A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. Patricia Rorrer, an ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband, was found guilty of the crimes and sentenced to life in prison. We affirm. MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J. These hairs being found in the otherwise cleaned car was also odd. She claimed to be at a dance class in private club but her name was missing from the sign in sheet that night. 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. 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. In April 1995, the family buried Joann and Alex in a single bronze casket after a funeral mass at a Bethlehem church. Sad part is this could be your mother, father, kids, all love ones and friends! 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. Patricia has been wrongfully convicted of murdering Joann and Alex Katrinak in 1994. This was my thought (I'm behind and just caught the 2nd half yesterday). In a million years, she wouldnt do anything to harm that.. Ex-boyfriend Walter Blalock said that Patricia wanted him to be more like Andrew. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED OCTOBER 26, 2017 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals the PCRA court's dismissal of her . In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County. God Bless each of you. 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. Exactly one week after Joann and Alex went missing, the FBI interviewed me at my mother's house. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. 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. I think it would really require comparison with his pediatric medical records to determine if the head circumference is relevant. Joann and her 4-month-old son, Alex, were abducted from their home in Catasauqua, PA, and murdered in a rural wooded area near Germansville. The Morning Call Patricia is and has been fighting that she is innocent from the very beginning. So lets get going on the recap of the Forensic Files episode A Woman Scorned, along with extra information drawn from internet research: Joann Marie OConnor was born on Oct. 11, 1968, the youngest of Sarah and David OConnors four children. At the trial, prosecutor Michael McIntyre alleged that Patricia remained obsessed with Andrew Katrinak long after their breakup despite testimony that shed had many boyfriends and live-in lovers to occupy her bandwidth. 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.). Most convictions were procured through microscopic hair comparison which has been debunked as junk science today. Patricia Rorrer (PA) SCI Muncy OE2170 Life Without Parole DOB: January 24,1964. Tribute Archive Watch Wrong Man Season 2: Stream Full Episodes on STARZ The show is broadcast on truTV, narrated by Peter Thomas, and produced by Medstar Television, in association with truTV Original Productions.It has broadcast 406 episodes since its debut on TLC in 1996 as Medical Detectives. 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. In addition to her . Innocent nonprofit Wrongful Conviction. Patricia was . The Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Networks website also points to a bombshell: In 2015, the Justice Department acknowledged that most of the team members from an FBI microscopic hair comparison unit gave prosecutors flawed data from 1980 to 2000 that could have unjustly contributed to a number convictions including Patricia Rorrers. 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. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! But her reputation wasnt exactly sleek and shiny. He wanted to move to Colorado and she was against it.. Patricia demonstrated a habit of making almost daily, long-distance phone calls from her home in North Carolina. Leave a comment below, or contact us! Success! 3126 EDA 2012 Appeal from the PCRA Order October 11, 2012 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BOWES, J., LAZARUS, J., and WECHT, J. The defense called into question both the motive and the shaky DNA hair evidence at the time. At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. 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? Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Did investigators look for phone calls between Andrew and Patricia prior to December 11, 1994? Or identify other people in their lives who might have benefited from either the Katrinak's deaths or disappearance? 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. 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. Police converged on the scene and soon realized it was not only the remains of Joann Katrinak, but sadly of Alex too. On December 12, 1994, Joann answered a phone call from a woman shed never met, Patricia Rorrer, her husbands onetime girlfriend. FBI didn't follow up on Patricia's alibi for months (6 months?) Her newest book, Convenient Suspect, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2017 and recounts the murders of Joann and Alex Katrinak and the potential wrongful conviction of Patricia Rorrer. They theorized might've simply started a new life with another man, but this seemed absurd to everyone who knew Joann. But defense lawyer Robert Pfeiffer said that plenty of evidence supported Patricias innocence. I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. "Deadly Women" Green-Eyed Monsters (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? The police report misspells his name (Troutman) and doesnt include his address, suggesting authorities didnt want anyone to track him down, according to Patricias side. When I gave samples of my hair, the doctor took a total of 39 hairs, but only 35 can be accounted for. The main one of course was committing murder of a young woman and her infant son over an argument. Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby. Wouldn't he have tried to call his mother recall it was with her Joann had planned to go Christmas shopping. There was an error processing your request. But Patricia had moved from Pennsylvania years ago, and she'd started her own family in North Carolina. Where are the missing 4 hairs? This was part of Rorrer's defense strategy it seemed like an unrealistic motive to commit murder. No charmed life. Patricia Rorrer was a cold woman. In March of 1998, a jury returned two guilty verdicts against Patricia Rorrer for murder, and two more for kidnapping. . 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. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. 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?. However, her name was not on the sign-in list. Darla Carrington, Brian Charles, Robert Pezzeca, Patricia Rorrer . Where does one pick up flower petal in the dead of winter in PA.? Stable situation. Her book tells the truth and the real story of this case. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. Microsoft Apps Success! Psycho For Love: Patricia Rorrer killed her ex-boyfriend's new wife They also found a photo of Patricia taken 11 days before the homicide. 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. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. The past two owners of the gun's yards were dug up and many casings of the .22 were discovered. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. Police slowly built a case against Patricia. 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 killer was Patricia Rorrer, the jealous ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband, Andrew. But there was only one day in question, so it feels like Patricia might have been overselling her story. Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates 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. Documentary Sep 20, 2022 42 min iTunes. Plus, two men, her babys father and his friend, testified they saw Patricia at the line-dancing club the night of the homicide. WATCH: ID Examines 1994 Lehigh Valley Double-Murder - Peoplemag I would really recommend watching the Wrong Man 2-part episode. Dial-a-problem. Police identified the pair as Joann and Alex Katrinak. Patricia Allanson | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers 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. For more on the Katrinak murder case, you can watch Autopsy Six: A Fatal Attraction for free on YouTube. Further, an early FBI report said the hairs found in the car had no roots which contain the DNA suggesting an evidence switcheroo. 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. Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. The state made a case fueled by circumstantial evidence and public outrage over the deaths of a modern-day madonna and child. Why did the police not look into these things? I'm not sure to what extent it was brought up in the original trial. A second helping of justice will be served. Or was 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. I am humbly asking for your help to hire a lawyer and procure a fair trial. Since 2010, Tammy has been researching the 1994 Katrinak murders in Catasauqua. Our team of volunteers are committed to helping Patricia. 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. Its doors were locked, but the keys were inside the vehicle. 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. Patricia Rorrer's home phone record did not show her call to the Katrinak house three days prior to the kidnapping because she'd already made the trip to Pennsylvania to see Andrew. 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. The prosecution alleged that Patricia called the Katrinaks house from a pay phone in Pennsylvania. On closer inspection, he saw it was the body of a woman. Murder in Lehigh Valley Keith Morrison Investigates (1x120) In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. Its definitely getting rougher every day, Andrew told the Morning Call. Joanne and baby Alex Katrinak kidnapping and murder by Patricia Rorrer. His film Whitey: United States of America V. James J. Bulgeruncovered law enforcement corruption at the highest levels. Is to get Patricia a fair trial that will prove her innocence, and give justice to Joann and Alex who died a horrific death. Search is on. Sad discovery. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. Sir I would not kill somebody and I definitely wouldnt kill somebody I never met, Rorrer said. Cop defends accused. 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. Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope: 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. Nailed? It was a pretty big deal, and i was excited enough to call everyone I knew. Investigation Discovery is profiling the murder of Joann Katrinak and her infant son. We all need justice! '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. Rorrer claims the DNA evidence used to send . Charles Robert, the 3-month-old son she had with Gary Gabard, died of sudden infant death syndrome; Patricia found him blue in his crib. E 204 Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope. 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). A hearing on the issue got heated Tuesday. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. State law requires that patrons of the bar sign-in when they come to the bar. You couldnt fire a second shot. McItyre said this is hearsay and the officer has refuted everything in an affidavit. Image credit: Episode screen capture from Forensic Files. After all, one of the key pieces of evidence recovered from the crime scene and Joanns vehicle were dyed blonde hair strands. Catherine Howard - Fifth Wife of Henry VIII Documentary The same source indicates Patricia Rorrer has repeatedly appealed for a retrial and exoneration, but each request has been denied. McIntyre said he was accused of being the mastermind of a conspiracy to frame Rorrer. What about Joann's best friend, who told the producer's of Wrong Man that Joann was saving up money and planning to leave Andy right after the holidays? This is the hard part. During that call, Joann apparently grabbed the phone and told Patricia never to phone her husband again. Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. Season 1 had a tangible impact on all three cases that were examined. Rorrer was convicted of killing them four years later. EPISODE 1. 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. After watching the latest Starz episode of Wrong Man (a great investigative show), I started thinking about the Patricia Rorrer case again. ", "Everything is outrageous," he said. Tue, Sep 27, 2022 60 mins. Regard a similar case where too much detail signaled investigators to look closer at their suspect in Bagging a Killer (s06e25). The person responsible, needs to be punished. Criminal Division at No (s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. July 16, 1932 - September 10, 2020, Dr. Edward E. "Gene" Rorrer, Sr. passed away on September 10, 2020 in Abingdon, Virg. Man, this case was soooo shittily handled. Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list. For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. In June of 2016 Patricia Rorrer's petition for a new trial was been thrown out. In addition to the Facebook page, there are Reddit threads on her case. Crime 2017. Movies/Documentaries Murder in Lehigh Valley Forensic Files: A Woman Scorned Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters. 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. Rorrer Gets Life in Jail for Double Slaying * Jurors in The Katrinak More: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/convenient-suspect-a-wrongful-conviction-in-the-murder-in-lehigh-valley. Pal stays true. By the mid-1990s, Patricia was known for being both warm and caring as well as aggressive and loud. 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. Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope - YouTube Felix (Phil) Rosado and Terrell (Rell) Woolfolk-Carter, WELCOME HOME!!!!! Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. Criminals aren't always the smartest folks - this area highlights the common (and reoccurring) mistakes they make. Most of all, Patricia said, she would like a rematch with prosecutor Michael McIntyre. On a secret recording, Patricia asked Jarrett to vouch for her attendance or she might go to the electric char. Um why is that? An infant was lying face down on her stomach. At 10:30 p.m., Andrew reported his wife missing. 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. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. Louise Rorrer Bryant, age 79, of Fieldale, Va., passed away on May 15, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc. I cant lose them, he told the media. Mizgerd said she is convinced Rorrer is innocent. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. This is a list of notable female murderers whose name begins with the letter R. McIntyre said a conspiracy theory is preposterous and he's surprised Rorrer is making another attempt to get out of prison. Convicted murderer seeks new DNA tests in '94 murder case Walmart woe. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. She was also accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she owned. 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. . To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? Patricia Rorrer Brutal Killing of Joanne Katrinak & Baby - FFF Rorrer was tried and convicted in 1994 for the brutal killing of Katrinak and her three-month-old son. And why was my defense not provided with the "No Roots Attached" report which is exculpatory evidence, at trial.? Prosecutors said Rorrer beat Katrinak, shot her and left her and her baby for dead in the woods in Heidelberg Township. She did buy a .22 before. Joanne and Alex needs justice to! Joann Katrinaks Killer Still Has Innocence Advocates(A Woman Scorned, Forensic Files). Joann had been shot once and then beaten over the head (presumably because the gun used only shot once). That hang-up, they said, was the last straw. Green-Eyed Monsters: Directed by Kate Ryerson. Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. 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. State police and the Philadelphia division of the FBI appealed to the public for leads. When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. Was this on unsolved mysteries too? Later, they both worked 12-hour graveyard shifts at a textile factory. 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. "Wrong Man" Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope (TV Episode 2020 Or did they? And if nothing more, it certainly galvanized the law enforcement community and got us moving in the right direction. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. It was conceivable that Andrew believed they were still out. Does anyone see motive in this scenario? . How could I explain to my daughter years later that I took a plea for something I didnt do? she said. Damning for Patricia was that this field was only a couple miles from a horse farm that she used to have access to. Learn more about our upcoming events, fundraisers, and more! The prosecution alleged that after the murder, Patricia drove Joanns car to McCartys parking lot and backed it into a parking space. Apr 5, 2016. The episode claimed the jury required just two hours to deliberate, but other sources indicate it took six. 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. We take wrongful convictions to heart. So, this pointed to a theory that Joann had either left on her own or encountered foul play within her home. Those who knew Joann pointed out that she didnt like to drive in reverse and would have never parked that way. . Dr. Edward E. "Gene" Rorrer, Sr. Obituary It's possible he was just a big baby/growing faster than average, but if there's some indication that they were alive for some time after their abduction, then it would seem to be an entirely different kind of crime than was first thought. 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.