And, I was quite angry with the police, that they accused Andy. Regard a similar case where too much detail signaled investigators to look closer at their suspect in Bagging a Killer (s06e25). 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. Patricia's friends claimed that she was not "stalking" Andy and had fully moved on with her life (new boyfriend, new city, a long time ago etc.). More: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/convenient-suspect-a-wrongful-conviction-in-the-murder-in-lehigh-valley. 0. This proves that whatever hair root was DNA tested and matched to me could not have been one of the hairs taken from Joann's car. The missing items included Joann's purse, car, both her and Alex's winter jackets, and the diaper bag. Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. An exterior door to their basement had been wrenched open, the lock hasp's screws literally ripped from the wall. Share Memories & Support the Family. With 400 (and 6) episodes, this progress bar indicates my progress toward finishing all of them. Also she worked as a realtor so it's not that unreasonable for her to know which line to cut. They would have been held alive. Wouldn't he have tried to call his mother recall it was with her Joann had planned to go Christmas shopping. You have permission to edit this article. Mizgerd said she acts as Patricia Rorrer's spiritual advisor and often visits her in prison. Wish me luck! After Tapp served nearly 21 years of his sentence, the real killer was finally found through forensic genealogy, according to Time. She intends to file a motion for a new trial. 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. Also Rorrer had a history of run-ins with the law, including being charged with breaking and entering. after the fact. She seemed like quite an unlikely suspect at least at first. An early childhood introd By the mid-1990s, Patricia was known for being both warm and caring as well as aggressive and loud. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Thats all for this post. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates Season 1 had a tangible impact on all three cases that were examined. It certainly tugged at our heartstrings, you know, it brought a tear to my eye. FILED DECEMBER 13, 2013 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals from the order entered in the . His father confirmed his alibi that they were doing construction work together, putting an addition on the house of friends Tom and Kathy Holschwander, at the time of Joanns disappearance. The six-episode documentary series examines the cases of three different inmates who are serving life sentences on murder convictions but who claim innocence. Exactly one week after Joann and Alex went missing, the FBI interviewed me at my mother's house. Once, when a gun-wielding farmer and his buddy caught Patricia and Gary riding motorcycles on his field, Patricia walked up and got in their faces and argued, Gary recalled to the Morning Call. She just stayed in touch with everybody, Kathy Barber said in her interview on NBCs Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports in 2017. The indications of Patricia's involvement in Joann's and young Alex's disappearance were numerous. 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. 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. I wonder if any of Alex's pediatrician records still exist after all this time. Wrong Man investigators interrogated a confidential informant, the main witness against Evaristo Salas, and he recanted his testimony. He recalls that Patty also had an alibi. Because when she did, she quickly began to realize that there was a lot more to the story than the public ever knew. She needs to be freed! New state, new man. We need to know who killed them! She is sitting in Muncey Women's Correctional Facility for over 23 years now for something. That hang-up, they said, was the last straw. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Born on January 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania, Patricia Rorrer spent most of her life going back and forth between the Keystone State and North Carolina. It seems strange that Patricia would just pick up and drive 500 miles to see and ex-boyfriend from years ago on a whim, leaving her own one-year-old daughter at home in North Carolina. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. Chris and Fatima investigate the case of Patricia Rorrer, who is in prison for brutally murdering her former boyfriend's wife and baby out of spite; her lawyers claim that she was . Unseasonably warm weather in late December suggested that the victims were there since they were killed. It was a pretty big deal, and i was excited enough to call everyone I knew. Rorrer and Andrew broke off their . Neely said the first officer on the scene didn't believe Rorrer committed the crime. 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. 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. But if that's the main evidence against her, it seems awfully weak. This was part of Rorrer's defense strategy it seemed like an unrealistic motive to commit murder. This is crazy. Free Patricia Rorrer - Facebook Patricia Rorrer Brutal Killing of Joanne Katrinak & Baby - FFF Please read her story. By that time, we had both moved on and I had no romantic feelings for him. ir.library.oregonstate.edu Patricia demonstrated a consistent habit of long-distance calls from home, then had an obvious gap while claiming she. Decades-old Lehigh Valley murder case back in national spotlight, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. Brad Jackson was able to describe what his daughter Valiree was wearing in incredible detail, down to the color of her socks. Meanwhile, interest in Patricias plight continues on social media. They allege that the North Carolina resident stealthily drove 500 miles to Pennsylvania and killed out of a sense of deadly indignation. It's sad looking back at those Forensic Files episodes where the science was junk but they portray it as a solid case. Some lawyers call microscopic hair analysis junk science that today wouldnt qualify as evidence in a trial like Rorrers. Patricia defaulted on her mortgage and then returned to North Carolina, where she eventually moved in with a boyfriend named Brian Ward. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . The couple moved into Andrews sturdy brick house at 740 Front Street in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Book her. She was a real estate agent, a salesperson, and an equestrian, but she also had a rap sheet that included a 12-month probation sentence for shoplifting from a North Carolina Walmart. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? The investigation that led to her identification and then turned up enough evidence to arrest and convict Patricia Rorrer was interesting. He would be alive today if it were not for Patricia Rorrer. The mild-mannered Sarah died in 2019 at the age of 83. Wrong Man takes viewers on real-time investigations to uncover new evidence, track down key witnesses, consult forensic experts, and interrogate the incarcerated. After the first season, the Supreme Court overturned the murder conviction of Curtis Flowers, who had been tried six times by nearly all-white juries; Christopher Tapp was exonerated from rape and murder charges after serving 20 years of a 30-year sentence; Evaristo Salas will go to into a new trial represented by a pro bono lawyer. They moved into her house in Salisbury County, staying together for about two years. I'm not sure to what extent it was brought up in the original trial. Andy also failed at least 2 lie detector tests, and before an arrest was made in the murders, moved almost all the way across the country without telling the police. So much in this case, and every time she appeals with new evidence she is denied. In addition to her . Posted: June 22, 2022 It's not often there's a laundry list of clear signals, but it's fun to iterate them when there are so many. Learn more about our upcoming events, fundraisers, and more! This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. ", "I can remember till this day, seeing that infant being lifted off the abdomen of his mother. In the Katrinak case, they did new (at the time) DNA testing to match the hairs found in the car to Patricia. Until next time, cheers. Find a typo or issue with the details of this case? In his dissenting opinion, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas acknowledged the case might not have even been heard by the Supreme Court had it not been for the media that reinvestigated it. Angry that Joann hung up on her, she stalked her for three days, then broke into her basement and cut the phone line, put a gun to Joanns head as she was placing Alex in the car, and forced her to drive to the rural area. Oscar-nominated and Emmywinning director Berlinger (Paradise Lost, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes), a leading voice in non-fiction film and television for over two decades, returns to keep checks on the criminal justice system. Two-Part Special Premieres Sunday, March 5 at 8/7c; Features Exclusive First-Ever Interview with Inmate Patricia Rorrer (Silver Spring, Md.) Watch Wrong Man - S2:E204 Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope (2020 And she would just call out of the blue., According to the Free Patricia Rorrer page on Facebook:I called him to let him know that I was going to the USA finals for a horse show. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. McItyre said this is hearsay and the officer has refuted everything in an affidavit. In 2015, the type of hair DNA science used was finally admitted to be junk by the FBI and incorrect in 96% of cases. It was later believed that his recollection was keen, since he'd been the one to dress her posthumously. Died along with his mother, Joann, as a victim of his father's jealous ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer. Patricia Rorrer is found guilty of the abduction and murder of Joann Katrinak and her infant son, Alex. These hairs being found in the otherwise cleaned car was also odd. She fought for her life and had defensive wounds including a broken nose and a broken finger. Incriminating words. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. If you like our work please subscribe to our second channel The History Chronicles https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChroniclesFor early access. 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. Patricia Rorrer (right) is led to her hearing in Lehigh County Courthouse Wednesday morning, August 26, 1998 by a sheriff's deputy, at left. Weak wages. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The prosecution alleged that Patricia called the Katrinaks house from a pay phone in Pennsylvania. Counsel for Patricia Rorrer, 52, . "The issues that we are presenting are not speculative at all," Neely said. At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. 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. There is still an appeal coming up (I believe) but everything else has failed so far to get Patricia another trial. 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. I think it would really require comparison with his pediatric medical records to determine if the head circumference is relevant. 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. 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. She got 12 months of probation for shoplifting at a Walmart in Lexington, North Carolina. In a million years, she wouldnt do anything to harm that.. Cop defends accused. 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. 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? 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? Thank you for reading, please use the links, and watch all the videos. SearchWorks catalog Convicted killer Patricia Rorrer is asking for new DNA tests in the 13-year-old murder case of her former boyfriend's wife and child. I know I did not commit these murders and they need to get justice for Joann and Alex too. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. 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. And yikes, he discovered someone had cut one of the houses phone lines and pried the hinge on the basement door. 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. 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. 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. Andrew told investigators that the unpleasant phone call between Joann and Patricia happened just three days before his wifes disappearance. . 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 also communicated with Patricia via email to get her input on some matters. There was at least one hair strand that contained enough skin tissue for a nuclear DNA match and it corroborated the mitochondrial match. Wow this episode was featured on Forensic Files.