Photo: Courtesy Barron County Sheriff’s Department
As the first anniversary ofJayme Closs’ brave escapefrom 88 days of captivity approaches, the Wisconsin 14-year-old is choosing to remain private about her life.
On Jan. 10, Jayme and her family will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the teen’s amazingescape from the man who held her hostagefor nearly three months after killing her mother and father.
Jayme’s life changed forever on Oct. 15, 2018, when Jake Peterson, then 21, brokeinto her Barron home, killed her parentsand sped off with the terrified teen in his trunk.
After 88 days, Jayme was able to escape the Douglas County cabin where she was being held against her will andfind a neighbor to call 911.
Courtesy of Jennifer Halvorson
Over the summer, the teen took trips with her family “hiking through state parks,” Closs family attorney Chris Gramstruppreviously told PEOPLE.
“She’s been very busy,” he noted. “She’s got a big family and had a lot of weddings and birthdays she enjoyed celebrating with family, including abig celebration for her birthday.”
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Abducted - Find Jayme Closs/Facebook
On the one-year anniversary of her kidnapping, Jayme said she was feeling “stronger every day.”
“I really want to thank everyone for all the kindness and concern that people all over the country have shown me,” the teen said in astatement to ABC News.“I am very happy to be home and getting back to the activities that I enjoy. I love hanging out with all of my friends, and I feel stronger every day!”
Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Justice released investigation records that included interviews with Patterson after his arrest.
Now, as her captorspends the rest of his life behind bars for his crimes,Jayme and her family have asked for their privacy as she attempts to return to a normal life.
“She continues to work very hard on her emotional well-being,” Gramstrup told PEOPLE. “She is moving forward and courageously reclaiming her life.”
source: people.com
