Fair met Jinaga hours before she was killed at a Halloween party in her apartment complex. He also heard a thud on the floor but figured she was alright when he heard water running shortly after the noise. Cameron Johnson, who has never been charged, invoked his 5th Amendment right, and therefore only faced limited scope questioning during Fair's trial. Just to set the record straight. After the sound stopped, Rose then heard steps and the sound of running water for 1 hour. Theres very little justice left to salvage., In a 2020 interview, the lead detective said Fair stood out to him because he was the only African-American male at the party and looked like an outsider.. On Oct. 30, 2010, Fair was placed in a Seattle holding cell while detectives gathered more evidence against him for the 2008 sexual assault and murder of a 24-year-old software engineer and Indian. No one cleaning up reported seeing anything suspicious. They messed up, he said. His legal team expanded the lawsuit in late March, adding ten more pages of allegations and the prosecutor on the case and other detectives that handled the case to the list of defendants. Witnesses said Neil Marshall, a partygoer, was sexually aggressive toward Jinaga on Halloween. If her rape was that violent he'd have had SOME scratches or scars. Now, more than two years later, Fair is suing King County, the city of Redmond and Redmond Police Capt. I felt like I was kidnapped, Fair said in last months interview, when explaining his decision to pursue his claims of negligence, civil rights violations and malicious prosecution. Guests took silly photos, downed shots and smoked pot. Jinaga had been gagged with her underpants and duct tape, brutally beaten around the head. And thats hard.. This is a person who is living her dream. In addition, several neighbors in the complex told investigators that he had a sexual attraction to Jinaga, and he exhibited jealous behavior when she talked to other men at the Halloween party that night. They found her nude body on her bedroom floor, face-down on the carpet and partially covered with cloth. Its just another day. Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. His attorneys allege Fair was isolated as the main suspect for her murder because of his race and his past criminal record. All the while, Fair, whose family was unable to foot his seven-figure bail, said he had faith he would one day walk away free from a charge alleging he murdered Arpana Jinaga, 24, in her Redmond apartment after a Halloween party in 2008. Potts, Jinaga and two others neighbors decorated and opened up their units to allow partygoers to go in and out freely. She is suspected to have died from strangulation from a bootlace. After the jury in his first trial deadlocked in 2017, King County prosecutors tried Fair again in 2019. Her father, a head professor of engineering in India, encouraged he to move to the US to attend Rutgers University. The Murder of Arpana Jinaga, The Stickiest Heist In History, abnd The Crappiest Place on Earth Published December 28, 2021 at 12:01 AM EST Listen 12:50 The neighbor initially neglected to tell detectives about phone calls he made to Jinaga at 3 a.m. Later on the morning of her slaying, he drove to the Canadian border and attempted to cross it without a passport but was denied entry. The suit contends detectives aligned evidence to match their theory and disregarded half a dozen non-Black suspects in the case. Potts had not known Fair for a long time. I dont think he killed Arpana. Fair said the lawsuit, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, is the closest thing to justice I can get.. "Choices that, once made, are difficult to reverse.". lt also points out that Jinagas neighbor quickly emerged as the lead suspect in the case as inconsistencies in his story began to surface.. Burn marks on her body and apartment suggest somebody tried to burn her. Court records show prosecutors did not believe they had enough evidence to charge Jinagas neighbor, who met Fair the night of the homicide. 2018Dion Wiyoko,Rianti Cartwright,Laura Basuki,Jill Gladys,Sheila Dara Aisha,Junior Liem,Alyndra PandjipoetraSunshine ,SunshineSunshinemp4SunshineBT . Then, due to inexcusable delays in Fairs trial and prolonged pretrial detention, he spent more than nine years in the King County Correctional Facility as an innocent man, in conditions of inhumane confinement that are well known to have a detrimental effect on mental health, the suit contends. Goldsmith said evidence found at Jinagas apartment and produced during the investigation pointed to one of her neighbors as the likely killer. On Oct. 30, 2010, Fair was placed in a Seattle holding cell while detectives gathered more evidence against him for the 2008 sexual