DNA found at the crime scene was ultimately linked to three men, but only one was charged with murder. Suspect: With Matthew Shaer, Eric Benson, Matt Baglio, Ashley Fantz. Emanuel Fair: He was not a resident, but he was staying in the apartment of Leslie Potts. 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 also drove to Canada the day of the murder and attempted to cross the border without a passport. Some guests were rowdy, but nothing out of the ordinary, it says. 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. He replied: If youve done it before, youll do it again.. 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. Her removed tampon alone had three separate unidentified male DNA profiles on it, according to Rolling Stones investigation. Johnson said he heard moaning sounds coming from Jinagas apartment around 3 a.m., and he assumed she was having sex. His lawyers said the ordeal has permanently damaged Fairs reputation, his emotional well-being, livelihood and relationships. Indian immigrant and recent college graduate Arpana Jinaga was found brutally murdered in her Washington State apartment after co-hosting a Halloween costume party at her complex the evening of Oct. 31, 2008. Detectives also found a trace of his DNA on the front of Jinagas neck that was so small that it had to be sent to a specialized lab for review. It was a party, Fair was all over her apartment like EVERYONE ELSE. If you have probable cause, you dont go to a psychic, he said. The lawsuit alleges that a lighter was found in his apartment with a sticky substance on it, but investigators never collected it. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. 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. An exclusive trailer for Suspect is below. Bodicherla went to the apartment complex, where he encountered Cameron Johnson, who showed him the way to Jinaga's unit. 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. However, phone records show that he was making many phone calls between 2am and 5am, including to Potts. 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.. Because of this, a judge limited the scope of questions the man could be asked during the trial. Brian Bundridge was in a motorcycle club with Jinaga. Those are times when you should be around family. Jinagas neighbor, Johnson, was the prime suspect at first, as described in Fairs lawsuit documents. Redmond Police have found no "firm suspects" in the brutal murder of Arpana Jinaga, a 24-year-old software engineer who was . If you have probable cause, you dont go to a psychic, he said. I just want to be myself., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. Fair was tried for Jinagas sexual assault twice and was acquitted after his second trial in June 2019. Woman Found Dead After Hosting Halloween Costume Party At Her Apartment Fair was initially arrested for not updating his address with his probation officer. New episodes of the nine-part series will be released weekly on Tuesdays. The initial investigation focused on Cameron Johnson, Jinaga's neighbor. Such remarks since his exoneration only demonstrate authorities defensiveness about mishandling the case, Fair said. 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. Jinaga showed Fair and other partygoers something on her computer on another occasion. She practiced martial arts and participated in a motorcycle club. Somewhere they could establish an alibi?) 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. Cameron should have been the #1 suspect. Eight Years in Jail With No Conviction: Emanuel Fair Files Lawsuit 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. 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. Fighting for justice: Two public defenders worked for years to get There was DNA from 2-3 males found at the crime scene. 0:00 / 18:51 Halloween Party Host Murder Leads to Excess Suspects | Arpana Jinaga & Emanuel Fair Dr. Todd Grande 1.24M subscribers 67K views 2 months ago This video answers the question: Can I. But of course, I imagine it must have been loud disturbance to kick in a door, which was apparently never reported. The county, police department and Coats filed a response to Fairs initial complaint refuting the claims. But I dont have a desire to do that. Fair met Jinaga hours before she was killed at a Halloween party in her apartment complex. In every community across Washington, families are facing the challenge of accessing and affording long-term care. Cameron Johnson, who has never been charged, invoked his 5th Amendment right, and therefore only faced limited scope questioning during Fair's trial. Fair also used Jinaga's bathroom. Arpana Jinaga, a 24 year old woman from India. It was a brutal scene. Im out, Fair said. He scrubbed his phone after questioned about the call and could easily have hung around and taken time to clean her apartment/scrub the crime scene because their apartments shared a balcony and him taking out trash wouldn't strike anyone as weird or noticeable. I think he may have been involved; I think he may have lied to us, Ehlert said of the neighbor. So she was protecting him from interacting with cops and ending up going to jail for that. The lab technicians simply could not exclude Fair as a match, and his DNA was found alongside other DNA matches. Theres very little justice left to salvage., In a 2020 interview, the lead detective said Fair stood out to him because he was the only African-American male at the party and looked like an outsider.. Brian Coats, who led the investigation into Jinagas murder as a detective 13 years ago. Residents said Fair appeared relaxed when he hung out at Potts apartment for three days over the weekend. Fair was released in 2019, serving a total of 9 years without conviction, and is now suing the county authorities. Some of the potential suspects were not interviewed. Preliminary reports said Arpana may have died on Friday evening. He made calls to a few friends, including apparently pocket-dialing Potts. Jinaga, an outgoing Rutgers University grad, had moved to Redmond six months earlier to work as a software engineer at a Bellevue firm. Those are times when you should be around family. His lawyers said the ordeal has permanently damaged Fairs reputation, his emotional well-being, livelihood and relationships. .but he doesnt mention it? 