My husband passed away of a broken heart, Sarah OConnor said on the Montel Williams Show in 2001. After more than 20 years, questions are finally being raised about the many problems that plague this case, and the compelling evidence that points to the wrongful conviction of Patricia Rorrer. They moved into her house in Salisbury County, staying together for about two years. Tragedy also touched Patricias life. The Ex Files: Directed by Rob Rosen. Sad discovery. As for an epilogue on ex-flame Andrew Katrinak, he has moved to Colorado and kept a low profile since the trial ended. 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. Watch Wrong Man: Ep 203 - Patricia Rorrer: The Hang Up Online - STARZ At 17, Patricia dropped out of high school and married landscaper Gary Gabard. It was one of the biggest murder cases to rock the Lehigh Valley. Six hairs recovered from Joanns car and two from the site where the bodies were discovered became the main evidence used against Patricia. Is to get Patricia a fair trial that will prove her innocence, and give justice to Joann and Alex who died a horrific death. Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? She got 12 months of probation for shoplifting at a Walmart in Lexington, North Carolina. It was love at first sight when Joann OConnor met Andy Katrinak in the spring of 1992. A copy of an undated handout photo of Joann Marie Katrinak and 15-week-old Alex Martin Katrinak, both of Catasauqua, Pa. who were found dead in Dec. of 1994. And yikes, he discovered someone had cut one of the houses phone lines and pried the hinge on the basement door. Highly charged case. She had a suitcase packed, Devine said. 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. Decades-old Lehigh Valley murder case back in national spotlight - WFMZ.com From harrowing crimes and salacious scandals to the in-depth investigations and heart-breaking mysteries behind these real people, real stories, the always revealing network challenges our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. 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. Patricia and her husband broke up after the babys death. Partly to mostly cloudy, brisk, and cool. Im still on the fence, but boy do I ever want to find the answers!. Lehigh County Deputies escort accused murderer Patricia Rorrer, as she arrives for the beginning of her trial at the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown, on Friday, Feb. 6, 1998. Investigation Discovery on Twitter: "Patricia Rorrer sits in prison for 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. He said, "Frankly, I was appalled at what I saw. Sundays special is the first of at least two Morrison is working on with Investigation Discovery, who he says have given me unlimited freedom to look into cases that interest me.. More than 20 years after her conviction, Patricia Rorrer still has advocates working to exonerate her. Sharon Scott is the President and General Manager. PATRICIA RORRER, : : Petitioner : v. : CIVIL ACTION NUMBER 19-01398 : WENDY K. NICHOLAS, : : Respondents : MOTION FOR DISCOVERY AND CONSOLIDATED MEMORANDUM OF LAW . The prosecution alleged that Patricia called the Katrinaks house from a pay phone in Pennsylvania. Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. All rights reserved. Weak wages. How to make sure your tax refund, other mail doesn't get stolen, Cher splits from rumoured fianc Alexander AE Edwards, Ed Sheeran tells how he was comforted by Stormzy the day Jamal Edwards died, Noel Gallagher splits with rumoured new girlfriend Dorothea Gundtoft, Katy Perry to be replaced by big time stars on American Idol while she performs at King Charles coronation, Anna Wintour appears to confirm rumoured romance with Bill Nighy at Met Gala, CT: RESTAURANT PREPS FOR KING'S CORONATION, RAW: NY: MET GALA RED CARPET ARRIVALS (MORE), American Idol Top 8 Decided in Twist After Judges Song Contest (RECAP), NY: MET GALA KARL LAGERFELD COSTUME INSTITUTE, RAW: GALA: SERENA WILLIAMS/KARLIE KLOSS ANNOUNCE PREGNANCIES. Shortly before Katrinak and Alex disappeared, Rorrer called the Katrinak house. ID has joined forces with Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison to revisit a 1994 double-murder that rattled Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. For more information, visit: http://www.peacockproductions.tv/. 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). A nail that does. Patricia Lynne Rorrer made for a good suspect. Her sister vows to keep standing for our missing so that one day that we will be seen as the same as important., Authorities say the brothers, ages 3 and 4at the time they went missing, disappeared from their home in California City four days before Christmas 2020. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? She was also accused of breaking into barns, stealing horses, and underfeeding the ones she owned. Deal refused. Ever the neutral newsman, Morrison tells PEOPLE he came away from working on the Investigation Discovery special with more questions than answers. 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. After Joann Katrinak, the wife of Patricias former flame, turned up dead along with her infant son, prosecutors suspected Patricia. 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 Katrinaks husband, was convicted of the murders and has maintained her innocence for 20 years while serving life behind bars. For more on the Katrinak murder case, you can watch Autopsy Six: A Fatal Attraction for free on YouTube. Its definitely getting rougher every day, Andrew told the Morning Call. Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. 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. endobj Book her. 