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Jayme Closs, 13, had been missing since Oct. 15, when someone broke into her family’s Wisconsin home, killed her parents and abducted her.
On Thursday, nearly three months later, the miracle that so many were praying for happened.
Closs was found alive.
The Barron County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the news on Friday morning and family members have revealed some of the details of her escape.
According to the Associated Press, Closs was being held by a man in the woods and was finally able to escape on Thursday.
She found a woman walking her dog, ran up to her and asked her help.
With faith, prayer, persistence and hope our community, nation and world was given a miracle 🦋. As we continue to pray for Jayme and her family as they heal,recover and also grieve the loss of Jim and Denise. Welcome home#JaymeCloss #found #jaymecloss pic.twitter.com/hYNJOJEQBC
— Find Jayme Closs (@ClossFind) January 11, 2019
Closs was being held about an hour from her hometown of Barron, in the small town of Gordon, Wisconsin.
Local authorities were called in to assist Closs and they were able to take a suspect into custody a short time later.
Jake Thomas Patterson, 21, was arrested and charged with kidnapping, along with two counts of first-degree homicide.
There's been an outpouring of support for the teenager, who was held against her will for 88 days.
Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped and held captive for nine months before being rescued in March 2003 even chimed in through social media.
"What has been such a heart wrenching tragedy finally has some happiness in the story," she wrote.
"I’m praying for Jayme and all her family that they can have a joyous reunion and as the rest of the country celebrates alongside this happy occasion we all are mindful to give the family their space and privacy on their road to finding a new sense of normal and moving forward."
Smart added that no matter what Closs' future now holds, it's important to remember that she survived and Smart hopes that people continue to support and embrace her as she reclaims her life.
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