BARRON, Wis. — Jayme Closs’ accused killer kidnapper was held on $5 million cash bail at his first hearing Monday — while forced to face more than two dozen of his tearful victim’s relatives in the courtroom.
Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, appeared at the hearing on a live video feed wearing an orange jumpsuit and glasses. He sat next to one of his lawyers for the proceeding with papers in front of a table.
As the charges were read against him — including for the double murders of the 13-year-old Jayme’s parents and the teen’s kidnapping — the suspect stared straight ahead and remained expressionless, blinking. He briefly put his head down at one point had his hand on his mouth.
A prosecutor then read a slew of chilling details regarding the case in arguing for the massive bail, including that Closs allegedly said he would have shot at any cop who tried to stop him that night.
Before the hearing, a court worker handed a box of tissues to the roughly 15 Closs family members in attendance, who huddled shoulder to shoulder in the two front rows of the courtroom.
Seats were reserved on the other side of the room for Patterson’s relatives — although it didn’t appear as if anyone came to support him.
Patterson’s next court appearance was set for Feb. 6 at 11 a.m.
A video feed is typical for such defendants, but Patterson’s lawyers had asked the judge to allow him to appear in person. The request was denied.