Ep 18. Cold Hearted

In the Forensic Files season 12 episode 18, titled "Cold Hearted," viewers are taken on a journey following the investigation surrounding the brutal murder of a young woman named Joann Katrinak and her infant son, Alex. The episode is based on the true events that took place in December of 1994 in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania.

Joann and her husband, Andrew, had just welcomed their first child into the world and were excited about starting their life together as a family. However, their joy was short-lived when they suddenly went missing without a trace. Andrew's car was found abandoned in the parking lot of the local mall, and there was no sign of Joann or Alex.

The community was in shock and feared the worst. The FBI was called in to take over the investigation, and a massive search was launched to find the missing family. After several days of searching, Joann and Alex's bodies were discovered buried in a remote area.

The investigation quickly focused on a suspect, a man named Patricia Rorrer, who had been in a tumultuous relationship with Andrew before he met Joann. Rorrer maintained that she had nothing to do with the murders and even took a polygraph test to prove her innocence. However, the polygraph results indicated that she was lying.

The prosecution had a difficult time building a case against Rorrer, as there was no physical evidence linking her to the crime scene. However, they were able to use forensic evidence to connect her to the murder. A testing method called DNA fingerprinting was newly available at the time, and it eventually became the key piece of evidence in the case.

The episode delves into the details of the investigation and the trial, highlighting the importance of forensic science in solving crimes. It also shows the tragic impact of the murder on the victim's family and the community.

Overall, "Cold Hearted" is a gripping episode of Forensic Files that showcases the power of forensic evidence in solving crimes and delivering justice for victims.