WI - Jayme Closs, 13, Barron,Media, Maps and Timelines *NO DISCUSSION*

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LADYSMITH, Wis. - The passage of time has made it a little easier to talk about. And the siblings of Jim Closs, who was murdered in his home with his wife Denise on Oct. 15, are giving their first interview since the incident.
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"My first instinct was it has to be somebody who knew him from work. Because that's where he spent 60, 70, 80 hours a week at," Engelhardt said, adding Jim was not heavily involved in the community and did not come into contact with a lot of people outside of work.

They also wondered whether Jim had gotten into trouble somehow, such as racking up debt.

"I don’t know if he would have said anything to me if he was in trouble. I think he would have. He would have confided in my mother and said, 'I need help,'" Jeff Closs said.

But as the investigation progressed, no evidence of an enemy at work or trouble with money surfaced.

Read more and see video: Closs family shares grief one month later

 

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Paul Blume
@PaulBlume_FOX9
Digging deeper into Closs family interview tonight
@FOX9
Denise Closs sister says she spoke to Denise by phone Sunday 10/14 approx 9:30-10p just hrs before murder/disappearance. All seemed normal. Says Denise didn't mention what Jayme was doing. #FindJayme

Twitter

 

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Paul Blume
@PaulBlume_FOX9
I sat down w/ Denise Closs side of family for this interview. They *believe* James was at work that afternoon. But acknowledged they don't know that with 100% certainty. One of the issues I am working to confirm. Thx for question. #FindJayme #FindJaymeCloss

Twitter

 

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Interview with James' sister and brother with lots of new family photos:

James' sister says James worked 60-70-80 hours work weeks.

 

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Paul Blume interview with Denise's siblings and father:

According to Blume:
Denise was on the phone with her sister at 10 PM.
James did own hunting guns and they are all accounted for/were found in the house.
James was killed by someone else's gun (and that gun was gone).

 

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On Monday, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald confirmed a new team from the FBI is heading to Barron to expand the video surveillance search. It will be along Highway 8 from Barron to Turtle Lake. Also, a K-9 trained to sniff out chemicals from concealed electronic devices has been utilized. DNA testing has been done on dozens of people as a process of elimination. Jayme's cell phone was found in the home, plugged in in the kitchen and apps on it are being analyzed. Sheriff Fitzgerald also confirmed undisclosed properties have been searched-- a chair, mattress and front door are among some of the items seized as evidence.

New Video Surveillance Search Expanded, Electronic Device Detecting K-9 Used in Jayme Closs Search

 

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The phone from which the call was made lay on the floor inside the modest, taupe-colored home.

"The phone isn’t near anyone so I don’t know if it got kicked," Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald of Barron County told Fox News on Tuesday. "It was closer to Denise than to James."

"No one talked on that call and we don't know who made it. We heard voices but we can’t make out what was said," he said, adding that it sounded as though the call was made in a room separate from the commotion.

"We do believe Jayme was home at the time the call was made," Fitzgerald noted.

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With no suspects, no sighting of the child and scarce physical evidence one month after the Oct. 15 murders, police in the small town of Barron are scrutinizing the few clues they have, starting with the mysterious 911 call and a front door riddled with bullet holes.

Fitzgerald would not say whether the killer shot through the door but local news footage shows investigators carrying it away from the scene -- covered with what looks like bullet holes. Fitzgerald confirmed to Fox News that the door was undergoing forensic analysis. He also would not elaborate on the type of gun used in the crimes, citing the sensitivity of the investigation. James Closs kept hunting rifles inside the home but all have been accounted for.

Read more: Wisconsin police baffled by Jayme Closs disappearance one month after parents' murder

BBM.

 

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Investigators believe Jayme was abducted.

About 80 surveillance videos were collected initially from businesses and other locations, according to Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald. The FBI last week expanded the perimeter of surveillance video collection beyond the county as they search for clues in Jayme's disappearance and was analyzing the video at its Milwaukee office, he said.

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Although deputies responded to the 911 call within 4 minutes, Fitzgerald said all the squad cars came from the same direction, making a timely getaway possible.

"You can back out of your driveway in a minute and still be two minutes ahead of us," he said. "There's lots of roads to turn on to be out of the area quickly."

Squad car dashcam video was also reviewed for possible leads.

The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation used a specially-trained dog to sniff out electronic devices at the Closs home, but none of the devices that were found have yielded any clues, including the three cellphones that belonged to Jayme and her parents, Fitzgerald said.

"There was nothing out of the ordinary, no boyfriends, nothing on there that points us in any direction," he said.

FBI examining more video in search for Wisconsin teen

 

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Posted 3:46 pm, November 13, 2018

Blume asked Jayme’s loved ones about the day that led up to the shocking crime. There was a family birthday party at Jennifer Smith’s home, Jayme’s aunt, on the other end of Barron. Jayme and Denise were there. They said Jayme was a little quiet, which they said was normal. Mom and daughter headed home around 4 p.m., and the tragedy would unfold less than 10 hours later.

“I’ll never forget when we left. Will never forget Denise at the car door — big old smile,” said Allard.

The family said Denise followed up with Sunday evening phone calls with them — and everything seemed normal. They believe the attack was planned and the family was targeted. They recently returned to the Closs home in search for answers of their own.

