Select "match all" to require all fields. Counsel for Patricia Rorrer, 52, . Appeal from the PCRA Order May 26, 2016. Patricias defenders also say Andrew Katrinak staged the scene at his house by prying the door and cutting the phone line. 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. Yet, everything changed when they lost their 3-month-old son to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). An exterior door to their basement had been wrenched open, the lock hasp's screws literally ripped from the wall. She needs to be freed! The victim in this crime had a hair clutched in her right hand, and three pieces of fingernail found on her body, none of which has ever been tested. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. They allege that the North Carolina resident stealthily drove 500 miles to Pennsylvania and killed out of a sense of deadly indignation. It's sad looking back at those Forensic Files episodes where the science was junk but they portray it as a solid case. 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. Advocates for her innocence complain of hype surrounding the case. 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? This had been taken just 11 days before Joann's disappearance. 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. Another former boyfriend said she talked about Andrew frequently and liked to gaze at old photos of him. This state is corrupt as in every state! Share Memories & Support the Family. 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. You couldnt fire a second shot. That's absolutely ridiculous, yet that is the only motive ever given for why I supposedly committed this crime. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. But when did he find the evidence of the break-in? Murder victim. Episode 7. When their bodies were found four months later, police sought the clues to find their killer. 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. 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. Despite the new evidence and hypotheses, the courts have rejected all of Patricias bids for a new trial. She was born on Jan. 24, 1964, in eastern Pennsylvania and moved back and forth between there and Davidson County, North Carolina. 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. She had a suitcase packed, Devine said. Or did they? 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? I was convicted on microscopic hair comparison and DNA testing that rendered a "match" of 1 in 37,000. Murder in Lehigh Valley Keith Morrison Investigates (1x120) Detective Barry Grube found it odd that Andrew fixed the severed phone line before police examined it in essence tampering with evidence. During these 4 years, many in the Lehigh Valley, PA community developed opinions on the case. Plus, two men, her babys father and his friend, testified they saw Patricia at the line-dancing club the night of the homicide. Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve the legal counsel for Patricia. 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. Its doors were locked, but the keys were inside the vehicle. Great communicator. Her friends say she was railroaded by the system and they want Chris and Fatima to join their fight to free her. Rorrer has filed a petition to get new evidence admissible that he said could set her free. 6-10. 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. Why did the police not look into these things? . Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Use quotation marks to search as a Also she worked as a realtor so it's not that unreasonable for her to know which line to cut. Thats all for this post. As for the words exchanged on the call between the two big-haired women, Joann told Andrew that Patricia had used profanity; Patricia said it was the other way around. 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. Two of the seasons three cases will feature female inmates. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Did investigators look for phone calls between Andrew and Patricia prior to December 11, 1994? 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. 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. Please watch the show Wrong Man which also found new evidence that supports my innocence. 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. I didn't see other potential suspects highlighted. We affirm. 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. As noted earlier, there was hair found in the victims hand, fingernail fragments found on her body, and also a cigarette butt. "The DA threatened if he ever said that to anybody he would never work in law enforcement again," Neely said. Every time you take your infant to the Dr., they take measurements, so I'm wondering if records exist that show the baby was always in the higher percentile, or if he was say, 60-70th percentile, then suddenly BAM! Patricia's investigators are petitioning to DNA test the single strain of hair found in Joann's hand. It will show you that I have not committed these murders. 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. 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. ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, Fire broke out in a Lower Macungie apartment building, Champions of Magic's Alex McAleer gives an exciting look at the upcoming live show, Pet of the Month: Nina from Ruff Life Rescue, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor needs volunteers, Allentown Public Library celebrates Dr. Seuss's birthday with children's activities, Kindness Project teams up with Flavor Nation to give away free tacos, History's Headlines: The Lehigh Valley's music man, Berks County Parks invites people to their Winter Wellness Walk, Royals host "kids takeover" game where kids get a taste of the sports business, Wilson School students raise $83k to fight childhood cancer, Berks County Intermediate Unit receives $3.18 million in grants for Head Start programs, 'First in the nation' bill to provide free screenings for breast cancer to receive full Pa. 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? 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. Pfeiffer and Burke claimed that police Sgt. 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. The episode made a special point about locating the photograph of Patricia Rorrer with dyed blonde hair. At 10:30 p.m., Andrew reported his wife missing. The same source indicates Patricia Rorrer has repeatedly appealed for a retrial and exoneration, but each request has been denied. But thats just some of the ammo on Team Patricias battleship. A photo at the time showed that Patricia had dyed her hair blonde, which matched the hair found. 