assault and murder of a 24-year-old software engineer and Indian immigrant named Arpana Jinaga. His lawyers said he suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It seems odd to me that the killer(s) would go to such extremes to cover up DNA on her body and in her apartment with the motor oil and toilet bowl cleaner and bleach etc. Residents said Fair appeared relaxed when he hung out at Potts apartment for three days over the weekend. Her other immediate neighbor, Kyle Rose, said he heard growling sounds around 8 a.m. In the apartment complex's trash bin, was a bag containing Jinaga's Halloween costume, a bloodied robe, a discarded bottle of motor oil, and the bootlace. We found [Fair] not guilty because of reasonable doubt, not because we thought he was completely innocent., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. In my opinion, and in my heart, I dont have any question about anything we did in regards to charging that Emanuel Fair killed Arpana Jinaga, she said. Only one man was charged with murder. Such remarks since his exoneration only demonstrate authorities defensiveness about mishandling the case, Fair said. Ehlert also defended an immunity deal with the suspected neighbor, and the decision to solely prosecute Fair for first-degree murder with sexual motivation a charge that hinged mostly on trace DNA collected from a crime scene teeming with genetic evidence linked to multiple people. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Some guests were rowdy, but nothing out of the ordinary, it says. I fear and I worry that someone else may become a victim at some point in time, Ehlert said of Fairs acquittal during the 2020 interview. Jinaga was. Fair is seeking damages for the emotional stress he faced from when police investigated him until he was released. During the trials, the neighbor, whom prosecutors at one point granted immunity for information, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Police believe she was killed around 8 a.m. Two days later, a friend of Jinagas father went to check up on her because she hadnt answered phone calls from her family in India. After a background check revealed Fairs criminal record, including a third-degree child rape conviction, Fair quickly became the new prime suspect despite leads about the neighbor and other viable suspects, the suit states. Jinaga, an outgoing Rutgers University grad, had moved to Redmond six months earlier to work as a software engineer at a Bellevue firm. I think he may have been involved; I think he may have lied to us, Ehlert said of the neighbor. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. Jinagas father had asked a family friend to check in on her after she missed scheduled calls with family from India. He was convicted of third-degree rape in 2004. Suspect is an investigative series about mislaid justice and the kinds of weighty decisions that detectives, lawyers, and jurors make every day - decisions that, once made, are almost impossible to reverse.Season 2: Vanished in the Snow chronicles the disappearance of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews. I thought I was gonna die, Fair told Rolling Stone. Condition of the apartment: Jinaga's bed had been stripped, a fleece blanket was partially burned and her comforter was found in soaked the bathroom bathtub. In a 2020 interview, one of the prosecutors said Fair looked like the best suspect because his DNA was found on objects specifically related to the murder, not the aftermath. He had a list of nearby pawnshops in his car printed the day Jinaga was killed, the lawsuit says. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? She had a keen interest in engineering and won several innovation competitions. Suspect: With Matthew Shaer, Eric Benson, Matt Baglio, Ashley Fantz. She was outgoing and friendly, joining a motorcycle club, practicing tae kwon do, and volunteering at an animal shelter and fire department, all within eight months of moving to Redmond, he said. Im out, Fair said. Do we know how extensive the damage was? "It's a series about cutting-edge science and mislaid justice, race and policing, and the kinds of weighty choices that cops and prosecutors make every day," Wondery states in a release. and even burning of sheets, but then they would be so careless and stupid to just discard it all into the apartment dumpster. According to reports, Fair accepted a plea agreement in 2004 while still maintaining his innocence. 