She was born on July 27, 1942, in Henry County, Va., to Edward Rorrer and Susie Morrison Rorrer. It was conceivable that Andrew believed they were still out. 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. Patricia supposedly still cared for Andrew Katrinak, but murdering his son contradicts this notion. Posted: June 22, 2022 Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Tragedy also touched Patricias life. With Lynnanne Zager, Joann Katrinak, Alex Katrinak, Patricia Rorrer. An exterior door to their basement had been wrenched open, the lock hasp's screws literally ripped from the wall. However, it seems this was only after the bodies of Joann and Alex were found on the remote horse trail. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. By that time, we had both moved on and I had no romantic feelings for him. She was born on Jan. 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania and moved back and forth between there and Davidson County, North Carolina. Rorrer was the ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband Andy but the ex-couple hadn't spoken for close to a year until they had a call one day in December, 1994. She is a true crime writer who believed I was 100% guilty when she decided to write about my case. 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. Pat Rorrer received a sentence of life imprisonment for her crime. It will show you that I have not committed these murders. The victims vanished on December 15. Forensic tests suggested the hair found in the car and at the murder scene came from Patricia. On Alexs diaper bag, police found strands of the same type of hair from the car. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Patricia was . Andrew's involvement in the latter theory was dismissed when his alibi checked out. And the kidnapping scenario became more plausible when you factor in the privacy of the alleyway behind the Katrinak house. FILED DECEMBER 13, 2013 Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals from the order entered in the . During these 4 years, many in the Lehigh Valley, PA community developed opinions on the case. 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. Search is on. For this week, I looked into the defenders reasoning as well as Patricias whereabouts today. And even prosecutor Michael McIntyre, who wrote the book Hair Trigger about the case, acknowledged to Keith Morrison that it was a little odd that the police found blood on the hairs in Joanns car but nowhere else in the vehicle. It certainly tugged at our heartstrings, you know, it brought a tear to my eye. 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. But defense lawyer Robert Pfeiffer said that plenty of evidence supported Patricias innocence. I lived with Andrew Katrinak for approximately 5 years, and we ended our relationship as friends in 1989 when I moved to North Carolina.. We would speak 2 or 3 times a year. Wow this episode was featured on Forensic Files. 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. Another former boyfriend said she talked about Andrew frequently and liked to gaze at old photos of him. 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. 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. This was my thought (I'm behind and just caught the 2nd half yesterday). But none of those charges ever stuck. The FBI waiting up to 6 months to question people in the class makes it near impossible for her to prove that she was actually there on a random Thursday night. In the Katrinak case, they did new (at the time) DNA testing to match the hairs found in the car to Patricia. If you like our work please subscribe to our second channel The History Chronicles https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChroniclesFor early access. Prosecutors also claimed DNA hair evidence found in the car matched Patricia's hair at the time (using what was considered valid DNA methods). One of Patricia's alibis was that she was at a bar on the night of the abduction. 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. New state, new man. I know I did not commit these murders and they need to get justice for Joann and Alex too. "When I read that petition for the first time about 30 days ago, I couldn't believe it was written by a lawyer.". A few eyewitnesses who didnt testify at her initial trial also back her statements of being in North Carolina on that fateful day, but nothing has been proven. Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. Counsel for Patricia Rorrer, 52, . EPISODE 1. A newspaper account described Patricia as a soft-spoken, demure woman who had a sweet Southern accent and wore feminine clothes in court. 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). Watch Forensic Files: Season 5, Episode 3A Woman Scorned. Mizgerd said she acts as Patricia Rorrer's spiritual advisor and often visits her in prison. Combination locks. Cancel Anytime. Rorrer has filed a petition to get new evidence admissible that he said could set her free. 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. Bio by: Karen Valentine They also found a photo of Patricia taken 11 days before the homicide. After a successful first season, Starz has announced thatWrong Man season 2 will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 9:45 p.m. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Irelands husband buried it in the yard because he didnt feel comfortable with a firearm inside, she said. It's as if she had left with young Alex as planned but then somehow simply vanished. When it was only able to fire once, Rorrer had to resort to bludgeoning her victim. 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. 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. The premiere episode will air following the series finale of Power. Then 31 years old, she had lived a rocky existence. Murder victim. Patricia demonstrated a habit of making almost daily, long-distance phone calls from her home in North Carolina. Rorrer offered her attendance at a private club in North Carolina as one of her alibies, but the club (per a state regulation) required members to sign in. 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. In March of 1998, a jury returned two guilty verdicts against Patricia Rorrer for murder, and two more for kidnapping. . Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? 