The lifeless body of 16-year-old Sarah Yarborough was discovered on December 14, 1991. She was raped and murdered on Federal Way High School’s campus.
It took 30 years for officials to identify and punish the man responsible for this horrific crime. In 2019, forensic genetic genealogy was used to identify a suspect named Patrick Nicholas. According to CBS News, undercover officers kept a close eye on the suspect and retrieved a cigarette smoked by him. They then matched it with DNA found on the victim’s clothing.
It was a perfect match. Cops soon arrested him and charged him with the murder of Sarah Yarborough. According to USA Today, Patrick had a history of sexual assault. In 1983, he attempted to rape a 21-year-old woman named Anne Croney. Patrick was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, he was released three years into his punishment.
Currently, Patrick Nicholas is behind bars. For his crimes, he is serving a 45-year sentence. Furthermore, according to The Seattle Times, the convict will most probably die in jail.
CBS News recently aired an episode, on the show 48 Hours, titled The Hunt for Sarah Yarborough’s Killer. This episode shed light on this tragic case. The official synopsis of the episode reads, “A high school student on her way to drill team practice is found murdered on campus. What it took to close the case after 30 years. “48 Hours” contributor Natalie Morales reports.”
What did people say regarding the imprisonment of Patrick Nicholas?
According to The Seattle Times, King County Superior Court Judge Josephine Wiggs said, “It’s so cruel that someone who was so young, so generous with her spirit and so concerned with the safety of others would be the victim of such predatory, depraved conduct. When I think about this poor child and what she experienced, fighting for her life … it’s just so disturbing.”
Furthermore, in the state sentencing memo, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Mary Barbosa wrote, “While it will never be known how Mr. Nicholas was able to force Sarah Yarborough away from the safety of her car, school and arriving drill team, Mr. Nicholas’ prior convictions suggest he used a weapon or threats of violence.”
Sarah’s younger brother, Andrew Yarborough, was 11 years old when his sister was raped and murdered. According to KIRO 7, he said, “I next recall the pain in my father’s voice over the phone telling me that Sarah was dead. I recall the sounds of my parents crying through the walls at night as I laid in bed.”
Furthermore, Sarah’s mother, Laura Yarborough, said, “We lived the last 30 years wondering when and if someone was going to be arrested and knowing that was kind of a Damocles sword hanging over your head and you never know when it’s going to fall.
She ended her statement by saying, “The trial’s like a marathon. It’s a slog. I didn’t realize it was going to be quite this draining or exhausting or go on so long.”
