At the age of 13 in 2015, Jade Colvin entered the foster care system alongside her siblings due to her mother’s substance abuse and mental health issues. With no contact with her father, authorities deemed foster care the only viable option.
Jade experienced a tumultuous nine months within the foster care system, moving between various facilities and foster homes. Uncomfortable living with strangers, she yearned for her mother, LaDawn, in Iowa. Despite attempts to conceal herself by altering her appearance, Jade’s sociable nature made her easy to locate. Each time she ran away, she was inevitably found and returned to the system.
On June 10, 2016, Jade fled a troubled youth shelter, evading authorities and being reported as a runaway. With hopes of regaining autonomy at 18, Jade hid with acquaintances and family. However, in March 2017, shortly after her 15th birthday, Jade vanished without a trace, leaving her family in the dark.
Following LaDawn’s passing in 2019, Jade remained absent, missing her own mother’s funeral, sparking concerns. The US Marshals initiated Operation Homecoming in 2020 to locate missing children, leading them to investigate Jade’s disappearance and her last known movements.
Through digital evidence, investigators discovered that LaDawn had arranged for Jade to stay at a farm in Decorah, Iowa owned by James Bachmurski, whom she had met online. Jade’s relocation to the farm was intended as a temporary measure while LaDawn worked towards reunification with her daughter.
Jade arrived at the farm on March 23, 2017, but communication ceased abruptly within a week. Bachmurski claimed Jade had run away again, failing to involve the authorities for fear of repercussions. A breakthrough came in 2022 when investigators uncovered crucial evidence on an old phone belonging to Bachmurski.
The phone contained incriminating photos of Jade, corroborating her presence at the farm. Deleted messages revealed desperate attempts by Jade’s family to locate her. Further investigations, including witness statements and digital evidence, led to Bachmurski’s arrest for second-degree murder in August 2024.
During the 2025 trial, the prosecution highlighted Bachmurski’s suspicious actions and his history of inappropriate behavior. Despite the defense’s claims of Jade’s potential survival, the jury convicted Bachmurski of second-degree murder, sentencing him to 50 years in prison in October 2025.
Jade’s family expressed relief at the verdict, condemning Bachmurski’s actions and seeking closure despite the absence of Jade’s remains.
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