After the jury in his first trial deadlocked in 2017, King County prosecutors tried Fair again in 2019. However, when Fair emerged as a suspect, his treatment can only be viewed as racial discrimination, his attorneys allege. Fair ultimately was charged based on trace DNA evidence found on Jinagas neck; a piece of duct tape used to gag her; paper found in the apartment; and mixed with Jinagas blood on a robe recovered from the apartment buildings dumpster. 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. He had a list of nearby pawnshops in his car printed the day Jinaga was killed, the lawsuit says. Maybe he sneezed or coughed while using it. To contaminate evidence, Jinagas hands had been doused in blue toilet-bowl cleaner and her body covered in motor oil. It was a brutal scene. Sunshine(2018) - but Im not free.. Her hands were covered in blue toilet-bowl cleaner, her body and other items were covered in motor oil. 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. 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. Investigators focused on Fair after seeing him in photos of the party. Her arm and a blanket also were partially burned and her comforter was soaking in a bathtub. I think he may have been involved; I think he may have lied to us, Ehlert said of the neighbor. Johnson said he heard moaning sounds coming from Jinagas apartment around 3 a.m., and he assumed she was having sex. They also failed to look for evidence of a missing bootlace. In the intervening hours, neighbors who lived on either side of Jinagas apartment heard muffled moaning sounds but assumed she and a partner were having consensual sex. However, when Fair emerged as a suspect, his treatment can only be viewed as racial discrimination, his attorneys allege. 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. 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. The case turned into a classic whodunit, and Jinaga's costumed party guests were the prime suspects. Fair spent six of the nearly nine years in jail, held by a seven-figure bond, isolated for 23 hours a day awaiting trial. Woman Found Dead in Park Charged with Murder, Honors Student, 17, Killed After Offering Teenagers a Ride: 'Thought He Was Doing the Right Thing', Cold Cases Heat Up: How Advances in DNA Technology Are Helping to Bring Justice for Victims, A Man Who Died by Suicide After Being Questioned About 1994 Murder Has Been Identified as the Alleged Killer, More Than 15 Years After Madeleine McCann's Disappearance, Questions Remain Unanswered: 5 Things to Know, Accident or Murder? But it seems Jinaga would quickly move on and return to enjoying the party. Alyndra Pandjipoetra 2018Dion Wiyoko,Rianti Cartwright,Laura Basuki,Jill Gladys,Sheila Dara Aisha,Junior Liem,Alyndra PandjipoetraSunshine ,SunshineSunshinemp4SunshineBT! In it, Ehlert stood firmly by the prosecuting teams decisions. Those are times when you should be around family. After the party wound down, Jinaga was seen returning to her apartment about 3 a.m.; investigators believe she was killed at about 8 a.m. Nov. 1. When residents of the Valley View Apartments in Redmond, Wash., decided to host a Halloween party nearly 13 years ago, nobody expected that it would end with murder. After the jury in his first trial deadlocked in 2017, King County prosecutors tried Fair again in 2019. It was the second time Fair had been tried in connection with Jinagas killing: The first time, in 2017, the jury deadlocked and a mistrial was declared. If you have probable cause, you dont go to a psychic, he said. Suspect: With Matthew Shaer, Eric Benson, Matt Baglio, Ashley Fantz. Hes now struggling to reconstruct his life, Fair and his attorneys said. He had a prior history of violent sexual crimes. Some guests were rowdy, but nothing out of the ordinary, it says. After hosting her event, software programmer, Arpana Jinaga, was found dead inside her home. 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. Shed been gagged, beaten and strangled during an apparent sexual attack. Jinaga had moved to the Pacific Northwest about six months ago. Coats is now a captain in the department. Johnson has denied any involvement in Jinagas death. He slept with Potts in her bed and woke up the next morning before 10 a.m., after which he helped her and other neighbors clean up the complex, according to the complaint. Police found that he had Googled pawn shops near the border. Not sure if there would be any visible damages. 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. 