TO CLOSE

Jayme Closs is eating a steak with her grandfather a few weeks after her escape from Jake Patterson, in northern Wisconsin. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Halvorson)

BARRON, Wisconsin – Perhaps the most powerful personal statement of Jake Patterson's sentencing hearing, Friday came from Jayme Closs, Barron's 13-year-old daughter whom he kidnapped after the murder of his parents on October 15.

Family lawyer, Chris Gramstrup, read the statement to Judge James Babler, of the Barron County Court of Appeal, who sentenced Patterson, 21, to a death penalty. consecutive life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for killing James and Denise Closs, and a 40-year sentence. kidnapping of their only daughter.

"Judge, here is the statement of Jayme Closs," said Gramstrup, then read the following words from the teenager, who was not present in the audience room:

"Last October, Jake Patterson took a lot of things that I loved away from me. It saddens me that he kidnapped my mother and father. I loved my mom and dad very much and they loved me very much. They did everything to make me happy and protect me. He took them away from me forever.

Case Jayme Closs: Jake Patterson sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping and murder

"I felt safe at home and I loved my room and all my belongings, he took everything too, I do not even want to see my house or my belongings because of the memory of that night. at home were the most important things in my life, he took them in a way that will always leave me with a horrible memory.

"I loved going out with my friends. I loved going to school. I loved doing dance.

Jayme Closs

"I have to have an alarm in the house now to be able to sleep in. I liked to go out with my friends.I liked to go to school.I liked to dance. 39 removed all those things It's too difficult for me to go out in public, I'm scared and I'm worried.These are just ordinary things that someone like me should be able to do but I can not because he took them away from me.

"But there are things that Jake Patterson can never take me in. He can not take my liberty, he thought he could own me but he was wrong, I was smarter." I have followed his routine and I have taken my freedom, I will always have my freedom and he will not be.

"Jake Patterson can never deprive me of my courage, he thought he could control me, but he could not, I think what he did was what a coward would do, I was brave. not.

"He can never get rid of my mind He thought that he could make me like him, but he was wrong He can never change me or make me lose who I am He can not m & # 39; To prevent being happy and moved I will continue to do great things in my life, and he will not do it.

"Jake Patterson will never have any power over me – I feel like I can control him because I can tell the judge what I think should happen to him." stole my parents, he stole almost anything I liked, and for 88 days he tried to rob me, and he did not care who he hurt or killed.

"He should stay locked up forever."

Follow Mark Treinen on Twitter: @MarkTreinen

Automatic reading

Thumbnails poster

Show captions