14 years ago. He made calls to a few friends, including apparently pocket-dialing Potts. Arpana and neighbors within the Valley View Apartment complex threw a large Halloween party. Fair filed a lawsuit against King County, Redmond, the Redmond Police Department and the lead detective on Dec. 29. He assumed Jinaga was either vomiting or having sex. Jinagas neighbor, Johnson, was the prime suspect at first, as described in Fairs lawsuit documents. After-the-fact contentions about inadmissible evidence are a little disingenuous, said Dreveskracht, Fairs attorney, who noted police at one point consulted with a psychic medium who attempted to contact Jinaga beyond the grave. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/after-nearly-11-years-and-two-trials-killing-of-redmond-woman-remains-unsolved/, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/woman-found-dead-in-redmond-was-slain-police-say/, https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/petitions/96468-8%20Petition%20for%20Review.pdf, https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/emanuel-fair-trial-lawsuit-dna-murder-charge-1330251/, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59393415bebafb202cc26aba/t/5f0237f32005f03d23c6d73a/1593980918922/Defense-Motion-to-Compel-Source-Code.pdf. The evidence of Fairs involvement is compelling, Larson said this week. The lawsuit alleges there was heavy drinking at the party of 40 to 50 people. Johnson's friends and family stated he said "what if I did the murder and I don't remember". On the night of Oct. 31, 2008, Arpana Jinaga and her neighbors at the Valley View Apartments, in Redmond, Wash., threw a party to celebrate Halloween. If you have probable cause, you dont go to a psychic, he said. Preliminary reports said Arpana may have died on Friday evening. Now working a security job and living with friends in Renton, he said hes often depressed, carries guilt for a younger brothers emotional troubles and avoids going out. From the beginning, it was a complex case, complicated by the fact so many people had attended the party the night before she was killed, said Coats, the Redmond police lieutenant. The lawsuit alleges there was heavy drinking at the party of 40 to 50 people. After her graduation, she got a job as a software engineer at EMC, in a suburb of Seattle. Perhaps the perpetrator(s) kicked in the door, then while leaving they shut it again. Investigators focused on Fair after seeing him in photos of the party. Family of Missing Black Woman, Last Seen Living with Man She Met on Craigslist, Frustrated By Lack of Response to Case: Were Not Trying to Annoy Anybody, Happened As a Result of Jealousy: New York Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Stabbing Black 16-Year-Old Boy In the Heart for Walking a Girl Home, I Wanted to be a Trailblazer: Zandra Flemister, the First Black Woman Hired as a Secret Service Agent, Enduring Years of Blatant Racism, Dies at 71. His first trial, in 2017, ended in a hung jury because one juror said Fair looked like a thug with tattoos on his hands. The jury in the second trial acquitted him. At his second trial, a jury found him not guilty. It contends Fair was asleep at his friends apartment when Jinaga likely was attacked, and that he didnt attempt to leave the area: He helped clean up outdoor areas after the party and stayed with his friend at her apartment for two more days. Emanuel Fair stayed in the King County Correctional Facility for nearly nine years for a crime he did not commit based on a botched and bizarre murder investigation driven by racial discrimination, a recent lawsuit alleges. He waited in jail while authorities tested his DNA. According to the Rolling Stone report, most of the people at the party that night didnt remember Fairs name. She. He heard "a horrible growling" for about twenty seconds until he heard a thud. I didnt know how to answer, so I just told her the truth: Im depressed. Fair had some criminal history: weapon and drug offenses as a juvenile, and a rape charge from 2004. They also failed to look for evidence of a missing bootlace. Witnesses said Neil Marshall, a partygoer, was sexually aggressive toward Jinaga on Halloween. Jinaga showed Fair and other partygoers something on her computer on another occasion. Fair was tried for Jinagas sexual assault twice and was acquitted after his second trial in June 2019. . According to the complaint, Johnsons fingerprints were found inside a window in Jinagas apartment, and his DNA was found on the motor oil bottle and a portion of wet carpet at the crime scene. The court documents detail negligence by detectives and the outsourcing of a famous psychic medium to opine on the case. Everyone seemed to have a good time, the lawsuit alleges. Remembering Arpana Jinaga - this was the memorial DVD that was played at her funeral on October 6, 2008 in Bellevue, Washington. The lawsuit says that Johnson also had a past of strange or violent behavior with women. Arpana Jinaga. Fairs lawsuit cites a comment Coats made during his interview for