God Bless each of you. Lehigh Cty.) More importantly, the 3 month old baby was the size of a 6 month old, including to have a cranial diameter bigger than 99.99% of all 3 month olds. She just stayed in touch with everybody, Kathy Barber said in her interview on NBCs Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports in 2017. State law requires that patrons of the bar sign-in when they come to the bar. But was Andrew in on this plan? He recalls that Patty also had an alibi. Wrong Man investigators interrogated a confidential informant, the main witness against Evaristo Salas, and he recanted his testimony. Wish me luck! Police slowly built a case against Patricia. As for Joanns parents, her father died a year after the murder. The 26-year-old was recently married, and this would be four-month-old Alex's first Christmas. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Everyone needs to wake up because this could be you, your wife, your husband, your mother, your father, your children! The police considered the possibility that Joann ran away, a theory disputed by her family. Perhaps police couldn't get a warrant for a sample of Patricia's hair, the color being inconsistent with the latent hairs found in the car and at the murder scene. At first, a broad-daylight abduction of a mother and her infant seemed unlikely. Starting at. PATRICIA LYNNE RORRER Appellant No. The system is broken sending innocent people to prison! Joann had been shot in the face and badly beaten. Thank you for reading, please use the links, and watch all the videos. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports is also available on YouTube, but it costs $1.99 to view (Keith comes off as an advocate for Patricias innocence on the episode). Somebody has to. Or identify other people in their lives who might have benefited from either the Katrinak's deaths or disappearance? (A good point. Patricia Rorrer (PA) SCI Muncy OE2170 Life Without Parole DOB: January 24,1964. Patricia is and has been fighting that she is innocent from the very beginning. Murder victim. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence . Joann Katrinak and her infant son were brutally murdered. Neely said the first officer on the scene didn't believe Rorrer committed the crime. Advocates for her innocence complain of hype surrounding the case. I would really recommend watching the Wrong Man 2-part episode. The state police dropped him as a suspect. With 400 (and 6) episodes, this progress bar indicates my progress toward finishing all of them. All of us could be wrongfully convicted. There was also a 2017 Dateline Keith Morrison episode which covered some of these facts. Patricias accusers theorized that she resented Joanns domestic bliss with the tall, athletic Andrew Katrinak. By: Robert S. In 1994, Joann Katrinak called her mother-in-law and made plans to go holiday shopping. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. Because when she did, she quickly began to realize that there was a lot more to the story than the public ever knew. This was part of Rorrer's defense strategy it seemed like an unrealistic motive to commit murder. Inside the locked 1992 vehicle, police discovered some strands of blond hair stained with dried blood. Police identified the pair as Joann and Alex Katrinak. July 16, 1932 - September 10, 2020, Dr. Edward E. "Gene" Rorrer, Sr. passed away on September 10, 2020 in Abingdon, Virg. Part 1. Was this on unsolved mysteries too? Since 2010, Tammy has been researching the 1994 Katrinak murders in Catasauqua. Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list. Congratulations to all four of you, especially Rell and Phill, who are both co-founding members of R2R and CADBI. Green-Eyed Monsters: Directed by Kate Ryerson. He had worked as a semi-pro boxer in Las Vegas in his youth and later settled into his own construction business. Starz announces premiere date for Joe Berlinger's Wrong Man Season 2. And James Pfeiffer and Jim Burke have remained on her side. When it was only able to fire once, Rorrer had to resort to bludgeoning her victim. When Joann failed to arrive, her mother-in-law tried calling, but there was no answer at the Katrinak's. On December 12, 1994, Joann answered a phone call from a woman shed never met, Patricia Rorrer, her husbands onetime girlfriend. It's as if she had left with young Alex as planned but then somehow simply vanished. Police converged on the scene and soon realized it was not only the remains of Joann Katrinak, but sadly of Alex too. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. Patricia Rorrer has been portrayed as a bully, petty thief, neglectful horse owner, and heartless killer or a sweet, caring friend railroaded by authorities desperate to solve a double-murder case that snagged worldwide interest. 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. Regarding the gun, she claims to have said that she didn't have a gun at that time, not that she never had one. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. After Joann Katrinak, the wife of Patricias former flame, turned up dead along with her infant son, prosecutors suspected Patricia. 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. 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. She had a lawyer who never tried a crimsoned case let alone a murder case, she believed that it would not be a problem because she was innocent. She intends to file a motion for a new trial. Joe Berlingers documentary series Wrong Man shows what long form documentary journalism can achieve. I think you might have mistaken what's being mentioned in the Washington Post article; that is talking about microscopic hair analysis, which is when they compare two strands of hair for a match. The prosecution alleged that Patricia called the Katrinaks house from a pay phone in Pennsylvania. 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. