 0 obj $8.99/mo. Strands of the accuseds dyed-blond hair at two crime scenes proved it. She failed miserably to convince me, or anyone else who mattered, of her innocence. How can this happen? !) and detractors (This is another bs attempt to free a psycho). %Ll-{Xjd>=ktWeO]g&7y1i8|il_s= 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. How to make sure your tax refund, other mail doesn't get stolen, Cher splits from rumoured fianc Alexander AE Edwards, Ed Sheeran tells how he was comforted by Stormzy the day Jamal Edwards died, Noel Gallagher splits with rumoured new girlfriend Dorothea Gundtoft, Katy Perry to be replaced by big time stars on American Idol while she performs at King Charles coronation, Anna Wintour appears to confirm rumoured romance with Bill Nighy at Met Gala, CT: RESTAURANT PREPS FOR KING'S CORONATION, RAW: NY: MET GALA RED CARPET ARRIVALS (MORE), American Idol Top 8 Decided in Twist After Judges Song Contest (RECAP), NY: MET GALA KARL LAGERFELD COSTUME INSTITUTE, RAW: GALA: SERENA WILLIAMS/KARLIE KLOSS ANNOUNCE PREGNANCIES. The Innocence Project has declined to take her case. Neely has filed a petition for post conviction relief for Rorrer because he says critical evidence in the case doesn't add up. But defense lawyer Robert Pfeiffer said that plenty of evidence supported Patricias innocence. 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. 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. Mike McIntyre was the first assistant district attorney in Lehigh County during the case and says he's surprised Rorrer is making another attempt to get out of prison. 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. Are other banks to follow? The Ex Files: Directed by Rob Rosen. wG@F3 hJ`F@S/ $wyqOs[q5LYqC?.qp(8'&(QZ)]+YLt% YYySj;f4YwfjX_&W5g5z6,^bU)>XUPLh-TxP #. Thats all for this post. )J?VmVcU4/+xn!U^,lKk*MKKHiT66# But did the police arrest the right person? While baby Alexs cause of death has never been determined, Joann had been severely beaten and shot. 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. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. It was one of the biggest murder cases to rock the Lehigh Valley. Search is on. Is to get Patricia a fair trial that will prove her innocence, and give justice to Joann and Alex who died a horrific death. Her brother returned home but she never did. One of our nations fastest growing cable networks, ID delivers the highest-quality programming to more than 85 million U.S. households and is available in both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD). I really never thought of it again.. It is similar to Making a Murderer it just makes you want to learn more.. Trash-talking ex. Rorrer and Andrew broke off their . Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. She has been telling the same story for over 20 years, Morrison explains. Highly charged case. App of the Day: Poolsuite FM, What the Tech? endobj 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). A three-year investigation culminated in court on March 6, 1998, with Patricia being convicted on two counts of murder and two counts of kidnapping. 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. Convenient Suspect: A Wrongful Conviction In The Murder In Lehigh Valley? Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. Atlanta Is Building A Memorial To 29 Child Murder Victims Killed Between 1979 and 1981, True Crime News Roundup: Beauty Pageant Hopeful Vanishes After Flying To Las Vegas, Student Studying Abroad In Russia Found Dead After Sending Her Mother Troubling Text, Laundrie Family Attorney Says Remains Found In Florida Belong To Brian Laundrie, Inside The Tragic Hart Family Murder-Suicide Crash, The 1993 Unsolved Murder Of Holly Piirainen, True Crime News Roundup: Alabama Corrections Officer Vanishes With Her Inmate Boyfriend, Mother Who Claimed 7-Year-Old Daughter Was Sick Sentenced To Prison After Girl Dies, UPDATE: Fugitive Leticia Smith from In Pursuit With John Walsh Captured In Mexico, Remembering Georgia Lee Moses: The Search For Answers In The Little Girls 1997 Killing Continues, Lululemon Murder: Store Employee Suffered Over 300 Blows, Severed Spinal Cord In Fatal Attack. Cop defends accused. 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 Katrinaks husband, was convicted of the murders and has maintained her innocence for 20 years while serving life behind bars. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. However, as profiled on IDs Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters, Joanns husbands ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer, was eventually identified as their perpetrator. Two-Part Special Premieres Sunday, March 5 at 8/7c; Features Exclusive First-Ever Interview with Inmate Patricia Rorrer (Silver Spring, Md.) Not gender neutral. In fifty years, this is the most complicated case Ive ever been involved in, an investigator says of the search for Andrea Knabel. ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. Shes the author of four books: Little Girl Lost, Disposable Income, Tortured Minds, and Murder in Susquehanna County. 