Kidnapping of Jayme Closs
On October 15, 2018, 21-year-old Jake Thomas Patterson abducted 13-year-old Jayme Lynn Closs from her family's home in Barron, Wisconsin. The attack took place at 12:53 a.m. after he forced his way inside and fatally shot her parents. Patterson took Closs to a house 70 miles (110 km) away in rural Gordon, Wisconsin, and held her in captivity for 88 days until she escaped on January 10, 2019.
| Kidnapping of Jayme Lynn Closs | |
|---|---|
Barron - Site of Kidnapping Barron - Site of Kidnapping (Wisconsin) | |
| Location | Abduction: 1268 U.S. 8, Barron, Wisconsin, U.S Confinement: 14166 South Eau Claire Acres Circle, Gordon, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 45°24′06.0″N 91°53′54.3″W |
| Date | October 15, 2018- January 10, 2019 (UTC−06:00) |
Attack type | Double-murder by shooting, home invasion, child abduction |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Victims | Murdered: James Closs, aged 56 (father) Denise Closs, aged 46 (mother) Kidnapped: Jayme Lynn Closs |
| Perpetrator | Jake Thomas Patterson |
| Participant | 1 |
| Motive | Sexual gratification |
| Convicted | 1 |
| Verdict | Pleaded guilty |
| Convictions | First-degree intentional homicide (2 counts), kidnapping |
| Sentence | Two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 40 years |
Gordon - Jayme Found Gordon - Jayme Found (Wisconsin) | |
Police took Patterson into custody; shortly after, he told them he kidnapped Closs and murdered her parents. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of kidnapping. On May 24, 2019, Patterson was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional consecutive 40 years. After her recovery, Jayme Closs now lives with an aunt and an uncle.
Jayme has become an advocate for other missing and exploited children. Her story has been widely reported on and has raised awareness about the issue of child abduction and the need for greater support for victims and their families.