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 man will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars for the murder of a 15-year-old girl who was last seen on his farm.
James Bachmurski, 66, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing Jade Colvin, whose remains have never been recovered. He was convicted last month of second-degree murder. Bachmurski will be eligible for parole after 35 years, when he”ll be over 100 years old. During his sentencing hearing, Colvin’s family aired their grievances.
Jade’s sister Shalie Cino called Bachmurski a “coward,” according to a courtroom report from Cedar Rapids ABC affiliate KCRG.
“You preyed on a child because no one your own age wanted you,” she reportedly said. “You saw a young woman, a trusting girl, and decided to take advantage of her kindness. And when you couldn’t control her, you murdered her. You are a pathetic, worthless predator.”
Cino continued: “I hope prison shows you no mercy in the way that you showed none to Jade. I hope every time you close your eyes, you see the face of the little girl you murdered. I hope you hear her voice, her last words, and that they echo in your mind every single day of your miserable existence.”
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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.
