A Johnson County jury has convicted Isaiah Sadowski of second-degree murder in the December 2021 death of 75-year-old Barbara Patterson, whom he struck while driving drunk at more than 130 mph before fleeing the country and later posting YouTube videos blaming his fiancee's infidelity for the killing.
Background
The crash occurred on a Kansas road when Sadowski, who was 20 years old at the time, struck Patterson's vehicle. According to court documents and interviews, Sadowski admitted in a June 2024 YouTube interview with content creator Jesse Crosson that he had been drinking after learning his fiancee had cheated on him over Christmas.
"I was still reeling from finding out that I was being cheated on," Sadowski told Crosson. "As a 20-year-old, you're cheated on by a girl that you're engaged to and it's the end of the world, right? The world's crashing down on you."
Sadowski claimed both vehicles ran a red light and disputed how the collision occurred. He stated he was braking as his light turned solid red while alleging the other vehicle's light had been amber.
The Investigation
According to the Johnson County District Attorney's Office, Sadowski fled the United States after the crash. He was taken into custody during a joint operation involving the U.S. Marshals Service and Mexican authorities in Colima, Mexico, as reported by The Kansas City Star.
"Defendant, by his own public admission, has intentionally left the United States," one of Sadowski's three defense attorneys, Gregory Watt, wrote in an April 2024 court filing, requesting to withdraw from representing him. "Defendant has both violated the terms of his bond and violated the terms of the attorney/client contract with our office."
Sadowski pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges in 2022. Court records indicate that after his initial arrest for the crash, a judge ordered him released without being required to wear an ankle monitoring device.
In addition to facing criminal charges, Sadowski agreed to pay $1.5 million to Patterson's son through a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Jackson County Circuit Court. The settlement was reached in June 2022 through an insurance policy he held at the time of the crash.
Key Takeaways
- Isaiah Sadowski convicted of second-degree murder by Johnson County jury for killing Barbara Patterson, 75
- Prosecutors allege Sadowski was driving over 130 mph while intoxicated when he struck Patterson's vehicle in December 2021
- Sadowski fled to Mexico after the crash and was apprehended by U.S. Marshals Service and Mexican authorities
- Before his capture, Sadowski appeared on YouTube videos calmly discussing the case and blaming his fiancee's infidelity
- Sadowski settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $1.5 million with Patterson's son
- Three defense attorneys represented Sadowski during proceedings; one sought to withdraw citing bond violations
What's Next
A sentencing date has not yet been set, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's Office. Sadowski remains convicted of second-degree murder following the jury verdict and will face a judge who will determine his sentence for killing Patterson.