It was conceivable that Andrew believed they were still out. 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. Mizgerd said she acts as Patricia Rorrer's spiritual advisor and often visits her in prison. Of course she did--because all that was out there on me was fake news. The main one of course was committing murder of a young woman and her infant son over an argument. The state of the bodies suggested the victims had likely been killed the day very they were abducted. My husband passed away of a broken heart, Sarah OConnor said on the Montel Williams Show in 2001. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. . That hang-up, they said, was the last straw. Weak wages. 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. Together they had a baby girl, Nicole. Rorrer is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution Muncy, a prison for women in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania. Prosecutors offered Patricia a plea deal that would take the death penalty off the table, but she declined. The same source indicates Patricia Rorrer has repeatedly appealed for a retrial and exoneration, but each request has been denied. Andrew's involvement in the latter theory was dismissed when his alibi checked out. 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 only eyewitness to the murder a five-year-old child told police officers that a white man did it, reads the statement. Patricias defenders also say Andrew Katrinak staged the scene at his house by prying the door and cutting the phone line. Patricia Rorrer (right) is led to her hearing in Lehigh County Courthouse Wednesday morning, August 26, 1998 by a sheriff's deputy, at left. Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. We affirm. ", "I think she gave us something like four or five alibis as to where she was at. Rorrer was convicted at trial in March 1998 of kidnapping Joann Katrinak, 26, and her 3-month-old son, Alex, on Dec. 15, 1994, from their Catasauqua home . Kidnapped and killed? (180) 2017 13+. The authorities charged her with two counts of murder. PATRICIA RORRER OBITUARY. Louise Rorrer Bryant, age 79, of Fieldale, Va., passed away on May 15, 2022. In 2015, I discovered an FBI report that states the hair used to convict me had "No Roots Attached." And yikes, he discovered someone had cut one of the houses phone lines and pried the hinge on the basement door. Patricia Rorrer being escorted by the police | Photo Credits: People Magazine. This was part of Rorrer's defense strategy it seemed like an unrealistic motive to commit murder. He recalls that Patty also had an alibi. On December 7, 1994 I called Andy to let him know that me and my team had won the National Championship at a team penning competition in Oklahoma. She needs to be freed! Patricia is and has been fighting that she is innocent from the very beginning. Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. 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. Season 9 aired from August 7, 2015, to November 6, 2015. Four months after Joanns disappearance, farmer Paul Kovalchik reported seeing what at first looked like a pile of clothes on his land in Heidelberg Township woods, about 15 miles from the Katrinaks house. You have permission to edit this article. In March of 1998, a jury returned two guilty verdicts against Patricia Rorrer for murder, and two more for kidnapping. By the time they asked supposed witnesses, most had forgotten about that random dance class (there were many). No charmed life. In a million years, she wouldnt do anything to harm that.. In addition to the Facebook page, there are Reddit threads on her case. No comments yet - start the conversation above. She was also no stranger to law enforcement because she had a history of violence which included an arrest for getting into a bar brawl with another patron over a guy. Detectives from the Davidson County sheriff's office took the witness stand to recall the morning of June 24, 1997, when they knocked on the door of Rorrer's Linwood, N.C., home and told her she . 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. Four hours is a long time between Andrew getting home from work and calling the police. The Free Patricia Rorrer page points to a sliver of a fingernail found at the murder site that didnt come from either Patricia or Joann. Then 31 years old, she had lived a rocky existence. $4.99/mo. This is a list of notable female murderers whose name begins with the letter R. She claimed to have been home during this period how did her defense team justify such a departure from Patricia's norm? 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. Patricias professional life included short-lived gigs as a Century 21 real estate agent and an Oldsmobile salesperson. Here was some other evidence mentioned in the Forensic Files episode: A forensic entomologist examined insect activity on the victims. No one is safe if the justice system is broken and they are putting innocent people in prison. She seemed like quite an unlikely suspect at least at first. The missing items included Joann's purse, car, both her and Alex's winter jackets, and the diaper bag. My case in a nutshell is this: I was convicted on a DNA match made to the root of a hair found in the victim's car which was located 15 miles from the crime scene. 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. TV-14 Information Genre Documentary Released 2022 Run Time 42 min Rated TV-14 Languages Original Audio English . 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. Murder victim. You have permission to edit this article. It was later believed that his recollection was keen, since he'd been the one to dress her posthumously. Use quotation marks to search as a The investigation that led to her identification and then turned up enough evidence to arrest and convict Patricia Rorrer was interesting. He said that the gun had an unusual characteristic: the gun would jam after firing one shot. 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.). 