Arpana Jinaga - Spreaker Jinagas father had asked a family friend to check in on her after she missed scheduled calls with family from India. Murder mystery continues nearly a year later: Redmond Police still have 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. 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. 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. Most of the partygoers reportedly referred to the chocolate-skinned man as the Black guy in his police file. So its kind of messed up. 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. He had a list of nearby pawnshops in his car printed the day Jinaga was killed, the lawsuit says. Jailed for Nine Years, Man Acquitted of 2008 - The Daily Chronicle During the trials, the neighbor, whom prosecutors at one point granted immunity for information, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In it, Ehlert stood firmly by the prosecuting teams decisions. "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. She died from ligature strangulation, a bootlace the suspected murder weapon. Coats ran a background check on the Fair and found the rape charge. To contaminate evidence, Jinagas hands had been doused in blue toilet-bowl cleaner and her body covered in motor oil. 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. A few guests got rowdy, arguments broke out and a couple of people were asked to leave. The neighbors DNA was found on a discarded bottle of motor oil, found in the same bag with the robe. When asked about the calls, Johnson reportedly said, oh crap, but he could not remember why he called Jinaga. 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 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. He had a lighter covered in gook that looked like motor oil which they took a photo of but never bagged it nor did they check his shoes for a missing lace. Her hands were covered in blue toilet-bowl cleaner, her body and other items were covered in motor oil. True. She had opened her third-floor apartment to Fair and dozens of other partygoers, who traipsed in and out during the festivities. Jinaga had been a prize-winner in a . 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. 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. Convicted sex offender charged in brutal 2008 Redmond homicide Everyone seemed to have a good time, the lawsuit alleges. On Oct. 31, 2008, Fair took a bus to Redmond to stay the weekend with a friend at the Valley View Apartments. He also heard a thud on the floor but figured she was alright when he heard water running shortly after the noise. 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. Jinaga had moved to the Pacific Northwest about six months ago. 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. 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. Johnson has denied any involvement in Jinagas death. The party ended between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., around the same time witnesses saw Jinaga going back to her apartment. The two discovered her locked door had been kicked in. Investigators said the lower half of the womans body was covered in motor oil. Fair had some criminal history: weapon and drug offenses as a juvenile, and a rape charge from 2004. He had a prior history of violent sexual crimes. Investigators said the lower half of the womans body was covered in motor oil. Jinaga, an outgoing Rutgers University grad, had moved to Redmond six months earlier to work as a software engineer at a Bellevue firm. 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.. He assumed Jinaga was either vomiting or having sex. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. 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. 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. 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. Detectives interviewed Fair three times in jail before the district attorney recommended a first-degree murder against him. Fair was tried for Jinagas sexual assault twice and was acquitted after his second trial in June 2019. The second trial was in 2019, where he got a not-guilty verdict. I think he may have been involved; I think he may have lied to us, Ehlert said of the neighbor. In the investigation that followed, authorities scrambled to determine who would hurt the lovable young woman from India, a promising software programmer who volunteered at the local fire department and rode her motorcycle with friends in her free time. Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. The county, police department and Coats filed a response to Fairs initial complaint refuting the claims. It was a party, Fair was all over her apartment like EVERYONE ELSE. A Review of the 2008 Murder Mystery of Indian immigrant, Arpana Jinaga In the apartment, there was a strong smell of bleach, and also bleach stains were found. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Arpana Jinaga, a 24 year old woman from India. The lawsuit alleges that a lighter was found in his apartment with a sticky substance on it, but investigators never collected it. She had been brutally beaten, raped, and strangled. He was staying with Potts in the mostly white neighborhood that weekend, and his attendance at the party was impromptu. Potts, Jinaga and two others neighbors decorated and opened up their units to allow partygoers to go in and out freely. 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. 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. At some point during the night, partygoers recall Jinaga getting into an argument with a male, who made a race-related comment. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. 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. Brian Bundridge was in a motorcycle club with Jinaga. Fighting for justice: Two public defenders worked for years to get His lawyers said the ordeal has permanently damaged Fairs reputation, his emotional well-being, livelihood and relationships. The suit contends detectives aligned evidence to match their theory and disregarded half a dozen non-Black suspects in the case. lt also points out that Jinagas neighbor quickly emerged as the lead suspect in the case as inconsistencies in his story began to surface.. 