His attorneys allege Fair was isolated as the main suspect for her murder because of his race and his past criminal record. To just dismiss it as racism is ridiculous. 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. Court files said there were also burn marks from an attempt to set the body or apartment on fire. 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. Suspect premieres Aug. 17 on Wondery+ and Aug. 31 wherever podcasts are streamed. 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 . 2008, in Marshall . Police found that he had Googled pawn shops near the border. Coats ran a background check on the Fair and found the rape charge. Detectives relied on her to help them find Jinagas missing phone and camera and consulted her about the potential of Fair as a suspect, the lawsuit says. Fair said the lawsuit, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, is the closest thing to justice I can get.. His attorneys allege Fair was isolated as the main suspect for her murder because of his race and his past criminal record. . Arpana and neighbors within the Valley View Apartment complex threw a large Halloween party. 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. Fair was later seen leaving the apartment that night. 14 years later, and unfortunately there are no updates in this case. Witnesses said Neil Marshall, a partygoer, was sexually aggressive toward Jinaga on Halloween. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. 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. I thought I was gonna die, Fair told Rolling Stone. His case went on trial in 2017, the jury deadlocked and there was a mistrial. 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. Photos. Do we know how extensive the damage was? Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. Most of the partygoers reportedly referred to the chocolate-skinned man as the Black guy in his police file. 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. Because of this, a judge limited the scope of questions the man could be asked during the trial. My guess would be drugs. 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. More than a dozen people passed through Jinaga's apartment that night. 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.. Johnson has denied any involvement in Jinagas death. 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. Witnesses said Neil Marshall, a partygoer, was sexually aggressive toward Jinaga on Halloween. Also Leslie Potts covering for Fair is alarming, was that investigated. The medical examiner estimated Jinagas time of death was 8 a.m. 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. 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.. Her fingers and nails were cleaned and then covered in toilet bowl cleaner, and there was a heavy scent of bleach throughout the house. He was convicted of third-degree rape in 2004. 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. Goldsmith said evidence found at Jinagas apartment and produced during the investigation pointed to one of her neighbors as the likely killer. Court records show prosecutors did not believe they had enough evidence to charge Jinagas neighbor, who met Fair the night of the homicide. Her removed tampon alone had three separate unidentified male DNA profiles on it, according to Rolling Stones investigation. 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. 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. Around 3 am, Jinaga left a gathering in a ground-floor apartment and returned to her apartment on the third floor. Arpana was last seen in the early morning of Nov. 1 during a Halloween . 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. But of course, I imagine it must have been loud disturbance to kick in a door, which was apparently never reported. 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. Hes now struggling to reconstruct his life, Fair and his attorneys said. 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. 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.. 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. She died from ligature strangulation, a bootlace the suspected murder weapon. He attributed them to wrestling a stranger he met at another Halloween party the next day, the lawsuit alleges. He also heard a thud on the floor but figured she was alright when he heard water running shortly after the noise. Two days later, after Jinaga hadnt shown up to work or returned calls to her family in India, a family friend and Jinagas next-door neighbor found her door kicked in and her nude body on her bedroom floor. The lawsuit says that Johnson also had a past of strange or violent behavior with women. At some point during the night, partygoers recall Jinaga getting into an argument with a male, who made a race-related comment. 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.. When youre in jail, you dont have a holiday. 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. He was staying with Potts in the mostly white neighborhood that weekend, and his attendance at the party was impromptu. Fair met Jinaga hours before she was killed at a Halloween party in her apartment complex. As a teenager, Jinaga won a top prize in an international computer programming competition. DNA was found on a discarded bottle of motor oil (same bag as robe). This is weird. Her finger and fingernails were cleaned. They messed up, he said. 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. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? A third mans DNA was on a bootlace, also found in the trash, but he had an alibi. Its just another day. 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. Jinagas father had asked a family friend to check in on her after she missed scheduled calls with family from India. Arpana Jinaga. It was a brutal scene. 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. The result, it claims, was a biased probe that caused Fair to be arrested and charged without probable cause for a murder he did not commit.. On Oct. 31, 2008, Fair took a bus to Redmond to stay the weekend with a friend at the Valley View Apartments. In 2008, 24 year old software engineer, Arpana Jinaga was brutally murdered after hosting a party on Halloween night with fellow residents of the Valley View Apartments in Redmond Washington. 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. 