BARRON, Wis. — Jake Patterson pleaded guilty Wednesday to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs and murdering her parents, a move that spares the teenager and her…
BARRON, Wis. — Jake Patterson pleaded guilty Wednesday to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs and murdering her parents, a move that spares the teenager and her family from enduring a trial.
Patterson, 21, appeared in Barron County Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon to be arraigned on first-degree intentional homicide, kidnapping and armed burglary charges. He is being held in the Polk County Jail on a $5 million cash bond.
In court, Patterson repeatedly answered «yes» to a range of questions from Judge James Babler about whether he understood the charges, and whether he was certain he wanted to plead guilty. He hung his head at times as he spoke.
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Patterson entered his three pleas one at a time, growing more emotional with each utterance of the word «guilty.» He hesitated for several seconds, sniffled and his voice broke, as he admitted to kidnapping Jayme.
Jayme’s family filled four rows in the courtroom and could be seen comforting one another at times. Two of Patterson’s relatives also attended, one of whom cried throughout the hearing.