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.. An online memorial for Arpana has been created, for family and friends to share pictures and memories, at crypticgirl.com. Fair was tried for Jinagas sexual assault twice and was acquitted after his second trial in June 2019. As her next-door neighbor this would have been obvious. More than a dozen people passed through Jinaga's apartment that night. Detectives interviewed Fair three times in jail before the district attorney recommended a first-degree murder against him. I thought I was gonna die, Fair told Rolling Stone. Residents said Fair appeared relaxed when he hung out at Potts apartment for three days over the weekend. New 'Suspect' Podcast Explores Halloween Party Murder of Arpana Jinaga Redmond Police have no 'firm suspects' in - Bellevue Reporter He also heard a thud on the floor but figured she was alright when he heard water running shortly after the noise. Do we know how extensive the damage was? The following Monday, her body would be discovered inside of her apartment, the victim of an apparent homicide. However, when Fair emerged as a suspect, his treatment can only be viewed as racial discrimination, his attorneys allege. There was evidence of rape. 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. 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. The party was big enough that it spanned multiple apartments and drew many revelers. The lawsuit also says Fair threw garbage in the dumpster where the robe and other items were found while helping with party clean up. Jinagas phone and digital camera were missing from the scene and never recovered. The Murder of Arpana Jinaga, The Stickiest Heist In History - WVXU Police believe she was killed around 8 am. When Johnson was interviewed by police on Nov 3 and 5th, he was noticeably limping with elbow and knee issues, but claimed it was due to an arm wrestling incident. 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's a series about cutting-edge science and mislaid justice, race and policing, and the kinds of weighty choices that cops and prosecutors make every day," Wondery states in a release. According to the Rolling Stone report, most of the people at the party that night didnt remember Fairs name. 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.. To pass time, he said he read books, wrote letters and drew pictures. 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. Fairs attorneys contend that some of the DNA evidence was not an exact match. The neighbor, who later hired a lawyer and stopped cooperating, subsequently scrubbed his phone of call and text data, the suit states. 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.. When asked about the calls, Johnson reportedly said, oh crap, but he could not remember why he called Jinaga. 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. Investigators focused on Fair after seeing him in photos of the party. Such remarks since his exoneration only demonstrate authorities defensiveness about mishandling the case, Fair said. 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. Investigators focused on Fair after seeing him in photos of the party. Johnson also said that he had driven to Canada on the day after the Halloween party and that he had been denied entry. Court files said there were also burn marks from an attempt to set the body or apartment on fire. 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. Her hands were covered in blue toilet-bowl cleaner, her body and other items were covered in motor oil. He was staying with Potts in the mostly white neighborhood that weekend, and his attendance at the party was impromptu. Ive been away for so long, I dont believe in holidays no more, he said. Since his release two-and-a-half years ago, Fair said hes struggled to adjust to life outside of jail or find steady work. 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. True. Im out, Fair said. I just dont want to be around nobody, he said. Fair said he went inside Jinagas apartment various times throughout the party. During the party, [Fair] was accidentally hit in the mouth and had a bloody lip, so he used a tissue in Ms. Jinagas apartment; he likely used her bathroom during the party where her robe hung; he may have touched the duct tape holding decorations during the party; and photographs show he touched Ms. Jinaga and others while posing during the party. Theres very little justice left to salvage., In a 2020 interview, the lead detective said Fair stood out to him because he was the only African-American male at the party and looked like an outsider.. 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. From the beginning, it was a complex case, complicated by the fact so many people had attended the party the night before she was killed, said Coats, the Redmond police lieutenant. When youre in jail, you dont have a holiday. 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. Jinaga had moved to the Pacific Northwest about six months ago. Potts, Jinaga and two others neighbors decorated and opened up their units to allow partygoers to go in and out freely. Most of the partygoers reportedly referred to the chocolate-skinned man as the Black guy in his police file. Emanuel Fair was arrested in 2010. 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. One juror said that when the jury began its deliberations on June 6, the 12-member panel was evenly split: Four thought Fair was not guilty, four thought he was guilty, and four were undecided. Brian Coats, who led the investigation into Jinagas murder as a detective 13 years ago. Why didnt he tell police that her door was kicked in? She had opened her third-floor apartment to Fair and dozens of other partygoers, who traipsed in and out during the festivities. In a 2020 interview, one of the prosecutors said Fair looked like the best suspect because his DNA was found on objects specifically related to the murder, not the aftermath. After hosting her event, software programmer, Arpana Jinaga, was found dead inside her home. Family of Missing Black Woman, Last Seen Living with Man She Met on Craigslist, Frustrated By Lack of Response to Case: Were Not Trying to Annoy Anybody, Happened As a Result of Jealousy: New York Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Stabbing Black 16-Year-Old Boy In the Heart for Walking a Girl Home, I Wanted to be a Trailblazer: Zandra Flemister, the First Black Woman Hired as a Secret Service Agent, Enduring Years of Blatant Racism, Dies at 71. At some point during the night, partygoers recall Jinaga getting into an argument with a male, who made a race-related comment. 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. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. He attributed them to wrestling a stranger he met at another Halloween party the next day, the lawsuit alleges. 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. 