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. Later, they both worked 12-hour graveyard shifts at a textile factory. Mike McIntyre, the first assistant district attorney in Lehigh County during the case, said the petition is "crazy. If you like our work please subscribe to our second channel The History Chronicles https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChroniclesFor early access. I knew when Andy got married and I was happy for him. Very true - I can't remember if the show went through that. The person responsible, needs to be punished. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence testing may be the key to proving her innocence. An early childhood introd One she was at a tanning salon. MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J. You have permission to edit this article. As usual, Rebecca at Forensic Files Now has a thoroughly researched article about the Patricia Rorrer case and events since her conviction. Read and download theDen of Geek Lost in Space Special Edition Magazineright here! 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? They returned with a guilty verdict and a sentence of two life terms. It was later believed that his recollection was keen, since he'd been the one to dress her posthumously. There is another question, though: Can anyone say . Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! On December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son Alex disappeared without a trace from . Then, despite her multiple alibis, she has an inexplicable five-day gap in this pattern. The episode made a special point about locating the photograph of Patricia Rorrer with dyed blonde hair. Testimony from Walter Blalock contradicted Patricias claim that she never had a gun. Prosecutors offered Patricia a plea deal that would take the death penalty off the table, but she declined. 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 was living back in North Carolina when the double murders occurred, yet investigators questioned her nonetheless. 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? I also communicated with Patricia via email to get her input on some matters. Moreover, Patricia had been accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she cared for charges that never stuck. You have permission to edit this article. At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. Traupman claimed that when he reported the dispute, trooper Robert V. Egan III got mad and practically kicked him out of his office. My husband passed away of a broken heart, Sarah OConnor said on the Montel Williams Show in 2001. Book her. Her defense was essentially that she and Andrew Katrinak had remained friendly, so she wouldn't want to hurt him. Many of these are circumstantial, so investigators were grateful for their DNA match from the hair. I am innocent of these crimes, and I should not have lost the best years of my life in a prison cell. Tragedy also touched Patricias life. . A young mother and her infant son suddenly went missing just before Christmas in 1994. Patricia Rorrer was a cold woman. Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. Conflicting versions. The bodies of Joann Katrinak and her baby were found in a wooded area of Heidelberg Township in 1994. Patricia demonstrated a consistent habit of long-distance calls from home, then had an obvious gap while claiming she. But none of those charges ever stuck. FBI didn't follow up on Patricia's alibi for months (6 months?) We all need justice! Cancel Anytime. Watch enough true crime shows and you're bound to hear one of these gems. Every time you take your infant to the Dr., they take measurements, so I'm wondering if records exist that show the baby was always in the higher percentile, or if he was say, 60-70th percentile, then suddenly BAM! 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. I really never thought of it again.. In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County. Shouldn't Andrew have mentioned this suspicious, out-of-the-blue phone call from his ex-girlfriend sooner? Patricia supposedly still cared for Andrew Katrinak, but murdering his son contradicts this notion. 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? (Disclaimer: Im not a big fan of eyewitnesses who come forward years after the fact, but its possible). Then 31 years old, she had lived a rocky existence. On December 12, 1994, Joann answered a phone call from a woman shed never met, Patricia Rorrer, her husbands onetime girlfriend. Probable cause of death: exposure. McIntyre said he was accused of being the mastermind of a conspiracy to frame Rorrer. But other things Patricia did also seemed strange, especially according to prosecutor Michael McIntyre. (QUIZ), RAW: FILE: CHRIS ROCK IS SET TO MAKE NETFLIX HISTORY, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. 99.99 or whatever it was. It's really terrifying that that was regarded as damning evidence, especially now that the rest of the case that might have appeared to give it context has been so undermined. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. 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. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. They allege that the North Carolina resident stealthily drove 500 miles to Pennsylvania and killed out of a sense of deadly indignation. Or identify other people in their lives who might have benefited from either the Katrinak's deaths or disappearance? 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. I lived with Andrew Katrinak for approximately 5 years, and we ended our relationship as friends in 1989 when I moved to North Carolina.. We would speak 2 or 3 times a year. Patricia demonstrated a habit of making almost daily, long-distance phone calls from her home in North Carolina. Counsel for Patricia Rorrer, 52, . I wonder if any of Alex's pediatrician records still exist after all this time. The case rocked Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and resulted in the conviction of Patricia Rorrer, now 53, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinak's husband. Joanne and baby Alex Katrinak kidnapping and murder by Patricia Rorrer. Joe Kennedys talks to Michael Brinkle, Patricia Rorrer's former neighbor who reaffirms that he had sold her a .22 Jennings handgun. After one bullet didnt kill Joann, the gun locked up, so Patricia had to beat her to death, according to the prosecution. Sounds like prosecutors made the right call based on this. But if Rorrer was a genuine suspect, it's likely investigators would have attempted the mitochondrial DNA match on the hair anyway. The prosecution alleged that after the murder, Patricia drove Joanns car to McCartys parking lot and backed it into a parking space. They had a son, Alex Martin, in August of 1994. 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. 