Suspect Identified in Closs Kidnapping, Investigation Continues

Officials in western Wisconsin are calling it an
“amazing day” as 13-year-old Jayme Closs has been found alive. After
an 88-day search for Closs, she was found alive in the remote northern area of
Gordon, Wisconsin, about an hour away from her home in Barron. Closs was able
to escape from her captor, who has been identified as 21-year-old Jake Thomas
Patterson, and find someone to call 911. Closs was able to describe to officers
what his vehicle looked like, and they found and identified Patterson a short
time later. Closs was taken to the hospital for evaluation and was held
overnight for observation, while Patterson was transported to Barron County and
has been charged with murder and kidnapping

Officers say they do not believe Patterson had any
contact with the family, and believe Jayme was the only target. Patterson took
multiple steps to disguise his identity from the public. He is being charged
with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for the killing of Denise
and James Closs, and one count of kidnapping. The investigation is still
ongoing.