Lawyers: Treat Suspect Fairly In Jayme Closs Case

Attorneys for a man suspected of kidnapping a Wisconsin teen and killing her parents are calling it “a very tragic situation.”

Charles Glynn and Richard Jones, attorneys for 21-year-old Jake Thomas Patterson, said in a statement late Friday that there’s a lot of emotion surrounding 13-year-old Jayme Closs’ apparent abduction from her Barron home in October. Jayme was found alive on Thursday.

Patterson faces kidnapping and homicide charges and has a court appearance on Monday. Glynn and Jones said they’re relying on “the integrity of our judicial system” to treat him fairly.

Investigators said that Patterson shot James and Denise Closs to death in their home on Oct. 15 and took Jayme Closs.

Patterson was arrested Thursday after Jayme escaped from a cabin in the Town of Gordon, in northwestern Wisconsin, and gave Douglas County authorities a description of Patterson’s vehicle. Officers arrested Patterson minutes later.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said Patterson’s goal was to kidnap Jayme but that the family didn’t know him. Fitzgerald said Patterson extensively plotted the attack to the point where he shaved his head to avoid leaving forensic evidence behind. He said authorities don’t know of any social media connection between Patterson and the girl.

Robert Naiberg, Jayme’s grandfather, said the suspect had no connection with the family.

Naiberg reiterated on Saturday that the family didn’t know Patterson. He said Jayme told FBI agents that she didn’t know Patterson at all. He wondered whether Patterson was somehow stalking Jayme.

Patterson is being held at the Barron County Jail on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of kidnapping, and is expected to make an initial court appearance at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Barron County Circuit Court where he will be formally charged for the crimes.

Teen’s Family Talks About Girl’s Return

Jayme’s aunt said that the girl had “a pretty good night sleep” on her first night back with family.

Jennifer Smith posted on Facebook Saturday that it was great to know Jayme was next to her all night and that it was a “great feeling to have her home.” Smith wrote that the family faces a long road to recover from the ordeal.

Another aunt, Sue Naiberg Allard, posted that Jayme got “the most awaited hug ever” when she returned home.