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. !) and detractors (This is another bs attempt to free a psycho). ", "Everything is outrageous," he said. A young mother and her infant son suddenly went missing just before Christmas in 1994. If Rorrer used to live in the area, then I expect any place in the county was probably within a couple of miles of someplace she used to have access to. I am humbly asking for your help to hire a lawyer and procure a fair trial. Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. Mike McIntyre, the first assistant district attorney in Lehigh County during the case, said the petition is "crazy. 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. It seems strange that Patricia would just pick up and drive 500 miles to see and ex-boyfriend from years ago on a whim, leaving her own one-year-old daughter at home in North Carolina. Nailed? Movies/Documentaries Murder in Lehigh Valley Forensic Files: A Woman Scorned Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters. Copyright 2021 Patricia Rorrer - All Rights Reserved. For example, the weight of each organ was listed, it was clear they were not very decomposed. If I knew I was going to get caught, I never would have brought you into this world, the arresting officers testified they heard her say to Nicole. They returned with a guilty verdict and a sentence of two life terms. As usual, Rebecca at Forensic Files Now has a thoroughly researched article about the Patricia Rorrer case and events since her conviction. A closer examination of the hairs showed traces of dried blood. Her book tells the truth and the real story of this case. The $60 Murder. Image credit: Episode screen capture from, - Sarah OConnor: Joann Katrinaks Mother, - Det. . Back in March of 2017, Investigation Discovery ran Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates which questioned the conviction of . For one thing, her mother never asked Sandra Ireland to hide the gun, and she retrieved it on the way home the next day she worked as a bus driver and couldnt take it with her to school. The FBI Files (Family Secrets) mentioned that Patty also lied about being at a tanning salon. These hairs being found in the otherwise cleaned car was also odd. Why would someone want to kidnap and murder the young mother? 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. No show. After watching the latest Starz episode of Wrong Man (a great investigative show), I started thinking about the Patricia Rorrer case again.. Rorrer was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Joann Katrinak and her 3-4 month old son Alex in 1994 by forcing them our of their home and driving them to a wooded area where they were shot and killed. Pfeiffer and Burke claimed that police Sgt. The media love the femme fatale., FBI lab blunder. One she was at a private club. 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. Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. My husband passed away of a broken heart, Sarah OConnor said on the Montel Williams Show in 2001. 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. Sad part is this could be your mother, father, kids, all love ones and friends! Some who still believe in Patricia Rorrer's innocence say it was long enough for him to stage the scene. See Commonwealth v. Rorrer, CP-39- CR-0002176-1997 (C.C.P. 99.99 or whatever it was. Another thing never presented at trial was the fact that they found flower petals in the soles of Joann's shoes,. The witness said he would sign in as Richard Nixon or not sign in at all quite often. Most convictions were procured through microscopic hair comparison which has been debunked as junk science today. The second season will continue to uncover new theories and reveal startling new evidence that could prove that three new inmates are, in fact, not guilty, according to Starzs press statement. You have permission to edit this article. 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. A hearing on the issue got heated Tuesday. She made an effort to look perfectly groomed even when she took out the trash, according to her mother, who appeared on Forensic Files. And because of the gun jamming, the assailant had to resort to blunt object and beat her about the head. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. E 204 Patricia Rorrer: Under the Microscope. One on one? But investigators conceded they had no solid evidence against Andrew. They even lived together for about two years before parting ways for good. Two-Part Special Premieres Sunday, March 5 at 8/7c; Features Exclusive First-Ever Interview with Inmate Patricia Rorrer (Silver Spring, Md.) The authorities charged her with two counts of murder. In 1995 DNA testing was brand new. Plus, two men, her babys father and his friend, testified they saw Patricia at the line-dancing club the night of the homicide. Patricia Rorrer, an ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband, was found guilty of the crimes and sentenced to life in prison. Success! Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. She failed miserably to convince me, or anyone else who mattered, of her innocence. I cant lose them, he told the media. 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? They allege that the North Carolina resident stealthily drove 500 miles to Pennsylvania and killed out of a sense of deadly indignation. 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDGl9dMgHwY&fbclid=IwAR1nlAYf6AcIu_i8kN0fD_MCD3CnxJ6DG_oUgVFdqN3b2EJ4fcLO2ci3wWc. In February 2008, Patricia Taylor Allanson, age 70, was arrested and charged with doctor shopping for thousands of pain pills over the past year. Joann had been shot in the face and badly beaten. 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. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. Joe Berlingers documentary series Wrong Man shows what long form documentary journalism can achieve. PATRICIA RORRER OBITUARY. Her defense was essentially that she and Andrew Katrinak had remained friendly, so she wouldn't want to hurt him. See Patricia Rorrer full list of movies and tv shows from their career. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. (A good point. . 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, https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/convenient-suspect-a-wrongful-conviction-in-the-murder-in-lehigh-valley. Because when she did, she quickly began to realize that there was a lot more to the story than the public ever knew. But based on his body/head size and the lack of decomposition of the bodies, it seems likely they had been alive for quite some time after being kidnapped. 