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. Police believe she was killed around 8 a.m. Two days later, a friend of Jinagas father went to check up on her because she hadnt answered phone calls from her family in India. During the trials, the neighbor, whom prosecutors at one point granted immunity for information, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Emanuel, his family, and friends ask for privacy, as he works to rebuild his life, wrote Goldsmith. I dont think he killed Arpana. Larson, the chief criminal deputy prosecutor, noted Fairs DNA was found on Jinagas neck, a piece of duct tape used to gag her, a piece of toilet paper or paper towel found at the crime scene, and was mixed with Jinagas blood on a robe found in the apartment buildings trash bin. Fair said the lawsuit, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, is the closest thing to justice I can get.. The complaint alleges that police failed to properly secure and gather evidence. On the night of Oct. 31, 2008, Arpana Jinaga and her neighbors at the Valley View Apartments, in Redmond, Wash., threw a party to celebrate Halloween. I just want to be myself.. He used the bathroom on one occasion. He matched the description of the man the other resident saw around 3 a.m. at the murdered womans door and had a wide window of suspicion around him, the lawsuit alleges. 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. She. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. I hope I never have to investigate a case like this again.. Was Kyle Rose ever questioned as a suspect? He heard "a horrible growling" for about twenty seconds until he heard a thud. -, Press J to jump to the feed. The complaint alleges that police failed to properly secure and gather evidence. To pass time, he said he read books, wrote letters and drew pictures. 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. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. 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. Some guests were rowdy, but nothing out of the ordinary, it says. I just want to be myself., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. On Halloween 2008, Jinaga and several of her neighbors at the Valley View Apartments threw a large Halloween party, with guests moving between their units. 14 years ago. A Review of the 2008 Murder Mystery of Indian immigrant, Arpana Jinaga During trial the jury heard significant evidence that another person, Ms. Jinagas next door neighbor, may have murdered her on that tragic night.. The neighbors DNA was found on a discarded bottle of motor oil, found in the same bag with the robe. According to the Rolling Stone report, most of the people at the party that night didnt remember Fairs name. He made calls to a few friends, including apparently pocket-dialing Potts. 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 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. 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. Jailed for Nine Years, Man Acquitted of 2008 - The Daily Chronicle According to the complaint, Johnsons fingerprints were found inside a window in Jinagas apartment, and his DNA was found on the motor oil bottle and a portion of wet carpet at the crime scene. The Wondery true-crime podcast Suspect centers on the murder of Arpana Jinaga as well as the trials of the wrongly imprisoned Emanuel Fair, who spent years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. The court documents detail negligence by detectives and the outsourcing of a famous psychic medium to opine on the case. Ive never seen a worse case, Corinne Sebren, one of Fairs lawyers, who specializes in civil rights cases, told Rolling Stone in a recent interview. 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. 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.. 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. 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 . I didnt know how to answer, so I just told her the truth: Im depressed. He joined the publication in 2021 on the crime beat. He and Jinagas next-door neighbor who became a suspect in her slaying discovered her locked door had been kicked in and found her nude body on her bedroom floor. Coats ran a background check on the Fair and found the rape charge. However, phone records show that he was making many phone calls between 2am and 5am, including to Potts. Poor victim was surrounded by shady people it seems. Court files said there were also burn marks from an attempt to set the body or apartment on fire. Coats and another Redmond detective confronted the neighbor about his calls to Jinaga, but then released him and returned his phone without examining it. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. It is reported in Seattle Times that a third male's DNA was found on the bootlace, but it is not reported as such in the court documents. When contacted by police, Leslie Potts falsely claimed that she was alone, even though Emanuel Fair was staying with her. Condition of the apartment: Jinaga's bed had been stripped, a fleece blanket was partially burned and her comforter was found in soaked the bathroom bathtub. To just dismiss it as racism is ridiculous. When youre in jail, you dont have a holiday. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. 