The tragic case of Jayme Closs
On October 15th, 2018, the police received a chilling call from Denise.
Denise was so shocked and panicked that she couldn’t explain anything to the police. Only chaos could be heard in the background.
Dispatcher: Barron county 911, where is your emergency?
Denise: *inaudible*…somebody, I…*inaudible*…from…
Dispatcher: Hello?
Denise: *inaudible*
Dispatcher: Hello?
Denise: *screaming* Please! …*inaudible*…*screaming*
Jayme Was a Thirteen-Year-Old Teenager
Jayme Lynn Closs was a thirteen-year-old girl from Barron, Wisconsin. And she was the only child of James and Denise Closs.
James and Denise Closs were a peaceful and hardworking couple. They both worked in Barron, Wisconsin.
Jayme’s favorite pastimes were;
- shopping
- Jazz dancing
- ice skating
- volleyball
She grew into a bright, beautiful young girl with blonde hair and green eyes.
The Police Received a Disturbing Call
It was getting dark when the police received a frantic call from Jeanne Nutter’s neighbor.Thanks to our partners, you can find ties online to suit every preference and budget, from budget to top-of-the-range super stylish models.
Jeanne had been walking her dog around when she saw a teenage girl. The girl didn’t have a coat, yet it was freezing.
Jeanne could tell that something was wrong with the girl. Then the girl told Jeanne that she was lost. And that she needed help.
Her name was Jayme. Jeanne gave the girl a big hug. She brought Jayme to a nearby neighbor’s house. Then Jeanne’s neighbor called the police.
Dispatcher: Douglas county 911.
Jeanne’s neighbor: Hi. I have a young lady at my house right now and she just says her name is Jayme Closs.
The police were shocked that she had found that girl, Jayme, who had been missing for almost three months. They brought Jayme in, and she was saved.
What Happened To Jayme
Unfortunately, Jayme caught the eye of a twenty-one-year-old man, Jake Thomas Patterson, in 2018.
Jake was on his way to work at a cheese factory in Wisconsin. Then he saw Jayme getting on a school bus whilst he sat in his car.
As Jake sat there watching Jayme, he had a conviction that she would be the girl he took. Jake immediately started planning how he was going to abduct Jayme.
He took his father’s Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun. Jake assumed it would be hard to track him since the weapon is widely purchased in the U.S. Then Jake bought a head mask from Walmart.
He shaved his head and beard so there wouldn’t be any hairs for forensic evidence at the crime scene. Then Jake purchased gloves and wiped them so they wouldn’t have prints on them. He also bought steel-toed boots, dark jeans, and a dark jacket.
Jake tried to abduct Jayme two separate times. But both attempts were unsuccessful.
The first time, Jake drove to Jayme’s house. But there were cars in the driveway, so he got spooked and left. For the second time, he was about to drive up the driveway when the lights came on. So he left again.
Jake’s Third Attempt Was Successful
Jake was unfortunately successful on his third attempt on October 15th, 2018.
He rolled into Jayme’s driveway at around midnight. The lights in his car and the headlights were off.
Meanwhile, Jayme was sleeping with her dog, Molly.
Molly heard Jake’s car pull into the driveway and started barking. That woke up Jayme. She looked outside through her window. And she saw a car that she didn’t recognize parked in the driveway.
Jayme panicked, and she ran to her parent’s room.
She immediately alerted her parents. So Jayme’s parents got out of bed. They sensed that danger was lurking.
James went to the front door with a flashlight to confront the stranger. Meanwhile, Denise and Jayme hid in the bathroom and locked the door.
They blocked the door with a dresser that was inside. Then they got in the tub, and they shut the curtains. Meanwhile, James got to the front door. He watched as Jake made his way to the front door.
James thought that Jake was a police officer.
James yelled at Jake to show him his badge. But Jake raised his gun and pulled the trigger. He shot right through the glass into James. James died immediately.
Denise and Jayme panicked in the bathroom when they heard the gunshot.
Jayme’s Mother Called The Police
Denise immediately called 911. But Jake broke into the house and got to Denise whilst she was still trying to communicate with the police. Then Jake duct-taped Jayme over her mouth and her hands. He turned to Denise, and he shot her.
The shot killed Denise.
Jake dragged Jayme to his car. Then he shoved her into his trunk. Then he drove off.
He even passed by the police, who were driving in the opposite direction heading to Jayme’s house. But the police didn’t suspect him.
The police sirens faded in the distance as Jake headed toward his house.
Meanwhile, the police arrived at Jayme’s home only to find a gruesome site. They found James’ dead body right at the front door. Then they found Denise’s body in the bathtub in the bathroom.
Jayme was nowhere to be found.
A widespread search for Jayme ensued. The authorities offered a reward for information leading to Jayme’s whereabouts. Thousands of tips rolled in, but they were all false leads.
Jake Destroyed Jayme’s Clothes
Jake burned Jayme’s clothes when he got to the house, and he gave her his sister’s pajamas.
He warned Jayme that he would kill her if she tried to escape.
Jayme listened.
Jake often kept Jayme under a bed in his cabin for stretches of hours without food, water, or bathroom breaks.
He kept Jayme prisoner for nearly three months. Meanwhile, the police, Jayme’s relatives, and volunteers searched tirelessly for her. Jake didn’t have a solid plan for Jayme.
So he started neglecting Jayme over time.
Jake got too comfortable to the extent that he would have visitors over to his house. He would just tell Jayme to stay in the room and not come out.
Jake became confident that he was going to get away with his crimes. So one day, he went for a job interview, leaving Jayme alone in the house. That is when Jayme escaped.
Jayme ran out of the house, and she met Jeanne.
Jake’s Arrest
Jake was arrested by the police later on the day that Jayme escaped.
Jake came home from his big job interview only to find Jayme gone. He rushed outside and saw Jayme’s footsteps in the snow. So he went out to look for her. But he was rounded up by the police before long.
Jake didn’t resist arrest.
He was charged with intentional homicide, kidnapping, and armed burglary.
Jake pleaded guilty in court.
He was given a life sentence without the opportunity for parole. So he will die in prison. But to this day, he claims he had no motive for his crimes.
The Aftermath
Jayme went on to live with relatives.
Her relatives tried to ensure that her traumatic experience would not affect how she saw her future.
Jayme later stated;
“I don’t want to even see my home or my stuff because of the memory of that night. My parents and my home were the most important things in my life.
He took them away from me in a way that will always leave me with a horrifying memory. But there are some things that Jake Patterson can never take from me. He can’t take my freedom. I will always have my freedom, and he will not.”