This week we%u2019re in Washington discussing high school dropouts from Hell. Jinaga said she was going home to her third-floor apartment and left. There were bleach stains on the carpet; her body was covered in motor oil from the waist down; Her fingers and fingernails were cleaned and then doused with toilet bowl cleaner; and burn marks made it look like someone had tried to burn her body and the apartment. His lawyers say that in some ways, at least, he would have been better off if he had been. The partygoers become the main suspects in the eyes of the police, but not everyone is sure. I felt like I was kidnapped, Fair said in last months interview, when explaining his decision to pursue his claims of negligence, civil rights violations and malicious prosecution. A recent immigrant from India and a graduate of Rutgers University, Jinaga had worked at EMC in Bellevue. Fair had entered an Alford plea, which meant that he accepted the plea agreement while still maintaining his innocence a common tactic when you cant afford to go to trial. Using CrimeDoor you can explore evidence, review thousands of case files, look into cold cases, and help unravel True Crimes most notorious unsolved mysteries. A jury note poses the questions: Why was the (neighbor) given immunity and why was he limited to the questions he answered? Do not make any assumptions about what [the neighbor] would have said or speculate about whether the testimony would have been favorable to a particular party.. Now, more than two years later, Fair is suing King County, the city of Redmond and Redmond Police Capt. The key difference between them and Fair, the suit alleges, is that none of them were Black. For eight years, hed gotten used to living an isolated life. This case was solved by forensic evidence, the prosecution claimed in a 2016 court filing leading up to Fairs first trial. Ehlert also defended an immunity deal with the suspected neighbor, and the decision to solely prosecute Fair for first-degree murder with sexual motivation a charge that hinged mostly on trace DNA collected from a crime scene teeming with genetic evidence linked to multiple people. In the photos of the party, Jinagas smiling, and wearing a Little Red Ridinghood costume. . The investigation came down to physical evidence, primarily DNA, which took a long time to materialize, he added. But the charge that surely stood out to him was from 2004: a third-degree rape charge. He heard about her accolades from family and friends. King County wants to know, XFL is back in Seattle heres what you need to know, Legislation seeks to strenghten Washingtons abortion laws, Robbery suspect ends up hiding in a tree | Podcast. Never in his 27-year career had Coats experienced such a challenging case, before or after the Jinaga homicide, he said. Then, due to inexcusable delays in Fairs trial and prolonged pretrial detention, he spent more than nine years in the King County Correctional Facility as an innocent man, in conditions of inhumane confinement that are well known to have a detrimental effect on mental health, the suit contends. He also was sentenced to 272 months, or about 22 1/2 years, for a conviction of aggravated kidnapping. After the jury in his first trial deadlocked in 2017, King County prosecutors tried Fair again in 2019. Source. In witness statements in his police file, a couple of people knew him by his first initial; a few people described him by his costume a borrowed construction worker outfit. Jinaga had been gagged with duct tape. He told detectives he wanted to explore., At the end of the interview, when investigators had started putting pressure on him, he asked investigators to turn off the recording, and he discussed something that cant be found in the police record. Arpana Jinaga was killed on November 1, 2008, at approximately 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning. This week we take a look at the unsolved murder of 24 year old Arpana Jinaga.
Unsolved: A halloween party that became a horrific ending for one young woman. There were drinks and snacks set up on tables outside, and according to witness statements, people passed between apartments and balconies pretty freely. You cant leave out the fact that there was basically everyone elses DNA at the scene, too. Fairs 23-page complaint, filed last month by his attorney, Ryan Dreveskracht, contends police and prosecutors botched the probe and wrongly targeted him because he was a Black man with a criminal record, despite evidence implicating Jinagas then-neighbor, who is white. Fairs lawsuit contends the probable cause affidavit used to support the murder charge omitted multiple facts, including that several other mens DNA also was found on crime scene evidence and items found in the dumpster. He was kept in isolation for six of those years which meant he spent 23 hours a day in his cell. We were restricted in what we could say in that they may have acted together, said Brian McDonald, one of two lead prosecutors on the case. The suit contends that Fair never would have been in that cell and certainly not for years if he werent a Black man with a criminal record. Tornado confirmed in Newton Co. Monday morning; no warning issued by NWS, Joplin Public Library displays newest exhibit featuring 'Lost and Found' Items, Local school district celebrates young readers with annual ceremony, Local man charged with Drug Trafficking and Illegally possessing firearms, 'Disgraced' healthcare professional steals over $1,000,000 from patients with COVID-19 scheme, News To Know: historic blizzards out west turn to mudslide fears, and new house committee looks to curb Chinese aggression. Her son, Malachi (age 12) was the center of her universe according to family. There were no witnesses to the crime and no one confessed to committing the homicide. