Closs case suspect applied for liquor store job the day of teen's escape

SUPERIOR, Wis. (FOX 9) - The day of Jayme Closs' daring escape, her suspected kidnapper appeared to be making other plans.

FOX 9 learned Saratoga Liquors in Superior received an online job application from Jake Patterson for a night warehouse position on January 10, which is the same day Jayme made her getaway and found help from nearby residents.

Patterson is suspected of murdering Jayme's parents in their Barron, Wisconsin home, kidnapping the teen and hiding her in his home in Gordon for 88 days. Earlier this week, he was charged with two counts of homicide, one count of kidnapping and one count of armed burglary.

The liquor store Patterson applied to is located about an hour north of where he was living. On the application under work experience, Patterson listed his time in the Marines boot camp from April 2017 to Dec. 2017. A statement from the Marines staed his "premature discharge and rank are indicative of the fact that the character of his service was incongruent with Marine Corps' expectations and standards.”

Also on the application, Patterson noted working from Oct. 2016 to Jan. 2017 as production worker packaging and stocking screens. The company name was redacted.

Listed under skills, Patterson wrote, "I'm an honest hardworking guy. Not much work experience, but I show up to work and am a quick learner."

While not mentioned on the application, Patterson's work history also includes two brief stints at businesses in the Barron area. An official at the Jennie-O Turkey store confirmed Patterson worked there for one day nearly three years ago before quitting the next day, saying he was moving away. Jayme's parents were longtime employees of the plant.

Patterson also worked at the Saputo cheese factory in Almena for two days in October of 2018. According to the criminal complaint, it was during a morning drive to the plant when he first spotted Jayme at her bus stop.