Entitled Killer Denies DNA Evidence, Thinks The Cops Believe Him

October 7, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In 2019, detectives sat down with 55-year-old Patrick Leon Nicholas, who went by Leon, to ask him about the 1991 death of 16-year-old Sarah Yarbrough at a high school in Federal Way, Washington. For nearly three hours, they let him talk—about his troubled brother who used his name, his grueling work schedule as a cook, the car crash that wrecked his eyesight, his divorce from a woman he described as manic-depressive, and his time in prison as a young man. Nicholas seemed relaxed, even grateful for the conversation. Then the detectives told him that DNA evidence had linked him to the crime, and that they knew they had the right person. Nicholas stopped talking. He was arrested and later convicted of first-degree felony murder and second-degree murder, both with sexual motivation.

The long interview before the arrest

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What you'll learn

1 (01:03) **Case Introduction & Police Interview Setup** - Investigators begin questioning Patrick Leon Nicholas about the 1991 death of 16-year-old Sarah Yarbrough at a high school in Federal Way, Washington, telling him DNA evidence links him to the case.
2 (03:32) **The Identity Theft Pattern: Brother Using His Name** - Nicholas explains that his brother Edward has used his name for years to evade police, creating a history of mistaken identity.
3 (08:22) **Nicholas's Employment Timeline & Criminal History** - Nicholas walks through his work history from 1987 to the present and both brothers' time in prison.
4 (14:55) **Nicholas's Troubled Marriage & False Allegations** - Nicholas discusses his ex-wife Wanda, her mental health issues, and a false sexual assault allegation she made against him.
5 (21:53) **Narrowing the Timeline: The Late 80s to Early 90s** - The detectives zero in on the critical timeframe of the crime, asking Nicholas to fine-tune his and his brother's movements.
6 (33:44) **Return to Washington & Life on the Property** - Nicholas describes moving back to Washington, living in a basement house, and eventually moving onto the family property in Covington.
7 (35:55) **Physical Limitations & the Car Accident** - Nicholas explains why he doesn't drive: a severe car accident at age 29 that damaged his eyes and left him with chronic headaches.

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Show Notes

The recording is a police interview with Patrick Leon Nicholas, in which investigators ask about his history, his brother, and his timeline around the early 1990s. They tell him that DNA evidence connects him to the 1991 Sarah Yarbro case and give him an opportunity to discuss what happened.

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