2023 Warner Bros. At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. What Happened To High School Senior Erica Fraysure? On December 14, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied Ms. Rorrer's petition for allowance of appeal, concluding her state appellate proceedings. Our Mission. Although Rorrer would deny any involvement in the crime, the evidence against her seemed almost overwhelming. DNA testing showed that Rorrer could not be excluded as the source of the hairs. Cancel Anytime. They returned with a guilty verdict and a sentence of two life terms. endobj 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. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. As the husband and father, he seemed the logical suspect, and the police worked hard to build a case against him. <> That hang-up, they said, was the last straw. Why did they refuse to conduct DNA testing on a cigarette butt found with the bodies? Read More:Where is Jacqueline Crymble Now? 3 0 obj Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. 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. Join us tonight for #ReasonableDoubt at 10/9c on ID. They even lived together for about two years before parting ways for good. 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. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Charles Robert, the 3-month-old son she had with Gary Gabard, died of sudden infant death syndrome; Patricia found him blue in his crib. When Andy Katrinak comes home to find his wife and infant son gone, he summons the police and tells them he believes they have been abducted, and he suspects his ex-girlfriend Patty Rorrer might be involved.more. She had no alibi for the time of the murders, had argued with Joann only days before she disappeared, and allegedly owned the same make and model of gun as that used in the crime. 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? Patricia Rorrer - Forensic Files Now Alexs cause of death has never been determined. . Conflicting versions. He said she did own a firearm, with its serial numbers filed off. The phone wire was located at the opposite end of the basement, which was dark. The entire forensics examination from beginning to end was just awful.". Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. Peacock Productions reaches more than 300 million people worldwide every year across broadcast, cable, syndication, and emerging platforms with its award-winning specials and series. 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. After more than 20 years, questions are finally being raised about the many problems that plague this case, and the compelling evidence that points to the wrongful conviction of Patricia Rorrer. The Free Patricia Rorrer page responds to comments from supporters (How is this even possible that this woman is still in jail?!? Its one of those stories where, if you listen to one side, you can see, absolutely, that that side has to be correct. Photo by: Harry Fisher/Allentown Morning Call/TNS via Getty Images, Harry Fisher/Allentown Morning Call/TNS via Getty Images. Advocates for her innocence complain of hype surrounding the case. 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. Man Arrested In Connection With Disappearance Of Woman Last Seen At Seattle Mariners Game, The Search Continues For Minnesota Mother After Her Suspicious Disappearance, A Person Of Interest And Reward Established In Search For Missing Mother Heather Mae Kelley, Mystery Remains After 13-Year-Old Girl Vanished From A Minnesota Gas Station In 1989, Maybe Someday Someone Will Break: Alabama Mother Searches For Daughter Who Vanished In 2010, An Alabama Woman Disappeared After Her Boyfriend Dropped Her Off At Home, Have You Seen Semaj Goodwine? ET features interviews with all the key players from the 1998 trial of Rorrer, who is currently behind bars. Patricia was living back in North Carolina when the double murders occurred, yet investigators questioned her nonetheless. Tillman disappeared in from New York City when he was only 14 years old. x\[s~L34j+Gv}P$D"UO] Patricia Rorrer - Wrongful Conviction, Innocent, Nonprofit The couple moved into Andrews sturdy brick house at 740 Front Street in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping. Six hairs recovered from Joanns car and two from the site where the bodies were discovered became the main evidence used against Patricia. He would be alive today if it were not for Patricia Rorrer. The mild-mannered Sarah died in 2019 at the age of 83. Her mother, Patricia Chambers, provided day care for their baby son, Charles. The case rocked Pennsylvanias Lehigh Valley and resulted in the conviction of Patricia Rorrer, now 53, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinaks husband. Indigenous Student Ashley Loring HeavyRunner Still Missing, Toddlers Orrin and Orson West Still Missing From California, Woman Who Helped Find Missing People Disappears, Family Still Hopeful, Edmond Tillman: Police Still Searching For Teen Missing Since 2005, Young Unidentified Female Wearing Vanderbilt University Apparel Still Not Identified, An Unsolved July 4th Child Murder Still Haunts Southeast Texas, Family Still Looking For Answers In 1965 Disappearance Of Elizabeth Gill, Iowa Father Still Searching For Answers 8 Years After Sons Disappearance, Still Shrouded In Mystery: Florida Woman Fatally Shot At Sheriff Deputys Home, An Indiana Family Still Wants Answers In A Young Mans Mysterious Death, An Upstate New York Child Is Still Missing With No Arrests In The Case. Then you listen to the other side, and its like, Wait a minute. This case will live with you for a while after you have seen the story, because it is one that has stuck with me., The show which debuts March 5 at both 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. More hairs there. Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. See production, box office & company info. She was always looking for a fight, Gary Gabard told the Morning Call, which noted that he was a head shorter than Patricia. Neely said this new information could reopen the case and set Rorrer free. 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. 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. Investigators initially keyed in on Katrinaks husband, Andrew, whod told police he thought someone broke into his house, cut the telephone line and abducted his wife and son. 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. It was love at first sight when Joann OConnor met Andy Katrinak in the spring of 1992. Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand Up, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Ex-boyfriend Walter Blalock said that Patricia wanted him to be more like Andrew. DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. After Joann Katrinak, the wife of Patricias former flame, turned up dead along with her infant son, prosecutors suspected Patricia. PDF In the United States District Court for The Eastern District of Book her. Testimony from Walter Blalock contradicted Patricias claim that she never had a gun. Declaration of DNA Expert on Rorrer's Behalf (pdf) Download. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. Nailed? Z6DGgYP5`T30V;B:HI `{N v,mQxtGxrFwLS` KxL*sc ;fY. 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. Andrew told investigators that the unpleasant phone call between Joann and Patricia happened just three days before his wifes disappearance. But thats just some of the ammo on Team Patricias battleship. The case rocked Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and resulted in the conviction of Patricia Rorrer, now 53, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinak's husband. Medical examiners determined Katrinak had been beaten and shot. Read more: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Patricia Lynne Rorrer. Now retired, he declined ForensicFilesNow.coms invitation to spar directly with Patricia via a podcast. From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries behind these real people, real stories, the always revealing network challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. Chris and Fatima investigate the case in search of the truth. <>>> Joann answered and told Rorrer to leave her family alone before hanging up. On closer inspection, he saw it was the body of a woman. 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. STARZ - Uncover shocking new evidence in Patricia Rorrer's - Facebook The state police dropped him as a suspect. Investigation Discovery on Twitter: "Patricia Rorrer sits in prison for I cant lose them, he told the media. The case against Rorrer relied heavily on six hairs recovered from Joann Katrinaks car as well as two strands that were found where the bodies had been dumped. Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. Louisiana Woman Disappeared After Giving Somebody A Ride. Kenneth Clair, a homeless black man, is convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal murder of a babysitter in 1984. Together they had a baby girl, Nicole. Error! 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. All rights reserved. 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?". <> More than 20 years after her conviction, Patricia Rorrer still has advocates working to exonerate her. Pal stays true. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! Neely said a hair with a root put Rorrer away, which sparked Neely to question the forensic investigation. Will There Finally Be Justice For Megan McDonald? When Andy Katrinak comes home to find his wife and infant son gone, he summons the police and tells them he believes they have been abducted, and he suspects his ex-girlfriend Patty Rorrer m Patty Rorrer is convicted of the kidnapping and murder of her ex-boyfriend's wife and infant son, but "Wrong Man" investigators discover that the case is not so clear cut. Lehigh Valley: Patricia Rorrer Still A Convenient Suspect? This is a genuine puzzler, Morrison tells PEOPLE about the case that inspired Sundays two-part special, Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates. Morrison did speak with Rorrer about the case, but cameras were barred from the prison. As we wait for the pending appeal, Rorrer shares her first-hand account and I talk with the prosecutor and law enforcement about the new allegations that have thrust this case back into the spotlight.. One on one? Until next time, cheers.

Greenbrier Townhomes Overland Park, Ks For Rent, Lillian Crawford Aronow Obituary, Seeking Sister Wife Jennifer Baby, Handley Funeral Home Obituaries Danville, Wv, Dotwork Tattoos London, Articles P