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. 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. We work hard to help with things that can not be accomplished in prison. Patricia has been wrongfully convicted of murdering Joann and Alex Katrinak in 1994. She needs to be freed! The 26-year-old was recently married, and this would be four-month-old Alex's first Christmas. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. According to the LA Times, the United States Supreme Court struck down the conviction of death row inmate Curtis Flowers, who was prosecuted six times for the same crime of quadruple murder, and by the same prosecutor, in a case riddled with evidentiary problems and allegations of racial bias, according to the press statement. 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. The series was produced by Joe Berlinger, who made the Paradise Lost documentaries, which garnered actor Johnny Depps attention and ultimately helped free the West Memphis Three. Mizgerd said Rorrer is aware the show is airing and is hopeful it may bring new attention to her case. 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. Rorrer claims the DNA evidence used to send . When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. 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. Lieutenant Christopher Coble and Sergeant Suzanne Pearson would later testify that Patricia cried and apologized to 18-month-old Nicole, telling the baby, Im sorry for doing this to you and lamenting to the officers that she would never see little Nicole again. Meanwhile, interest in Patricias plight continues on social media. Documentary Sep 20, 2022 42 min iTunes. Both were deceased. The defense called into question both the motive and the shaky DNA hair evidence at the time. Patricia Rorrer was wrongfully convicted of Murder. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. Prosecutors at the time used this angry phone call as motive for Patricia to travel 500 miles to the Katrinak house, cut a phone line, break into the basement door, put them into Joann's car and march Joann and Alex to their eventual death - killing them in a field. And it certainly didn't make me mad enough to jump in my car, drive 500 miles one way and kill two people I'd never met--one an infant child. With Chris Anderson, Fatima Silva. Read and download theDen of Geek Lost in Space Special Edition Magazineright here! An expert will be allowed to examine evidence from the 1994 . [1] The mitochondria, and thus mitochondrial DNA, are passed exclusively from mother to offspring through the egg cell. . 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. Dial-a-problem. Patricia was convicted based on her head hairs being found in the victim's car. Deal refused. In his dissenting opinion, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas acknowledged the case might not have even been heard by the Supreme Court had it not been for the media that reinvestigated it. McIntyre said a conspiracy theory is preposterous and he's surprised Rorrer is making another attempt to get out of prison. Criminals aren't always the smartest folks - this area highlights the common (and reoccurring) mistakes they make. And why was my defense not provided with the "No Roots Attached" report which is exculpatory evidence, at trial.? I was like OK, maybe she was tired, you know with a new baby. Further, an early FBI report said the hairs found in the car had no roots which contain the DNA suggesting an evidence switcheroo. Episode Info. No charmed life. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On. Or identify other people in their lives who might have benefited from either the Katrinak's deaths or disappearance? At first, a broad-daylight abduction of a mother and her infant seemed unlikely. 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. Rorrer and Andrew broke off their . 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. 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. Share Memories & Support the Family. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. But Patricia had moved from Pennsylvania years ago, and she'd started her own family in North Carolina. She had a suitcase packed, Devine said. As noted earlier, there was hair found in the victims hand, fingernail fragments found on her body, and also a cigarette butt. Dance defense. Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. But if Rorrer was a genuine suspect, it's likely investigators would have attempted the mitochondrial DNA match on the hair anyway. 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. In April 1995, the family buried Joann and Alex in a single bronze casket after a funeral mass at a Bethlehem church. More hairs there. The couple moved into Andrews sturdy brick house at 740 Front Street in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Patricia Rorrer's Story. FBI didn't follow up on Patricia's alibi for months (6 months?) 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. Patricia Taylor Allanson, the Deadly Magnolia, was released from prison in 1999. In 2015, I discovered an FBI report that states the hair used to convict me had "No Roots Attached." However, her name was not on the sign-in list. Tapps lawyer saidWrong Mans in-depth investigation into the Tapp conviction helped free an innocent man.. Episode 7. I am innocent of these crimes, and I should not have lost the best years of my life in a prison cell. Lehigh Cty.) 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. I know that if I get a fair trial, I will win and be freed. To my knowledge these items have never been DNA tested but the prosecutor stipulated that the hair in Joann's hand does not belong to me, and Dr. Tom Jensen, the PSP forensic scientist noted that the fingernail is to large to belong to me.. Who does this evidence belong to? Three days later, Joann had plans to pick up her mother-in-law, Veronica Katrinak, to go Christmas shopping. The investigation that led to her identification and then turned up enough evidence to arrest and convict Patricia Rorrer was interesting. Rorrer was the ex-girlfriend of Joann's husband . 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? Patricia is and has been fighting that she is innocent from the very beginning. 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.