", "I think she gave us something like four or five alibis as to where she was at. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. Puny policy.
Patricia Rorrer Obituary (1935 - 2021) - Lynchburg, VA - The News & Advance And who'd be heartless enough to kill an infant as well? 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. 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. In TV clips, Andrew didnt come off as anguished. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. Still, no good leads materialized. Starring Keith Morrison. Patricia demonstrated a consistent habit of long-distance calls from home, then had an obvious gap while claiming she. Or was it? Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. Patricia also pointed out that when author Tammy Mal started her research and speaking to me, she was not an advocate at all but she reversed and ended up advocating for Patricias innocence. 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. (QUIZ), RAW: FILE: CHRIS ROCK IS SET TO MAKE NETFLIX HISTORY, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. Despite the troubling evidence from Joann's car, detectives considered whether or not Joann had taken baby Alex and simply left. 1919 EDA 2016 Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. Shes attracted the help of writer Tammy Mal (full name Tammy Malinowski OReilly), author of Convenient Suspect, a book about the case.
Patricia Allanson | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers According to court papers from Patricia 2017 appeal, DNA on the cigarette butt found near the two bodies belonged to Appellant. (Prosecutor Michael McIntyre, however, told ForensicFilesNow.com that that the cigarette butt was never actually tested). But if Andrew wanted to find his wife and his son, why on Earth did he wait until 10:30pm before notifying authorities? During that call, Joann apparently grabbed the phone and told Patricia never to phone her husband again.
Right to Redemption Patricias professional life included short-lived gigs as a Century 21 real estate agent and an Oldsmobile salesperson. The organization purports that if there were awards for distorted reporting, the Morning Callwould win high honors.. Her alibi about going to the club, called Cowboys Nitelife, got fuzzy when investigators discovered she hadnt signed the guest book on that day. A photo at the time showed that Patricia had dyed her hair blonde, which matched the hair found.
Psycho For Love: Patricia Rorrer killed her ex-boyfriend's new wife But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. Other loyal friends and associates attested to Patricias kindness toward horses and devotion to her daughter, whom she took along as she worked in stables.
Dr. Edward E. "Gene" Rorrer, Sr. Obituary Mizgerd said Rorrer is aware the show is airing and is hopeful it may bring new attention to her case. Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. And if nothing more, it certainly galvanized the law enforcement community and got us moving in the right direction. . Patricia denied owning a .22 caliber pistol (the type of gun used to kill Joann). There was an error processing your request. Forensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. 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. Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby.
Com v. Rorrer, P. (memorandum) - Justia Law Error! 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. Read and download theDen of Geek Lost in Space Special Edition Magazineright here! 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. 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. Prosecutors said Rorrer beat Katrinak, shot her and left her and her baby for dead in the woods in Heidelberg Township.
Reasonable Doubt: Season 5, Episode 7 - Rotten Tomatoes Culture Editor Tony Sokol cut his teeth on the wire services and also wrote and produced New York CitysVampyr Theatreand the rock operaAssassiNation: We Killed JFK. As usual, Rebecca at Forensic Files Now has a thoroughly researched article about the Patricia Rorrer case and events since her conviction. More: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/convenient-suspect-a-wrongful-conviction-in-the-murder-in-lehigh-valley. There was an error processing your request. When Joann failed to arrive, her mother-in-law tried calling, but there was no answer at the Katrinak's. During these 4 years, many in the Lehigh Valley, PA community developed opinions on the case. Testimony from Walter Blalock contradicted Patricias claim that she never had a gun. Rorrer is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution Muncy, a prison for women in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. Further, an early FBI report said the hairs found in the car had no roots which contain the DNA suggesting an evidence switcheroo. Patricia has been wrongfully convicted of murdering Joann and Alex Katrinak in 1994. After six hours of deliberations, in March 1998, a jury found Patricia guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of kidnapping. If you subscribe to Hulu and upgrade to Starz (theres a free one-week trial offer), you can stream the Wrong Man episodes about Patricia Rorrer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc. She was born on July 27, 1942, in Henry County, Va., to Edward Rorrer and Susie Morrison Rorrer. The first, Vonda Smith, was convicted of murdering her grandchilds mother, 21-year-old Jessie Morrison. . 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. Chapter 1. (QUIZ), RAW: FILE: CHRIS ROCK IS SET TO MAKE NETFLIX HISTORY, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. 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 . Illustration of the location of mitochondrial DNA in human cells. It's not often there's a laundry list of clear signals, but it's fun to iterate them when there are so many. Detective Robert Werts stated Rorrer offered four or five alibis for the time of the incident. 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. We affirm. Not gender neutral. Therefore, today, in her late 50s, Patricia is imprisoned at the maximum-security State Correctional Institution Muncy in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. Inside the locked 1992 vehicle, police discovered some strands of blond hair stained with dried blood. 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. Image credit: Episode screen capture from, - Sarah OConnor: Joann Katrinaks Mother, - Det. The FBI Files (Family Secrets) mentioned that Patty also lied about being at a tanning salon. And the fact that Patricia called Andrew even after he married someone else didnt mean she was still carrying a torch for him, according to one of her friends. It was never tested. Why would someone want to kidnap and murder the young mother? On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. On December 12, 1994, Joann answered a phone call from a woman shed never met, Patricia Rorrer, her husbands onetime girlfriend. 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. Her car was soon located in a parking lot within walking distance of their home.
