Not sure if there would be any visible damages. After her graduation, she got a job as a software engineer at EMC, in a suburb of Seattle. Emanuel Fair stayed in the King County Correctional Facility for nearly nine years for a crime he did not commit based on a botched and bizarre murder investigation driven by racial discrimination, a recent lawsuit alleges. 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. When contacted by police, Leslie Potts falsely claimed that she was alone, even though Emanuel Fair was staying with her. According to reports, when lead Detective Brian Coats saw photos from the party, he narrowed in on Fair, who he referred to as theonly African-American male at the party on the podcast Suspect. Police attempted to identify the partygoers and interview them. Potts covered for Fair because he had a warrant out for not updating his address with his parole officer. The second trial was in 2019, where he got a not-guilty verdict. It was the combination of the various items that his DNA was on that pushed us to the point of saying we are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Emanuel Fair killed Arpana, Ehlert said in her podcast interview. According to reports, when lead Detective Brian Coats saw photos from the party, he narrowed in on Fair, who he referred to as theonly African-American male at the party on the podcast Suspect. Residents said Fair appeared relaxed when he hung out at Potts apartment for three days over the weekend. When questioned, Fair claimed he retired to Potts' apartment around 1:30am on the night of the party. The lab technicians simply could not exclude Fair as a match, and his DNA was found alongside other DNA matches. The evidence of Fairs involvement is compelling, Larson said this week. Bodicherla went to the apartment complex, where he encountered Cameron Johnson, who showed him the way to Jinaga's unit. He scrubbed his phone right after the interrogation, the lawsuit says. However, when Fair emerged as a suspect, his treatment can only be viewed as racial discrimination, his attorneys allege. On Oct. 30, 2010, Fair was placed in a Seattle holding cell while detectives gathered more evidence against him for the 2008 sexual assault and murder of a 24-year-old software engineer and Indian immigrant named Arpana Jinaga. The man was the last person to call her the night she was killed, he tried to destroy evidence of the calls, and he attempted to go to Canada after the homicide but was turned away, he said. Suspect Podcast on Amazon Music The complaint alleges that police failed to properly secure and gather evidence. DNA evidence was linked to three men and. The officers allegedly did not change gloves between evidence collections, or between rooms or locations. DNA found at the crime scene was ultimately linked to three men, but only one was charged with murder. On Thanksgiving, when he hadnt shown up to his familys dinner, Fair said an aunt called him to ask whether he was planning to come. Johnson said he heard moaning sounds coming from Jinagas apartment around 3 a.m., and he assumed she was having sex. The neighbor, who later hired a lawyer and stopped cooperating, subsequently scrubbed his phone of call and text data, the suit states. She had opened her third-floor apartment to Fair and dozens of other partygoers, who traipsed in and out during the festivities. They also failed to look for evidence of a missing bootlace. Arpana Jinaga. In addition, several neighbors in the complex told investigators that he had a sexual attraction to Jinaga, and he exhibited jealous behavior when she talked to other men at the Halloween party that night. Police believe she was killed around 8 am. The DNA on her neck was microscopic and wasn't necessarily a match, it just couldn't be excluded. The result, it claims, was a biased probe that caused Fair to be arrested and charged without probable cause for a murder he did not commit.. On Halloween night, 2008, Jinaga and several other tenants hosted a Halloween party, attended by residents of the apartment complex and their relatives and friends from outside. The officers allegedly did not change gloves between evidence collections, or between rooms or locations. Arpana Jinaga Memorial. On Tuesday, that man, Emanuel Fair, 35, was found not guilty of first-degree murder with sexual motivation by a King County jury. His lawyers said the ordeal has permanently damaged Fairs reputation, his emotional well-being, livelihood and relationships. However, when Fair emerged as a suspect, his treatment can only be viewed as racial discrimination, his attorneys allege. Johnson also had injuries that detectives said were consistent with a sexual assault. They also waited days to search a dumpster in the complex where a partial bottle of motor oil, a boot lace used to strangle Jinaga and her bed sheet and a bath robe were found. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/after-nearly-11-years-and-two-trials-killing-of-redmond-woman-remains-unsolved/, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/woman-found-dead-in-redmond-was-slain-police-say/, https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/petitions/96468-8%20Petition%20for%20Review.pdf, https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/emanuel-fair-trial-lawsuit-dna-murder-charge-1330251/, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59393415bebafb202cc26aba/t/5f0237f32005f03d23c6d73a/1593980918922/Defense-Motion-to-Compel-Source-Code.pdf. DNA from the neighbor was found on a motor oil bottle, and from another man who wasnt at the party on a bootlace likely used to strangle Jinaga. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. Around 1am, Fair visited Jinaga's apartment to eat pizza. Meanwhile they raided Emmanuels stuff and according to his best friend on the podcast took almost ALL of his things. He attributed them to wrestling a stranger he met at another Halloween party the next day, the lawsuit alleges. He also successfully represented himself in a legal claim for an injury he sustained from handcuffs, receiving a $25,000 settlement from King County in 2017. His DNA was also found, he was sexually interested in her, called her around 3am and said oh crap when caught in the lie, also matched the description of the guy seen at her door at 3am. Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. Around 2:30 am, Fair and Johnson went to Johnson's apartment and then down to Johnson's car to listen to music. In August 2009, a man named Emanuel Fair was interviewed by police. They messed up, he said. In my opinion, and in my heart, I dont have any question about anything we did in regards to charging that Emanuel Fair killed Arpana Jinaga, she said. The lawsuit alleges there was heavy drinking at the party of 40 to 50 people. 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. 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. DNA was found on a discarded bottle of motor oil (same bag as robe). Everyone seemed to have a good time, the lawsuit alleges. They found her nude body on her bedroom floor, face-down on the carpet and partially covered with cloth. However, phone records show that he was making many phone calls between 2am and 5am, including to Potts. 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. His phone records revealed that he had called Jinaga at 3am on the night of the murder, but he stated he did not remember making the calls. He used the bathroom on one occasion. Jinaga had been a prize-winner in a . Coats and another Redmond detective confronted the neighbor about his calls to Jinaga, but then released him and returned his phone without examining it. After zeroing in on Fair because of his race and rap sheet, investigators relied on cherry-picked DNA evidence while disregarding other genetic findings and suspects as part of a gather facts that fit the theory strategy, the suit alleges. She. Her apartment was decorated as a haunted forest, one of. He heard "a horrible growling" for about twenty seconds until he heard a thud. To get in one of those cheap hollow core doors (if thats what the apartment had) by kicking, you dont need to kick a hole through, just knock it out of the lock. Just to set the record straight. but Im not free., Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, but light rain makes brief return, Why 4 of Mizzou's seniors have a personal meaning for Dennis Gates, Iliman Ndiaye: Senegal midfielder an 'unbelievable' player. Some of the potential suspects were not interviewed. Maybe they realized only at the last minute that they should get rid of the sheets and empty oil bottle and without anyone seeing them do it? 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.. Fair had some criminal history: weapon and drug offenses as a juvenile, and a rape charge from 2004. The damage from that can be quite minimal and close to the floor with the door discreetly closed on departure, you might not notice unless you looked for it. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. An online memorial for Arpana has been created, for family and friends to share pictures and memories, at crypticgirl.com. Suspect is a true crime podcast that examines the murder of Arpana Jinaga who was killed at a Halloween party hosted by her apartment complex. I lost a lot. Best Arpana Jinaga Podcasts (2023) - Player 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. Johnson has denied any involvement in Jinagas death. As the fact that Fair was the only black African American at the party and involved in this case, some are also accusing racial discrimination. Guests took silly photos, downed shots and smoked pot. According to court documents, Johnson called Jinaga around 3 a.m. but did not mention that to the police during his interview. Investigators focused on Fair after seeing him in photos of the party. After a background check revealed Fairs criminal record, including a third-degree child rape conviction, Fair quickly became the new prime suspect despite leads about the neighbor and other viable suspects, the suit states. During the trials, the neighbor, whom prosecutors at one point granted immunity for information, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. A Review of the 2008 Murder Mystery of Indian immigrant, Arpana Jinaga Jinagas bruised body was discovered covered with a cloth on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. New episodes of the nine-part series will be released weekly on Tuesdays. He had a prior history of violent sexual crimes. At his second trial, a jury found him not guilty. I thought I was gonna die, Fair told Rolling Stone. I may be misremembering but I seem to remember there being explanations for Fairs DNA on those items? Im out, Fair said. Johnson has denied any involvement in Jinagas death. The medical examiner estimated Jinagas time of death was 8 a.m. Police staked out the house where he was staying, slowly rolled up on Fair and reportedly pointed guns at his chest. The neighbor, who later hired a lawyer and stopped cooperating, subsequently scrubbed his phone of call and text data, the suit states. Another apartment complex resident committed suicide just days after Jinagas death, and his DNA was reportedly never compared to the crime scene. Man jailed for 9 years sues King County, Redmond after acquittal in His legal team expanded the lawsuit in late March, adding ten more pages of allegations and the prosecutor on the case and other detectives that handled the case to the list of defendants. I hope I never have to investigate a case like this again.. He was staying