the Suspect podcast that Fair was the only African American at the party in the photos. During the night, neighbors of Jinaga heard muffled moaning sounds, and assumed she and a partner were having consensual sex. Johnson was hanging out near Jinagas apartment when her friend arrived to check on her, and he helped the family friend identify the body, the lawsuit alleges. All the while, Fair, whose family was unable to foot his seven-figure bail, said he had faith he would one day walk away free from a charge alleging he murdered Arpana Jinaga, 24, in her Redmond . The lawsuit alleges that the department hired famous psychic medium Allison DuBois to help with the investigation around the time Fair was identified as the main suspect. Fair was tried for Jinagas sexual assault twice and was acquitted after his second trial in June 2019. He was drunk and brought bottles of liquor. That decision was upheld by the state Court of Appeals following Fairs first trial. I covered for Emanuel because at the time I thought he was my friend, not because I was trying to cover for him for something he may or may not have done. New episodes of the nine-part series will be released weekly on Tuesdays. The county, police department and Coats filed a response to Fairs initial complaint refuting the claims. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, Police arrest man suspected of robbing downtown, South Hill banks, 82-year-old Mead man dies from injuries sustained in December crash near Whitworth , Family settles with Spokane County for $7.5 million in 2019 murder-suicide , Authorities in Oregon investigating incident that sent man with explosive device to Sacred Heart , Kohberger housed in small jail with mix of alleged criminals , Kohberger housed in small jail with mix of alleged criminals, Former Gonzaga guard Kyle Bankhead crafts game plan against alma mater, Family settles with Spokane County for $7.5 million in 2019 murder-suicide, McCarthy wins speakership on 15th vote after concessions to hard right. He also successfully represented himself in a legal claim for an injury he sustained from handcuffs, receiving a $25,000 settlement from King County in 2017. On Oct. 31, 2008, 24-year-old Arpana Jinaga dressed up in a Little Red Riding Hood costume and prepared for a Friday night to remember. Fairs lawsuit contends the probable cause affidavit used to support the murder charge omitted multiple facts, including that several other mens DNA also was found on crime scene evidence and items found in the dumpster. DNA was found on a discarded bottle of motor oil (same bag as robe). We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. As a teenager, Jinaga won a top prize in an international computer programming competition. But as they worked through the evidence, jurors came to believe the state had not met its burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt, said the juror, a 35-year-old Bellevue software engineer who asked not to be named to protect his privacy, It was tough for us to vote not guilty because the family still doesnt know exactly who killed her, the juror said. He scrubbed his phone right after the interrogation, the lawsuit says. He attributed them to wrestling a stranger he met at another Halloween party the next day, the lawsuit alleges. Those are times when you should be around family. On Thanksgiving, when he hadnt shown up to his familys dinner, Fair said an aunt called him to ask whether he was planning to come. He appeared drunk and brought liquor. His attorneys allege Fair was isolated as the main suspect for her murder because of his race and his past criminal record. I just dont want to be around nobody, he said. When Johnson found out Fair liked hip hop and wrote beats, Johnson invited him to his car to listen to some electronic music he had made. He matched the description of the man the other resident saw around 3 a.m. at the murdered womans door and had a wide window of suspicion around him, the lawsuit alleges. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. I am far from shady. A man by the name of Emanuel Fair was arrested in connection with her murder, but he has since been found not guilty of the crime. Arpana Jinaga Memorial. Most people left Jinaga's apartment after 9pm to move to another apartment. He made calls to a few friends, including apparently pocket-dialing Potts. Now working a security job and living with friends in Renton, he said hes often depressed, carries guilt for a younger brothers emotional troubles and avoids going out. Shed been gagged, beaten and strangled during an apparent sexual attack. