Iowa Man Who Vowed He’d ‘Go to the Grave Before Telling the Truth’ Gets 50 Years for Murder of Missing 15-Year-Old Girl
DECORAH, IOWA — A 66-year-old Iowa man who said he’d “go to the grave before telling the truth” has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the death of 15-year-old Jade Colvin, who vanished after being last seen on his farm more than eight years ago.
James Bachmurski was convicted of second-degree murder in September. While the teen’s body has never been found, a Winneshiek County jury determined that Bachmurski was responsible for her death based on extensive evidence linking her disappearance to his rural Iowa property.
He will be eligible for parole after 35 years, effectively guaranteeing he’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Family Calls Killer a ‘Coward’ in Courtroom Showdown
During an emotional sentencing hearing, Jade’s family confronted Bachmurski, calling him a “pathetic, worthless predator” who preyed on a vulnerable teenage girl.
“You preyed on a child because no one your own age wanted you,” Jade’s sister Shalie Cino said. “You saw a trusting girl and took advantage of her kindness. And when you couldn’t control her, you murdered her.”
Cino continued:
“I hope prison shows you no mercy. I hope every time you close your eyes, you see her face and hear her voice. That’s the least you deserve.”
Another sister pleaded with Bachmurski to finally reveal what he did with Jade’s remains, saying, “Her family and friends deserve to know the truth behind what happened to her.”
Teen Vanished After Visiting Killer’s Farm
Colvin disappeared on March 23, 2017, shortly after traveling to Bachmurski’s farm in Winneshiek County. The girl had been removed from her mother’s home in 2015 and was known to run away from foster placements.
Investigators later learned that Bachmurski and Jade’s mother once had a relationship, and that he had contacted the teen through social media before convincing her to come stay with him.
When Jade arrived at his farm, she reportedly had no cellphone service and last spoke to a family member using the defendant’s phone. That call would be her final known contact.
‘I’ll Go to the Grave Before I Tell the Truth’
The case went cold until 2023, when a tip led investigators to Bachmurski, who had since moved to Georgia.
According to testimony from Iowa Department of Public Safety Special Agent John Turbett, Bachmurski initially admitted Jade had been at his farm but claimed she “went to a store and never came back.”
When pressed by investigators, he made a chilling statement:
“You know what? I already, a long time ago, figured I’d go to the grave before I tell the truth.”
Prosecutors argued that line revealed his guilt — and his total lack of remorse.
Defense Claimed ‘No Body, No Crime’
During trial, defense attorney Leigha Lattner argued that without a body, “there’s no evidence and no crime.”
But prosecutors said every piece of circumstantial evidence — from phone records to witness testimony — led back to Bachmurski.
“She was alive and well until she met James Bachmurski,” Prosecutor Scott Brown told jurors.
Bachmurski’s conviction brings closure to a case that haunted the community for nearly a decade — but Jade’s body has never been found, and her family continues to plead for answers.
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