When Andy Katrinak comes home to find his wife and infant son gone, he summons the police and tells them he believes they have been abducted, and he suspects his ex-girlfriend Patty Rorrer m 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. Prosecutor pounds away. At the states request, the instructor wore a wire during a phone conversation with Patricia. Charged with two counts of capital murder and two counts of kidnapping, Patricia Rorrer was quickly tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The couple moved into Andrews sturdy brick house at 740 Front Street in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Detective Barry Grube found it odd that Andrew fixed the severed phone line before police examined it in essence tampering with evidence. http://starz.tv/FB Self - Retired Detective Sergeant Homicide Investigator Birmingham AL Police Dept. 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. Photo by: Donna Fisher/Allentown Morning Call/TNS via Getty Image, Donna Fisher/Allentown Morning Call/TNS via Getty Image. Lehigh County Deputies escort accused murderer Patricia Rorrer, as she arrives for the beginning of her trial at the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown, on Friday, Feb. 6, 1998. Smith will face charges for allegedly killing her husband, Antione Smith. Then 31 years old, she had lived a rocky existence. While baby Alexs cause of death has never been determined, Joann had been severely beaten and shot. ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. Back in March of 2017, Investigation Discovery ran Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates which questioned the conviction of Patricia Rorrer for the brutal double murders of Joann Katrinak and her infant son, Alex. 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. 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. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. Joann Katrinaks Killer Still Has Innocence Advocates(A Woman Scorned, Forensic Files). But a child eyewitness told police that he had seen a white man kill her. Combination locks. Traupman claimed that when he reported the dispute, trooper Robert V. Egan III got mad and practically kicked him out of his office. After Joann Katrinak, the wife of Patricia's former flame, turned up dead along . Puny policy. Patricias defenders also say Andrew Katrinak staged the scene at his house by prying the door and cutting the phone line. Uncover shocking new evidence in Patricia Rorrer's case with a new episode of #WrongMan, now on the STARZ App. Everything from compromised crime scenes and contaminated evidence, to suspects who were never cleared, witness statements that were withheld from the defense, and crucial evidence that was simply dismissed and ignored has cast doubt on Rorrers guilt and led to a number of unanswered questions. Incriminating words. 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Its definitely getting rougher every day, Andrew told the Morning Call. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Superior Court states that all 6 seatback hairs AND the cigarette butt were nuclear DNA tested and matched to Rorrer. Tillman disappeared in from New York City when he was only 14 years old. The case rocked Pennsylvanias Lehigh Valley and resulted in the conviction of Patricia Rorrer, now 53, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinaks husband. 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. 2 0 obj The prosecution alleged that Patricia called the Katrinaks house from a pay phone in Pennsylvania. In North Carolina, she reportedly enjoyed some success as a horse trader, riding instructor, and rodeo competitor. 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Authorities confirm former fugitive, Leticia Smith was extradited from Mexico to California. For more information, visit: http://www.peacockproductions.tv/. Back in March of 2017, Investigation Discovery ran Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates which questioned the conviction of Patricia Rorrer for the brutal double murders of Joann Katrinak and her infant son, Alex. The prosecutor in this case is so vehemently determined she is guilty that at the end of the day, you are reeling. She failed miserably to convince me, or anyone else who mattered, of her innocence. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Why did they refuse to conduct DNA testing on a cigarette butt found with the bodies? It is one of those completely addictive tales where theres so much that just points in both directions, Morrison tells PEOPLE. She was born on Jan. 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania and moved back and forth between there and Davidson County, North Carolina. Young mother Michelle OConnell died under suspicious circumstances while at the house of herboyfriend, who was serving as a sheriff'sdeputy at the time. MURDER IN LEHIGH VALLEY: KEITH MORRISON INVESTIGATES is produced for Investigation Discovery by NBC News Peacock Productions with executive producers Elizabeth Fischer and Knute Walker, senior producer Kimberley Ferdinando and the president and general manager of Peacock Productions, Sharon Scott. Yet, everything changed when they lost their 3-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Related: Convenient Suspect: A Wrongful Conviction In The Murder In Lehigh Valley? Police identified the pair as Joann and Alex Katrinak. One on one? Four months later, however, when the brutally murdered bodies of Joann and Alex were discovered lying in a lonely patch of woods, the police would focus their suspicion on an entirely different suspect; 31-year-old Patricia Rorrer (top, main photo) Andy Katrinaks ex-girlfriend. Does he think Rorrer is a killer or a victim of a miscarriage of justice? Starting at. Forensic tests suggested the hair found in the car and at the murder scene came from Patricia. Error! Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. wG@F3 hJ`F@S/ $wyqOs[q5LYqC?.qp(8'&(QZ)]+YLt% YYySj;f4YwfjX_&W5g5z6,^bU)>XUPLh-TxP #. 