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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. Some lawyers call microscopic hair analysis junk science that today wouldnt qualify as evidence in a trial like Rorrers. This is a genuine puzzler, Morrison tells PEOPLE about the case that inspired Sundays two-part special, Murder in Lehigh Valley: Keith Morrison Investigates. It showed her usually all-brown hair haphazardly highlighted blond. Documentary, Drama 2020-2020. I dont think she was ever scared until we put the cuffs on her.. The police considered the possibility that Joann ran away, a theory disputed by her family. Patricia Rorrer: An Update - Forensic Files Now 2 0 obj Patricia Rorrer (right) is led to her hearing in Lehigh County Courthouse Wednesday morning, August 26, 1998 by a sheriffs deputy, at left. On a secret recording, Patricia asked Jarrett to vouch for her attendance or she might go to the electric char. Trash-talking ex. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Sir I would not kill somebody and I definitely wouldnt kill somebody I never met, Rorrer said. A hair that does, Why did they fail to test a piece of flesh adhering to a torn fingernail fragment recovered from Joann's chest? 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. Investigators theorized that this action angered Patricia into a jealous rage that ended with abduction and murder. Two-Part Special Premieres Sunday, March 5 at 8/7c; Features Exclusive First-Ever Interview with Inmate Patricia Rorrer . Until next time, cheers. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Joann was fun, likable, beautiful, always happy, said her sister-in-law Cindy Wiard. - 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 . While baby Alexs cause of death has never been determined, Joann had been severely beaten and shot. Stable situation. He gave an audio interview to the Wrong Man investigators when they made a surprise visit to his house, but he declined to appear on camera. Her brother returned home but she never did. After all, one of the key pieces of evidence recovered from the crime scene and Joanns vehicle were dyed blonde hair strands. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. All of STARZ blockbuster movies, epic originals, and addictive series. Andrew mentioned to police that his former live-in girlfriend Patricia Rorrer once managed a horse stable two miles from the bodies location and would have been familiar with the riding trails close to the murder scene. What Happened To High School Senior Erica Fraysure? Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. Great catch. The Free Patricia Rorrer page responds to comments from supporters (How is this even possible that this woman is still in jail?!? She is as effective at telling a story today as she was back then. Shes attracted the help of writer Tammy Mal (full name Tammy Malinowski OReilly), author of Convenient Suspect, a book about the case. Neely said once state police started to focus on Rorrer as a potential suspect, they went to North Carolina where she was living and they obtained a sample of her hair to compare to the ones found at the scene. According to a Morning Call account from March 5, 1998: McIntyre leaned forward conspiratorially like someone trying to persuade another to tell a secret, lowered his voice and said: Heres what I want to know: After you killed Joann Katrinak, did you kill that baby or just leave it to die?. What is the Spanish language plot outline for The Ex Files (2022)? Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. In 1994, a mother, Joann Katrinak, and her baby disappeared and their bodies were later found in Heidelberg Township. Investigators initially keyed in on Katrinaks husband, Andrew, whod told police he thought someone broke into his house, cut the telephone line and abducted his wife and son. Next Up "We Can Now Be At Peace": Victims' Families React To "Grim Sleeper" Lonnie Franklin's Death Media galore. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Then 31 years old, she had lived a rocky existence. Most of all, Patricia said, she would like a rematch with prosecutor Michael McIntyre. And dance instructor William Jarrett couldnt remember whether she attended his dance class at the club the night of Joanns disappearance. Later, they both worked 12-hour graveyard shifts at a textile factory. Authorities said a vehicle previously purchased in Lake Orion, Michigan is linked to this Cape Girardeau, Missouri mystery. Back in 1994, a mother, Joann Katrinak, and her baby disappeared and their bodies were later found in Heidelberg Township. (We didnt get into the specifics.). The state police dropped him as a suspect. The prosecution alleged that after the murder, Patricia drove Joanns car to McCartys parking lot and backed it into a parking space. She failed miserably to convince me, or anyone else who mattered, of her innocence. Gabby Petitos fianc and person of interest in her fatal strangulation disappeared in mid-September after saying he was going for a hike. As we wait for the pending appeal, Rorrer shares her first-hand account and I talk with the prosecutor and law enforcement about the new allegations that have thrust this case back into the spotlight.. Forensic tests suggested the hair found in the car and at the murder scene came from Patricia. DNA from that and a cigarette butt linked Patricia to the offense. For every fact that is presented, there are two interpretations to give.. ", Neely said, "If there were no hair roots when this hair went to the FBI, where did a hair with a hair root come from?". But a child eyewitness told police that he had seen a white man kill her. Georgia Teen Vanished In South Carolina, Search Continues For North Carolina Girl, 11, Whose Parents Didnt Report Her Missing For Weeks, Where Is Ella Goodie? She beat Katrinak, shot her and left her and her baby for dead in the woods in Heidelberg Township. 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. Motion for Discovery (pdf) Download. It is similar to Making a Murderer it just makes you want to learn more.. 1:57. Not gender neutral. Irelands husband buried it in the yard because he didnt feel comfortable with a firearm inside, she said. In a million years, she wouldnt do anything to harm that.. 