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. (Disclaimer: Im not a big fan of eyewitnesses who come forward years after the fact, but its possible). But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. Suzanne Pearson fabricated quotes from Patricia including her claim that Patricia said, Im going to the electric chair upon her arrest because a conviction would boost Pearsons career. Select "match all" to require all fields. 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. 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. "I'm very angry, very very very angry," McIntyre said. But defense lawyer Robert Pfeiffer said that plenty of evidence supported Patricias innocence. No comments yet - start the conversation above. Error! Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping. And who'd be heartless enough to kill an infant as well? They DID NOT match the bullets that killed Joann and her son. She was the devoted wife of the late Alvin Haymon Rorrer. MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED OCTOBER 26, 2017 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals the PCRA court's dismissal of her . On December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son Alex disappeared without a trace from . 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. 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. Read and download theDen of Geek Lost in Space Special Edition Magazineright here! Her alibi about going to the club, called Cowboys Nitelife, got fuzzy when investigators discovered she hadnt signed the guest book on that day. But none of those charges ever stuck. This was further disproved when her bank reported there'd been no activity on Joann's credit cards since her disappearance. Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016. Tragedy also touched Patricias life. Why did the police not look into these things? Shouldn't Andrew have mentioned this suspicious, out-of-the-blue phone call from his ex-girlfriend sooner? Where does one pick up flower petal in the dead of winter in PA.? I really never thought of it again.. 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 . I was convicted on the basis of a DNA match made to the root of one (1) hair found in Joann's car. The footage was quite old and filmed well before the show and theory so it caught my notice after the show stated his percentiles being nearly off the chart. 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. The Irish-Italian girl had full, fluffy dark hair, olive skin, and a pretty face. Great catch. 1 talking about this. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? It's shocking to think that Patricia Rorrer, being a mother, could end the life of an infant. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. 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? Rorrer and Andrew broke off their . Stable situation. Joanne and baby Alex Katrinak kidnapping and murder by Patricia Rorrer. It addresses each of these issues (better than I can do, certainly). 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. Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. But if Rorrer was a genuine suspect, it's likely investigators would have attempted the mitochondrial DNA match on the hair anyway. Until next time, cheers. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Bio by: Karen Valentine Back in March of 2017, Investigation Discovery ran Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates which questioned the conviction of . Patricia Rorrer's Story. 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. Patricia demonstrated a consistent habit of long-distance calls from home, then had an obvious gap while claiming she. Not gender neutral. Murder victim. An ex-boyfriend of Patricia knew she owned a distinct .22 caliber pistol and knew of its tendency to jam, but Rorrer could only deny owning such a weapon. Mizgerd said she acts as Patricia Rorrer's spiritual advisor and often visits her in prison. A closer examination of the hairs showed traces of dried blood. ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. 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. 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. Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. It was conceivable that Andrew believed they were still out. She is a true crime writer who believed I was 100% guilty when she decided to write about my case. Patricia Rorrer, an ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband, was found guilty of the crimes and sentenced to life in prison. Died along with his mother, Joann, as a victim of his father's jealous ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer. She was also accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she owned. 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. It showed her usually all-brown hair haphazardly highlighted blond. Nailed? Tue, Sep 27, 2022 60 mins. I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. He would be alive today if it were not for Patricia Rorrer. The mild-mannered Sarah died in 2019 at the age of 83. After a successful first season, Starz has announced thatWrong Man season 2 will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 9:45 p.m. Wrong Man takes viewers on real-time investigations to uncover new evidence, track down key witnesses, consult forensic experts, and interrogate the incarcerated. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. . Four hours is a long time between Andrew getting home from work and calling the police. $4.99/mo. 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. Andrew's second look in and around their home revealed some disturbing clues. Phone records confirmed Patricia placed the earlier call from North Carolina, not Pennsylvania. