Girl had no link to kidnapper — family
MADISON: The grandfather of a US girl held captive for months says the family has no connection to the man suspected of kidnapping her and killing her parents.
Jayme Closs (13) had been missing for nearly three months when she approached a stranger near the small Wisconsin town of Gordon on Friday and pleaded for help.
The door of Jayme’s family home near Barron, 100km away, was blasted down with a shotgun in October, her parents gunned down and Jayme abducted.
Officers arrested Jake Thomas Patterson (21) minutes after Jayme was found, based on the girl’s description of his vehicle.
Jayme’s grandfather Robert Naiberg said yesterday noone in the family knew Patterson.
‘‘He didn’t know Jayme, he didn’t know [her parents] Denise or Jim,’’ Naiberg said.
‘‘[But] he knew what he was doing. We don’t know if he was stalking her or what. Did he see her somewhere?’’
The news Jayme was safe set off joy and relief in Barron.
Jayme’s aunt, Jennifer Smith, posted on Facebook that Jayme was doing well.
‘‘Jayme had a pretty good night’s sleep. It was great to know she was next to me all night. What a great feeling to have her home,’’ Smith said.
‘‘As a family we will get through all of the healing process Jayme has. It will be a long road but we are family strong and we love this little girl so much!’’
Jayme told one of the people in Gordon who took her in that she had walked away from a cabin where she had been held captive.
Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said investigators were trying to figure out what happened to Jayme during her captivity and why she was seized.
They gave no details on her escape except to say Patterson was not home at the time.
Patterson will appear in court tomorrow on homicide and kidnapping charges. — AP