Patricia Rorrer: An Update - Forensic Files Now Patricia Rorrer was tried and convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of kidnapping in March 1998, in Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas, for the murder of Joanne Katrinak and her infant son. More than 20 years after her conviction, Patricia Rorrer still has advocates working to exonerate her. Died along with his mother, Joann, as a victim of his father's jealous ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer. What would a crime show be without them? Search is on. Sad part is this could be your mother, father, kids, all love ones and friends! But if that's the main evidence against her, it seems awfully weak. The DNA presented at trial, the botching of hair evidence and the revelations in 2015 are thoroughly discussed. Phil and Rell will be released on Monday, as well as Leroy Cotton and Jimmy Jackson. Tribute Archive
Forensic Files (season 5) - Wikipedia 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. "I'm very angry, very very very angry," McIntyre said. 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. Please take the time to read my story.
Patricia Rorrer List of Movies and TV Shows - TV Guide Thats my life.. 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. $4.99/mo. I'm not sure to what extent it was brought up in the original trial. 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. While the police are still investigating the murder of your wife and child?
- 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 . Her book tells the truth and the real story of this case.
The Morning Call 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. Louise Rorrer Bryant, age 79, of Fieldale, Va., passed away on May 15, 2022. Over 200 people were convicted using this science ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/fbi-overstated-forensic-hair-matches-in-nearly-all-criminal-trials-for-decades/2015/04/18/39c8d8c6-e515-11e4-b510-962fcfabc310_story.html). Most prosecutors wouldn't even take such paltry evidence into court today. There was at least one hair strand that contained enough skin tissue for a nuclear DNA match and it corroborated the mitochondrial match.
Patricia Rorrer Brutal Killing of Joanne Katrinak & Baby - FFF Patricia Rorrer | Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network - WCJN Patricia Rorrer is found guilty of the abduction and murder of Joann Katrinak and her infant son, Alex. Part 1. After watching the latest Starz episode of Wrong Man (a great investigative show), I started thinking about the Patricia Rorrer case again. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Patricia Taylor Allanson, the Deadly Magnolia, was released from prison in 1999. When O'Reilly started doing the research, she believed Patricia (Patty) had been . She had money put aside. But when did he find the evidence of the break-in? They released a list of cases affected by it. McItyre said this is hearsay and the officer has refuted everything in an affidavit. Andrew told investigators that the unpleasant phone call between Joann and Patricia happened just three days before his wifes disappearance. When they found Joann and Alex in a wooded area on April 9 1995. Died along with his mother, Joann, as a victim of his father's jealous ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer.
Patricia Rorrer - Wrongful Conviction, Innocent, Nonprofit She needs to be freed! Around April 1995, the cold and badly decomposed remains of 26-year-old Joann Katrinak and her 3.5-month-old toddler Alex Katrinak were recovered from the woods in Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania. DNA testing revealed the blood came from either Joann or her son. A newspaper account described Patricia as a soft-spoken, demure woman who had a sweet Southern accent and wore feminine clothes in court. At the very least, prosecutors got their story very wrong as they convicted Patricia. All of us could be wrongfully convicted.
"Deadly Women" Green-Eyed Monsters (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. The 26-year-old was recently married, and this would be four-month-old Alex's first Christmas. During Patricias hours-long turn in the witness chair, Michael McIntyre grilled her relentlessly. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. 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. When Andrew was told of the location of his young family's remains, he offered investigators a lead.
Joann Marie O'Connor Katrinak (1968-1994) - Find a Grave Select "match all" to require all fields. Strands of the accuseds dyed-blond hair at two crime scenes proved it. Andrew's second look in and around their home revealed some disturbing clues. - 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 . When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016. Patricia was living back in North Carolina when the double murders occurred, yet investigators questioned her nonetheless. 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. This is crazy. 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. She claimed to have been home during this period how did her defense team justify such a departure from Patricia's norm? New state, new man. For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. More importantly, the 3 month old baby was the size of a 6 month old, including to have a cranial diameter bigger than 99.99% of all 3 month olds. 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? You have permission to edit this article.
Alex Martin Katrinak (1994-1994) - Find a Grave Memorial But "Wrong Man" investigators discover that there is . Very true - I can't remember if the show went through that. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. She is a tough one, Sheriff Gerald Hege would later tell the Morning Call in a June 29, 1997 interview. Based on body decomposition alone, it seems near impossible that they were kidnapped and killed in the same day or even within weeks. 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. 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. Joann had been shot once and then bludgeoned in the head. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Wake up people this could be you!
