UPDATE: New details in Closs kidnapping

Jayme Closs
Jayme Closs

1/12/19 8:35am

48 hours will be airing a special on the Jayme Closs story tonight at 9pm.  Get more details here.

1/11/19 4:20 pm

After a second press conference from the Barron County's Sheriff's Department, a few new details have been released about the case.

The department did recover a gun from the home in the Town of Gordon that matched the one used to kill Closs's parents. The department could not confirm at this time if it was the gun used during the incident in October.

The suspect, Jake Patterson, was not at the home when Jayme escaped. But he was looking for her when law enforcement made contact with him. Patterson was arrested in his vehicle on Thursday. The home Gordon is currently being searched on a warrant. And no warrants will be issued in Barron.

Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald reiterated that Patterson did not know or have any contact with the family prior to the October incident. He did work at the same Jennie-O turkey store as Closs' parents for less than two days nearly three years ago. But had no contact with them at the time.

While Patterson himself does not have a criminal record, a tip did come in that a sibling of Patterson's has a criminal record. The department is following up on that tip.

The only new update on Jayme's condition is that she's been released from the hospital and has been reunited with some of her family.

1/10/19 10:40 am

The suspect in the abduction of Jayme Closs has been identified as Jake Thomas Patterson. He is 21 and in custody.

He had did not have a criminal history with local or state agencies.

1/10/19

SUPERIOR, WI (WSAU) -- Breaking news out of Douglas County, Jayme Closs has been found.

Closs, missing from her Barron County home since last October, was found in the Town of Gordon at around 4:45 Thursday evening. The Barron County Sheriff's Office Facebook page posted a status update at 7:55 pm confirming those details.

Shortly after Closs was found, a suspect was taken into custody. There are no more details available at this time as the investigation is still active.

Twin Cities TV station KSTP reports Closs was expected to be reunited with her family Thursday evening after being checked out at a Duluth, MN hospital.

A family member says Jayme was able to escape from a home where she was being held against her will. She approached a woman who was walking her dog and asked for help.

The department thanks the Douglas Co Sheriff’s Department and agencies assisting them. They also want to thank all the law enforcement agencies across the state and county that have assisted us in the case. They could not have endured this case without the support of the public and want to thank them for all the support and help.

Sheriff Fitzgerald also says that "This case has been very trying on the family so please respect their privacy and we reunite them later tonight." 

The Barron County Sheriff's Office will be conducting a press briefing Friday at 10 am. You can find a link to the Facebook post here: Barron County Sheriff's Department Facebook 

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