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Inset: Jade Colvin (Iowa Department of Public Safety). Background: James Bachmurski at his trial, where he was found guilty of murdering the 15-year-old (KTTC/YouTube).
An Iowa resident is facing a life sentence for the murder of a 15-year-old girl who vanished after being last seen on his property.
James Bachmurski, aged 66, has been handed a 50-year prison term for the death of Jade Colvin, whose body has never been located. Last month, a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder. Although he will have the chance for parole after 35 years, Bachmurski will be over 100 by then. During the sentencing, the family of the victim expressed their anguish.
Jade’s sister, Shalie Cino, labeled Bachmurski as a “coward,” as reported by KCRG, a Cedar Rapids ABC affiliate.
“You targeted a child because no one your own age wanted you,” she reportedly stated. “You encountered a young woman, a trusting girl, and chose to exploit her kindness. When you couldn’t dominate her, you ended her life. You are a pathetic, worthless predator.”
Cino further expressed: “I hope prison offers you no mercy, just as you showed none to Jade. May you see the face of the little girl you murdered every time you close your eyes. May her voice, her final words, haunt you daily throughout your miserable existence.”
Family members read aloud another victim statement from Jade’s other sister, who urged him to divulge what he did with her remains.
“Her family and friends deserve to know the truth behind what happened to her,” the statement reportedly said. “You were the last person who saw her in person. You know what you did to her. You know where she is.”
As Law&Crime previously reported, Jade’s last known contact was on March 23, 2017. She was reportedly removed from her mother’s home in 2015 and was known to frequently run away from foster homes before moving to Arizona. There, she once again ran away after speaking with Bachmurski through social media. Bachmurski and Jade’s mother had a previous relationship.
The girl ended up on Bachmurski’s farm in Winneshiek County in March 2017, where she had no cellphone service. She spoke to a family member shortly after her arrival via the defendant’s phone, which is the last time anyone heard from her.
Cops received a tip leading them to Bachmurski, who had since moved to Georgia. The Iowa Department of Public Safety interviewed the defendant in August 2023 and April 2024. Special Agent John Turbett testified at trial about those interviews, according to a courtroom report by local NBC affiliate KTTC.
Turbett told jurors that Bachmurski didn’t seem all that surprised cops were at his door.
“I’ve just been waiting for law enforcement to come and talk to me,” Bachmurski reportedly said, per Turbett.
Bachmurski admitted Jade had been on his farm. He claimed he last saw her doing laundry before she left to go to a store. When pressed about why he didn’t call law enforcement, he reportedly told Turbett that he knew it was “illegal or wrong,” Turbett testified.
“He says, ‘I know I’m getting myself in super trouble,’” Turbett told the jury.
In the second interview, Bachmurski was not very forthcoming about Jade’s whereabouts.
“You know what? I already, a long time ago, figured I’d go to the grave before I tell the truth,” the defendant reportedly told Turbett.
During closing arguments, Bachmurski’s attorneys said Jade could still be alive today.
“No body, no evidence and no crime,” defense attorney Leigha Lattner said, per KTTC.
But prosecutors said all signs point to Bachmurski as the killer.
“She was physically okay until she met James Bachmurski,” said prosecutor Scott Brown.