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. They noted houses near the murder scene would have heard a gunshot in December, when no farm equipment is making noise, and question why the murderer didnt just kill Joann inside her house instead of risking being seen in public in her car. Select "match any" to find at least one field. The Free Patricia Rorrer page responds to comments from supporters (How is this even possible that this woman is still in jail?!? Patricia was convicted based on her head hairs being found in the victim's car. He contributed to Altvariety, Chiseler, Smashpipe, and other magazines. Joann Katrinaks Killer Still Has Innocence Advocates(A Woman Scorned, Forensic Files). Joann answered that night, told me that Andy was married and they had baby and not to call her house again .I honestly didn't think too much about it. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? She had a suitcase packed, Devine said. This was where Joann regularly parked her car and became an even more likely crime scene when the evidence of the basement break-in was discovered. Bio by: Karen Valentine Please take the time to read my story. 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. 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. Select "match all" to require all fields. Highly charged case. Her alibi about going to the club, called Cowboys Nitelife, got fuzzy when investigators discovered she hadnt signed the guest book on that day. Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. Neely said the first officer on the scene didn't believe Rorrer committed the crime. The person responsible, needs to be punished. Dance defense. 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? 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. In North Carolina, she reportedly enjoyed some success as a horse trader, riding instructor, and rodeo competitor. 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. 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. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. "The DA threatened if he ever said that to anybody he would never work in law enforcement again," Neely said. It seems Patricia's own daughter and baby Alex Katrinak were very close in age. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Find a typo or issue with the details of this case? She was born on July 27, 1942, in Henry County, Va., to Edward Rorrer and Susie Morrison Rorrer. The victims vanished on December 15. Because when she did, she quickly began to realize that there was a lot more to the story than the public ever knew. But thats just some of the ammo on Team Patricias battleship. During the interview, the FBI agents noted that I had no cuts, scratches, or bruising on my hand or face, as would be expected if I had been in a life and death struggle only a week earlier. Tapps lawyer saidWrong Mans in-depth investigation into the Tapp conviction helped free an innocent man.. Of course, Patricia denied this. Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. 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? Since then our team has proven that Patricia is innocent. . Patricias phone bill showed no record of a call to Catasauqua that day, but police noticed she didnt make any calls at all from her house in North Carolina that day either suggesting she could have been out of state and used a pay phone to dial up the Katrinaks. And Andrews explanation of how the intruder got in through the basement door seemed contrived, according to Grube, who gave an interview to Wrong Man, a 2020 true-crime docuseries from the Starz network, which produced two episodes called The Hang Up about the Rorrer case. 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. 1 hr 25 min Mar 5, 2017 TV-14. . Patty Rorrer is convicted of the kidnapping and murder of her ex-boyfriends wife and infant son, but Wrong Man investigators discover that the case is not so clear cut. Someone had shot Joann in the face with a .22-caliber pistol, then beaten her about the head hitting her 19 times in all with a blunt object. A photo at the time showed that Patricia had dyed her hair blonde, which matched the hair found. At first, a broad-daylight abduction of a mother and her infant seemed unlikely. Patricia Rorrer's Story. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. Image credit: Episode screen capture from Forensic Files. It seems likely these bodies were dumped here months after initially thought, not killed the day they were kidnapped. Episode 7. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The 5-foot-9-inch-tall Patricia was physically strong, no match for 5-foot-4-inch Joann. During that call, Joann apparently grabbed the phone and told Patricia never to phone her husband again. Success! This had been taken just 11 days before Joann's disappearance. 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. And Patricia wasnt all edges. Forensic tests suggested the hair found in the car and at the murder scene came from Patricia. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 1 talking about this. The $60 Murder. Patricias marriage fell apart, and she returned to Pennsylvania, where she fell in love with Andrew Andy Katrinak after meeting him at a restaurant. MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J. Ive seen the forensics files episode a few times and Im shocked at how it could be so wrong! But if that's the main evidence against her, it seems awfully weak. Regard a similar case where too much detail signaled investigators to look closer at their suspect in Bagging a Killer (s06e25). Patricia seemed like the girl next door but all of a sudden, something snapped, Katrinak later told Wrong Man investigators. 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. Deal refused. She is a tough one, Sheriff Gerald Hege would later tell the Morning Call in a June 29, 1997 interview. Most prosecutors wouldn't even take such paltry evidence into court today. Does anyone see motive in this scenario? 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. Wake up people this could be you! As a result, Salas, who did not have legal representation at the time of filming, was offered pro bono representation by a Washington State attorney, who believes in his innocence. 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. (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. 