The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Abduction suspect’s letter reportedly offers apology
A man accused of kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs from her rural Wisconsin home in the fall after her parents were killed has purportedly written a letter from jail saying he regretted the crimes and committed them “mostly on impulse.”
The letter supposedly from Jake Patterson, who was arrested in January after Closs escaped from his home, was sent to KARE 11 News reporter Lou Raguse in response to questions Raguse had mailed the inmate. Wisconsin author- ities have told the news station they believe the letter, postmarked Feb. 28, is authentic. Patterson’s attorney, Charles Glynn, did not respond to a request for comment.
Police say Patterson confessed to stalking Jayme in October and to fatally shooting her parents, James and Denise Closs, at their home in Barron, Wisconsin, on Oct. 15. According to a police com- plaint, he then kidnapped Jayme and kept her captive at his cabin, about 65 miles to the north, for nearly three months — until she escaped on Jan. 10.
The letter seems to express remorse and confusion over the crimes, which set off a massive search for the miss- ing teen and shook the state’s residents for months as they went unsolved.
“I knew when I was caught (which I thought would hap- pen a lot sooner) I wouldn’t fight anything,” the letter says. “I tried to give (police) everything ... so they didn’t have to interview Jayme. They did anyways and hurt her more for no reason.”
The letter claims that the writer planned to plead guilty later this month so her rela- tives wouldn’t have to “worry about a trial.” In response to various questions about his motives for carrying out such crimes, the letter writer told Raguse it was “not black and white.”
“I can’t believe I did this,” the letter says. “... It was really stupid though looking back . ... At the time I was really pissed. I didn’t ‘want’ to . ... The reason I did this is complicated.”
On the back of the letter, according to an image posted by KARE 11 News, are large bubble letters: “I’m Sorry Jayme! For everything. I know it doesn’t mean much.”
Patterson is charged with two counts of intentional homicide and one count each of kidnapping and armed burglary. He is being held at the Polk County Jail on $5 million bail.
The kidnapping and killings were publicized across the nation as a desperate search for Jayme unfolded over nearly three months. Only after her rescue did police detail the lengths Patterson had allegedly went to keep the 13-year-old captive.