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. Joe Kennedys talks to Michael Brinkle, Patricia Rorrer's former neighbor who reaffirms that he had sold her a .22 Jennings handgun. INMATE INFORMATION. Felix (Phil) Rosado and Terrell (Rell) Woolfolk-Carter, WELCOME HOME!!!!! Do any of the TV episodes suggest the possibility of their being held alive for some time? How about the phone line being cut? Pat Rorrer received a sentence of life imprisonment for her crime. Startling new allegations surround one of Lehigh County's most notorious murder cases. "Deadly Women" Green-Eyed Monsters (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb Right to Redemption . Because when she did, she quickly began to realize that there was a lot more to the story than the public ever knew. Unseasonably warm weather in late December suggested that the victims were there since they were killed. 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. She has been incarcerated for 24+ years. Patricia Rorrer: Guilty Or Not?. The FBI declared the strongest piece Family members found Joanns tan Toyota sitting vacant in the parking lot of McCartys, a nearby bar. They released a poster of Joann and Alex, noting that the baby had "almond-shaped blue eyes," weighed 18 . !) and detractors (This is another bs attempt to free a psycho). 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. Aside from the hair, there was almost zero forensic evidence. Police couldnt determine whether the baby died of exposure or suffocation. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Morrison was 16 weeks pregnant when her lifeless body was found beaten beyond recognition and dumped along a remote country road, reads the statement. 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. At the trial, prosecutor Michael McIntyre alleged that Patricia remained obsessed with Andrew Katrinak long after their breakup despite testimony that shed had many boyfriends and live-in lovers to occupy her bandwidth. Patricia Rorrer's Story - RIGHT TO REDEMPTION Decades-old Lehigh Valley murder case back in national spotlight - WFMZ.com Bio by: Karen Valentine 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. We work hard to help with things that can not be accomplished in prison. Patricia and her husband broke up after the babys death. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. However, as profiled on IDs Deadly Women: Green-Eyed Monsters, Joanns husbands ex-girlfriend, Patricia Rorrer, was eventually identified as their perpetrator. They were hardly decomposed after a mild winter. MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: Patricia Lynne Rorrer appeals the PCRA court's dismissal of her fourth PCRA petition as untimely filed. July 16, 1932 - September 10, 2020, Dr. Edward E. "Gene" Rorrer, Sr. passed away on September 10, 2020 in Abingdon, Virg. It's really terrifying that that was regarded as damning evidence, especially now that the rest of the case that might have appeared to give it context has been so undermined. Very true - I can't remember if the show went through that. Dr. Edward E. "Gene" Rorrer, Sr. Obituary They would have been held alive. On Thursday, December 15, 1994, Joann Katrinak and her three-month-old son, Alex, went missing from their Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, home. The couple moved into Andrews sturdy brick house at 740 Front Street in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Why was the jury never told that Patricia Rorrer was under surveillance in North Carolina at the time of the crime? She intends to file a motion for a new trial. Free Patricia Rorrer - Facebook 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. Meanwhile, the case of the missing mother and baby turned into colossal news across the U.S. and internationally. Read more of his work here or find him on Twitter @tsokol. further reading: True Detective Season 3 and the West Memphis Three. 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. With Lynnanne Zager, Joann Katrinak, Alex Katrinak, Patricia Rorrer. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. State police and the Philadelphia division of the FBI appealed to the public for leads. Patricias marriage fell apart, and she returned to Pennsylvania, where she fell in love with Andrew Andy Katrinak after meeting him at a restaurant. Neely said the first officer on the scene didn't believe Rorrer committed the crime. Still, no good leads materialized. This explosive case is back in the spotlight, reopening old wounds and creating new ones. Patricia Rorrer was convicted of both deaths in the mid-90's and is serving a life sentence. They also found a photo of Patricia taken 11 days before the homicide. But "Wrong Man" investigators discover that there is . 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. She had a lawyer who never tried a crimsoned case let alone a murder case, she believed that it would not be a problem because she was innocent. To date, the PA courts refuse to let me test this evidence which will prove my innocence. Unbloody vehicle. Great catch. 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. After her arraignment, she had to walk past a crowd of dozens of locals screeching hang her! and baby killer! Patricia clung to a Polaroid picture showing her and her own little girl. Her mother, Patricia Chambers, provided day care for their baby son, Charles. They moved into her house in Salisbury County, staying together for about two years. I was convicted on the basis of a DNA match made to the root of one (1) hair found in Joann's car. Rorrer was tried and convicted in 1994 for the brutal killing of Katrinak and her three-month-old son. I wasn't hung up on Andy, and I didn't want him back. At the states request, the instructor wore a wire during a phone conversation with Patricia. She is sitting in Muncey Women's Correctional Facility for over 23 years now for something. 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. Berlingers landmark HBO documentary Paradise Lost Trilogy helped lead to the release of the wrongfully convicted West Memphis Three after 18 years of incarceration. We need to know who killed them! 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. They released a list of cases affected by it. Andrew described his existence with Joanne and Alex as a little Camelot., Ex-spouse off list.