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 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. Several people were at the party before Jinagas murder, so the scene was full of various DNA samples. According to reports, Fair accepted a plea agreement in 2004 while still maintaining his innocence. To contaminate evidence, Jinagas hands had been doused in blue toilet-bowl cleaner and her body covered in motor oil. A recent immigrant from India and a graduate of Rutgers University, Jinaga had worked at EMC in Bellevue. 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.. Most people left Jinaga's apartment after 9pm to move to another apartment. After nine years of fighting, Emanuel Fair has the freedom he deserves. The lab technicians simply could not exclude Fair as a match, and his DNA was found alongside other DNA matches. 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. and even burning of sheets, but then they would be so careless and stupid to just discard it all into the apartment dumpster. During the night, neighbors of Jinaga heard muffled moaning sounds, and assumed she and a partner were having consensual sex. Her father, a head professor of engineering in India, encouraged he to move to the US to attend Rutgers University. However, when Fair emerged as a suspect, his treatment can only be viewed as racial discrimination, his attorneys allege. He had a prior history of violent sexual crimes. He used the bathroom on one occasion. He had a list of nearby pawnshops in his car printed the day Jinaga was killed, the lawsuit says. He appeared drunk and brought liquor. 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. Arpana Jinaga Memorial. In it, Ehlert stood firmly by the prosecuting teams decisions. The two discovered her locked door had been kicked in. He made calls to a few friends, including apparently pocket-dialing Potts. 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.. She. Fair spent six of the nearly nine years in jail, held by a seven-figure bond, isolated for 23 hours a day awaiting trial. There was forced entry into Jinaga's second-story apartment, signs of trauma to Jinaga and the apartment was in disarray. Subsequently, Johnson attempted to scrub his phone. 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. The party lasted until the early hours. Jinaga showed Fair and other partygoers something on her computer on another occasion. Nobody heard from her in the following days, and that Monday, her body was discovered on the floor of her apartment, doused in chemicals and showing signs of strangulation. Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens. Potts, Jinaga and two others neighbors decorated and opened up their units to allow partygoers to go in and out freely. 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. So its kind of messed up. Jinagas bruised body was discovered covered with a cloth on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008. Arpana Jinaga was a 24-year-old computer programmer, who had moved to the Pacific Northwest in March of 2008. Source. I dont think he killed Arpana. Now, more than two years later, Fair is suing King County, the city of Redmond and Redmond Police Capt. . Somewhere they could establish an alibi?) Arpana Jinaga was murdered in her apartment in 2008 . The DNA on her neck was microscopic and wasn't necessarily a match, it just couldn't be excluded. The medical examiner estimated Jinagas time of death was 8 a.m. 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. 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. Such remarks since his exoneration only demonstrate authorities defensiveness about mishandling the case, Fair said. In August 2009, a man named Emanuel Fair was interviewed by police. 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. She had a keen interest in engineering and won several innovation competitions. Jinagas neighbor, Johnson, was the prime suspect at first, as described in Fairs lawsuit documents. The DNA on the motor oil and fleeing to Canada seems highly suspicious to me. 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. Coats and another Redmond detective confronted the neighbor about his calls to Jinaga, but then released him and returned his phone without examining it. Fairs attorneys contend that some of the DNA evidence was not an exact match. The majority of criminals arent very bright. The lawsuit says that Johnson also had a past of strange or violent behavior with women. Were they old friends? Ive been away for so long, I dont believe in holidays no more, he said. Those are times when you should be around family. He told detectives he had a desire to explore. Canadian officials said Johnson tried to blow through the gates. However, phone records show that he was making many phone calls between 2am and 5am, including to Potts. The neighbor, who later hired a lawyer and stopped cooperating, subsequently scrubbed his phone of call and text data, the suit states. 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. Everyone seemed to have a good time, the lawsuit alleges. The Mysterious Death of a Young Mom Found Unresponsive in Her Bathtub, Inside the Case Against Bryan Kohberger: Legal Experts Weigh in on Idaho Murders, Will Bryan Kohberger Face Death Penalty if Convicted of Idaho Murders? To contaminate evidence, Jinagas hands had been doused in blue toilet-bowl cleaner and her body covered in motor oil. He heard "a horrible growling" for about twenty seconds until he heard a thud. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. 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. 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. 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. Jinagas naked body was discovered by a close friend and an immediate neighbor in her home on Nov. 1, 2008. He told detectives he had a desire to explore. Canadian officials said Johnson tried to blow through the gates. Shed been gagged, beaten and strangled during an apparent sexual attack. And thats hard.. It was just gruesome, he said. But I dont have a desire to do that. Arpana Jinaga. beansbaxter. At his second trial, a jury found him not guilty. There are multiple apartments with parties and these two go to a car to listen to music?! Prior to that, she had attended Rutgers University on the east coast, but had grown up in the Indian city of Hyderabad as the oldest of two daughters. 