Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder and assault. Reader discretion is advised.
The latest episode of 48 Hours titled, “The Hunt for Sarah Yarborough’s Killer,” aired on ID on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET. It follows the investigation of 16-year-old Sarah Yarborough’s murder that led to the arrest of Patrick Nicholas.
Patrick Nicholas was arrested and charged with Sarah Yarborough’s murder in 2019, nearly three decades after the victim was found raped and strangled. The police caught Nicholas after they collected cigarette butts and paper napkins disposed of by him. They then matched them with DNA found on the crime scene. The police teamed up with a genetic genealogy company to use advanced technology and identify the culprit, People Magazine reported.
Sarah Yarborough disappeared on December 14, 1991, after she arrived at Federal Way High School near Seattle. She reportedly went early for drill practice and was the first to arrive. When her other teammates arrived, however, they only found Yarborough’s car. A 13-year-old witness named Drew Miller was skateboarding at the time. He claimed that he saw a man, later identified as Patrick Nicholas, walk out of the bushes. He then led the police to the spot, and they found Sarah Yarborough lying dead, partially dressed, according to CBS News.
Drew Miller and his friend were witnesses to the case, recounting the man’s features to the authorities. Subsequently, the police circulated a sketch and appealed to the public for leads. The cause of Yarborough’s death was determined to be blunt force trauma. Despite efforts, the case remained unsolved until 2019. Advances in genetic genealogy research allowed for the narrowing down of suspects based on DNA evidence, ultimately leading to the arrest of Patrick Nicholas.
What was Patrick Nicholas convicted of?
Patrick Nicholas was found guilty of first and second-degree murder with sexual motivation in the death of Sarah Yarborough, Fox 13 reported. He was sentenced to more than 45 years in prison. Nicholas beat the victim, raped her, and strangled her with her stockings. He was also charged with pre-meditated first-degree murder. However, he was not found guilty on that count. He was asked to serve three years in community service after completing his sentence.
Prior to his conviction in the Sarah Yarborough murder, Patrick Nicholas was found guilty of attempted rape in 1983. However, his DNA sample was not entered into CODIS at the time. In 1993, he was again arrested on a count of child molestation. According to ABC News, He pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree gross misdemeanor. Authorities also found that there was no apparent relationship between Nicholas and Yarborough.
DNA evidence was at the center of Patrick Nicholas’ conviction. The prosecution showed Sarah Yarborough’s socks, sweatshirt, skirt, and hair curlers, which were found at the crime scene, along with a pair of pantyhose that was reportedly used as a ligature to strangle the victim. Fox 13 reported that Drew Miller and the other witness also played an essential role in testifying about the murder.
The recent 48 Hours episode highlighted the arrest of Patrick Nicholas, culminating in justice for Sarah Yarborough’s murder after nearly thirty years. Convicted of first and second-degree murder with sexual motivation, Nicholas was sentenced to over 45 years in prison, aided by DNA evidence and witness testimonies.