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). Around 2:30 am, Fair and Johnson went to Johnson's apartment and then down to Johnson's car to listen to music. 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. Were they old friends? link. Subsequently, Johnson attempted to scrub his phone. I didnt know how to answer, so I just told her the truth: Im depressed. Police found that he had Googled pawn shops near the border. Cameron Johnson: a neighbour of Jinaga: he showed up to the party in Jinaga's apartment late. According to residents of the apartment, Johnson appeared interested in Jinaga. 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. 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. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. 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. Fair filed a lawsuit against King County, Redmond, the Redmond Police Department and the lead detective on Dec. 29. A recent immigrant from India and a graduate of Rutgers University, Jinaga had worked at EMC in Bellevue. 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. This is the last known independent witness sighting of the pair. 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. The defense also explained the innocuous opportunities Mr. Fair had to touch or indirectly transfer microscopic skin cells to these items during the party. 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. 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. He told detectives he had a desire to explore. Canadian officials said Johnson tried to blow through the gates. https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/petitions/96468-8%20Answer%20to%20petition.pdf. I just want to be myself., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. Jinagas bruised body was discovered covered with a cloth on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. .but he doesnt mention it? The county, police department and Coats filed a response to Fairs initial complaint refuting the claims. I dont think he killed Arpana. Its got to be terrible for everybody it touched. 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. . He heard "a horrible growling" for about twenty seconds until he heard a thud. Fair is seeking damages for the emotional stress he faced from when police investigated him until he was released. 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. Her removed tampon alone had three separate unidentified male DNA profiles on it, according to Rolling Stones investigation. Alyndra Pandjipoetra 2018Dion Wiyoko,Rianti Cartwright,Laura Basuki,Jill Gladys,Sheila Dara Aisha,Junior Liem,Alyndra PandjipoetraSunshine ,SunshineSunshinemp4SunshineBT! Fair said the lawsuit, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, is the closest thing to justice I can get.. 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. I hope I never have to investigate a case like this again.. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. Poor victim was surrounded by shady people it seems. 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. Fairs lawsuit includes many of the same facts that his public defender, Ben Goldsmith, used to poke holes in the prosecutions criminal case. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. She had a keen interest in engineering and won several innovation competitions. He waited in jail while authorities tested his DNA. Those are times when you should be around family. Johnson engaged in a number of suspicious activities after the murder. They found her nude body on her bedroom floor, face-down on the carpet and partially covered with cloth. Man Accused Of Killing Arpana Jinaga Freed After He's Held 9 Years With Ehlert, in the 2020 interview, noted prosecutors were barred from including some key evidence at trial: Fairs past convictions and the possibility that he and the neighbor acted together in Jinagas killing because there wasnt evidence to support that theory a decision upheld by the state Court of Appeals after Fairs first trial. The DNA on the motor oil and fleeing to Canada seems highly suspicious to me. The medical examiner estimated Jinagas time of death was 8 a.m. Her removed tampon alone had three separate unidentified male DNA profiles on it, according to Rolling Stones investigation. DNA found at the crime scene was ultimately linked to three men, but only one was charged with murder. He also drove to Canada the day of the murder and attempted to cross the border without a passport. The lawsuit says that Johnson also had a past of strange or violent behavior with women. 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.. It's obvious why Fair is the number one suspect. 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.. To just dismiss it as racism is ridiculous. Detectives interviewed Fair three times in jail before the district attorney recommended a first-degree murder against him. Jinaga was. Man jailed for nine years sues King County, Redmond after acquittal in 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. Was Kyle Rose ever questioned as a suspect? Bodicherla went to the apartment complex, where he encountered Cameron Johnson, who showed him the way to Jinaga's unit. The lawsuit alleges there was heavy drinking at the party of 40 to 50 people. Cameron should have been the prime suspect and the one they took to trial. As a teenager, Jinaga won a top prize in an international computer programming competition. Its just another day. After the sound stopped, Rose then heard steps and the sound of running water for 1 hour. Those are times when you should be around family. 