Jayme Closs case: Suspect saw parents as ‘barrier’ to kidnapping

Investigators believe the man accused of kidnapping Jayme Closs killed her parents to clear the way for him to abduct her, a sheriff said on Saturday.

Jake Patterson, 21, is accused of shooting and killing Jayme's parents before abducting the 13-year-old at her Wisconsin home in October. That led to an intense search that ended on Thursday when she was found alive 70 miles from her home.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald has said he believes Patterson went to the property with the intention of taking Jayme.

"We believe Jayme was the target, and he (Patterson) was getting rid of possible barriers to taking her", Fitzgerald said.