The man accused of holding Jayme Closs captive after murdering her parents has been identified as Jake Thomas Patterson.
The 13-year-old teenager was abducted from her Wisconsin home after her parents, James and Denise, were shot dead last October.
Jayme was discovered alive yesterday after escaping from her captor’s rural residence and knocking on the door of a neighbour.
She had been held captive for 87 days.
#FBIMilwaukee needs your help, as the search continues to bring home 13 year old Jayme Closs, now missing & endangered after her parents were found dead in their home in Barron, WI early this week. Call the tip line 1-855-744-3879.#FindJayme pic.twitter.com/rNELlQKJb6
— FBI Milwaukee (@FBIMilwaukee) October 17, 2018
Police investigating the case have since named 21-year-old Patterson as the suspect arrested in connection with the murder and kidnapping.
Barron County Sherriff’s Department released Patterson’s mugshot this evening following an arrest that was made without incident.
Patterson has no criminal record and was not previously known to police.
Authorities said that Patterson planned the crime ahead of time and that Jayme was the intended target of the abduction.
When the teenager was discovered, she was skinny, dirty, and had “matted hair.” Her shoes also did not fit her.
Her parents were shot dead in their home on Monday, October 15, 2018.
Emergency services had received a call from the address from a mobile phone minutes before they arrived to the scene. They noted a disturbance in the background but did not speak to the caller directly.
Upon arrival, they discovered that Jayme was missing.They did not find anybody else at the scene.
The 13-year-old has since been reunited with her family.
