48 Hours “The Hunt for Sarah Yarborough’s Killer” 10PM November 18 2023 Recap & Preview

On December 14, 1991, a tragic incident unfolded as 16-year-old honor student Sarah Yarborough was en route to drill team practice at Federal Way High School near Seattle, Washington. Sadly, she never reached her destination, as her life was cut short. Her lifeless body was discovered just a hundred yards away from her car on the school’s campus. This cold case took almost three decades to solve.

In an upcoming episode of “48 Hours” titled “The Hunt for Sarah Yarborough’s Killer” airing 10PM on November 18 2023,  correspondent Natalie Morales explores the efforts that eventually led to the apprehension of Yarborough’s murderer. This episode will feature interviews with key individuals involved in the case, including Sarah’s family and friends, shedding light on the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day.

The initial discovery of Sarah’s body was made by Drew Miller, then 13 years old, and a friend as they were walking through the school grounds. They noticed a man in the bushes, who was simply staring at them. Miller recounts how this encounter left them shaken, especially when they realized the man was gazing back at them. The boys immediately returned home.

Scott Strathy, a retired detective from the King County Sheriff’s Office, was among the first responders to the scene. He describes the heart-wrenching nature of the crime scene, emphasizing the innocence of Sarah, who was still in her school drill team uniform, with hot curlers in her hair. It was a stark and chilling contrast to the evil that had transpired.

Initially, there was hope that the case would quickly be solved, given the presence of the killer’s DNA on Sarah Yarborough’s clothing and a police sketch of the man provided by Miller. However, despite the early promise, the case went cold for nearly three decades, leaving Sarah’s friends and family with dashed hopes.

Advancements in DNA technology and forensic genetic genealogy eventually played a crucial role in cracking the case. Investigators identified a man named Patrick Nicholas, who had a history of attacking women and had been released from prison early, only to commit the heinous crime that ended Sarah Yarborough’s life.

What Happened to Sarah Yarborough & Killer Patrick Leon Nicholas?

On May 25, 2023, Patrick Leon Nicholas was sentenced to nearly 46 years in prison for the cold case murder of Federal Way teen Sarah Yarborough that occurred in 1991. Judge Josephine Wiggs handed down this sentence, describing the crime as an “outrageous violation of a child” involving sexual assault and murder, justifying an exceptional sentence.

Sarah Yarborough, a 16-year-old high school student, was found raped and murdered on the Federal Way High School campus on December 14, 1991. Her disappearance and tragic death had a profound impact on her family, including her younger brother, Andrew Yarborough, who vividly remembers the pain of losing his sister at the age of 11.

Sarah was last seen leaving her home to attend a high school dance competition, but her car was discovered in the school parking lot, and her lifeless body was later found in a wooded area on the campus.

The breakthrough in the case came in 2019 when police used familial DNA to link DNA evidence from the crime scene to Patrick Leon Nicholas. Subsequently, Nicholas was charged with first-degree murder with sexual motivation, and his trial commenced on April 17 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

The trial was described as a lengthy and emotionally draining process by Sarah’s mother, Laura Yarborough. Witnesses who were present at the time of the murder collaborated with investigators to create a composite sketch of a potential suspect seen near the school’s tennis courts shortly before Sarah’s body was discovered.

Notably, this wasn’t Nicholas’ first encounter with the justice system. In 1983, he was convicted of first-degree rape and served a 10-year sentence but was released after a little over three years. Anne Croney, the victim in that case, also provided a victim impact statement, expressing concern about why a repeat offender like Nicholas had been released so early, given his prior rape convictions.

Sarah’s family, while acknowledging that nothing can bring their daughter back or erase the pain they’ve endured, found some comfort in knowing that Nicholas would no longer pose a threat to others. In the sentencing, Nicholas was also ordered to pay restitution to the Yarborough family, with the exact amount to be determined later. The Yarborough family expressed profound gratitude to the investigators who tirelessly worked for over 30 years to bring Sarah’s killer to justice.