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. Kyler Alvord leads PEOPLE's politics coverage as a news editor for the brand. Jinagas hands were covered in blue toilet-bowl cleaner, her body and other items were covered in motor oil, her bed had been stripped, a blanket was partially burned and her soaked comforter was found in the bathtub. Johnson engaged in a number of suspicious activities after the murder. As a man who was incarcerated and released but not convicted, Fair left jail without the support and resources typically offered to exonerated people or parolees, such as job support and mental health services. Host Matthew Shaer and and reporter Eric Benson go to the scene of the crime in an effort to discover if police identified the right suspect. Her arm and a blanket also were partially burned and her comforter was soaking in a bathtub. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Some of the potential suspects were not interviewed. To pass time, he said he read books, wrote letters and drew pictures. Maybe they realized only at the last minute that they should get rid of the sheets and empty oil bottle and without anyone seeing them do it? I lost a lot. His lawyers said the ordeal has permanently damaged Fairs reputation, his emotional well-being, livelihood and relationships. I may be misremembering but I seem to remember there being explanations for Fairs DNA on those items? Residents said Fair appeared relaxed when he hung out at Potts apartment for three days over the weekend. At one time, Emanuel Fair was the longest-serving inmate in the King County Jail, spending nine years behind bars without being convicted of a crime. There was DNA from 2-3 males found at the crime scene. Ive been away for so long, I dont believe in holidays no more, he said. The lawsuit says that Johnson also had a past of strange or violent behavior with women. Everyone seemed to have a good time, the lawsuit alleges. Jinaga, a 24-year-old software engineer from India, had attended Rutgers University, won an international software award and was a rising star at the Bellevue company where she worked. And thats hard.. In addition, several neighbors in the complex told investigators that he had a sexual attraction to Jinaga, and he exhibited jealous behavior when she talked to other men at the Halloween party that night. Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. In a 2020 interview, one of the prosecutors said Fair looked like the best suspect because his DNA was found on objects specifically related to the murder, not the aftermath. At approximately 8 am, Jinaga's next-door neighbor Kyle Rose, was awakened by sounds coming from her apartment. Detectives also found a trace of his DNA on the front of Jinagas neck that was so small that it had to be sent to a specialized lab for review. Fairs DNA was found on Jinagas robe and a roll of duct tape that was likely used to tape her underwear inside her mouth like a gag. So its kind of messed up. Shed been gagged, beaten and strangled during an apparent sexual attack. A new true-crime podcast from Campside Media and Wondery delves into the brutal unsolved murder nearly 13 years and two trials later. -, Press J to jump to the feed. Johnson said he heard moaning sounds coming from Jinagas apartment around 3 a.m., and he assumed she was having sex. Do we know from the OP that it would have been obvious? Another apartment complex resident committed suicide just days after Jinagas death, and his DNA was reportedly never compared to the crime scene. Around 3 a.m. on Nov. 1, Jinaga left a gathering in a ground-floor apartment and returned to her apartment on the third floor. Photo: King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, 'Dr. I hope I never have to investigate a case like this again.. Her apartment was decorated as a haunted forest, one of four themed areas at the Valley View that would welcome visitors for the Halloween party, which spanned multiple units in the complex. He replied: If youve done it before, youll do it again.. Fair, the second-longest-serving inmate in the downtown Seattle facility after being booked into jail in November 2010, was released Tuesday afternoon, three hours after the jury delivered its not-guilty verdict, according to a jail spokeswoman. It's obvious why Fair is the number one suspect. Around 1am, Fair visited Jinaga's apartment to eat pizza. They also waited days to search a dumpster in the complex where a partial bottle of motor oil, a boot lace used to strangle Jinaga and her bed sheet and a bath robe were found. Cameron should have been the #1 suspect. They also want him to be reimbursed for the attorney fees he incurred while fighting the charges. