My kid has had 99th percentile head circumference since birth. Tragedy also touched Patricias life. 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. The person responsible, needs to be punished. 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 wouldnt do anything to hurt him. Then, despite her multiple alibis, she has an inexplicable five-day gap in this pattern. 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 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. Joann had been shot once and then beaten over the head (presumably because the gun used only shot once). Murder victim. They broke up in 1993. I dont even know its Christmas.. Unbloody vehicle. An expert will be allowed to examine evidence from the 1994 . And James Pfeiffer and Jim Burke have remained on her side. So, this pointed to a theory that Joann had either left on her own or encountered foul play within her home. 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. Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list. Mizgerd said she is convinced Rorrer is innocent. By the time they asked supposed witnesses, most had forgotten about that random dance class (there were many). Traupman claimed that when he reported the dispute, trooper Robert V. Egan III got mad and practically kicked him out of his office. 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 was like OK, maybe she was tired, you know with a new baby. Joe Kennedys talks to Michael Brinkle, Patricia Rorrer's former neighbor who reaffirms that he had sold her a .22 Jennings handgun. Starting at. The police considered the possibility that Joann ran away, a theory disputed by her family. 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Senate vote, Reading Area Water Authority looking for leak on North Heidelberg Township line, Former Penn State Berks soccer player among dead in violent Monroe County crash, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy costs, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South, Ukraine ally Kallas fights for reelection in Estonia vote, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, 6 Nigerian states drop suit to void presidential vote result, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills, What the Tech? Detective Robert Werts stated Rorrer offered four or five alibis for the time of the incident. 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. Neely said the first officer on the scene didn't believe Rorrer committed the crime. Image credit: Episode screen capture from Forensic Files. The two-hour special, called Murder in the Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates, will premiere at 8 p.m. and air again at 11 p.m. Sunday night. Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. 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. The Free Patricia Rorrer page responds to comments from supporters (How is this even possible that this woman is still in jail?!? Um why is that? More: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/convenient-suspect-a-wrongful-conviction-in-the-murder-in-lehigh-valley. 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? Her alibi about going to the club, called Cowboys Nitelife, got fuzzy when investigators discovered she hadnt signed the guest book on that day. These organelles, found in all eukaryotic cells, are the powerhouse of the cell. Her husband Andrew's mother expected Joann to arrive quickly, since they only lived a few minutes away. A hearing on the issue got heated Tuesday. She is a tough one, Sheriff Gerald Hege would later tell the Morning Call in a June 29, 1997 interview. Really? The defense called into question both the motive and the shaky DNA hair evidence at the time. MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J. Police slowly built a case against Patricia. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Sad part is this could be your mother, father, kids, all love ones and friends! Rorrer was tried and convicted in 1994 for the brutal killing of Katrinak and her three-month-old son. S5 E7: Patricia Rorrer sits in prison for brutally murdering her ex-boyfriend's wife and baby out of spite. Well, that really caught our attention of course.". Watch Forensic Files: Season 5, Episode 3A Woman Scorned. But other things Patricia did also seemed strange, especially according to prosecutor Michael McIntyre. We all need justice! An early childhood introd When it was only able to fire once, Rorrer had to resort to bludgeoning her victim. They would have been held alive. $4.99/mo. Flaw in reasoning. After relocating to Pennsylvania, Patricia met the 6-foot-2-inch Andrew in a restaurant. 1 talking about this. By that time, we had both moved on and I had no romantic feelings for him. 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. Everyone needs to wake up because this could be you, your wife, your husband, your mother, your father, your children! This was further disproved when her bank reported there'd been no activity on Joann's credit cards since her disappearance. 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. Unseasonably warm weather in late December suggested that the victims were there since they were killed. Darla Carrington, Brian Charles, Robert Pezzeca, Patricia Rorrer . But if Andrew wanted to find his wife and his son, why on Earth did he wait until 10:30pm before notifying authorities? The jury found Patricia guilty in just 6 hours in 1998, 4 years after the crime. However, it seems this was only after the bodies of Joann and Alex were found on the remote horse trail. Mike McIntyre, the first assistant district attorney in Lehigh County during the case, said the petition is "crazy. Some lawyers call microscopic hair analysis junk science that today wouldnt qualify as evidence in a trial like Rorrers. If you like our work please subscribe to our second channel The History Chronicles https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChroniclesFor early access. 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. But when did he find the evidence of the break-in? Joann Katrinak and her infant son were brutally murdered. Somebody has to. I can't recall if the long distance calls were talked about in the show. I lived more than 500 miles away, was engaged to be married, was a new mother, and all of a sudden I'm arrested for murdering two people I'd never even met? Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? But defense lawyer Robert Pfeiffer said that plenty of evidence supported Patricias innocence. They moved into her house in Salisbury County, staying together for about two years. She was bubbly and likable, not disgruntled, according to friend Kathy Barber, who visited her friend in jail. Ive seen the forensics files episode a few times and Im shocked at how it could be so wrong! - 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 . Thats my life.. 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. When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. The indications of Patricia's involvement in Joann's and young Alex's disappearance were numerous. At the very least, prosecutors got their story very wrong as they convicted Patricia. Investigation Discovery is profiling the murder of Joann Katrinak and her infant son. 