In the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County. For this week, I looked into the defenders reasoning as well as Patricias whereabouts today. 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. After a very early failed marriage, the 24-year-old Joann scored a new husband in Andrew Katrinak, 38, whom she met at a club. Berlingers landmark HBO documentary Paradise Lost Trilogy helped lead to the release of the wrongfully convicted West Memphis Three after 18 years of incarceration. Tragedy also touched Patricias life. 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. Joanns first husband, New Jersey construction worker Michael Jack, who had reportedly abused her during their marriage, also had a solid alibi. No comments yet - start the conversation above. On Instagram, I found a post for a two-part Win at All Costs podcast featuring journalism professor Bill Mousheys interviews with Patricia Rorrer from prison in December 2019. You couldnt fire a second shot. The episode claimed the jury required just two hours to deliberate, but other sources indicate it took six. 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. Rorrer claims the DNA . With Chris Anderson, Fatima Silva.
Patricia Rorrer - Forensic Files Now Based on the activity, the victims were there since at least February. The person responsible, needs to be punished. A hidden FBI report found a couple years ago showed that police were unsure if there were roots on the found hairs. Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. By the time they asked supposed witnesses, most had forgotten about that random dance class (there were many). 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. An early childhood introd . Shouldn't Andrew have mentioned this suspicious, out-of-the-blue phone call from his ex-girlfriend sooner? Learn more about our upcoming events, fundraisers, and more! Keith Morrison investigates the horrific murders of Joann Katrinak and her infant son Alex, and the ongoing claims that Patricia Rorrer, the woman who has already served 19 years in prison for the murders, was wrongfully convicted. Detective Barry Grube found it odd that Andrew fixed the severed phone line before police examined it in essence tampering with evidence. See Commonwealth v. Rorrer, CP-39- CR-0002176-1997 (C.C.P. Pat Rorrer received a sentence of life imprisonment for her crime. On closer inspection, he saw it was the body of a woman.
Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates In 2015, I discovered an FBI report that states the hair used to convict me had "No Roots Attached." It is believed she may have received over 3,700 pills in less than a year. 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. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Phone calls played a significant role in the case overall. 6-10. "The DA threatened if he ever said that to anybody he would never work in law enforcement again," Neely said. Here was some other evidence mentioned in the Forensic Files episode: A forensic entomologist examined insect activity on the victims. A second helping of justice will be served. Flaw in reasoning. 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. Criminal Division at No (s): CP-39-CR-0002176-1997 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES AND SHOGAN, J. I knew when Andy got married and I was happy for him. Counsel for Patricia Rorrer, 52, . With 400 (and 6) episodes, this progress bar indicates my progress toward finishing all of them. Thats all for this post. Episode 7. His film Whitey: United States of America V. James J. Bulgeruncovered law enforcement corruption at the highest levels.
Lehigh Valley: Patricia Rorrer Still A Convenient Suspect? Where are the missing 4 hairs? There is still an appeal coming up (I believe) but everything else has failed so far to get Patricia another trial. McIntyre said he was accused of being the mastermind of a conspiracy to frame Rorrer. 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). Back in March of 2017, Investigation Discovery ran Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates which questioned the conviction of . The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. Her hair color in the picture matched hairs found at two of the crime scenes. 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. Wrong Man takes viewers on real-time investigations to uncover new evidence, track down key witnesses, consult forensic experts, and interrogate the incarcerated. I knew when Joann was pregnant and although surprised because Andy had once told me he didn't want children and wasn't sure he could have children, I was again happy for him.
Local author finds possible new evidence in 20 year old murder case No activity on her bank account or credit cards took place after the day she went missing, so investigators dismissed the theory that she took her child and bolted. Previously on Wrong Man, we learned about the murder of Joann Katrinak and her baby.Were they murdered because Joann angrily hung the phone up on Patty Rorrer, the ex of Andy Katrinak? Our team of volunteers are committed to helping Patricia.
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. For two decades, Patricia Rorrer has always maintained her innocence. Tue, Sep 27, 2022 60 mins. I can't recall if the long distance calls were talked about in the show. Apr 5, 2016. 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. 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. Rorrer was the ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband . Share Memories & Support the Family. Shes just extremely happy with Andy, her brother, Michael OConnor, told the media. The state of the bodies suggested the victims had likely been killed the day very they were abducted. They DID NOT match the bullets that killed Joann and her son. The prosecution asked for the death penalty, but the jury chose to sentence me to life in prison without parole which, actually, is just a slower death sentence. Pal stays true. 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. Since 2010, Tammy has been researching the 1994 Katrinak murders in Catasauqua. I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. She has been incarcerated for 24+ years. A closer examination of the hairs showed traces of dried blood. Movies/Documentaries Murder in Lehigh Valley Forensic Files: A Woman Scorned Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! Those who knew Joann pointed out that she didnt like to drive in reverse and would have never parked that way. It's sad looking back at those Forensic Files episodes where the science was junk but they portray it as a solid case. (Media sources vary as to whether she actually worked at the stable or just rented a stall there for her own horse.).