Jayme Closs' relatives want to meet her alleged abductor in court

On October 15, Jayme Closs’ parents Denise and James Closs were murdered while she was allegedly kidnapped. Almost three months later, Jayme managed to escape from her abductor.

On Monday, Jake Thomas Patterson had his first court appearance in Bounty County. Jayme’s family said they wanted to meet and face him.

Jayme Closs’ relatives vowed to be in court on Monday afternoon to face Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, who has been accused of kidnapping Jayme after killing her parents, James, 56, and Denise Coss, 46.

For more on this story go to our Twitter account @amomama_usa. Jayme’s aunt, Jennifer Smith, 48, said, “My brother and sister will be there to look him in the eye.”

Smith and her brother and sister are siblings to Jayme’s mother. This week, Patterson had his first court appearance in Barron County Circuit Court.

The suspect appeared in court via video circuit, which is standard procedure. His lawyers had asked that he appear in person instead, but Judge James C. Babler denied the request.

Smith said her family attended the court appearance as “the next step towards healing.” She stated, “We were advised by agents that this would be a good thing, so yes, some of the family will be there.”

Smith, however, chose not to attend the proceedings. A criminal report released on Monday revealed that the suspect first noticed Jayme when he was on his way to work, as she was getting into a school bus.

The complaint read: "The defendant states, when he saw (Jayme) he knew that was the girl he was going to take.” It further revealed that Patterson didn’t know her name until after he abducted her and saw the news coverage.

The suspect faces charges of intentional homicide, kidnapping, and armed burglary. Babler set Patterson's bail at $5 million and ordered a DNA sample to be collected from him.

The judge also stated that suspect couldn’t possess firearms, and wasn’t allowed to contact Jayme and Patterson's neighbors who were involved in the teenager’s escape. Patterson didn’t enter a plea on the day.

He faces life in prison if convicted of the homicide charge and he will be in court again on February 6.

On "CBS This Morning," Jayme’s cousin Lindsey Smith and two of her aunts, Sue Allard and Lynn Closs spoke to co-host Gayle King. They shared how they were helping Jayme heal by giving her love.

Allard said:

"I have to pinch myself. I woke up this morning and finally, I didn't have that pit in the bottom of my stomach anymore."