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. . Fair didnt know anyone else at the complex, and had no idea, when he arrived, that a costume party was about to take over. And perhaps the most stand-out detail about the investigation into the neighbor: according to interviews by the police, at 10 a.m. the morning that Jinaga was killed, he drove two hours to the Canadian border and tried to blow through the gates without a passport. According to the transcript of his police interview, he told investigators that he heard sounds coming from her apartment around 3 a.m., and called her in the morning, around 10. Jay Inslee and, By Jerry Cornfield jcornfield@soundpublishing.com March 1, 2023 1:30 am, By Jerry Cornfield jcornfield@soundpublishing.com February 21, 2023 4:50 pm, Divisive bills on pursuits, gun purchases edge closer to House votes, What do you do with your food waste? It wasnt guarded throughout the day or overnight, Coats said. Rather than knocking on his door, like they did with the dozens of witnesses theyd interviewed in the previous three weeks, the detectives staked out Fairs friends moms house in the Central District, where hed been staying, in plain clothes and an unmarked car. Fair would eventually be charged with Arpana's murder, booked in the fall of 2010, and held in a Seattle facility pending trial. I just dont want to be around nobody, he said. The county jail wasnt built for long-term stays typically not longer than a year so he didnt have access to any programming or education. Theres very little justice left to salvage. There is, however, a person trying to salvage a life interrupted, trying to return to life after a decade in purgatory, thanks to a legal system that still wont concede its done anything wrong. Arpana Jinaga was a 24-year-old computer programmer, who had moved to the Pacific Northwest in March of 2008. And they did.. Arpana Jinaga. Multiple people attended the Halloween party, the last place Jinaga was seen, so police worked to track down and collect DNA samples from the partygoers. For eight years, hed gotten used to living an isolated life. She had a keen interest in engineering and won several innovation competitions. Her father reached out to an acquaintance in King County, who went to her apartment to check on her. In late October 2010, criminal charges were filed against Fair, who was staying with another tenant at the apartment building during the time of the party. Would you buy these jute bag pants for Rs 60,000? Another resident at the apartment complex commited suicide just days after her death, and his DNA was never compared to the crime scene. And that wouldnt surprise me at all with her, Lee said. In 2008, 24-year-old Arpana Jinaga and her neighbors threw a big Halloween party at their apartment complex in Redwood, Washington, and other than the typical drama accompanying partying in your . He was kept in isolation for six of those years which meant he spent 23 hours a day in his cell. Leis uncle, Robert Lee, speculates that her love for her son played a role in her death. . And finally, they found a match to a tiny sliver of DNA so small that it had to be sent to a specialized lab on the front of Jinagas neck. WALK directly into crime scenes. And just like that, he was cleared of all charges, and walked free. Ive never seen a worse case, says Corinne Sebren, one of Fairs lawyers, who specializes in civil rights cases. Its the burn marks on her bedroom carpet and on the satin sheets pulled from the garbage dumpster. The first was one of Jinagas neighbors, a white man in his twenties the same neighbor whod entered the apartment with Jinagas family friend and an early prime suspect in the case. A tech genius. Now, at 38, Fair is trying to build a life from scratch. A DNA fueled case. Only Murders In the Building, on Hulu, follows three fans of a Serial-like show called All Is Not OK in Oklahoma. I dont think he killed Arpana. That night, Jinaga co-hosted a Halloween party that spanned multiple units in the Valley View apartments in a small Seattle suburb called Redmond. Cameron Johnson (@camsonjohneron) Instagram photos and videos 381 Followers, 618 Following, 37 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Cameron Johnson (@camsonjohneron) The neighbor initially neglected to tell detectives