BARRON — The man accused of kidnapping Jayme Closs and killing her parents was back in court Wednesday in Barron County.
Jake Patterson’s preliminary hearing lasted only a few minutes as he waived his right to hear the state’s evidence against him.
Patterson, 21, entered the courtroom in an orange jumpsuit. He looked directly at his family in the crowd with a faint smile on his face before taking a seat. Meanwhile, about 20 of Jayme’s family and friends got their first look at the man accused of the unthinkable. They heard him respond to the judge in a calm and concise manner.
“Do you want a preliminary examination?” the judge asked. “No,” Patterson replied.
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While Patterson declined to hear the prosecution’s evidence, it was well-detailed in court records released last month. The chilling criminal complaint described Patterson’s confession to investigators. He allegedly admitted to targeting Jayme and killing her parents before kidnapping and holding her hostage for nearly 90 days.
As Wednesday’s court hearing wrapped up, Patterson told his family he loves them before he left the courtroom. His family walked out hand-in-hand. They declined to answer any questions as they left.
Patterson is due back in court late next month. Prosecutors said they believe Patterson will stand trial, however, he has yet to enter a plea.