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. Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. The two discovered her locked door had been kicked in. The area she was living is considered an upscale area with a very low crime rate, and is the home to technology companies such as Microsoft and Nintendo. 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. 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. Her father, a head professor of engineering in India, encouraged he to move to the US to attend Rutgers University. or felt they were? 14 years ago. Theyre still crying about it 10 years later and they will be for the rest of their lives because it was such a horrible thing.. A new true-crime podcast from Campside Media and Wondery delves into the brutal unsolved murder nearly 13 years and two trials later. Her other immediate neighbor, Kyle Rose, said he heard growling sounds around 8 a.m. 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. Police staked out the house where he was staying, slowly rolled up on Fair and reportedly pointed guns at his chest. He told detectives he had a desire to explore. Canadian officials said Johnson tried to blow through the gates. After nine years of fighting, Emanuel Fair has the freedom he deserves. Fair, a guest of another woman living in the building, met Jinaga and her neighbor that night. But it seems Jinaga would quickly move on and return to enjoying the party. He was one of the three individual's whose DNA was found . There are multiple apartments with parties and these two go to a car to listen to music?! 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. Jinagas bruised body was discovered covered with a cloth on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. 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. Johnson's friends and family stated he said "what if I did the murder and I don't remember". 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. The medical examiner estimated Jinagas time of death was 8 a.m. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. The party lasted until the early hours. 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. 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 am far from shady. I dont think he killed Arpana. The court documents detail negligence by detectives and the outsourcing of a famous psychic medium to opine on the case. When the night came to an end and the crowd began to disperse, Jinaga said what would be her final goodbyes. In the apartment, there was a strong smell of bleach, and also bleach stains were found. 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. 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.. 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. She is suspected to have died from strangulation from a bootlace. A recent immigrant from India and a graduate of Rutgers University, Jinaga had worked at EMC in Bellevue. In the apartment complex's trash bin, was a bag containing Jinaga's Halloween costume, a bloodied robe, a discarded bottle of motor oil, and the bootlace. . Witnesses said Neil Marshall, a partygoer, was sexually aggressive toward Jinaga on Halloween. 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. The complaint alleges that police failed to properly secure and gather evidence. His lawyers said he suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Around 2:30 am, Fair and Johnson went to Johnson's apartment and then down to Johnson's car to listen to music. He was convicted of third-degree rape in 2004. 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. At his second trial, a jury found him not guilty. During the trials, the neighbor, whom prosecutors at one point granted immunity for information, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. But I dont have a desire to do that. Her arm and a blanket also were partially burned and her comforter was soaking in a bathtub. Arpana and neighbors within the Valley View Apartment complex threw a large Halloween party. Coats ran a background check on the Fair and found the rape charge. Jinaga was sprawled on the floor in her bedroom, bloody, naked, and drenched in bleach, toilet bowl cleaner, and motor oil. Emanuel, his family, and friends ask for privacy, as he works to rebuild his life, wrote Goldsmith. During trial the jury heard significant evidence that another person, Ms. Jinagas next door neighbor, may have murdered her on that tragic night.. Court files said there were also burn marks from an attempt to set the body or apartment on fire. 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? He assumed Jinaga was either vomiting or having sex. If her rape was that violent he'd have had SOME scratches or scars. I just dont want to be around nobody, he said. 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. This is the last known independent witness sighting of the pair. Jinaga's killer had clearly gone to great lengths to destroy any biological traces linking him to the crime scene. 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. Fair said the lawsuit, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, is the closest thing to justice I can get.. They messed up, he said. Man Accused Of Killing Arpana Jinaga Freed After He's Held 9 Years With I lost a lot. Maybe he sneezed or coughed while using it. Most of the partygoers reportedly referred to the chocolate-skinned man as the Black guy in his police file. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. Johnson has denied any involvement in Jinagas death. Do we know he would have routinely passed her door going in and out of his apartment? Now, more than two years later, Fair is suing King County, the city of Redmond and Redmond Police Capt. Johnson has denied any involvement in Jinagas death. 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. Death' Surgeon Killed or Maimed 33 of His Patients Now His Victims Are Speaking Out, Ex-Boyfriend of Missing Md. 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. He was read his rights. Johnson also had injuries that detectives said were consistent with a sexual assault. This was mainly on the basis of party photographs. The second trial was in 2019, where he got a not-guilty verdict. 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. In it, Ehlert stood firmly by the prosecuting teams decisions. I lost a lot. Alyndra Pandjipoetra 2018Dion Wiyoko,Rianti Cartwright,Laura Basuki,Jill Gladys,Sheila Dara Aisha,Junior Liem,Alyndra PandjipoetraSunshine ,SunshineSunshinemp4SunshineBT! Man jailed for nine years sues King County, Redmond after acquittal in