about phone calls he made to Jinaga at 3 a.m. Later on the morning of her slaying, he drove to the Canadian border and attempted to cross it without a passport but was denied entry. Her apartment was decorated as a haunted forest, one of. During the trials, the neighbor, whom prosecutors at one point granted immunity for information, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. One woman who attended the party discovered three missed calls from Fair, made at around 4:45 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2008. Most of the people at the Halloween party at the Valley View Apartments didnt remember Emanuel Fairs name. Leis was a 31-year-old single mother, who owned her own home and was known for her caring, bubbly personality at Independences Walmart. The prosecutors office also provided an uncut hourlong recording of an interview of former Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecuting Attorney Erin Ehlert in 2020 for a true crime podcast called Suspect, which examined the case.
What happens next in the Arpana Jinaga murder case? According to police logs, in February 2010, Coats reached out to Allison DuBois the psychic who was the inspiration for the CBS show. His attorneys allege Fair was isolated as the main suspect for her murder. plea, which meant that he accepted the plea agreement while still maintaining his innocence a common tactic when you cant afford to go to trial. The case is being investigated by Independence Police Department and the KBI. Despite the apparent evidence against him, investigators let him leave the police station with his Blackberry, which, according to police records, he subsequently scrubbed. for the first time on Oct. 31, 2008, in what would turn out to be the hours before her death. Fair crossed paths with Jinaga for the first time on Oct. 31, 2008, in what would turn out to be the hours before her death. The woman told RPD the first of these calls resulted in a long recorded voicemail in which she heard constant movement, but no words. Our contact center hours are listed below and we respond to all inquiries in one business day or less. While he waited for his trial, that clock ticked closer: he turned 30, then 35; his aunt started sending him newspaper clippings with family members obituaries. Emanuel says that while he was in jail, he dreaded the possibility of being convicted and exonerated. When lead Detective Brian Coats looked at photos of the party, he noticed Fair the only African American male at the party. He said he looked like an outsider, and a background check found that he had criminal history and a third-degree rape charge. Other than Fair and the neighbor, no other DNA profiles from partygoers were found on evidence at the crime scene. We want to hear it. When Fair walked out of the house, he says, the unmarked car started rolling toward him. Rather than knocking on his door, like they did with the dozens of witnesses theyd interviewed in the previous three weeks, the detectives staked out Fairs friends moms house in the Central District, where hed been staying, in plain clothes and an unmarked car. Source. At his second trial, a jury found him not guilty. Johnson, Jones and Peyton have been charged with first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. All the while, though, he had faith. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time We won't share it with anyone else. In fact, police files illustrate mistakes that span from the elementary to the bizarre. Convicting Fair would not come easy. I dont want to pretend like it doesnt affect me, he says. One juror mentioned a lack of security on the dumpster where a majority of the evidence pointing to Fair was discovered and the potential for tampering. Her comforter, which had been on her bed at the time of the party, was found soaked and laying in the bathtub in the bathroom. For three and a half decades, her disappearance was a mystery - a riddle neither authorities . A spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office said in an email, we look forward to addressing these allegations in a public courtroom, and we are confident in our case.. He spent three years in prison for the charge. Her body was bruised and her teeth were all signs that shed put up a fight. After nine years of fighting, Fair has the freedom he deserves, defense attorney Ben Goldsmith said. How the injured occurred is listed as assaulted / strangled by other, it said. The party was big enough that it spanned multiple apartments and drew many revelers. The residents of the Valley View apartments organize a big costume party. Cameron Johnson - Director Of Business Development - XSharp | LinkedIn Cameron Johnson Director of Business Development at XSharp Greater Seattle Area 135 followers 131 connections Join to. In 2008, Fair was named as the lead suspect in a . Jinaga, a 24-year-old software engineer from India, had attended Rutgers University, won an international software award and was a rising star at the Bellevue company where she worked. And thats hard.. But going by the witness statements, it was nothing too out-of-the-ordinary, and everyone seemed to have had a good night, overall. On Oct. 30, 2010, he was placed in a holding cell in Seattles King County jail while he awaited trial. Arpana Jinaga Unresolved Arpana Jinaga In October of 2008, a 24-year-old computer programmer living in the Seattle area would attend a Halloween party in her apartment complex. