$25K Reward Offered In Disappearance Of Jayme Closs

13-Year-Old Girl Went Missing Earlier This Month

Jayme Closs press conference, October 22, 2018
Rich Kremer/WPR

Authorities are offering at $25,000 reward for information that leads to the location of a Wisconsin girl who went missing after her parents were gunned down in the family’s home.

Thirteen-year-old Jayme Closs has been missing since Oct. 15. Deputies that morning discovered someone had kicked in the door of her family’s home near Barron and shot her parents to death. Jayme was nowhere to be found and investigators believe she was abducted.

Justin Tolomeo, special agent-in-charge of the FBI’s Milwaukee office, announced the award during a news conference Wednesday.

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Thousands of local volunteers searched the area Tuesday and Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said so far they haven’t come across any clues but are still looking over items that were found.

“Combing over evidence, looking at things that were picked up yesterday, looking at video, continuing to review that 911 call,” Fitzgerald said. “I know we keep going back to that but any tip can bring Jayme home at any one time and I can’t stress that enough.”

Fitzgerald said he believes “Jayme is out there and in danger.”

Jayme’s aunt, Jennifer Smith, also spoke, telling Jayme that her family needs her to “fill that hole” in their hearts and will never stop looking for her. Smith pleaded for anyone with information to come forward.

“Whoever may know where Jayme is, please contact the Barron County Sheriff Department,” Smith said. “Jayme, we need you here with us to fill that hole we have in our hearts. We all love you to the moon and back. And we will never stop looking for you.”

Authorities are still looking for vehicles believed to be near the Closs home Oct. 15. One vehicle was a red or orange colored Dodge Challenger. The other was believed to be either a black Ford Edge or an Acura MDX.

A funeral for Jayme’s parents will take place Saturday.