with Potts in the mostly white neighborhood that weekend, and his attendance at the party was impromptu. Some guests were rowdy, but nothing out of the ordinary, it says. Arpana Jinaga. As a man who was incarcerated and released but not convicted, Fair left jail without the support and resources typically offered to exonerated people or parolees, such as job support and mental health services. Jinaga showed Fair and other partygoers something on her computer on another occasion. After the jury in his first trial deadlocked in 2017, King County prosecutors tried Fair again in 2019. Jinaga was. Most people left Jinaga's apartment after 9pm to move to another apartment. Jinagas neighbor, Johnson, was the prime suspect at first, as described in Fairs lawsuit documents. Detectives interviewed Fair three times in jail before the district attorney recommended a first-degree murder against him. She and several other residents in the complex opened the doors to their apartments for what was to be a night of fun. His attorneys allege Fair was isolated as the main suspect for her murder because of his race and his past criminal record. At approximately 8 am, Jinaga's next-door neighbor Kyle Rose, was awakened by sounds coming from her apartment. Two days later, after Jinaga hadnt shown up to work or returned calls to her family in India, a family friend and Jinagas next-door neighbor found her door kicked in and her nude body on her bedroom floor. The prosecutors office told Rolling Stone: We look forward to addressing these allegations in a public courtroom; we stand by our case., Fair said that he was reluctant to file the lawsuit at first because Jinagas family still hasnt gotten justice: theres no resolution for this case, no resolution for her.. According to court documents, a neighbor who did not attend the party reported seeing a man with olive complexion and light stubble standing in Jinagas doorway, talking to someone inside around 3 a.m. Fair went inside Potts apartment between 2:30 and 3 a.m. after listening to music with Jinagas immediate neighbor Cameron Johnson. To just dismiss it as racism is ridiculous. Cameron Johnson: a neighbour of Jinaga: he showed up to the party in Jinaga's apartment late. She was outgoing and friendly, joining a motorcycle club, practicing tae kwon do, and volunteering at an animal shelter and fire department, all within eight months of moving to Redmond, he said. At his second trial, a jury found him not guilty. 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. Jinagas neighbor, Johnson, was the prime suspect at first, as described in Fairs lawsuit documents. Man Accused Of Killing Arpana Jinaga Freed After He's Held 9 Years With Everyone seemed to have a good time, the lawsuit alleges. He also successfully represented himself in a legal claim for an injury he sustained from handcuffs, receiving a $25,000 settlement from King County in 2017. And the other DNA found was found on a robe that was likely in hanging in her bathroom, maybe he dried his hands on it while using the bathroom. She volunteered at the. The initial investigation focused on Cameron Johnson, Jinaga's neighbor. There are multiple apartments with parties and these two go to a car to listen to music?! Jinagas hands were covered in blue toilet-bowl cleaner, her body and other items were covered in motor oil, her bed had been stripped, a blanket was partially burned and her soaked comforter was found in the bathtub. Prior to that, she had attended Rutgers University on the east coast, but had grown up in the Indian city of Hyderabad as the oldest of two daughters. Witnesses said Neil Marshall, a partygoer, was sexually aggressive toward Jinaga on Halloween. Fairs attorneys contend that some of the DNA evidence was not an exact match. Court files said there were also burn marks from an attempt to set the body or apartment on fire. Do we know he would have routinely passed her door going in and out of his apartment? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. lt also points out that Jinagas neighbor quickly emerged as the lead suspect in the case as inconsistencies in his story began to surface.. So its kind of messed up. To contaminate evidence, Jinagas hands had been doused in blue toilet-bowl cleaner and her body covered in motor oil. I think he may have been involved; I think he may have lied to us, Ehlert said of the neighbor. I covered for Emanuel because at the time I thought he was my friend, not because I was trying to cover for him for something he may or may not have done. As her next-door neighbor this would have been obvious. Suspect Might Be the Best True-Crime Podcast of the Year - Vulture He also heard a thud on the floor but figured she was alright when he heard water running shortly after the noise. But as they worked through the evidence, jurors came to believe the state had not met its burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt, said the juror, a 35-year-old Bellevue software engineer who asked not to be named to protect his privacy, It was tough for us to vote not guilty because the family still doesnt know exactly who killed her, the juror said. During the trials, the neighbor, whom prosecutors at one point granted immunity for information, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Johnson was hanging out near Jinagas apartment when her friend arrived to check on her, and he helped the family friend identify the body, the lawsuit alleges. He was convicted of third-degree rape in 2004. The prosecutors office told Rolling Stone: We look forward to addressing these allegations in a public courtroom; we stand by our case., Fair said that he was reluctant to file the lawsuit at first because Jinagas family still hasnt gotten justice: theres no resolution for this case, no resolution for her.. The party started like many others. Fairs DNA was found on Jinagas robe and a roll of duct tape that was likely used to tape her underwear inside her mouth like a gag. He also drove to Canada the day of the murder and attempted to cross the border without a passport. Jinaga was sprawled on the floor in her bedroom, bloody, naked, and drenched in bleach, toilet bowl cleaner, and motor oil. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. So she was protecting him from interacting with cops and ending up going to jail for that. He made calls to a few friends, including apparently pocket-dialing Potts. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. Her fingers and nails were cleaned and then covered in toilet bowl cleaner, and there was a heavy scent of bleach throughout the house. He also heard a thud on the floor but figured she was alright when he heard water running shortly after the noise. Its just another day. In 2008, a 24-year-old Redmond-based software engineer named Arpana Jinaga was found strangled in her apartment after a Halloween party in her building. Some of the potential suspects were not interviewed. In it, Ehlert stood firmly by the prosecuting teams decisions. The Seattle Times is not naming Jinagas neighbor because he has not been charged. Around 2:30 am, Fair and Johnson went to Johnson's apartment and then down to Johnson's car to listen to music. Coats is now a captain in the department. Unidentified male DNA was also found on a bruise on Jinagas wrist. Those are times when you should be around family. Since his release two-and-a-half years ago, Fair said hes struggled to adjust to life outside of jail or find steady work. Jinagas father had asked a family friend to check in on her after she missed scheduled calls with family from India. In it, Ehlert stood firmly by the prosecuting teams decisions. After-the-fact contentions about inadmissible evidence are a little disingenuous, said Dreveskracht, Fairs attorney, who noted police at one point consulted with a psychic medium who attempted to contact Jinaga beyond the grave. He was one of the three individual's whose DNA was found . Fair and Johnson had actually just met that night. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. -, Press J to jump to the feed. His lawyers said he suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. The party lasted until the early hours. Another apartment complex resident committed suicide just days after Jinagas death, and his DNA was reportedly never compared to the crime scene. Jinaga had been gagged, brutally beaten and most likely raped. The lawsuit alleges that the department hired famous psychic medium Allison DuBois to help with the investigation around the time Fair was identified as the main suspect. All the while, Fair, whose family was unable to foot his seven-figure bail, said he had faith he would one day walk away free from a charge alleging he murdered Arpana Jinaga, 24, in her Redmond apartment after a Halloween party in 2008. 14 years ago. So its kind of messed up. A man by the name of Emanuel Fair was arrested in connection with her murder, but he has since been found not guilty of the crime. Coats and another Redmond detective confronted the neighbor about his calls to Jinaga, but then released him and returned his phone without examining it. I just want to be myself., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. After the jury in his first trial deadlocked in 2017, King County prosecutors tried Fair again in 2019. A bunch of residents of the apartment complex had decided to throw a big Halloween bash across something like four of the apartments, with each apartment decorated with a different theme. or felt they were? The party ended between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., around the same time witnesses saw Jinaga going back to her apartment. Preliminary reports said Arpana may have died on Friday evening. but Im not free.. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. 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. Johnson engaged in a number of suspicious activities after the murder. Burn marks on her body and apartment suggest somebody tried to burn her. Cameron Johnson, who has never been charged, invoked his 5th Amendment right, and therefore only faced limited scope questioning during Fair's trial. I just want to be myself.. As a teenager, Jinaga won a top prize in an international computer programming competition. Fair spent six of the nearly nine years in jail, held by a seven-figure bond, isolated for 23 hours a day awaiting trial. Was Kyle Rose ever questioned as a suspect? The party ended between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., around the same time witnesses saw Jinaga going back to her apartment. My guess would be drugs. When asked about the calls, Johnson reportedly said, oh crap, but he could not remember why he called Jinaga. 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. There were also other men in Jinagas life that detectives suspected of the murder, and some of their DNA was found at the crime scene. Such remarks since his exoneration only demonstrate authorities defensiveness about mishandling the case, Fair said. He waited in jail while authorities tested his DNA. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? True Crime : Arpana Jinaga (Murdered 2008) @Crimedoor I always knew I was going to get out; I just didnt think it would take as a long as it took, Fair, 38, said last month. She practiced martial arts and participated in a motorcycle club. It seems odd to me that the killer(s) would go to such extremes to cover up DNA on her body and in her apartment with the motor oil and toilet bowl cleaner and bleach etc.
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