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Dial-a-problem. Please read her story. Fury of the Gods Brings Back the "Shazamily": Inside DC's New Superhero Adventure, Scream 6's Brutal NYC Trip: "You Can't Trust Anyone" This Time, Cocaine Bear Is Not Just About a Killer "Coked-Up" Bear, It's Also an "Underdog Story", How Marvel's Wastelanders Podcast Created an Exciting Story with No Visual Safety Net, Wrong Man Season 2 Release Date Confirmed (Exclusive). One she was out buying feed for horses. McIntyre said a conspiracy theory is preposterous and he's surprised Rorrer is making another attempt to get out of prison. Some recurring themes in Forensic Files facinate me. In 2015, I discovered an FBI report that states the hair used to convict me had "No Roots Attached." Witness also recalled Rorrer's mom trying to hide a gun. 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. 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. Therefore, when Andrew revealed that his ex once worked in a barn near the site of his wife and sons bodies, she became a suspect. During these 4 years, many in the Lehigh Valley, PA community developed opinions on the case. Rorrer offered her attendance at a private club in North Carolina as one of her alibies, but the club (per a state regulation) required members to sign in. Did investigators look for phone calls between Andrew and Patricia prior to December 11, 1994? Tapps lawyer saidWrong Mans in-depth investigation into the Tapp conviction helped free an innocent man.. Testimony from Walter Blalock contradicted Patricias claim that she never had a gun. One of Patricia's alibis was that she was at a bar on the night of the abduction. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. No charmed life. Better Call Saul Season 6 Episode 7: Finale Release Time and Season Recap, Tiger King Earned 34 Million Viewers in First 10 Days, Shazam! Theyd been missing for four months, but their discovery only gave rise to more questions than answers, especially as the young mother had been shot once in the face before being struck on the head 19 times. Most prosecutors wouldn't even take such paltry evidence into court today. Conflicting versions. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. 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. She does not have a lawyer, her last lawyer was sued by the prosecutor. She was always looking for a fight, Gary Gabard told the Morning Call, which noted that he was a head shorter than Patricia. Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? Patricia Rorrer was a cold woman. 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. TV-14. Rorrer claims the DNA evidence used to send . Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. The state made a case fueled by circumstantial evidence and public outrage over the deaths of a modern-day madonna and child. 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. Mitochondrial DNA is the small circular chromosome found inside mitochondria. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had almond-shaped blue eyes, weighed 18 pounds, and was circumcised. When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. Wow this episode was featured on Forensic Files. By the time they asked supposed witnesses, most had forgotten about that random dance class (there were many). This was my thought (I'm behind and just caught the 2nd half yesterday). New state, new man. After relocating to Pennsylvania, Patricia met the 6-foot-2-inch Andrew in a restaurant. Andrew told investigators that the unpleasant phone call between Joann and Patricia happened just three days before his wifes disappearance. It certainly tugged at our heartstrings, you know, it brought a tear to my eye. PATRICIA RORRER OBITUARY. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence testing may be the key to proving her innocence. I'm not sure to what extent it was brought up in the original trial. Patricia Rorrer has been portrayed as a bully, petty thief, neglectful horse owner, and heartless killer or a sweet, caring friend railroaded by authorities desperate to solve a double-murder case that snagged worldwide interest. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. 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. E 204 Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope. Where are the missing 4 hairs? The state of the bodies suggested the victims had likely been killed the day very they were abducted. He was sentenced to life in prison. 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. Criminals aren't always the smartest folks - this area highlights the common (and reoccurring) mistakes they make. We work hard to help with things that can not be accomplished in prison. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Joann Katrinaks Killer Still Has Innocence Advocates(A Woman Scorned, Forensic Files). An infant was lying face down on her stomach. She got 12 months of probation for shoplifting at a Walmart in Lexington, North Carolina. A few eyewitnesses who didnt testify at her initial trial also back her statements of being in North Carolina on that fateful day, but nothing has been proven. According to the LA Times, the United States Supreme Court struck down the conviction of death row inmate Curtis Flowers, who was prosecuted six times for the same crime of quadruple murder, and by the same prosecutor, in a case riddled with evidentiary problems and allegations of racial bias, according to the press statement. "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. Success! Still, no good leads materialized. An early childhood introd Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? They even lived together for about two years before parting ways for good. 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. 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. . 1 hr 25 min Mar 5, 2017 TV-14. 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. 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