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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. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. )J?VmVcU4/+xn!U^,lKk*MKKHiT66# In fifty years, this is the most complicated case Ive ever been involved in, an investigator says of the search for Andrea Knabel. Combination locks. More dry than wet overall, but still cool and unsettled. Read More:Where is Jacqueline Crymble Now? So now, lets find out everything there is to know about her, shall we? 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. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created an age enhancement of what he may look like at age 23. Following the disappearance of Joann and Alex Katrinak, Joanns husband Andrew told police he believed someone had broken into his house, cut the telephone line and abducted his wife and son. Andrew told investigators that the unpleasant phone call between Joann and Patricia happened just three days before his wifes disappearance. Joanns car was later found next door in the parking lot of a local tavern. He said she did own a firearm, with its serial numbers filed off. And Patricia wasnt all edges. endobj Does he think Rorrer is a killer or a victim of a miscarriage of justice? . Neely said this new information could reopen the case and set Rorrer free. Charged with two counts of capital murder and two counts of kidnapping, Patricia Rorrer was quickly tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The prosecutor in this case is so vehemently determined she is guilty that at the end of the day, you are reeling. Authorities confirm former fugitive, Leticia Smith was extradited from Mexico to California. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her.Patricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. i-InD6g~v~}saG\R -(QdB]+[1xlm>Hv%} i{Fb=i~{/7=hn/JzF3XuccBb Years later, conviction in Katrinak murder still raises questions, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Pal stays true. . Years later, conviction in Katrinak murder still raises questions The case rocked Pennsylvanias Lehigh Valley and resulted in the conviction of Patricia Rorrer, now 53, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinaks husband. 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. Superior Court states that Patricia Rorrer and Andy Katrinaks romantic relationship ended in May, 1993 only one year before the murders. 2023 Warner Bros. Shes the author of four books: Little Girl Lost, Disposable Income, Tortured Minds, and Murder in Susquehanna County. Contained in Superior Courts 22-page opinion are a minimum of 24 factual errors; many of which are extremely serious. Z6DGgYP5`T30V;B:HI `{N v,mQxtGxrFwLS` KxL*sc ;fY. Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 34, damages homes, May Day: Worlds workers rally, France sees pension anger, FDIC recommends raising insured deposit limit for businesses, Biden, top lawmakers to discuss debt limit at WH May 9, What the Tech? Plus: Dead Louisiana woman found fused to sofa; JonBent Ramseys father seeks governors help with DNA testing; Australian man incarcerated for killing gay American in 1988; and Pennsylvania mother shoots her two boys in the head. 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She said that shes no fan of Forensic Files and that the show had many misrepresentations about her case and that shed heard ForensicFilesNow.com mixed up some facts as well. Patricia was wrongfully convicted and we will show you how! Police slowly built a case against Patricia. She was always looking for a fight, Gary Gabard told the Morning Call, which noted that he was a head shorter than Patricia. The team explores whether Vonda may have been wrongfully convicted, based on a shoddy investigation and circumstantial evidence. (Disclaimer: Im not a big fan of eyewitnesses who come forward years after the fact, but its possible). (Silver Spring, Md.) Why would somebody tell you, theyre going to fry me, if they didnt do it? Jarrett told Wrong Man. Both were deceased. Barry Grube, one of the few, if not only, police officers sympathetic to Patricias cause, noted that Andrew didnt seem particularly frantic while authorities searched desperately for his wife and son. Plus: Young boys body found in Nevada freezer; man accused of murdering, and Florida serial killer convicted of three murders. The case rocked Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and resulted in the conviction of Patricia Rorrer, now 53, the ex-girlfriend of Katrinak's husband. As for Joanns parents, her father died a year after the murder. How could I explain to my daughter years later that I took a plea for something I didnt do? she said. 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. Joann answered and told Rorrer to leave her family alone before hanging up. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Ch Read allPatricia Rorrer is serving a life sentence, convicted of driving 500 miles to kill her ex-boyfriend's new wife and his baby. Mike McIntyre was the first assistant district attorney in Lehigh County during the case and says he's surprised Rorrer is making another attempt to get out of prison. Ex-boyfriend Walter Blalock said that Patricia wanted him to be more like Andrew. Appeals - Patricia Rorrer 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. At the states request, the instructor wore a wire during a phone conversation with Patricia. Angry that Joann hung up on her, she stalked her for three days, then broke into her basement and cut the phone line, put a gun to Joanns head as she was placing Alex in the car, and forced her to drive to the rural area. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had almond-shaped blue eyes, weighed 18 pounds, and was circumcised.
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