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, Police arrest man suspected of robbing downtown, South Hill banks, 82-year-old Mead man dies from injuries sustained in December crash near Whitworth , Family settles with Spokane County for $7.5 million in 2019 murder-suicide , Authorities in Oregon investigating incident that sent man with explosive device to Sacred Heart , Kohberger housed in small jail with mix of alleged criminals , Kohberger housed in small jail with mix of alleged criminals, Former Gonzaga guard Kyle Bankhead crafts game plan against alma mater, Family settles with Spokane County for $7.5 million in 2019 murder-suicide, McCarthy wins speakership on 15th vote after concessions to hard right. A primary suspect at first was Cameron Johnson, Jinaga's neighbor. Inside, Jinagas body was on her bedroom floor, naked, covered in a sheet. The 100 Best Albums of 2022, Rolling Stones account of Fairs case and the investigation into Jinagas murder is based on more than a thousand pages of case files and legal documents. (Rolling Stone was not able to locate the neighbor, who we have chosen not to name, though he has denied any involvement in previous interviews.) The State Court of Appeals upheld the courts decision. I feel like she may have been in a protective mode or a deflective mode from something happening with him. Amritpal Singh's aide Lovepreet Toofan released from Amritsar jail, 1 year of Russia-Ukraine war: Here are top defining images, Sidhu Moose Wala murder accused clash in Punjab jail, two killed, Congress leader receives threat call, asked to stop speaking against Amritpal Singh, Top AAP leaders, workers detained as party protests Sisodia's CBI questioning, IndiGo Surat-Delhi flight diverted to Ahmedabad after bird hit, Bharat Jodo Yatra II, from east to west, under active consideration: Jairam Ramesh. We cannot comment on this open investigation at the time.. The building was motel-style, so everyones front door faced the outside of the building, and for the party that night, four residents including Jinaga decorated their apartments and opened their doors. The county jail wasnt built for long-term stays typically not longer than a year so he didnt have access to any programming or education. Phone records show he made a handful of phone calls between 3 and 4 in the morning some to a friend who was a former sex worker, and a few to Potts, leaving voicemails that sounded like pocket dials. DNA profiles from other tenants were found in Jinagas apartment. All we can do is try to get some semblance of making Emanuel whole again., Im out, Fair says, but Im not free.. IPD turned the case over to the county attorneys office, who said the following via a phone interview: The charges have been filed and they speak for themselves. Fairs lawsuit cites a comment Coats made during his interview for the Suspect podcast that Fair was the only African American at the party in the photos. Fair said he may have dialed the number by accident, while sleeping on his phone. When he ran a background check, he found that Fair had a record mostly juvenile offenses like possession of drugs and an unlicensed weapon. This restriction allowed the defense to argue that any evidence involving the neighbor should be reasonable doubt as to whether Fair committed the crime, McDonald said. What still stands out to Redmond police Lt. Brian Coats, years after the body of Arpana Jinaga was discovered in her apartment in 2008, is the smell of bleach and how her bedroom was saturated with an oily substance later determined to be motor oil. The investigators weave the evidence into a tapestry of potential suspects. The night before Jinaga was discovered, the tenants of the apartment building where she had lived hosted a Halloween party, according to court documents. His aunt packed lunch and snacks, she says, and sat on those hard benches for hours. She describes them as the worst years. Living with them now, Fair is taking small steps toward building a life of his own. It contends Fair was asleep at his friends apartment when Jinaga likely was attacked, and that he didnt attempt to leave the area: He helped clean up outdoor areas after the party and stayed with his friend at her apartment for two more days. Shatterdaymorn category podcast true crime Plot summary Jinaga and other tenants he hadnt met were co-hosting a large Halloween party in several units. Oh crap, he responded, before insisting that he didnt remember why he called her. On Oct. 31, 2008, 24-year-old Arpana Jinaga dressed up in a Little Red Riding Hood costume and prepared for a Friday night to remember. 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