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 reports, Fair accepted a plea agreement in 2004 while still maintaining his innocence. Since his release two-and-a-half years ago, Fair said hes struggled to adjust to life outside of jail or find steady work. The majority of criminals arent very bright. A third mans DNA was on a bootlace, also found in the trash, but he had an alibi. 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. According to court records and Chief Criminal Deputy Mark Larson, prosecutors were barred from arguing that Fair and the neighbor were both involved in Jinagas killing because there wasnt evidence to support the states theory the men acted as accomplices. 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. His lawyers said the ordeal has permanently damaged Fairs reputation, his emotional well-being, livelihood and relationships. The lawsuit also says Fair threw garbage in the dumpster where the robe and other items were found while helping with party clean up. In the trial, the jury heard evidence that pointed to the neighbor as the possible killer. Around 2:30 am, Fair and Johnson went to Johnson's apartment and then down to Johnson's car to listen to music. 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. The complaint alleges that police failed to properly secure and gather evidence. I think that was the biggest reasonable doubt and no one could eliminate him [as the killer], the juror said of the neighbor. Jinagas father had asked a family friend to check in on her after she missed scheduled calls with family from India. 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. Why didnt he tell police that her door was kicked in? Most of Fairs jail term was spent away from the general population in administrative segregation essentially, solitary confinement. Source. His lawyers said he suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She. The evidence of Fairs involvement is compelling, Larson said this week. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Arpana Jinaga was a 24-year-old computer programmer, who had moved to the Pacific Northwest in March of 2008. He had a list of nearby pawnshops in his car printed the day Jinaga was killed, the lawsuit says. On the evening of Oct. 31, 2008, Arpana Jinaga, a 24-year-old software engineer and Indian immigrant, co-hosted the holiday get-together at the Valley View Apartments in Redmond, a suburb of Seattle. 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. On Oct. 31, 2008, Fair took a bus to Redmond to stay the weekend with a friend at the Valley View Apartments. 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. Redmond police Lt. Brian Coats vividly recalls all that he learned about Arpana Jinaga, a Redmond woman who was strangled in her apartment in 2008, her body doused with bleach, toilet-bowl cleaner and motor oil in an apparent attempt to destroy DNA evidence of rape. Halloween Party Host Murder Leads to Excess Suspects | Arpana Jinaga 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. He was convicted of third-degree rape in 2004. 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. 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. 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. New episodes of the nine-part series will be released weekly on Tuesdays. His DNA was on the roll of duct tape found on the couch, not the tape that covered her face and according to the podcast there's a photo of him using the duct tape to hang up decorations so yea he touched it they already know that. The neighbor invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, Larson said. Most people left Jinaga's apartment after 9pm to move to another apartment. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. 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. They also want him to be reimbursed for the attorney fees he incurred while fighting the charges. In Suspect, journalists Matthew Shaer and Eric Benson (Over My Dead Body) return to the Valley View Apartments and interview party guests and authorities about the horrific series of events stemming from Halloween 2008. 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.. During trial the jury heard significant evidence that another person, Ms. Jinagas next door neighbor, may have murdered her on that tragic night.. He assumed Jinaga was either vomiting or having sex. Around 1am, Fair visited Jinaga's apartment to eat pizza. DNA evidence was linked to three men and. Suspect premieres Aug. 17 on Wondery+ and Aug. 31 wherever podcasts are streamed. Her arm and a blanket also were partially burned and her comforter was soaking in a bathtub. Jinaga lived alone in an apartment at the Valley View Apartments. Suspect (Podcast Series 2021- ) - IMDb He made calls to a few friends, including apparently pocket-dialing Potts. His attorneys allege Fair was isolated as the main suspect for her murder because of his race and his past criminal record. 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. 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. There was DNA from 2-3 males found at the crime scene. When the night came to an end and the crowd began to disperse, Jinaga said what would be her final goodbyes. 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. Cameron should have been the #1 suspect. 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.. He was read his rights. Jinagas phone and digital camera were missing from the scene and never recovered. 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. This is only a fraction of the evidence exonerating Emanuel which was wide-ranging and persuasive. Just hours after that party ended, in the early morning of Nov. 1, 2008, one of the hosts of the Halloween party a 24-year-old software engineer and Indian immigrant named Arpana Jinaga . Maybe he sneezed or coughed while using it. 'I'm Out, But I'm Not Free': Man Sues After Spending More Than Eight No one cleaning up reported seeing anything suspicious. Jinagas phone and digital camera were missing from the scene and never recovered. 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.