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. 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. 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. In the trial, the jury heard evidence that pointed to the neighbor as the possible killer. Arpana Jinaga, a 24 year old woman from India. 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. He had been in her apartment once earlier in the night too. When asked about the calls, Johnson reportedly said, oh crap, but he could not remember why he called Jinaga. He joined the publication in 2021 on the crime beat. But of course, I imagine it must have been loud disturbance to kick in a door, which was apparently never reported. He was convicted of third-degree rape in 2004. They found her nude body on her bedroom floor, face-down on the carpet and partially covered with cloth. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. The evidence of Fairs involvement is compelling, Larson said this week. 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. 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. 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. Jinaga and other tenants he hadnt met were co-hosting a large Halloween party in several units. He told detectives he had a desire to explore. Canadian officials said Johnson tried to blow through the gates. 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. 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. Fair also used Jinaga's bathroom. Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. For three and a half decades, her disappearance was a mystery - a riddle neither authorities . To pass time, he said he read books, wrote letters and drew pictures. He had a prior history of violent sexual crimes. Some of the potential suspects were not interviewed. 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. 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. Such remarks since his exoneration only demonstrate authorities defensiveness about mishandling the case, Fair said. 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. 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. That decision was upheld by the state Court of Appeals following Fairs first trial. Investigators focused on Fair after seeing him in photos of the party. Jinaga was. 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. 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. Maybe he sneezed or coughed while using it. To just dismiss it as racism is ridiculous. Fair said he went inside Jinagas apartment various times throughout the party. Coats and another Redmond detective confronted the neighbor about his calls to Jinaga, but then released him and returned his phone without examining it. The second trial was in 2019, where he got a not-guilty verdict. Jinaga, an outgoing Rutgers University grad, had moved to Redmond six months earlier to work as a software engineer at a Bellevue firm. Emanuel, his family, and friends ask for privacy, as he works to rebuild his life, wrote Goldsmith. According to court documents, Johnson called Jinaga around 3 a.m. but did not mention that to the police during his interview. 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. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. 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. Brian Bundridge was in a motorcycle club with Jinaga. 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. At approximately 8 am, Jinaga's next-door neighbor Kyle Rose, was awakened by sounds coming from her apartment. 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). 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. He attributed them to wrestling a stranger he met at another Halloween party the next day, the lawsuit alleges. lt also points out that Jinagas neighbor quickly emerged as the lead suspect in the case as inconsistencies in his story began to surface.. Her removed tampon alone had three separate unidentified male DNA profiles on it, according to Rolling Stones investigation. 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. If her rape was that violent he'd have had SOME scratches or scars. At his second trial, a jury found him not guilty. Were they old friends? Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. He used the bathroom on one occasion. 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. 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. Her arm and a blanket also were partially burned and her comforter was soaking in a bathtub. True. Jinaga had been gagged with her underpants and duct tape, brutally beaten around the head. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? 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 . 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. Witnesses said Neil Marshall, a partygoer, was sexually aggressive toward Jinaga on Halloween. 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. 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. The Seattle Times is not naming Jinagas neighbor because he has not been charged. Police staked out the house where he was staying, slowly rolled up on Fair and reportedly pointed guns at his chest. 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. 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. Fair said he went inside Jinagas apartment various times throughout the party. She had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. 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 questioned, Fair claimed he retired to Potts' apartment around 1:30am on the night of the party. His case went on trial in 2017, the jury deadlocked and there was a mistrial. 