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. TV-14. Plus, two men, her babys father and his friend, testified they saw Patricia at the line-dancing club the night of the homicide. On December 7, 1994 I called Andy to let him know that me and my team had won the National Championship at a team penning competition in Oklahoma. Witness also recalled Rorrer's mom trying to hide a gun. Regard a similar case where too much detail signaled investigators to look closer at their suspect in Bagging a Killer (s06e25). Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. In TV clips, Andrew didnt come off as anguished. 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. The authorities charged her with two counts of murder. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. Rorrer was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Joann Katrinak and her 3-4 month old son Alex in 1994 by forcing them our of their home and driving them to a wooded area where they were shot and killed. 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. Flaw in reasoning. However, it seems this was only after the bodies of Joann and Alex were found on the remote horse trail. 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. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. Until WCJN has thought that the hair was planted but the FBI has just released a report detailing unscientific and fraudulent analysis of hair samples in criminal cases. Based on body decomposition alone, it seems near impossible that they were kidnapped and killed in the same day or even within weeks. Please walk thru her website and see for yourself how easy it is to be convicted of something you had nothing to do with. This is the hard part. 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. Success! Rorrer was the ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband . I watched the show the other night and watched some YouTube videos afterwards and there was interview footage of Joanns sister saying that Alex was a big healthy baby. Media galore. Pal stays true. Our team of volunteers are committed to helping Patricia. In June of 2016 Patricia Rorrer's petition for a new trial was been thrown out. Documentary Sep 20, 2022 42 min iTunes. 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. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. It seems likely these bodies were dumped here months after initially thought, not killed the day they were kidnapped. Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. 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. 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. And if nothing more, it certainly galvanized the law enforcement community and got us moving in the right direction. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. With Lynnanne Zager, Joann Katrinak, Alex Katrinak, Patricia Rorrer. Did investigators look for phone calls between Andrew and Patricia prior to December 11, 1994? After Tapp served nearly 21 years of his sentence, the real killer was finally found through forensic genealogy, according to Time. Police converged on the scene and soon realized it was not only the remains of Joann Katrinak, but sadly of Alex too. Those who knew Joann pointed out that she didnt like to drive in reverse and would have never parked that way. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Wrong Man investigators interrogated a confidential informant, the main witness against Evaristo Salas, and he recanted his testimony. They DID NOT match the bullets that killed Joann and her son. She is a true crime writer who believed I was 100% guilty when she decided to write about my case. ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, Fire broke out in a Lower Macungie apartment building, Champions of Magic's Alex McAleer gives an exciting look at the upcoming live show, Pet of the Month: Nina from Ruff Life Rescue, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor needs volunteers, Allentown Public Library celebrates Dr. Seuss's birthday with children's activities, Kindness Project teams up with Flavor Nation to give away free tacos, History's Headlines: The Lehigh Valley's music man, Berks County Parks invites people to their Winter Wellness Walk, Royals host "kids takeover" game where kids get a taste of the sports business, Wilson School students raise $83k to fight childhood cancer, Berks County Intermediate Unit receives $3.18 million in grants for Head Start programs, 'First in the nation' bill to provide free screenings for breast cancer to receive full Pa. 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? The DNA presented at trial, the botching of hair evidence and the revelations in 2015 are thoroughly discussed. His film Whitey: United States of America V. James J. Bulgeruncovered law enforcement corruption at the highest levels. She was also no stranger to law enforcement because she had a history of violence which included an arrest for getting into a bar brawl with another patron over a guy. MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED OCTOBER 26, 2017 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals the PCRA court's dismissal of her . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lo9AIFM_vc&fbclid=IwAR28Mf5rKuUyaq1N-vBqirZM_382D69Zy42uONlU3Qf0eNEnJ1w_kYRYKIM. Her car was soon located in a parking lot within walking distance of their home. A closer examination of the hairs showed traces of dried blood. In the Katrinak case, they did new (at the time) DNA testing to match the hairs found in the car to Patricia. (QUIZ), RAW: FILE: CHRIS ROCK IS SET TO MAKE NETFLIX HISTORY, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. 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. Not gender neutral. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. This had been taken just 11 days before Joann's disappearance. "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. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. Patricia knew her gun tended to jam, but she used it anyway. The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. 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. This was part of Rorrer's defense strategy it seemed like an unrealistic motive to commit murder. Joann answered that night, told me that Andy was married and they had baby and not to call her house again .I honestly didn't think too much about it. Since 2010, Tammy has been researching the 1994 Katrinak murders in Catasauqua. Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping. 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. Illustration of the location of mitochondrial DNA in human cells. (A good point. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. With Chris Anderson, Fatima Silva. He would be alive today if it were not for Patricia Rorrer. The mild-mannered Sarah died in 2019 at the age of 83. 