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. Artificial intelligence and machine learning education and literacy: teacher training for primary and secondary education teachers; Chapter 2. 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. FILED DECEMBER 13, 2013 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals from the order entered in the . 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. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence testing may be the key to proving her innocence. Joann had been shot in the face and badly beaten. 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 . I also communicated with Patricia via email to get her input on some matters. She made an effort to look perfectly groomed even when she took out the trash, according to her mother, who appeared on Forensic Files. It's been more than 20 years since Patricia Rorrer was convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend . 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Born on January 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania, Patricia Rorrer spent most of her life going back and forth between the Keystone State and North Carolina. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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? They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . A local murder case that made national headlines will be back in the national spotlight Sunday night. An infant was lying face down on her stomach. They DID NOT match the bullets that killed Joann and her son. Men who murder are conventional, women are sensational, posits the Worldwide Womens Criminal Justice Network. I'm not sure to what extent it was brought up in the original trial. I can't recall if the long distance calls were talked about in the show. He would be alive today if it were not for Patricia Rorrer. The mild-mannered Sarah died in 2019 at the age of 83. 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? Everyone needs to wake up because this could be you, your wife, your husband, your mother, your father, your children! Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Patricia Elgin Rorrer, 86, of Lynchburg, went to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 4, 2021. He will never be able to speak if this case! Mizgerd said she is convinced Rorrer is innocent. I cant lose them, he told the media. Nailed? Crime 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc. The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. Joseph Kocevar: Criminal Investigator, - Maj. Robert Werts: Homicide Investigator, Dr. Elizabeth Murray, Forensic Anthropologist, Brad Jackson was able to describe what his daughter Valiree was wearing, Jason Funk's role in Katie Froeschle's murder, Patricia Rorrer has repeatedly appealed for a retrial and exoneration, thoroughly researched article about the Patricia Rorrer case, Earl Bramblett murder of entire Hodges family, Darryl Kuehl take over murder of Paul Gruber, "the police actually said that, Oh, she probably ran away with someone. In a million years, Joann would never, never have run away. Cancel Anytime. Unseasonably warm weather in late December suggested that the victims were there since they were killed. Thats my life.. What would a crime show be without them? 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. Now retired, he declined ForensicFilesNow.coms invitation to spar directly with Patricia via a podcast. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. 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. So much in this case, and every time she appeals with new evidence she is denied. Oscar-nominated and Emmywinning director Berlinger (Paradise Lost, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes), a leading voice in non-fiction film and television for over two decades, returns to keep checks on the criminal justice system. 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. 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. Plus, he had only a minimal life insurance policy on Joann and he passed polygraphs, according to The FBI Files: Family Secrets. Where are the missing 4 hairs? Pfeiffer and Burke claimed that police Sgt. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! An expert will be allowed to examine evidence from the 1994 . Shes extremely, extremely happy with the baby. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. ), The Wrong Man investigators Ira Todd and Joe Kennedy have some theories of their own. After relocating to Pennsylvania, Patricia met the 6-foot-2-inch Andrew in a restaurant. 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. 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). 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. "I'm hoping this [show] will be very close to the truth," said Sandy Mizgerd. They had a son, Alex Martin, in August of 1994. 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. They theorize that Andrew Katrinak framed Patricia and that the hostile phone call between Patricia and Joann actually took place not on Dec. 12 as Andrew said but rather on Dec. 7. Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? I think it would really require comparison with his pediatric medical records to determine if the head circumference is relevant. Based on body decomposition alone, it seems near impossible that they were kidnapped and killed in the same day or even within weeks. After Joann Katrinak, the wife of Patricias former flame, turned up dead along with her infant son, prosecutors suspected Patricia. Thank God she decided to investigate these crimes on her own. Any amount will deeply appreciated. Criminals aren't always the smartest folks - this area highlights the common (and reoccurring) mistakes they make. She just stayed in touch with everybody, Kathy Barber said in her interview on NBCs Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports in 2017. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. -, Press J to jump to the feed. further reading: True Detective Season 3 and the West Memphis Three. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lo9AIFM_vc&fbclid=IwAR28Mf5rKuUyaq1N-vBqirZM_382D69Zy42uONlU3Qf0eNEnJ1w_kYRYKIM.