Jake Thomas Patterson, the Wisconsin man charged with kidnapping Jayme Closs and murdering her parents, is scheduled for an arraignment to take place Wednesday. Court is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. CT. He has reportedly voiced a desire to plead guilty.
Detectives for the Barron County Sheriff’s Office said he staged an attack on the girl’s home on Oct. 15, 2018. Armed with a shotgun, he allegedly killed Closs’ father James, then found her and her mother Denise hiding in their bathroom. He then allegedly murdered Denise Closs and took off with Jayme, according to the criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime.
He held her captive for months at his cabin up north in Douglas County until Closs escaped on January 10 and found help, authorities said. After deputies arrested Patterson, both Jayme and the suspect gave detailed statements about what happened, according to the complaint.
Patterson admitted to planning the attack, investigators said. For example, he allegedly said he shaved his head and face, and showered beforehand so he wouldn’t leave evidence behind. He claimed he didn’t know Closs or her family prior to the incident. The defendant allegedly said that he happened to see her step onto a bus one morning, and then decided to kidnap her.
Patterson is charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, one count of kidnapping without consent, and burglary armed with a dangerous weapon. It seems like he plans on pleading guilty, as indicated in a jailhouse letter he apparently wrote to KARE 11.
[Mugshot via Barron County Sheriff’s Office]
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