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. When Johnson found out Fair liked hip hop and wrote beats, Johnson invited him to his car to listen to some electronic music he had made. Do we know from the OP that it would have been obvious? A suspect is identified, arrested, and convicted, but this morphed into a greater mystery when journalists began investigating the case years later. 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. The lawsuit alleges there was heavy drinking at the party of 40 to 50 people. 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. Unidentified male DNA was also found on a bruise on Jinagas wrist. I think he may have been involved; I think he may have lied to us, Ehlert said of the neighbor. Johnson said he heard moaning sounds coming from Jinagas apartment around 3 a.m., and he assumed she was having sex. They messed up, he said. Jinaga lived alone in an apartment at the Valley View Apartments. Photos. 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. He also drove to Canada the day of the murder and attempted to cross the border without a passport. The lawsuit also says Fair threw garbage in the dumpster where the robe and other items were found while helping with party clean up. He replied: If youve done it before, youll do it again.. Johnson also had injuries that detectives said were consistent with a sexual assault. 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. Arpana Jinaga, a 24 year old woman from India. Source. The Murder of Arpana Jinaga, The Stickiest Heist In History, abnd The Crappiest Place on Earth Published December 28, 2021 at 12:01 AM EST Listen 12:50 They also failed to look for evidence of a missing bootlace. And thats hard.. He went on afterwards, he got his degree, hes never had a crime., Fair, who had only met the neighbor at the party that night, said prosecutors immunity deal was just another biased action taken to strengthen the case against him that backfired, because the neighbor didnt even implicate me, he implicated himself.. True. 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. He was drunk and brought bottles of liquor. 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. Legal Expert Weighs In, Idaho Murder Victims' Families React to Suspect's Arrest: 'Such a Blessing and Relief', 'She Had No Idea': Sister of Idaho Victim Reacts to Claim that Suspect's Phone Pinged Near House 12 Times, Parents Charged with Murder After 4-Year-Old Son Dies from Alleged 'Exorcisms', Idaho Killings: Surviving Roommate Saw Alleged Killer Wearing Black Clothes and a Mask, Affidavit Says. Her father, a head professor of engineering in India, encouraged he to move to the US to attend Rutgers University. 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. lt also points out that Jinagas neighbor quickly emerged as the lead suspect in the case as inconsistencies in his story began to surface.. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A new true-crime podcast from Campside Media and Wondery delves into the brutal unsolved murder nearly 13 years and two trials later. According to the Rolling Stone report, most of the people at the party that night didnt remember Fairs name. 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. lt also points out that Jinagas neighbor quickly emerged as the lead suspect in the case as inconsistencies in his story began to surface.. Fairs attorneys contend that some of the DNA evidence was not an exact match. Why didnt he tell police that her door was kicked in? Photo: King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, 'Dr. 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. Jinagas neighbor, Johnson, was the prime suspect at first, as described in Fairs lawsuit documents. 'Suspect' is a true crime Halloween whodunnit mystery for the books The second trial was in 2019, where he got a not-guilty verdict. At some point, though, things turned tense. Arpana Jinaga was murdered in her apartment in 2008 . There are multiple apartments with parties and these two go to a car to listen to music?! A Real Life Halloween Horror Story - Arpana Jinaga - YouTube Police let Johnson go after his questioning. If you have probable cause, you dont go to a psychic, he said. This is a person who is living her dream. I just dont want to be around nobody, he said. His first trial, in 2017, ended in a hung jury because one juror said Fair looked like a thug with tattoos on his hands. The jury in the second trial acquitted him. 2018Dion Wiyoko,Rianti Cartwright,Laura Basuki,Jill Gladys,Sheila Dara Aisha,Junior Liem,Alyndra PandjipoetraSunshine ,SunshineSunshinemp4SunshineBT . Jinaga was sprawled on the floor in her bedroom, bloody, naked, and drenched in bleach, toilet bowl cleaner, and motor oil. DNA found at the crime scene was ultimately linked to three men, but only one was charged with murder. I dont think he killed Arpana. There was potential there that was just taken away., Citing pending litigation, a city of Redmond spokesperson declined to comment about Fairs lawsuit on behalf of Coats and the citys Police Department. Detectives interviewed Fair three times in jail before the district attorney recommended a first-degree murder against him. Her father, a head professor of engineering in India, encouraged he to move to the US to attend Rutgers University. 