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. It showed her usually all-brown hair haphazardly highlighted blond. 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. Katrinak's husband's ex-girlfriend was convicted of the crime, but now there's a possibility the case could be reopened. ID has joined forces with Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison to revisit a 1994 double-murder that rattled Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Patricia Rorrer sits in prison for murdering her ex-boyfriend's wife and baby, but her supporters say she wasn't even in the same state at the time of the crime. But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. 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. Meanwhile, the case of the missing mother and baby turned into colossal news across the U.S. and internationally. Plus: Dead Louisiana woman found fused to sofa; JonBent Ramseys father seeks governors help with DNA testing; Australian man incarcerated for killing gay American in 1988; and Pennsylvania mother shoots her two boys in the head. It is similar to Making a Murderer it just makes you want to learn more.. 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. 4 0 obj Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Ch Read allPatricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. Investigators in Nashville, Tennessee are looking for help identifying a young female found deceased in 2018. A nail that does. Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. Read more: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Patricia Lynne Rorrer. The phone wire was located at the opposite end of the basement, which was dark. Both sides agree Joann hung up on Patricia. But it wasnt until the police linked Rorrer to the crime through a DNA match between her and a hair recovered from Joanns car that they finally had enough to arrest her. Not gender neutral. Donna Fisher/Allentown Morning Call/TNS via Getty, Arrests Made in Connection with Deadly Druggings at N.Y.C. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. $8.99/mo. 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. American Catherine Serou sent her mother a text that read, I hope Im not being abducted.. )J?VmVcU4/+xn!U^,lKk*MKKHiT66# This is an incendiary case that continues to provoke passion on both sides, said Morrison. After more than 20 years, questions are finally being raised about the many problems that plague this case, and the compelling evidence that points to the wrongful conviction of Patricia Rorrer. Highly charged case. Her brother returned home but she never did. How can this happen? Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. That's according to Craig Neely, who worked on the case for years as the defense attorney. Tammy Mal is a true-crime writer whos written for True Detective Magazine and Absolute Crime Publishing. She beat Katrinak, shot her and left her and her baby for dead in the woods in Heidelberg Township. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. Sundays special is the first of at least two Morrison is working on with Investigation Discovery, who he says have given me unlimited freedom to look into cases that interest me.. 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. App of the Day: Poolsuite FM, What the Tech? Neely said once state police started to focus on Rorrer as a potential suspect, they went to North Carolina where she was living and they obtained a sample of her hair to compare to the ones found at the scene. After Patricia and Andrew broke up in 1990, she moved back to North Carolina but the two remained in touch through sporadic visits and phone calls. How would an intruder find it? 'Dateline NBC' Correspondent Keith Morrison Explores Claims of a If you know anything about their case, please call or text the "In Pursuit with John Walsh" hotline: 833-378-7783 (3-PURSUE). Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her.Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. They had a son, Alex Martin, in August of 1994. He said, "Frankly, I was appalled at what I saw. And Patricia wasnt all edges. They also found a photo of Patricia taken 11 days before the homicide. (We didnt get into the specifics.). Years later, conviction in Katrinak murder still raises questions She had dropped out of school at the age of 17 to marry her partner and subsequently worked long graveyard shifts at a textile factory to provide for their family. Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. '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. 8GNGn`s/daUnjx OgG^{|;\(l_K -^?g&"!#{ !]uH}tgx=qCB:xN_ bxxx>)MwG@&qG}S,JCWg4f4QU4tFcT*jNjMa/nR>3[i,?R|*Drx|`|Ov 1tsFIed?r?1 (RDFoy$yYIGpc u)O2g(A((g>Igl9H=hE;n&oA?dpXKQ0[_E/OYc[,}gQn-I/02Eis|(:.z\c;.3_|;*S}h ]~+1M She got 12 months of probation for shoplifting at a Walmart in Lexington, North Carolina. According to the prosecution it was enough to convict. Peacock Productions reaches more than 300 million people worldwide every year across broadcast, cable, syndication, and emerging platforms with its award-winning specials and series. 2023 Warner Bros. Legal Expert Weighs In, Suspect Arrested in Killings of Four University of Idaho Students, Back to the '90s: ID Specials Reexamine Decade that Launched True Crime Craze. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. Sir I would not kill somebody and I definitely wouldnt kill somebody I never met, Rorrer said. Prosecutors offered Patricia a plea deal that would take the death penalty off the table, but she declined. 