Former Decorah man convicted in death of 15-year-old girl in March 2017

A former Decorah man was convicted by a jury this week in the disappearance and death of a 15-year-old girl, who was the daughter of his girlfriend, in 2017.

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A jury Tuesday found James Bachmurski Sr., 66, who was living in Swainsboro, Ga., when arrested and charged last year, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Jade Marie Colvin, following a six day trial, according to a news release from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

Jade Colvin went missing from Bachmurski’s rural Decorah farm on March 30, 2017. She had just returned from living in Arizona and was staying a short time with Bachmurski, who was in a relationship with Jade’s mother, LaDawn.

Jade was last seen at Walmart in Decorah on March 29, 2017, in Bachmurski’s presence, according to testimony. Jade stopped responding to texts or communicating in any way — including by social media — early March 30, 2017.

Following initiation by the U.S. Marshals Service, an extensive two-year investigation was conducted by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, according to the news release. Investigators determined Bachmurski was responsible for Jade’s disappearance and death.

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Jade’s body has never been recovered.

“After a lot of hard work and great investigation by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation, a cold-blooded murderer is off the streets and a family finally has closure,” Attorney General Brenna Bird said in a statement.

She also thanked Winneshiek County Attorney Andrew Van Der Maaten for his work and the work several assistant attorneys general and the statewide prosecutors of the Criminal Justice Division of the office.

Bachmurski’s sentencing hasn’t been set at this time. He faces up to 50 years in prison and must serve 35 years before being eligible for parole.

According to a complaint, the investigation revealed Bachmurski had “encouraged and participated” in a relationship with Jade through “electronic messaging” for about 30 days before she came to his farm. Bachmurksi told authorities the teen’s mother didn’t know about his messaging with her daughter.

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Bachmurski also said he used some of his own money to bring Jade to his farm, the complaint stated.

When he was shown a photo of Colvin, taken several days before her death, Bachmurski told law enforcement he remembered that photo, stating “I do. I’m not gonna lie. I do. As a matter of fact, I’ll guarantee you I’m getting myself in a lot of trouble. I want to tell you the truth.”

Bachmurski told investigators Jade’s cellphone didn’t have service when she arrived in Iowa and she was “cut off from the world,” the complaint stated. In the early morning of March 30, 2017, Jade was using Bachmurski’s cellphone, which he had allowed.

The messages sent by Jade from Bachmurski’s cellphone that day were the last messages ever sent by her, according to the complaint.

Bachmurski said he thought about contacting law enforcement during Jade’s stay with him but alerting authorities he had a “runaway” girl in his home wouldn’t have “turned out good for him,” according to the complaint.

Interviews and other case information provided evidence Bachmurski was the last person with Jade, according to the complaint. Bachmurski made other false and contradictory statements to others, including to his son, Bryan Bachmurski, throughout the investigation.

Bryan Bachmurski confirmed Jade came to the farm in March 2017, the complaint stated. He saw a travel bag or suitcase, as well as other items belonging to the teen in the farmhouse a few months after Jade had disappeared. He said the travel bag or suitcase was empty at that time.

The son found it in his father’s bedroom and Jade’s room was empty.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com