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. Unidentified male DNA was also found on a bruise on Jinagas wrist. To contaminate evidence, Jinagas hands had been doused in blue toilet-bowl cleaner and her body covered in motor oil. He also successfully represented himself in a legal claim for an injury he sustained from handcuffs, receiving a $25,000 settlement from King County in 2017. Emanuel Fair: He was not a resident, but he was staying in the apartment of Leslie Potts. I always knew I was going to get out; I just didnt think it would take as a long as it took, Fair, 38, said last month. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A suspect is identified, arrested, and convicted, but this morphed into a greater mystery when journalists began investigating the case years later. The man was the last person to call her the night she was killed, he tried to destroy evidence of the calls, and he attempted to go to Canada after the homicide but was turned away, he said. Most of the partygoers reportedly referred to the chocolate-skinned man as the Black guy in his police file. Fairs 23-page complaint, filed last month by his attorney, Ryan Dreveskracht, contends police and prosecutors botched the probe and wrongly targeted him because he was a Black man with a criminal record, despite evidence implicating Jinagas then-neighbor, who is white. According to court records and Chief Criminal Deputy Mark Larson, prosecutors were barred from arguing that Fair and the neighbor were both involved in Jinagas killing because there wasnt evidence to support the states theory the men acted as accomplices. Emanuel, his family, and friends ask for privacy, as he works to rebuild his life, wrote Goldsmith. Jinagas bruised body was discovered covered with a cloth on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. Not sure if there would be any visible damages. Johnson said he heard moaning sounds coming from Jinagas apartment around 3 a.m., and he assumed she was having sex. The neighbor initially neglected to tell detectives about phone calls he made to Jinaga at 3 a.m. Later on the morning of her slaying, he drove to the Canadian border and attempted to cross it without a passport but was denied entry. He assumed Jinaga was either vomiting or having sex. Court files said there were also burn marks from an attempt to set the body or apartment on fire. Its just another day. Were they old friends? Redmond Police have found no "firm suspects" in the brutal murder of Arpana Jinaga, a 24-year-old software engineer who was . Arpana Jinaga Unresolved Arpana Jinaga In October of 2008, a 24-year-old computer programmer living in the Seattle area would attend a Halloween party in her apartment complex. Investigators said the lower half of the womans body was covered in motor oil. Woman Found Dead in Park Charged with Murder, Honors Student, 17, Killed After Offering Teenagers a Ride: 'Thought He Was Doing the Right Thing', Cold Cases Heat Up: How Advances in DNA Technology Are Helping to Bring Justice for Victims, A Man Who Died by Suicide After Being Questioned About 1994 Murder Has Been Identified as the Alleged Killer, More Than 15 Years After Madeleine McCann's Disappearance, Questions Remain Unanswered: 5 Things to Know, Accident or Murder? This is weird. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. She had been brutally beaten, raped, and strangled. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. Fairs lawsuit includes many of the same facts that his public defender, Ben Goldsmith, used to poke holes in the prosecutions criminal case. He replied: If youve done it before, youll do it again.. According to court documents, Johnson called Jinaga around 3 a.m. but did not mention that to the police during his interview. To just dismiss it as racism is ridiculous. In it, Ehlert stood firmly by the prosecuting teams decisions. To get in one of those cheap hollow core doors (if thats what the apartment had) by kicking, you dont need to kick a hole through, just knock it out of the lock. During the party, [Fair] was accidentally hit in the mouth and had a bloody lip, so he used a tissue in Ms. Jinagas apartment; he likely used her bathroom during the party where her robe hung; he may have touched the duct tape holding decorations during the party; and photographs show he touched Ms. Jinaga and others while posing during the party. The defense also explained the innocuous opportunities Mr. Fair had to touch or indirectly transfer microscopic skin cells to these items during the party. He scrubbed his phone after questioned about the call and could easily have hung around and taken time to clean her apartment/scrub the crime scene because their apartments shared a balcony and him taking out trash wouldn't strike anyone as weird or noticeable. His first trial, in 2017, ended in a hung jury because one juror said Fair looked like a thug with tattoos on his hands. The jury in the second trial acquitted him.