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. When Andrew was told of the location of his young family's remains, he offered investigators a lead. Four hours is a long time between Andrew getting home from work and calling the police. I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. Until next time, cheers. 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. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals the PCRA court's dismissal of her fourth PCRA petition as untimely filed. Murder victim. The Free Patricia Rorrer page responds to comments from supporters (How is this even possible that this woman is still in jail?!? Every time you take your infant to the Dr., they take measurements, so I'm wondering if records exist that show the baby was always in the higher percentile, or if he was say, 60-70th percentile, then suddenly BAM! Patricia and her husband broke up after the babys death. By the mid-1990s, Patricia was known for being both warm and caring as well as aggressive and loud. Therefore, today, in her late 50s, Patricia is imprisoned at the maximum-security State Correctional Institution Muncy in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. 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. The episode indicated that Andrew Katrinak informed police that Patricia Rorrer had made the phone call to his home three days before Joann's disappearance. . I dont think she was ever scared until we put the cuffs on her.. Patricias marriage fell apart, and she returned to Pennsylvania, where she fell in love with Andrew Andy Katrinak after meeting him at a restaurant. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence testing may be the key to proving her innocence. Pal stays true. The organization purports that if there were awards for distorted reporting, the Morning Callwould win high honors.. The authorities charged her with two counts of murder. Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. 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. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. (McIntyre said that Egan ignored Traupman because he was a nut who said that the man he saw arguing with the woman in a car was Hispanic but wearing a fake mustache and a toupee. Strands of the accuseds dyed-blond hair at two crime scenes proved it. Traupman died in 2016. She did buy a .22 before. 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. In November 2005, she shoots Keith in the head while he . She just stayed in touch with everybody, Kathy Barber said in her interview on NBCs Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports in 2017. (180) 2017 13+. Right now she has no attorney and your generous donation will fund our mission. She does not have a lawyer, her last lawyer was sued by the prosecutor. Tue, Sep 27, 2022 60 mins. Its proximity to the stable she'd managed made an undeniable association to her. That's absolutely ridiculous, yet that is the only motive ever given for why I supposedly committed this crime. Sad discovery. But the Wrong Man team brought in their own experts to review the detailed information on the corpses. (Disclaimer: Im not a big fan of eyewitnesses who come forward years after the fact, but its possible). Tribute Archive 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. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. Part 1. But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. Chapter 1. However, prosecutors contended that Patricia attacked Joann and Alex because she wanted to reconcile with her ex, and his wife had hung up the phone on her when shed called in December 1994. 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. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Plus, two men, her babys father and his friend, testified they saw Patricia at the line-dancing club the night of the homicide. 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? Combination locks. This was further disproved when her bank reported there'd been no activity on Joann's credit cards since her disappearance. Patricias professional life included short-lived gigs as a Century 21 real estate agent and an Oldsmobile salesperson. Testimony from Walter Blalock contradicted Patricias claim that she never had a gun. Trash-talking ex. Jury Rejects Alibi, Finds Rorrer Guilty In Double Kidnapping-murder Case Woman found guilty in Lehigh Slayings Convicted murderer seeks new DNA tests in '94 murder case. As noted earlier, there was hair found in the victims hand, fingernail fragments found on her body, and also a cigarette butt. (We didnt get into the specifics.). She was thus sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an added 10-20 years for the kidnapping charges, to be served consecutively. After watching the latest Starz episode of Wrong Man (a great investigative show), I started thinking about the Patricia Rorrer case again. Somebody has to. In a million years, she wouldnt do anything to harm that.. It's been more than 20 years since Patricia Rorrer was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend . Patricia had won a prize at an out-of-state horse-riding competition less than two weeks before the murders, and she allowed herself to be photographed. She failed miserably to convince me, or anyone else who mattered, of her innocence. I really never thought of it again.. Better Call Saul Season 6 Episode 7: Finale Release Time and Season Recap, Tiger King Earned 34 Million Viewers in First 10 Days, Shazam! 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. Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping. Two of the seasons three cases will feature female inmates. She had a suitcase packed, Devine said. A closer examination of the hairs showed traces of dried blood. Friends and family began looking for Joann and Alex. At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. Joe Berlingers documentary series Wrong Man shows what long form documentary journalism can achieve. The two-hour special, called Murder in the Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates, will premiere at 8 p.m. and air again at 11 p.m. Sunday night. We work hard to help with things that can not be accomplished in prison. 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. In addition to her . It showed her usually all-brown hair haphazardly highlighted blond. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Not gender neutral. Detective Barry Grube found it odd that Andrew fixed the severed phone line before police examined it in essence tampering with evidence. (A good point. Patricia has been wrongfully convicted of murdering Joann and Alex Katrinak in 1994. 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. She was born on Jan. 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania and moved back and forth between there and Davidson County, North Carolina. A medical examiner said it was impossible for the two bodies to have been in that wooded area for 4 months (December to April when they were found). Success! It's shocking to think that Patricia Rorrer, being a mother, could end the life of an infant. Success! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc. 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. She said that shes no fan of Forensic Files and that the show had many misrepresentations about her case and that shed heard ForensicFilesNow.com mixed up some facts as well. When I gave samples of my hair, the doctor took a total of 39 hairs, but only 35 can be accounted for. Because when she did, she quickly began to realize that there was a lot more to the story than the public ever knew. It seems likely these bodies were dumped here months after initially thought, not killed the day they were kidnapped. In North Carolina, she reportedly enjoyed some success as a horse trader, riding instructor, and rodeo competitor. 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. Cop defends accused. They allege that the North Carolina resident stealthily drove 500 miles to Pennsylvania and killed out of a sense of deadly indignation. In February 2008, Patricia Taylor Allanson, age 70, was arrested and charged with doctor shopping for thousands of pain pills over the past year. He was sentenced to death after being convicted of the brutal torture and murder of a young babysitter named Linda Rodgers in 1984 in Santa Ana, California. More: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/convenient-suspect-a-wrongful-conviction-in-the-murder-in-lehigh-valley. Patricia denied owning a .22 caliber pistol (the type of gun used to kill Joann). She fought for her life and had defensive wounds including a broken nose and a broken finger. This was my thought (I'm behind and just caught the 2nd half yesterday). 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. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. His team includes renowned civil rights attorney Ron Kuby, former prosecutor Sue-Ann Robinson, retired NCIS investigator Joe Kennedy, and Ira Todd of Detroits elite Homicide Task Force. Movies/Documentaries Murder in Lehigh Valley Forensic Files: A Woman Scorned Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters. Andrew's second look in and around their home revealed some disturbing clues. 1 talking about this. 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. Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. They returned with a guilty verdict and a sentence of two life terms. DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. 6-10. But "Wrong Man" investigators discover that there is . They would have been held alive. 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. further reading: True Detective Season 3 and the West Memphis Three. As for Joanns parents, her father died a year after the murder. It all gave jurors a lot to think about but only for six hours. Joe Kennedys talks to Michael Brinkle, Patricia Rorrer's former neighbor who reaffirms that he had sold her a .22 Jennings handgun. And Patricia wasnt all edges. Copyright 2021 Patricia Rorrer - All Rights Reserved. He said she did own a firearm, with its serial numbers filed off. Tragedy also touched Patricias life. Other defense claims and recent updates include: Two separate witnesses claim to have seen an unhappy Joann with a man on the day of her disappearance. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. Berlingers landmark HBO documentary Paradise Lost Trilogy helped lead to the release of the wrongfully convicted West Memphis Three after 18 years of incarceration. Wish me luck! 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. During that call, Joann apparently grabbed the phone and told Patricia never to phone her husband again. For example, the weight of each organ was listed, it was clear they were not very decomposed. 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. 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 . 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. Also Rorrer had a history of run-ins with the law, including being charged with breaking and entering. Sad part is this could be your mother, father, kids, all love ones and friends! Her mother, Patricia Chambers, provided day care for their baby son, Charles. Berlingers recently directed Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, and the feature film on the infamous serial killer, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, for Netflix. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. 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. Rorrer was tried and convicted in 1994 for the brutal killing of Katrinak and her three-month-old son. Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. They even lived together for about two years before parting ways for good. Stable situation. But defense lawyer Robert Pfeiffer said that plenty of evidence supported Patricias innocence. It's not often there's a laundry list of clear signals, but it's fun to iterate them when there are so many. Joann had been shot once and then bludgeoned in the head. One she was at a tanning salon. An exterior door to their basement had been wrenched open, the lock hasp's screws literally ripped from the wall. However, a former boyfriend stated that she did own a .22 caliber chrome-plated semi-automatic weapon. 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. As for an epilogue on ex-flame Andrew Katrinak, he has moved to Colorado and kept a low profile since the trial ended. Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? Season 9 aired from August 7, 2015, to November 6, 2015. While the police are still investigating the murder of your wife and child? Joann Katrinak and her infant son were brutally murdered. 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 was arrested in North Carolina in June of 1997. Murder victim. But Patricia had moved from Pennsylvania years ago, and she'd started her own family in North Carolina. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. Joann had been shot in the face and badly beaten. For one thing, her mother never asked Sandra Ireland to hide the gun, and she retrieved it on the way home the next day she worked as a bus driver and couldnt take it with her to school. But if that's the main evidence against her, it seems awfully weak. The defense called into question both the motive and the shaky DNA hair evidence at the time. When it was only able to fire once, Rorrer had to resort to bludgeoning her victim. I knew when Andy got married and I was happy for him. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. You have permission to edit this article. In 2015, an outside source, through a freedom of information act request, received an FBI . The killer was Patricia Rorrer, the jealous ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband, Andrew. And their phone line had been cut someone had not wanted the Katrinaks to be able to call for help. Highly charged case. Episode Info. She seemed like quite an unlikely suspect at least at first. EPISODE 1. Traupman claimed that when he reported the dispute, trooper Robert V. Egan III got mad and practically kicked him out of his office. The case rocked Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and resulted in the conviction of Patricia Rorrer, now 53, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinak's husband. Probable cause of death: exposure. Kidnapped and killed? . 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). Since then our team has proven that Patricia is innocent. Decades-old Lehigh Valley murder case back in national spotlight, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Police treated Joann's car as a potential crime scene, and their investigation turned up several blonde hairs on the head rest. Great catch. For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. Pat Rorrer received a sentence of life imprisonment for her crime. Patricia was . Some lawyers call microscopic hair analysis junk science that today wouldnt qualify as evidence in a trial like Rorrers. State police and the Philadelphia division of the FBI appealed to the public for leads. Here is the link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc, 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. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. 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. 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. 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. After retracing the prosecutor's claim of Patricia breaking into the basement door, private investigators found it highly unlikely someone like Patricia would have all the tools and know-how to unscrew all the bolts and then navigate through a very long, confusing dark basement to cut a phone line. Those who knew Joann pointed out that she didnt like to drive in reverse and would have never parked that way. Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. Really? This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. Mizgerd said she acts as Patricia Rorrer's spiritual advisor and often visits her in prison. They also found a photo of Patricia taken 11 days before the homicide. Docket at pp. 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? Some who still believe in Patricia Rorrer's innocence say it was long enough for him to stage the scene. Prosecutor pounds away. Joanne and baby Alex Katrinak kidnapping and murder by Patricia Rorrer. Patricia Rorrer being escorted by the police | Photo Credits: People Magazine. I'm sure that I'm missing a lot of details here (please add in the comments) but everything seems far too convenient and circumstantial. After her arraignment, she had to walk past a crowd of dozens of locals screeching hang her! and baby killer! Patricia clung to a Polaroid picture showing her and her own little girl. 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. Meanwhile, the case of the missing mother and baby turned into colossal news across the U.S. and internationally. Phil and Rell will be released on Monday, as well as Leroy Cotton and Jimmy Jackson. 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). 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. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. The farmer's remote field bordered an isolated horseback riding trail. Her alibi about going to the club, called Cowboys Nitelife, got fuzzy when investigators discovered she hadnt signed the guest book on that day.