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Jayme Closs, 13, found alive three months after parents' murder Jayme Closs, 13, found alive three months after parents' murder
(about 4 hours later)
A 13-year-old Wisconsin girl, missing since her parents were discovered shot dead in their home three months ago, has been found, malnourished and dirty but alive, after fleeing her captor in a remote community. A 13-year-old Wisconsin girl missing since her parents were discovered shot dead in their home three months ago has been found, malnourished and dirty, after fleeing her captor in a remote community.
A man, who has not been identified by police, is now in custody in connection with the abduction of Jayme Closs and murders of James Closs, 56, and his wife Denise, 46, whose bodies were found on 15 October at their home near Barron, a town of 3,300 in north-western Wisconsin. At a press conference on Friday, investigators named the suspect as 21-year-old Jake Thomas Patterson and said he had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping. Police said Patterson was arrested based on a description of his vehicle that Jayme was able to provide.
Her aunt, Jen Smith, told ABC’s Good Morning America that investigators had told her she had escaped from where she was being held and immediately ran for help. Patterson was being questioned on Friday in connection with the abduction of Jayme Closs and murders of James Closs, 56, and his wife Denise Closs, 46. Their bodies were found on 15 October at their home near Barron, a town of 3,300 in north-western Wisconsin.
The Barron county sheriff, Chris Fitzgerald, said investigators believe Patterson killed Jayme’s parents because he wanted to abduct her, and that Patterson “took many steps to hide his identity”.
As of Friday morning, investigators had found no evidence that showed a relationship between Patterson and the family. Police said they were not looking for additional suspects.
Fitzgerald said Jayme managed to escape from a remote home on Thursday. She approached a woman who was walking her dog near Gordon, where Patterson lives. That woman alerted a neighbor, who called 911.
Jayme, who authorities believe was at home during the shooting, had been missing since police responded to a “mysterious” 911 call just before 1am on 15 October.Jayme, who authorities believe was at home during the shooting, had been missing since police responded to a “mysterious” 911 call just before 1am on 15 October.
No one spoke, authorities said, but “a lot of yelling” could be heard in the background. Police arrived just four minutes later to find the door kicked in, two bodies shot dead and the family dog. No gun or suspects were at the scene and the 13-year-old was nowhere to be found. No one spoke on the call, authorities said, but “a lot of yelling” could be heard in the background. Police arrived just four minutes later to find the door to the Closs house kicked in, two bodies shot dead and the family dog. No gun or suspects were at the scene and the 13-year-old was nowhere to be found.
Her disappearance sparked massive searches, with 2,000 volunteers scouring woods and fields in suburban Minneapolis, and the offer of a $25,000 (£20,000) reward for her safe return.Her disappearance sparked massive searches, with 2,000 volunteers scouring woods and fields in suburban Minneapolis, and the offer of a $25,000 (£20,000) reward for her safe return.
She was found around 4pm on Thursday by a resident of the town of Gordon, about an hour’s drive from the Closs home, who was out walking her dog. Jayme, described as skinny and dirty with matted hair and wearing shoes too big for her feet, approached the woman, telling her her name and said she needed help, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Investigators said they had received thousands of tips but Patterson had taken “measures to avoid detection”.
The woman then accompanied Jayme to a nearby house so they could call the authorities. “It’s a remote area, there isn’t a lot of houses in that area,” Fitzgerald said. “He not only concealed his identity from us, it appears he concealed her from other people.”
The house owner, Peter Kasinskas, described Jayme as quiet and “pretty flat”. The teenager was offered food and water, which she refused. Jayme was found around 4pm on Thursday in Gordon, about an hour’s drive from the Closs home. Described as skinny and dirty with matted hair and wearing shoes too big for her feet, she approached a woman walking her dog, telling her her name and saying she needed help, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
“I honestly still think I’m dreaming right now. It was like I was seeing a ghost,” Kasinskas told reporters. “It was scary and awesome at the same time. My jaw just went to the floor.” The woman, named as Jeanne Nutter, accompanied Jayme to a nearby house so they could call the authorities. The house owner, Peter Kasinskas, described Jayme as quiet and “pretty flat”. The teenager was offered food and water, which she refused.
The exact details of the child’s escape were not released, but from what Jayme told the people who found her, it is believed she was in Gordon for most of her disappearance. “I honestly still think I’m dreaming right now,” Kasinskas told reporters. “It was like I was seeing a ghost. It was scary and awesome at the same time. My jaw just went to the floor.”
Police said a 21-year-old suspect had been taken into custody. Late on Thursday, investigators blocked all streets leading to a cabin believed to belong to the suspect, according to the Star Tribune. Late on Thursday, investigators blocked all streets leading to the cabin believed to belong to the suspect, according to the Star Tribune.
In a statement, the sheriff of Barron County, Chris Fitzgerald, announced Jayme had been found in Gordon and thanked the community for delivering Jayme to safety. Authorities said it was unclear if Jayme had been held at the same residence the entire team and that no one else was found in the home.
“We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfil that promise,” said Fitzgerald. “A suspect was taken into custody. We do not have any other details at this time as this is a very fluid and active investigation.” In a first statement, Fitzgerald, announced that Jayme had been found and thanked the community for delivering Jayme to safety.
Jayme was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but her condition was not immediately clear, with the sheriff asking the media and public to respect the family’s privacy. “We promised to bring Jayme home and tonight we get to fulfill that promise,” he said.
Sue Allard, Jayme’s aunt, told the Star Tribune that she could barely express her joy after hearing the news on Thursday night. Jayme was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. On Friday Fitzgerald said she had been medically cleared, was out of hospital and was being interviewed by law enforcement.
“Praise the Lord,” Allard said between sobs. “It’s the news we’ve been waiting on for three months. I can’t wait to get my arms around her. I just can’t wait.” Sue Allard, Jayme’s aunt, told the Star Tribune she could barely express her joy after hearing the news on Thursday night.
“Praise the Lord,” Allard said, between sobs. “It’s the news we’ve been waiting on for three months. I can’t wait to get my arms around her. I just can’t wait.”
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this reportReuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report
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