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. We were limited in the way we were able to argue the case and we have to live with that We try cases and we accept we have to prove everything beyond a reasonable doubt. In August 2009, a man named Emanuel Fair was interviewed by police. 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? I may be misremembering but I seem to remember there being explanations for Fairs DNA on those items? He had a list of nearby pawnshops in his car printed the day Jinaga was killed, the lawsuit says. "Choices that, once made, are difficult to reverse.". Man Accused Of Killing Arpana Jinaga Freed After He's Held 9 Years With We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. This is only a fraction of the evidence exonerating Emanuel which was wide-ranging and persuasive. Host Matthew Shaer and and reporter Eric Benson go to the scene of the crime in an effort to discover if police identified the right suspect. Court records show prosecutors did not believe they had enough evidence to charge Jinagas neighbor, who met Fair the night of the homicide. 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. Ive been away for so long, I dont believe in holidays no more, he said. 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. link. Now working a security job and living with friends in Renton, he said hes often depressed, carries guilt for a younger brothers emotional troubles and avoids going out. The party ended between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., around the same time witnesses saw Jinaga going back to her apartment. 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. Since his release two-and-a-half years ago, Fair said hes struggled to adjust to life outside of jail or find steady work. Around 1am, Fair visited Jinaga's apartment to eat pizza. DNA evidence was linked to three men and. Shed been gagged, beaten and strangled during an apparent sexual attack. It's obvious why Fair is the number one suspect. Fair, the second-longest-serving inmate in the downtown Seattle facility after being booked into jail in November 2010, was released Tuesday afternoon, three hours after the jury delivered its not-guilty verdict, according to a jail spokeswoman. The lawsuit alleges there was heavy drinking at the party of 40 to 50 people. Arpana and neighbors within the Valley View Apartment complex threw a large Halloween party. The majority of criminals arent very bright. At age 20, Jinaga moved from her native India to the United States and quickly found success. Investigators said the lower half of the womans body was covered in motor oil. My guess would be drugs. We found [Fair] not guilty because of reasonable doubt, not because we thought he was completely innocent., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. Johnson also said that he had driven to Canada on the day after the Halloween party and that he had been denied entry. A tech prodigy from an early age, Arpana seemed poised to achieve great things in life. 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.. Somewhere they could establish an alibi?) 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. Jinagas phone and digital camera were missing from the scene and never recovered. 'I'm Out, But I'm Not Free': Man Sues After Spending More Than Eight She is suspected to have died from strangulation from a bootlace. No one cleaning up reported seeing anything suspicious. The two discovered her locked door had been kicked in. She and several other residents in the complex opened the doors to their apartments for what was to be a night of fun. In her spare time, she practiced taekwondo, learned to build her own motorcycle, and volunteered with neighbourhood groups. Police let Johnson go after his questioning. Residents said Fair appeared relaxed when he hung out at Potts apartment for three days over the weekend. 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 party lasted until the early hours. Maybe they were running out of time (had to be somewhere? Fairs attorneys contend that some of the DNA evidence was not an exact match. Fair filed a lawsuit against King County, Redmond, the Redmond Police Department and the lead detective on Dec. 29. He also drove to Canada the day of the murder and attempted to cross the border without a passport. He had bruises consistent with a sexual attack, tried to flee the country, and was researching pawn shops (which the police never really followed up onor seemingly got a real answer from him on why he was researchingpawn shops).