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. One detail the cops noted was how many times Joann was beaten, something like 20 times, the husband was a boxer so it's doubtful he'd need that many. In addition to the Facebook page, there are Reddit threads on her case. Her advocates say she wasn't even in the same state at the time of the crime. If Rorrer used to live in the area, then I expect any place in the county was probably within a couple of miles of someplace she used to have access to. -, Press J to jump to the feed. Starz announces premiere date for Joe Berlinger's Wrong Man Season 2. The only eyewitness to the murder a five-year-old child told police officers that a white man did it, reads the statement. I cant lose them, he told the media. Patricia Rorrer (right) is led to her hearing in Lehigh County Courthouse Wednesday morning, August 26, 1998 by a sheriff's deputy, at left. State police and the Philadelphia division of the FBI appealed to the public for leads. Patricia Elgin Rorrer, 86, of Lynchburg, went to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 4, 2021. She was the devoted wife of the late Alvin Haymon Rorrer. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. At the states request, the instructor wore a wire during a phone conversation with Patricia. EPISODE 1. He will never be able to speak if this case! 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. Um why is that? It's possible he was just a big baby/growing faster than average, but if there's some indication that they were alive for some time after their abduction, then it would seem to be an entirely different kind of crime than was first thought. My kid has had 99th percentile head circumference since birth. As for Joanns parents, her father died a year after the murder. Rorrer has filed a petition to get new evidence admissible that he said could set her free. Phil and Rell will be released on Monday, as well as Leroy Cotton and Jimmy Jackson. 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. So now, lets find out everything there is to know about her, shall we? Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. 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. It showed her usually all-brown hair haphazardly highlighted blond. I have always maintained my innocence because I am innocent. Rorrer was convicted of killing them four years later. further reading: True Detective Season 3 and the West Memphis Three. Detective Barry Grube found it odd that Andrew fixed the severed phone line before police examined it in essence tampering with evidence. An expert will be allowed to examine evidence from the 1994 . It's not often there's a laundry list of clear signals, but it's fun to iterate them when there are so many. The series was produced by Joe Berlinger, who made the Paradise Lost documentaries, which garnered actor Johnny Depps attention and ultimately helped free the West Memphis Three. 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. As for an epilogue on ex-flame Andrew Katrinak, he has moved to Colorado and kept a low profile since the trial ended. Recall Jason Funk's role in Katie Froeschle's murder in Muffled Cries (s11e31) or the trail of evidence left by Earl Bramblett in Private Thoughts (s08e16). How could I explain to my daughter years later that I took a plea for something I didnt do? she said. The person responsible, needs to be punished. Joann had been shot in the face and badly beaten. Better Call Saul Season 6 Episode 7: Finale Release Time and Season Recap, Tiger King Earned 34 Million Viewers in First 10 Days, Shazam! Criminal Division at No (s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. But when did he find the evidence of the break-in? She is a tough one, Sheriff Gerald Hege would later tell the Morning Call in a June 29, 1997 interview. I didn't see other potential suspects highlighted. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? A young mother and her infant son suddenly went missing just before Christmas in 1994. Regarding the gun, she claims to have said that she didn't have a gun at that time, not that she never had one. Patricia was . 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. She was bubbly and likable, not disgruntled, according to friend Kathy Barber, who visited her friend in jail. No show. Patricia Rorrer was wrongfully convicted of Murder. She is sitting in Muncey Women's Correctional Facility for over 23 years now for something. When police traveled to North Carolina to interview Patricia about the murders of Joann and Alex, she said that on the day of the homicides, she had visited a feed store, a tanning salon, and a country music club. 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 . Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. Apr 5, 2016. Patricia also pointed out that when author Tammy Mal started her research and speaking to me, she was not an advocate at all but she reversed and ended up advocating for Patricias innocence. After relocating to Pennsylvania, Patricia met the 6-foot-2-inch Andrew in a restaurant. This is crazy. 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. And dance instructor William Jarrett couldnt remember whether she attended his dance class at the club the night of Joanns disappearance. On closer inspection, he saw it was the body of a woman. 1919 EDA 2016 Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. This is for them also and freeing an innocent woman! They would have been held alive. Wrong Man says she had normally signed in for her line dancing class but didn't on the day Joann and Alex disappeared. 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? They initially thought Joann's husband Andy may have committed this crime, so they didn't check into Patricia's story of being in a dance class during the time of the kidnapping. Starting at. 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? You couldnt fire a second shot. 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. Patricia denied owning a .22 caliber pistol (the type of gun used to kill Joann). She claimed to be at a dance class in private club but her name was missing from the sign in sheet that night. 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. More hairs there. Artificial intelligence and machine learning education and literacy: teacher training for primary and secondary education teachers; Chapter 2. They never looked into Andy who failed several lie detector tests, tampered with evidence. In March of 1998, a jury returned two guilty verdicts against Patricia Rorrer for murder, and two more for kidnapping. . Most convictions were procured through microscopic hair comparison which has been debunked as junk science today. !) and detractors (This is another bs attempt to free a psycho). Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. Murder victim. 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. In 2015, the type of hair DNA science used was finally admitted to be junk by the FBI and incorrect in 96% of cases. More: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/convenient-suspect-a-wrongful-conviction-in-the-murder-in-lehigh-valley. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture.