He'd driven past her house twice before and lost his nerve both times. The third time, he brought a gun.
The Attack
In the weeks before October 15, 2018, Jake Patterson had noticed 13-year-old Jayme Closs on her school bus route in Barron, Wisconsin, and made two earlier attempts to approach the Closs family home that he abandoned partway through. On his third attempt, in the early morning hours of October 15, he parked away from the house, approached wearing a mask, and shot and killed Jayme's father, James, at the front door. He then forced his way inside, searching the house before finding Jayme and her mother, Denise, in a locked bathroom, where Denise was on the phone with 911. He shot and killed Denise, then bound Jayme and forced her out of the house in the trunk of his car -- all in the span of a few minutes, before police arrived at the scene.
88 Days in Captivity
Patterson held Jayme at a cabin belonging to his father, roughly 70 miles away in Gordon, Wisconsin, for 88 days, isolating her and restricting her movement within the cabin. We are not detailing the specific conditions of her captivity further.
Her Escape
On January 10, 2019, while Patterson was away from the cabin, Jayme managed to leave and sought help from a woman walking her dog nearby, who called police. Patterson was arrested within hours.
Conviction
Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of kidnapping. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders, plus an additional 40 years for the kidnapping charge.
Life After
Jayme Closs has since spoken publicly about her experience, including working with organizations supporting survivors of abduction, and has described the ongoing process of rebuilding her life after the loss of both parents and months in captivity.
FAQ
How was Jayme Closs found?
She escaped on her own after roughly three months in captivity and got help from a woman she encountered nearby, who called police.
What sentence did Jake Patterson receive?
Life in prison without parole for the murders of Jayme's parents, plus 40 additional years for kidnapping.
How long was Jayme Closs held captive?
88 days, from October 15, 2018, to January 10, 2019.