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Justice Finally Served: Man Convicted of Rape and Murder of 16-Year-Old Girl 30 Years Later

courtesy of comingsoon.net

The lifeless body of 16-year-old Sarah Yarborough was discovered on December 14, 1991, on the campus of Federal Way High School. It was a horrifying crime that remained unsolved for three decades, leaving her family in agony and the community in fear.

A Breakthrough in Forensic Science

In 2019, a breakthrough in forensic genetic genealogy provided a glimmer of hope for justice. Using this cutting-edge technique, officials were able to identify a suspect named Patrick Nicholas. CBS News reports that undercover officers collected a cigarette butt smoked by Nicholas and matched the DNA found on it to the DNA found on Sarah's clothing. It was a perfect match.

A History of Sexual Assault

According to USA Today, Patrick Nicholas had a dark past. In 1983, he attempted to rape a 21-year-old woman and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Shockingly, he was released after serving only three years of his sentence. This history of sexual assault painted a disturbing picture of a dangerous individual.

Justice Served

Patrick Nicholas is now behind bars, serving a 45-year sentence for the rape and murder of Sarah Yarborough. The Seattle Times predicts that he will likely die in jail, finally bringing some closure to Sarah's grieving family.

48 Hours: The Hunt for Sarah Yarborough's Killer

The tragic case of Sarah Yarborough was recently featured on an episode of CBS News' 48 Hours. The episode delved into the long and arduous journey to solve this cold case. The official synopsis of the episode stated, "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."

A Cruel and Disturbing Crime

During the sentencing, King County Superior Court Judge Josephine Wiggs expressed her horror at the nature of the crime. She 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."

In the state sentencing memo, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Mary Barbosa emphasized the violent nature of the crime. She 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."

A Family's Grief

For Sarah's family, the past 30 years have been filled with pain and uncertainty. Her younger brother, Andrew Yarborough, vividly remembers the devastating moment he learned of his sister's death. 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."

Sarah's mother, Laura Yarborough, expressed the emotional toll the trial has taken on her. She 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. 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."

After three decades of pain and uncertainty, Sarah Yarborough's family can finally find some solace in knowing that her killer has been brought to justice.

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