Washington man convicted of raping, killing 16-year-old in 1991

KING COUNTY, Wash. (TCD) -- A teen's family is getting justice over 30 years after she was sexually assaulted and strangled to death before she was scheduled to attend a drill team competition.

KCPQ-TV reports a jury convicted Patrick Nicholas of murder with sexual motivation, but acquitted him on a charge of first-degree murder for the death of 16-year-old Sarah Yarborough.

According to the King County Sheriff's Office, on Dec. 14, 1991, Yarborough drove to Federal Way High School to meet up with her drill team. She failed to show, and soon after, two 12-year-old boys found her body in the bushes. The boys saw a man leaving the area moments before they discovered her body and helped investigators create a sketch of the suspect.

The case went cold, but advancements in DNA technology led to a break in the investigation. On Oct. 3, 2019, the King County Sheriff's Office announced investigators arrested Nicholas on suspicion of murder.

KCPQ reports Yarborough was raped and strangled with her own pantyhose.

According to KOMO-TV, DNA from a paper napkin and cigarette helped link him to Yarborough's killing.

He will be sentenced May 25.

MORE:

• Sarah Yarborough cold case trial: Suspect found guilty of murdering Washington teen - KCPQ
• Press Release, 10/3/2019 - King County Sheriff's Office
• Update on the Sarah Yarborough Murder Case, 10/17/2019 - King County Sheriff's Office
• Jury finds Patrick Nicholas guilty in 1991 killing of Federal Way teen Sarah Yarborough - KOMO