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. Wouldn't he have tried to call his mother recall it was with her Joann had planned to go Christmas shopping. Patricia Rorrer being escorted by the police | Photo Credits: People Magazine. Error! Mal told Keith Morrison that Patricias dance teacher originally confirmed her alibi that she was in class on the day of the murder, then changed his mind. But none of those charges ever stuck. "When I read that petition for the first time about 30 days ago, I couldn't believe it was written by a lawyer.". Why would someone want to kidnap and murder the young mother? The six-episode documentary series examines the cases of three different inmates who are serving life sentences on murder convictions but who claim innocence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc. He will never be able to speak if this case! Despite the troubling evidence from Joann's car, detectives considered whether or not Joann had taken baby Alex and simply left. In November 2005, she shoots Keith in the head while he . Counsel for Patricia Rorrer, 52, . Two of the seasons three cases will feature female inmates. Episode 204 of Starz' Wrong Man winds up its coverage of the Rorrer/Katrinak case, but it leaves us with far more questions than answers. Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. Patricia Rorrer (PA) SCI Muncy OE2170 Life Without Parole DOB: January 24,1964. . During these 4 years, many in the Lehigh Valley, PA community developed opinions on the case. Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. More hairs there. Or identify other people in their lives who might have benefited from either the Katrinak's deaths or disappearance? With 400 (and 6) episodes, this progress bar indicates my progress toward finishing all of them. Inside the locked 1992 vehicle, police discovered some strands of blond hair stained with dried blood. But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. Rorrer has appealed her conviction several times and her supporters believe additional DNA evidence . Docket at pp. The person responsible, needs to be punished. Patricia Rorrer was a cold woman. Patricia was living back in North Carolina when the double murders occurred, yet investigators questioned her nonetheless. Clair is black, and no forensic evidence ties him to the crime scene.. Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping. State police and the Philadelphia division of the FBI appealed to the public for leads. To commit the murders, Rorrer took her victims out to a location that was familiar and significant. Success! Patricia was convicted based on her head hairs being found in the victim's car. They theorized might've simply started a new life with another man, but this seemed absurd to everyone who knew Joann. Patricia knew her gun tended to jam, but she used it anyway. Sounds like prosecutors made the right call based on this. We work hard to help with things that can not be accomplished in prison. It was later believed that his recollection was keen, since he'd been the one to dress her posthumously. 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. Since 2010, Tammy has been researching the 1994 Katrinak murders in Catasauqua. Mizgerd said she acts as Patricia Rorrer's spiritual advisor and often visits her in prison. Recall Jason Funk's role in Katie Froeschle's murder in Muffled Cries (s11e31) or the trail of evidence left by Earl Bramblett in Private Thoughts (s08e16). There was at least one hair strand that contained enough skin tissue for a nuclear DNA match and it corroborated the mitochondrial match. Smith claims that she is innocent and that she loved the victim like a daughter., The second is Patricia Rorrer, who has been in prison since 1998 after being convicted of the horrific murder of a young mother, Joann Katrinak, and her 15-week old son in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Brad Jackson was able to describe what his daughter Valiree was wearing in incredible detail, down to the color of her socks. And their phone line had been cut someone had not wanted the Katrinaks to be able to call for help. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. This is crazy. 6-10. McIntyre said he was accused of being the mastermind of a conspiracy to frame Rorrer. The system is broken sending innocent people to prison! Andrew's involvement in the latter theory was dismissed when his alibi checked out. They DID NOT match the bullets that killed Joann and her son. 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? By: Robert S. In 1994, Joann Katrinak called her mother-in-law and made plans to go holiday shopping. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A newspaper account described Patricia as a soft-spoken, demure woman who had a sweet Southern accent and wore feminine clothes in court. This was part of Rorrer's defense strategy it seemed like an unrealistic motive to commit murder. 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. 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. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. A local murder case that made national headlines will be back in the national spotlight Sunday night. ", "I can remember till this day, seeing that infant being lifted off the abdomen of his mother. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Please walk thru her website and see for yourself how easy it is to be convicted of something you had nothing to do with. The Ex Files: Directed by Rob Rosen. TV-MA | Mar 1, 2020 | 53m. She just stayed in touch with everybody, Kathy Barber said in her interview on NBCs Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Reports in 2017. Better Call Saul Season 6 Episode 7: Finale Release Time and Season Recap, Tiger King Earned 34 Million Viewers in First 10 Days, Shazam! Walmart woe. Patricia denied owning a .22 caliber pistol (the type of gun used to kill Joann). I was so excited that I called everyone, and Joanne picked up the phone and she said Andy is married, and I said I know, then she said we have a baby, and I said yea I know, then she said dont ever call here again. 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. 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. Nailed? They even lived together for about two years before parting ways for good. They released a list of cases affected by it. After the premiere episode, Wrong Man will air on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. "Our position is that Patricia Rorrer's sample hairs were switched with crime scene hair, the hair taken from the seat back of Katrinak's vehicle," Neely said. It's as if she had left with young Alex as planned but then somehow simply vanished. How about the phone line being cut? While the police are still investigating the murder of your wife and child? Patricia and her husband broke up after the babys death. 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. [1] The mitochondria, and thus mitochondrial DNA, are passed exclusively from mother to offspring through the egg cell.