Jake Patterson

Jayme Lynn Closs (born 2005) is the only child of James and Denise Closs of Barron, Wisconsin.

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.

In October of 2018, Jake Patterson drove to the Closs home to kidnap Jayme Closs.

Activity in the home deterred him, as he was afraid he would leave witnesses.

Patterson made a second attempt two days later but again aborted for the same reason.

On October 15, he made a third visit, this time armed with a shotgun.

Shortly before 12:53 a.m. Central Time (05:53 UTC), Patterson parked his car at the end of the driveway.

Wearing a black coat and ski mask, he approached the front door of the home, carrying the shotgun.

James Closs, 56, shone a light on Patterson through a glass pane in the front door and asked him to show him his badge.

Patterson called out, "Open the fucking door!"

Patterson fired once, fatally shooting Closs.

Forcing his way into the house, Patterson checked every room in the house because he wanted "no witnesses left behind."

He found the bathroom door locked and began shooting it down.

Inside the bathroom were Denise Closs, 46, and Jayme.

Denise was comforting Jayme, who was crying loudly.

At 12:53 a.m., Denise Closs made a 911 call.

While Denise Closs did not speak, the operator heard a disturbance and yelling before the phone call disconnected.

When the dispatcher called the number back, they reached the voicemail of Denise.

Patterson bound Jayme's wrists and ankles using duct tape, then fatally shot Denise Closs.

He dragged Jayme outside, almost slipping on blood, placed her in the trunk of his car, and drove away.

The police arrived four minutes after the 911 call.

Patterson later told investigators that he pulled over 20 seconds down the road from the house.

Deputies sped by with emergency lights and sirens on.

Neighbors said they heard two gunshots but dismissed them since hunting was common around their homes.

After arriving at his cabin, Patterson made Closs change into a different pair of pajamas, then forced her under his mattress and sealed off all exits before going to sleep.

Less than two weeks after Jayme's abduction, a man burglarized the Closs family home, stealing some of Jayme's clothing.

He was arrested, but not considered a suspect in the abduction and double murder.

Patterson believed that Closs was too afraid of him to make any escape attempts.

He "never put special locks on doors because she wouldn’t escape."

They also slept on the same bed.

Patterson would rarely let Closs out of the cabin, only for brief walks on the lawn after checking for bystanders.

Patterson took Closs to a house 70 mi away in rural Gordon, Wisconsin, and held her in captivity for 88 days until she escaped on January 10, 2019.

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.

On the afternoon of January 10, 2019, Patterson told Closs he was leaving for a couple of hours.