Of course, Patricia denied this. The killer was Patricia Rorrer, the jealous ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband, Andrew. But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. "I'm very angry, very very very angry," McIntyre said. 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. Wish me luck! Joanne and baby Alex Katrinak kidnapping and murder by Patricia Rorrer. 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. She claimed to be at a dance class in private club but her name was missing from the sign in sheet that night. 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. Great catch. 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. At the very least, prosecutors got their story very wrong as they convicted Patricia. The 26-year-old was recently married, and this would be four-month-old Alex's first Christmas. I knew when Joann was pregnant and although surprised because Andy had once told me he didn't want children and wasn't sure he could have children, I was again happy for him. More than 20 years after her conviction, Patricia Rorrer still has advocates working to exonerate her. Mitochondrial DNA is the small circular chromosome found inside mitochondria. Testimony from Walter Blalock contradicted Patricias claim that she never had a gun. She is a true crime writer who believed I was 100% guilty when she decided to write about my case. He said she did own a firearm, with its serial numbers filed off. Patricia knew her gun tended to jam, but she used it anyway. A hidden FBI report found a couple years ago showed that police were unsure if there were roots on the found hairs. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. But none of those charges ever stuck. Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list. -, Press J to jump to the feed. Louise Rorrer Bryant, age 79, of Fieldale, Va., passed away on May 15, 2022. Where to Watch. He contributed to Altvariety, Chiseler, Smashpipe, and other magazines. The victims vanished on December 15. Where does one pick up flower petal in the dead of winter in PA.? To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. Lehigh Cty.) Patricia had of course not registered that night. We work hard to help with things that can not be accomplished in prison. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! Despite the new evidence and hypotheses, the courts have rejected all of Patricias bids for a new trial. Patricia Rorrer's home phone record did not show her call to the Katrinak house three days prior to the kidnapping because she'd already made the trip to Pennsylvania to see Andrew. ", "I can remember till this day, seeing that infant being lifted off the abdomen of his mother. Police identified the pair as Joann and Alex Katrinak. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? My kid has had 99th percentile head circumference since birth. Ex-boyfriend Walter Blalock said that Patricia wanted him to be more like Andrew. Combination locks. Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. Unbloody vehicle. Please walk thru her website and see for yourself how easy it is to be convicted of something you had nothing to do with. 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. He had worked as a semi-pro boxer in Las Vegas in his youth and later settled into his own construction business. 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. Find where to watch Patricia Rorrer's latest movies and tv shows The main one of course was committing murder of a young woman and her infant son over an argument. Wrong Man takes viewers on real-time investigations to uncover new evidence, track down key witnesses, consult forensic experts, and interrogate the incarcerated. 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. I was like OK, maybe she was tired, you know with a new baby. Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope: 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. They returned with a guilty verdict and a sentence of two life terms. 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. When she stood trial that same year, she maintained her innocence and alleged that she and Andrew Katrinak had continued to stay in touch as good friends, so she wouldnt do anything to hurt him. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. However, a former boyfriend stated that she did own a .22 caliber chrome-plated semi-automatic weapon. 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. After a very early failed marriage, the 24-year-old Joann scored a new husband in Andrew Katrinak, 38, whom she met at a club. - 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 . With Chris Anderson, Fatima Silva. 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. This is the hard part. Joseph Kocevar: Criminal Investigator, - Maj. Robert Werts: Homicide Investigator, Dr. Elizabeth Murray, Forensic Anthropologist, Brad Jackson was able to describe what his daughter Valiree was wearing, Jason Funk's role in Katie Froeschle's murder, Patricia Rorrer has repeatedly appealed for a retrial and exoneration, thoroughly researched article about the Patricia Rorrer case, Earl Bramblett murder of entire Hodges family, Darryl Kuehl take over murder of Paul Gruber, "the police actually said that, Oh, she probably ran away with someone. In a million years, Joann would never, never have run away. Joann was shot once, then the gun jammed. Smith claims that she is innocent and that she loved the victim like a daughter., The second is Patricia Rorrer, who has been in prison since 1998 after being convicted of the horrific murder of a young mother, Joann Katrinak, and her 15-week old son in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. When they found Joann and Alex in a wooded area on April 9 1995. Culture Editor Tony Sokol cut his teeth on the wire services and also wrote and produced New York CitysVampyr Theatreand the rock operaAssassiNation: We Killed JFK. As for Joanns parents, her father died a year after the murder. The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. Andrew told investigators that the unpleasant phone call between Joann and Patricia happened just three days before his wifes disappearance. Apr 5, 2016. Some who still believe in Patricia Rorrer's innocence say it was long enough for him to stage the scene. In 2015, I discovered an FBI report that states the hair used to convict me had "No Roots Attached." However, as profiled on IDs Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters, Joanns husbands ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer, was eventually identified as their perpetrator. Joe Kennedys talks to Michael Brinkle, Patricia Rorrer's former neighbor who reaffirms that he had sold her a .22 Jennings handgun. Phone records confirmed Patricia placed the earlier call from North Carolina, not Pennsylvania. When she stood trial that same year, she maintained her innocence and alleged that she and Andrew Katrinak had continued to stay in touch as good friends, so she wouldn't do anything to hurt him. I really never thought of it again.. I was able to email with Patricia via the PrisonConnect platform around Christmastime. Whether she suffocated him or left him to die of exposure, there's a special place in hell for someone who's able to live with themselves after such a heinous crime. 