Jayme Closs' Kidnapper Targeted Her After He Saw Her Boarding School Bus

Authorities in Wisconsin have charged 21-year-old Jake Patterson with two counts of intentional homicide, one count of kidnapping and one count of armed burglary for allegedly kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs from her home and killing her parents. 

Patterson told investigators that he decided to kidnap the teenager after he saw her getting into a school bus. Authorities said that he didn't even know her name until he had abducted her. 

After seeing Closs, he began meticulously planning the kidnapping and even shaved his head to avoid leaving any DNA evidence at the crime scene. He swapped the license plates out on his car with stolen ones to throw off any witnesses who may have seen his crime. 

On October 15th, police said that he broke into the Closs' home, tied up Jayme and killed both of her parents before taking her to a cabin in Gordon, Wisconsin. He held her captive for 88 days, forcing her to stay under his bed for hours at a time, even when guests were present downstairs. 

Closs managed to escape from Patterson's house on January 10th and was found by a woman walking her dog. Investigators said that Patterson told Closs he was leaving for a few hours and she used the time to make a run for it. 

“Jayme is the hero in this case; there’s no question about it,” said Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald during a press conference. 


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