The Man Who Admitted to Kidnapping Jayme Closs Visited Her Home Two Separate Times Before Killing Her Parents
Jayme Closs, the 13-year-old Wisconsin girl who went missing after her parents James and Denise were murdered in October, was found alive last week 87 days after her parents were shot to death. Now, troubling details are starting to emerge about her time in captivity.
According to KARE11, a local Wisconsin news station, a 21-year-old man named Jake Patterson admitted to police that he kidnapped Jayme and killed her parents. The police filed a report stating that Jake chose Jayme at random one morning when he saw her getting on a school bus.
Jake allegedly visited the Closs home two separate times before the morning of October 15, when he approached the home with a gun. He shot Jayme's dad James before finding Jayme and her mother Denise in the bathroom.
Then, Jake tied Jayme up and and then shot her mother while she watched. He dragged her to his car and put her in the trunk. He estimated that he was in the Closs home for less than four minutes. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one of kidnapping.
Jayme gave an interview with police where she described what it was like after she was kidnapped. Jake reportedly forced her to stay under his bed, blocked in by plastic tubs, whenever anyone else was in the home. He'd leave her there for up to 12 hours at a time.
She finally got away when Jake told her he'd be gone for five or six hours at a time. She was able to force her way out from under the bed and escape.
Last week, a woman in Gordon, Wisconsin-a rural area located about 70 miles north of where Jayme was last seen-was walking her dog when a bedraggled Jayme approached her asking for help. They went to the nearest neighbor's house and knocked on the door to use the phone.
"This is Jayme Closs! Call 911!” the neighbor reportedly said. Kristin Kasinskas, the homeowner, was the one who opened the door. She and her husband Peter let the two inside while they waited for the police.
“It was like I was seeing a ghost,” Peter said.
Jayme was found in an area called Eau Claire Acres, a cluster of about 30 cabins that are mostly unoccupied during the winter months.
The police's search for Jayme was extensive. Thousands of people joined search parties. The FBI got involved and even offered a cash reward, but they found few solid leads.
Jayme's aunt, Sue Allard, reported that Jayme was taken to the hospital after she was found. Her family is relieved that after three months of searching, she'll finally be able to come home. "Praise the Lord,” Sue told the Star Tribune. “It’s the news we’ve been waiting on for three months. I can’t wait to get my arms around her. I just can’t wait.”
Follow Emma on Instagram.
('You Might Also Like',)