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. Green-Eyed Monsters: Directed by Kate Ryerson. . 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). 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. State police and the Philadelphia division of the FBI appealed to the public for leads. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Her book tells the truth and the real story of this case. It's not often there's a laundry list of clear signals, but it's fun to iterate them when there are so many. Then, despite her multiple alibis, she has an inexplicable five-day gap in this pattern. Moreover, Patricia had been accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she cared for charges that never stuck. 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. Murder victim. Police slowly built a case against Patricia. A photo at the time showed that Patricia had dyed her hair blonde, which matched the hair found. Or was it? Christopher Tapp, who was convicted of the 1996 sexual assault and murder of an 18-year-old girl in Idaho, was coerced into confessing to the crime after an estimated 150 hours of interrogations. Morrison was 16 weeks pregnant when her lifeless body was found beaten beyond recognition and dumped along a remote country road, reads the statement. Does anyone see motive in this scenario? Also she worked as a realtor so it's not that unreasonable for her to know which line to cut. Two of the seasons three cases will feature female inmates. Or did they? When it was only able to fire once, Rorrer had to resort to bludgeoning her victim. Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. But the Wrong Man team brought in their own experts to review the detailed information on the corpses. Meanwhile, the case of the missing mother and baby turned into colossal news across the U.S. and internationally. Artificial intelligence and machine learning education and literacy: teacher training for primary and secondary education teachers; Chapter 2. And who'd be heartless enough to kill an infant as well? Did investigators look for phone calls between Andrew and Patricia prior to December 11, 1994? 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 email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. During these 4 years, many in the Lehigh Valley, PA community developed opinions on the case. This was my thought (I'm behind and just caught the 2nd half yesterday). 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. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Most convictions were procured through microscopic hair comparison which has been debunked as junk science today. 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. TV-14 Information Genre Documentary Released 2022 Run Time 42 min Rated TV-14 Languages Original Audio English . Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. Later, they both worked 12-hour graveyard shifts at a textile factory. 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. 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? Since then, Patricia has appealed her case and fought for exoneration, only to always be denied. My husband passed away of a broken heart, Sarah OConnor said on the Montel Williams Show in 2001. A hearing on the issue got heated Tuesday. Is to get Patricia a fair trial that will prove her innocence, and give justice to Joann and Alex who died a horrific death. Posted: June 22, 2022 Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. With 400 (and 6) episodes, this progress bar indicates my progress toward finishing all of them. Probable cause of death: exposure. Well, that really caught our attention of course.". . 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. Then 31 years old, she had lived a rocky existence. Joann Katrinak and her infant son were brutally murdered. Plus, he had only a minimal life insurance policy on Joann and he passed polygraphs, according to The FBI Files: Family Secrets. 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. Yet, everything changed when they lost their 3-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence testing may be the key to proving her innocence. I have always maintained my innocence because I am innocent. 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. Really? . Berlingers landmark HBO documentary Paradise Lost Trilogy helped lead to the release of the wrongfully convicted West Memphis Three after 18 years of incarceration. It would have to have been a different gun. MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED OCTOBER 26, 2017 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals the PCRA court's dismissal of her . Meanwhile, interest in Patricias plight continues on social media. 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). I was convicted on the basis of a DNA match made to the root of one (1) hair found in Joann's car. 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. . Very true - I can't remember if the show went through that. (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. The woman (who owned the salon) stated that they were closed that day and that she and her husband were out of town celebrating his birthday. And, I was quite angry with the police, that they accused Andy. "I'm hoping this [show] will be very close to the truth," said Sandy Mizgerd. Prosecutors said Rorrer beat Katrinak, shot her and left her and her baby for dead in the woods in Heidelberg Township. When Andrew was told of the location of his young family's remains, he offered investigators a lead. Therefore, today, in her late 50s, Patricia is imprisoned at the maximum-security State Correctional Institution Muncy in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. 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 . Regarding the gun, she claims to have said that she didn't have a gun at that time, not that she never had one. 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. Hello guys! Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. 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. I suspect I know. Some recurring themes in Forensic Files facinate me. Patricias accusers theorized that she resented Joanns domestic bliss with the tall, athletic Andrew Katrinak. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. . Andrew's second look in and around their home revealed some disturbing clues. . A closer examination of the hairs showed traces of dried blood. Felix (Phil) Rosado and Terrell (Rell) Woolfolk-Carter, WELCOME HOME!!!!! Her hair color in the picture matched hairs found at two of the crime scenes. They were hardly decomposed after a mild winter. Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. Here was some other evidence mentioned in the Forensic Files episode: A forensic entomologist examined insect activity on the victims. . As noted earlier, there was hair found in the victims hand, fingernail fragments found on her body, and also a cigarette butt. These organelles, found in all eukaryotic cells, are the powerhouse of the cell. (180) 2017 13+. She made an effort to look perfectly groomed even when she took out the trash, according to her mother, who appeared on Forensic Files. She was born on Jan. 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania and moved back and forth between there and Davidson County, North Carolina. Stable situation. 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. New state, new man. Her mother, Patricia Chambers, provided day care for their baby son, Charles. 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. 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. You have permission to edit this article. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. Image credit: Episode screen capture from, - Sarah OConnor: Joann Katrinaks Mother, - Det. When Joann failed to arrive, her mother-in-law tried calling, but there was no answer at the Katrinak's. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 'Wrong Man" is a six-episode series from acclaimed award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost Trilogy) that examines cases of inmates who have been incarcerated for decades and claim they're innocent. By that time, we had both moved on and I had no romantic feelings for him. Copyright 2021 Patricia Rorrer - All Rights Reserved. Murder victim. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. I cant lose them, he told the media. Many of these are circumstantial, so investigators were grateful for their DNA match from the hair. More hairs there. By the time they asked supposed witnesses, most had forgotten about that random dance class (there were many). 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. The police considered the possibility that Joann ran away, a theory disputed by her family. Find a typo or issue with the details of this case? Combine keywords and attributes to find specific items. Success! In the Katrinak case, they did new (at the time) DNA testing to match the hairs found in the car to Patricia. The same source indicates Patricia Rorrer has repeatedly appealed for a retrial and exoneration, but each request has been denied. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lo9AIFM_vc&fbclid=IwAR28Mf5rKuUyaq1N-vBqirZM_382D69Zy42uONlU3Qf0eNEnJ1w_kYRYKIM. Patricia Rorrer (PA) SCI Muncy OE2170 Life Without Parole DOB: January 24,1964. I wasn't hung up on Andy, and I didn't want him back. 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. 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. It was later believed that his recollection was keen, since he'd been the one to dress her posthumously. No comments yet - start the conversation above. Traupman claimed that when he reported the dispute, trooper Robert V. Egan III got mad and practically kicked him out of his office. . See Commonwealth v. Rorrer, CP-39- CR-0002176-1997 (C.C.P. Right now she has no attorney and your generous donation will fund our mission. Incriminating words. Now retired, he declined ForensicFilesNow.coms invitation to spar directly with Patricia via a podcast. Trash-talking ex. Patricia is and has been fighting that she is innocent from the very beginning. This was further disproved when her bank reported there'd been no activity on Joann's credit cards since her disappearance. 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. Patty Rorrer is convicted of the kidnapping and murder of her ex-boyfriends wife and infant son, but Wrong Man investigators discover that the case is not so clear cut. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. 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. She fought for her life and had defensive wounds including a broken nose and a broken finger. The system is broken sending innocent people to prison! Sir I would not kill somebody and I definitely wouldnt kill somebody I never met, Rorrer said. It seems Patricia's own daughter and baby Alex Katrinak were very close in age. Mizgerd said she acts as Patricia Rorrer's spiritual advisor and often visits her in prison. The second season will continue to uncover new theories and reveal startling new evidence that could prove that three new inmates are, in fact, not guilty, according to Starzs press statement. In April 1995, the family buried Joann and Alex in a single bronze casket after a funeral mass at a Bethlehem church. Do any of the TV episodes suggest the possibility of their being held alive for some time? Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals the PCRA court's dismissal of her fourth PCRA petition as untimely filed. This is a list of notable female murderers whose name begins with the letter R. Neely said the first officer on the scene didn't believe Rorrer committed the crime. 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. Patricia demonstrated a consistent habit of long-distance calls from home, then had an obvious gap while claiming she. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. One on one? At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. 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. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. One of Patricia's alibis was that she was at a bar on the night of the abduction. 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. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. He is the TV Editor at Entertainment. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Read More:Where is Jacqueline Crymble Now? State law requires that patrons of the bar sign-in when they come to the bar. Tribute Archive In 2015, the type of hair DNA science used was finally admitted to be junk by the FBI and incorrect in 96% of cases. 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. It all gave jurors a lot to think about but only for six hours. Joann grabbed her purse, the diaper bag, and their coats against the December chill in Pennsylvania. A young mother and her infant son suddenly went missing just before Christmas in 1994. Wrong Man investigators interrogated a confidential informant, the main witness against Evaristo Salas, and he recanted his testimony. God Bless each of you. But when did he find the evidence of the break-in? 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. 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. Our Mission. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. Rorrer is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution Muncy, a prison for women in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. McIntyre said a conspiracy theory is preposterous and he's surprised Rorrer is making another attempt to get out of prison.

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