Who Is James Bachmurski & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Background

James David Bachmurski was a longtime resident of Winneshiek County, Iowa, where he owned a large rural property south of Decorah. He controlled more than 400 acres of farmland and woodland and operated a seasonal business known as the Tranquility Corn Maze. In the community, he was known as a landowner and small business operator, living in relative isolation on his farm along Skyline Drive.

His connection to Jade Colvin came through her mother, with whom he had previously been in a relationship. That link brought Jade to his property in March 2017. Evidence later presented in court showed that Bachmurski had been communicating with Jade before her arrival. Those messages, combined with his role in helping her travel to Iowa, placed him in direct contact with the teenager in the days leading up to her disappearance.

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• Who Was Jade Colvin & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Background

Background and Prior Allegations

Court records revealed aspects of Bachmurski’s past that became relevant during the investigation and trial. He had prior legal issues, including a 2012 case involving harassment, assault, and child endangerment. Testimony and documents from that case described abuse involving his own children, including allegations that he used an electric fence charger to shock one of them and made threats involving firearms.

Those earlier incidents did not directly relate to Jade Colvin’s disappearance, but they were part of the broader picture examined by investigators. They also raised questions about his behavior and credibility. By the time Jade arrived at his farm, Bachmurski was already known to law enforcement, and that history became part of the context surrounding the later homicide investigation.

Jade Colvin’s Disappearance and Bachmurski’s Role

Jade Colvin was last seen at Bachmurski’s farm in late March 2017. He was the last known person to have contact with her. According to his statements to investigators, Jade was alive when he left the property at one point, and he claimed she was gone when he returned. He suggested she may have left voluntarily, pointing to tire tracks at the property and the possibility that someone else picked her up.

Investigators and prosecutors challenged that account. They pointed to the fact that Jade’s belongings remained at the farm and that she never contacted friends or family again after March 30, 2017. Over time, Bachmurski gave multiple statements about what happened, some of which conflicted with each other. In recorded conversations and interviews, he made remarks that prosecutors later used to argue he knew Jade was dead. One such statement included his claim that he would go to the grave before telling the truth.

The Investigation and Arrest

For several years, the case remained unresolved. Bachmurski sold his Decorah-area property in 2018 and later moved to Georgia. During that period, investigators continued to gather information, but it was not until the case was reopened and reexamined in 2022 that momentum increased. Authorities focused on evidence connected to the farm and on items Bachmurski had placed in storage before leaving Iowa.

A key development came when investigators recovered a cell phone linked to him from stored belongings. Digital forensics allowed them to retrieve deleted messages and photographs, including images of Jade at the farm. That evidence helped establish her presence on the property and contributed to a more detailed timeline of her final days. Following interviews and further investigation, Bachmurski was arrested in 2024 and extradited from Georgia back to Iowa to face charges.

Trial and Conviction

Bachmurski’s trial in 2025 centered on circumstantial evidence in what prosecutors described as a no-body homicide case. The state argued that Jade’s sudden and complete disappearance, combined with the digital evidence, witness testimony, and his own statements, proved that he killed her. Prosecutors emphasized that she had no verified contact with anyone after March 30, 2017, and that there was no credible evidence she had left the farm alive.

The defense argued that Jade had a history of running away and may have chosen to disappear again. They pointed to a written plan about going into hiding and the lack of direct physical evidence linking Bachmurski to a killing. They also noted that no remains had been found and no definitive cause of death had been established. After deliberating for several hours, the jury rejected that argument and returned a unanimous guilty verdict for second-degree murder in September 2025.

Sentencing and Where He Is Now

In October 2025, James David Bachmurski was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of Jade Colvin. Under Iowa law, he must serve a minimum of 35 years before becoming eligible for parole. Given his age at the time of sentencing, the term effectively represents a life sentence.

He is currently incarcerated at Anamosa State Penitentiary in Iowa. Jade Colvin’s body has never been recovered, and the case remains classified as a missing person case pending the discovery and identification of her remains. Bachmurski’s conviction closed the legal case, but the absence of a recovery continues to leave unanswered questions about the final moments of Jade’s life.