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. Shed been gagged, beaten and strangled during an apparent sexual attack. If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or, Fire on Lake City Way in Seattle raises smoke, flooding concerns, WA to end masking requirement in health care, correctional facilities, Tacoma woman refusing tuberculosis treatment continues to face arrest, Be bolder to get light rail done, expert panel tells Sound Transit, Driver makes U-turn, hits pedestrian near Pioneer Square, police say. This is weird. Witnesses said Neil Marshall, a partygoer, was sexually aggressive toward Jinaga on Halloween. Arpana Jinaga, a 24 year old woman from India. Death' Surgeon Killed or Maimed 33 of His Patients Now His Victims Are Speaking Out, Ex-Boyfriend of Missing Md. Someone else murdered the young software engineer. He heard "a horrible growling" for about twenty seconds until he heard a thud. The officers allegedly did not change gloves between evidence collections, or between rooms or locations. Alyndra Pandjipoetra 2018Dion Wiyoko,Rianti Cartwright,Laura Basuki,Jill Gladys,Sheila Dara Aisha,Junior Liem,Alyndra PandjipoetraSunshine ,SunshineSunshinemp4SunshineBT! 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.. . 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. Some guests were rowdy, but nothing out of the ordinary, it says. She and several other residents in the complex opened the doors to their apartments for what was to be a night of fun. They also want him to be reimbursed for the attorney fees he incurred while fighting the charges. According to the Rolling Stone report, most of the people at the party that night didnt remember Fairs name. A new true-crime podcast from Campside Media and Wondery delves into the brutal unsolved murder nearly 13 years and two trials later. Another apartment complex resident committed suicide just days after Jinagas death, and his DNA was reportedly never compared to the crime scene. 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. Johnson's friends and family stated he said "what if I did the murder and I don't remember". 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. 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. Im out, Fair said. However, when Fair emerged as a suspect, his treatment can only be viewed as racial discrimination, his attorneys allege. 2008, in Marshall . Fair was later seen leaving the apartment that night. They also want him to be reimbursed for the attorney fees he incurred while fighting the charges. The defense also explained the innocuous opportunities Mr. Fair had to touch or indirectly transfer microscopic skin cells to these items during the party. Around 3 am, Jinaga left a gathering in a ground-floor apartment and returned to her apartment on the third floor. 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. Jinagas father had asked a family friend to check in on her after she missed scheduled calls with family from India. The two discovered her locked door had been kicked in. Around 3 a.m. on Nov. 1, Jinaga left a gathering in a ground-floor apartment and returned to her apartment on the third floor. Potts, Jinaga and two others neighbors decorated and opened up their units to allow partygoers to go in and out freely. I think he may have been involved; I think he may have lied to us, Ehlert said of the neighbor. 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. In it, Ehlert stood firmly by the prosecuting teams decisions. I just want to be myself.. 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. lt also points out that Jinagas neighbor quickly emerged as the lead suspect in the case as inconsistencies in his story began to surface.. 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 court documents detail negligence by detectives and the outsourcing of a famous psychic medium to opine on the case. -, Press J to jump to the feed. It was a party, Fair was all over her apartment like EVERYONE ELSE. His lawyers said he suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. link. Poor victim was surrounded by shady people it seems. Several people were at the party before Jinagas murder, so the scene was full of various DNA samples. Fair was staying with his friend Leslie Potts on Oct. 31, 2008, in Valley View Apartments when he attended the party that Potts and other neighbors organized. 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. 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. 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.. Court records show prosecutors did not believe they had enough evidence to charge Jinagas neighbor, who met Fair the night of the homicide. Guests took silly photos, downed shots and smoked pot. No one cleaning up reported seeing anything suspicious. or felt they were? Her fingers and nails were cleaned and then covered in toilet bowl cleaner, and there was a heavy scent of bleach throughout the house. DNA was found on a discarded bottle of motor oil (same bag as robe). An online memorial for Arpana has been created, for family and friends to share pictures and memories, at crypticgirl.com. She volunteered at the. 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.. However, phone records show that he was making many phone calls between 2am and 5am, including to Potts. The party started like many others. He also heard a thud on the floor but figured she was alright when he heard water running shortly after the noise. 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. Those are times when you should be around family. Fair spent six of the nearly nine years in jail, held by a seven-figure bond, isolated for 23 hours a day awaiting trial. Not sure if there would be any visible damages. 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 lawsuit alleges that a lighter was found in his apartment with a sticky substance on it, but investigators never collected it.