2018Dion Wiyoko,Rianti Cartwright,Laura Basuki,Jill Gladys,Sheila Dara Aisha,Junior Liem,Alyndra PandjipoetraSunshine ,SunshineSunshinemp4SunshineBT . He had a prior history of violent sexual crimes. Suspect is an investigative series about mislaid justice and the kinds of weighty decisions that detectives, lawyers, and jurors make every day - decisions that, once made, are almost impossible to reverse.Season 2: Vanished in the Snow chronicles the disappearance of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews. Court files said there were also burn marks from an attempt to set the body or apartment on fire. He was one of the three individual's whose DNA was found . I may be misremembering but I seem to remember there being explanations for Fairs DNA on those items? 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. 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.. Cameron Johnson: a neighbour of Jinaga: he showed up to the party in Jinaga's apartment late. I think that was the biggest reasonable doubt and no one could eliminate him [as the killer], the juror said of the neighbor. Brian Coats, who led the investigation into Jinagas murder as a detective 13 years ago. This is only a fraction of the evidence exonerating Emanuel which was wide-ranging and persuasive. 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. Her removed tampon alone had three separate unidentified male DNA profiles on it, according to Rolling Stones investigation. After the jury in his first trial deadlocked in 2017, King County prosecutors tried Fair again in 2019. Jinaga lived alone in an apartment at the Valley View Apartments. 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. In addition, several neighbors in the complex told investigators that he had a sexual attraction to Jinaga, and he exhibited jealous behavior when she talked to other men at the Halloween party that night. The county, police department and Coats filed a response to Fairs initial complaint refuting the claims. Coats is now a captain in the department. So what else can they do but to continue to point their finger at me?. 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? Bodicherla went to the apartment complex, where he encountered Cameron Johnson, who showed him the way to Jinaga's unit. Fair said the lawsuit, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, is the closest thing to justice I can get.. She had opened her third-floor apartment to Fair and dozens of other partygoers, who traipsed in and out during the festivities. Johnson also said that he had driven to Canada on the day after the Halloween party and that he had been denied entry. He made calls to a few friends, including apparently pocket-dialing Potts. To pass time, he said he read books, wrote letters and drew pictures. The county, police department and Coats filed a response to Fairs initial complaint refuting the claims. Jinagas father had asked a family friend to check in on her after she missed scheduled calls with family from India. 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. I just dont want to be around nobody, he said. He helped set up and clean up, and had no wounds, no scratches or injuries. He waited in jail while authorities tested his DNA. Everyone seemed to have a good time, the lawsuit alleges. -, Press J to jump to the feed. Jinagas phone and digital camera were missing from the scene and never recovered. Fair also used Jinaga's bathroom. I lost a lot. Jinaga was. Fair is seeking damages for the emotional stress he faced from when police investigated him until he was released. But as they worked through the evidence, jurors came to believe the state had not met its burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt, said the juror, a 35-year-old Bellevue software engineer who asked not to be named to protect his privacy, It was tough for us to vote not guilty because the family still doesnt know exactly who killed her, the juror said. 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. 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). After the jury in his first trial deadlocked in 2017, King County prosecutors tried Fair again in 2019. He assumed Jinaga was either vomiting or having sex. Coats was asked during the podcast if the prior conviction was significant to his investigation. 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. His lawyers said the ordeal has permanently damaged Fairs reputation, his emotional well-being, livelihood and relationships. 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. After hosting her event, software programmer, Arpana Jinaga, was found dead inside her home. The second trial was in 2019, where he got a not-guilty verdict. Her father, a head professor of engineering in India, encouraged he to move to the US to attend Rutgers University. Someone else murdered the young software engineer. 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. Coats and another Redmond detective confronted the neighbor about his calls to Jinaga, but then released him and returned his phone without examining it. 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. 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. I just dont want to be around nobody, he said. 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. link. 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. Police went to Jinaga's apartment after they were contacted by her friend, Redmond police spokesman Jim Bove said, adding police are investigating the death as a homicide. 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. Brian Coats, who led the investigation into Jinagas murder as a detective 13 years ago. Police attempted to identify the partygoers and interview them. Johnson said he heard moaning sounds coming from Jinagas apartment around 3 a.m., and he assumed she was having sex. 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 . 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. 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. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. 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? Some guests were rowdy, but nothing out of the ordinary, it says. Fair was initially arrested for not updating his address with his probation officer. They interrogated Fair on the car ride to the station without reading his rights. Several people were at the party before Jinagas murder, so the scene was full of various DNA samples. 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. But I dont have a desire to do that. So she was protecting him from interacting with cops and ending up going to jail for that. Jinaga had moved to the Pacific Northwest about six months ago. When contacted by police, Leslie Potts falsely claimed that she was alone, even though Emanuel Fair was staying with her.