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. Rorrer was convicted of murdering Joann Katrinak and her 3 month old son. On January 11, 2021, According to a Morning Call account from March 5, 1998: McIntyre leaned forward conspiratorially like someone trying to persuade another to tell a secret, lowered his voice and said: Heres what I want to know: After you killed Joann Katrinak, did you kill that baby or just leave it to die?. There are claims that the cigarette butt wasnt examined and that the hair strands had no roots (which contain the DNA), suggesting that nothing truly ties Patricia to the homicides. Man Arrested In Connection With Disappearance Of Woman Last Seen At Seattle Mariners Game, The Search Continues For Minnesota Mother After Her Suspicious Disappearance, A Person Of Interest And Reward Established In Search For Missing Mother Heather Mae Kelley, Mystery Remains After 13-Year-Old Girl Vanished From A Minnesota Gas Station In 1989, Maybe Someday Someone Will Break: Alabama Mother Searches For Daughter Who Vanished In 2010, An Alabama Woman Disappeared After Her Boyfriend Dropped Her Off At Home, Have You Seen Semaj Goodwine? Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. The Ex Files: Directed by Rob Rosen. Investigation Discovery on Twitter: "Patricia Rorrer sits in prison for Then, they explore who might actually have done t Spider-Man: No Way Home (Extended Version), TV-MA | 6 SEASONS | DRAMA, LITERARY/BOOK BASED, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. In 1994, a mother, Joann Katrinak, and her baby disappeared and their bodies were later found in Heidelberg Township. More than 20 years after her conviction, Patricia Rorrer still has advocates working to exonerate her. Advocates for her innocence complain of hype surrounding the case. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Ch Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. WATCH: ID Examines 1994 Lehigh Valley Double-Murder - People He said she did own a firearm, with its serial numbers filed off. Investigators initially keyed in on Katrinaks husband, Andrew, whod told police he thought someone broke into his house, cut the telephone line and abducted his wife and son. Neely said, "One document of, which I have right in front of me here specifically states that the hairs from the seat back that were looked at by the FBI did not have a hair root.". The case against Rorrer relied heavily on six hairs recovered from Joann Katrinaks car as well as two strands that were found where the bodies had been dumped. Free Patricia Rorrer - Facebook Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 34, damages homes, May Day: Worlds workers rally, France sees pension anger, FDIC recommends raising insured deposit limit for businesses, Biden, top lawmakers to discuss debt limit at WH May 9, What the Tech? Joann Katrinaks car was later found next door in the parking lot of a local tavern. She was sentenced to two life terms in prison without parole. Andrew Katrinak reported missing his wife, Joanne and 3.5-month-old son, Alex, in December 1994. Today, her attorney says not only was his client wrongfully convicted, but she was framed. She was always looking for a fight, Gary Gabard told the Morning Call, which noted that he was a head shorter than Patricia. Thats my life.. More hairs there. If Patricia drove it back from the murder scene after she shot Joann and then beat her to death, luminal would have lit up the interior. 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. Kenneth Clair, a homeless black man, is convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal murder of a babysitter in 1984. Where is Patricia Rorrer Now? - The Cinemaholic Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading mystery-and-suspense network on television. 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(Media sources vary as to whether she actually worked at the stable or just rented a stall there for her own horse.). As for the words exchanged on the call between the two big-haired women, Joann told Andrew that Patricia had used profanity; Patricia said it was the other way around. Still, no good leads materialized. '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. Pick up PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: Cases That Shocked America, on sale now, for the latest on Casey Anthony, JonBent Ramsey and more. On Alexs diaper bag, police found strands of the same type of hair from the car. (A good point. 3 0 obj 2023 Warner Bros. An infant was lying face down on her stomach. I was able to email with Patricia via the PrisonConnect platform around Christmastime. Medical examiners determined Katrinak had been beaten and shot. Investigators theorized that this action angered Patricia into a jealous rage that ended with abduction and murder. Flaw in reasoning. Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby. Conflicting versions. Was it just a mistake that one of the highest courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania got everything so wrong? Judge's Order Granting Discovery (pdf) Download. The state police dropped him as a suspect. 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. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. Men who murder are conventional, women are sensational, posits the Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network. Since then, Patricia has appealed her case and fought for exoneration, only to always be denied. Patricia Rorrer was wrongfully convicted of Murder. 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). She currently has an appeal pending in Pennsylvania Superior Court. PDF In the United States District Court for The Eastern District of From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries behind these real people, real stories, the always revealing network challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. As the husband and father, he seemed the logical suspect, and the police worked hard to build a case against him. 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. The person responsible, needs to be punished. These are but a brief sampling of the many errors and inaccuracies contained in Superior Courts opinion. Gay Bars, 1 Suspect Still at Large, Cold Cases Heat Up: How Advances in DNA Technology Are Helping to Bring Justice for Victims.

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