Following 88 days of captivity by the individual who killed her parents, Jayme Closs, the kidnapped teenager, is now reportedly “engaging in dancing and school activities,” as shared by her relatives, who affirm that she is approaching life with a day-to-day mindset.
Jake Patterson, the kidnapper, kept her captive in the cabin located in northwest Wisconsin. She had been confined there for a duration of two years. The brave escape was executed by the young girl, who was 13 years old at the time, on Monday. Her family provided the latest information on her current situation to commemorate this event.
In the months following her rescue, a traumatized Closs had described her fear of venturing out in public.
The assailant had deprived her of those belongings, yet during Patterson’s 2019 hearing for his punishment, the teenager expressed that she previously adored dancing, socializing with her companions, and attending school.
Her aunt and caretaker Jennifer Naiberg Smith now states that Closs is doing fine.
Jayme is doing well, enjoying school activities and dance, as much as possible, despite the restrictions imposed by Covid. We are taking each day as it comes.
She is surrounded by lots of loved ones. We always want to remind others to never take life for granted and to always say what we want. You never know what tomorrow will bring. Always remember to take the time to tell your loved ones that you love them.
Her aunt went to address the events of January 2019 when Closs managed to escape, saying they were grateful for the people who found the teen and kept her safe until authorities arrived.
She expressed gratitude for the safety of Jayme, being present at the appropriate moment for Jeanne, Peter, and Kristen, for everyone involved, and for Jayme’s courageousness. She appreciated everything that occurred on this day two years ago.
We are still very grateful for the entire world and the community, all being and caring for law enforcement and all being and caring for the world.
Patterson is currently serving a life term after admitting to two charges of intentional murder and one charge of abduction.
Jayme Closs’s parents, Denise and James, were tragically murdered in October 2018 when he admitted to breaking into their family home and gunning them down, dragging Jayme away.
Patterson held her prisoner beneath a mattress in his isolated cottage for a duration of 88 days until she successfully orchestrated a daring escape.
After his arrest, he confessed to the police that he believed he would escape punishment for his crimes and that he had held her captive for a duration of two weeks. He also mentioned that he never anticipated Jayme Closs would manage to escape, and that she was extremely frightened during her captivity.
While Patterson was being sentenced, a lawyer representing the family read a statement from Closs.
She declared, “I was more intelligent. He believed he could possess me, but he was mistaken. I was courageous, unlike him. However, he was incorrect in thinking he could mold me into his likeness.”
After one year, her family released a statement saying that she was feeling stronger and enjoyed hanging out with friends and participating in various activities before her abduction.
That statement mentioned Closs was ‘progressing bravely and taking back control of her life’.
Jayme said in a statement read at court that hearing Patterson’s ‘horrifying memory’ of the night her parents were killed left her too scared to visit her family’s home and go out in public.
She expressed, ‘He removed my mother and father. It deeply saddens me that Jake Patterson took away many things that I hold dear.’
‘I felt safe in my home and I loved my room and all of my belongings. He took all of that too.
‘I don’t want to even catch a glimpse of my residence or my belongings due to the recollection of that evening.
The most crucial aspects in my existence are my parents and my residence. Through a traumatic experience that will forever haunt me, he snatched them from my grasp. As a result, I now require a security system in my dwelling solely for the purpose of getting some rest.