“It brought up more questions for us, brought up more questions. Hard. Very hard. Really hard,” said Allard.

Read more: ‘Just numb:’ Jayme Closs’ aunts, uncle speak out nearly 1 month after her disappearance

 

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Barron County Sheriff's Department | 11/15/2018 9:28am (CST)

Nov 15, 2018

This case remains the #1 priority in Barron Co and across the nation. We continue to follow up on leads, expand and view our recovered video from the area and explore all digital evidence. We continue to partner daily with the FBI and DCI agents on the ground and across the county.

As hunting season opens on Sat we ask that hunters report anything suspicious such as clothing, weapons or anything you think it just not right on your property. Also
remind everyone to have a safe hunt and good luck to all the hunters.

While 30 days has past, there is still hope in this department on this case and the community support and prayers that we have been given continues to fuel our drive and determination to bring Jayme home.

Thank you all for your support and prayers and again there is a tip out there that will solve this case and bring Jayme home.

Sheriff Fitzgerald

 

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NCMEC (@MissingKids) | Twitter
NCMEC on Twitter | 9:08 AM (CST) - 15 Nov 2018

#AMBERAlert still active one month after Jayme went #MISSING in #Wisconsin. Jayme Closs' parents were found murdered in their home on Oct. 15, and Jayme was nowhere to be found. View her poster: http://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1341017/1/screen …

(NCMEC added,)
Wisconsin police baffled by Jayme Closs disappearance one month after parents' murder

FBI Milwaukee (@FBIMilwaukee) | Twitter
FBI Milwaukee on Twitter | 9:55 AM (CST) - 15 Nov 2018

Its been one month since the disapperance of 13 yr old Jayme Closs following the homicides of both her parents in Barron, WI on 10/15/18. @FBIMilwaukee & Barron County Sheriff's Office continue to ask for your tips to help #FindJayme. http://ow.ly/CBho30mD9bH



FBI (@FBI) | Twitter
FBI on Twitter | 11:45 AM (CST) - 15 Nov 2018

It has been 1 month since Jayme Closs disappeared following the homicides of her parents in Barron, WI. If you have info regarding Jayme’s whereabouts, contact the Barron County Sheriff's Office at 1-855-744-3879 or your local FBI field office. #FindJayme https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/jayme-closs …

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 15, 2018
Barron Residents Wear Green 1 Month After Jayme Closs’s Disappearance
On a tragic and unfortunate anniversary, community members wore green on Thursday – the favorite color of the Closs family’s 13-year-old daughter Jayme, who mysteriously disappeared and has yet to be seen since the killings.

“We still don’t know who the target was,” Fitzgerald said.

A team of county detectives, FBI and state DCI investigators are stitching together a timeline of security camera images. More than 80 separate videos taken from across the region will play out in a linear timeline to in hopes of capturing something suspicious,

Detectives have also analyzed the family’s cellphones, which unfortunately have revealed little out of the ordinary.

“We continue to look over that, but there’s really nothing on any of their phones that shows, you know, ‘I was looking for help,’ or, ‘I was there to meet somebody,’ or, ‘Someone was coming over,’” Fitzgerald said. “There’s just not any footprint out there with any information that will help us.”

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 15, 2018
Thursday Marks 1 Month Since Jayme Closs Reported Missing
The case continues to generate about 25 tips per day, according to authorities. However, the information in those tips have not yet led to strong leads in the case.

The Barron County Sheriff's Office reports a new team from the FBI is expected to arrive to expand the search.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said his gut tells him the 13-year-old is still alive.

Investigators said the motive remains unclear.

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 15, 2018
Sheriff asks hunters to look for evidence in case of missing girl whose parents were slain
Denise Closs' brother, SN, said the family is hoping that evidence that leads to Jayme's safe return will eventually emerge.

"Something's got to give, there has to be something left somewhere," he said.

"I know this whole area is in shock because never has the family fathomed they would deal with something like this, but this community hasn't either," SN said.

Fitzgerald said he has kept similar cases in the back of his mind as he works to find Jayme, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, when she was 14 years old. She was rescued nine months later with the help of two witnesses who recognized her abductors from an "America's Most Wanted" episode.

"I have a gut feeling she's (Jayme's) still alive. I've always been a glass half-full kind of guy," Fitzgerald said.

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 15, 2018
Sheriff Fitzgerald keeping hope Jayme Closs is still alive, calls it the worst crime in county history
“I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of evidence in this case, which again is somewhat of a frustrating part but again some of that is still being analyzed, reanalyzed,” Fitzgerald told News 18.

“All I can tell you is all of the social media platforms have been searched and we continue to search them and look for information. Off the top, there’s nothing that stands out that’s different than any other 13-year-old-girl or mom and dad out there but that continues to be looked at on a daily basis. Every app you need a search warrant to go after that company, so there’s still search warrants out there being served on apps. Nothing sticks out that’s going to help us with this case right now,” Fitzgerald said.

“The profilers were here, there was a behavioral analyst unit here on site working with the FBI,” Fitzgerald said. “Their analysis, because we don’t have a reason why this took place is pretty vague.”

At the end of the day, Chris Fitzgerald still believes Jayme Closs is alive. “Because, you know, she wasn’t shot at the house. It doesn’t appear she was injured in any way at the house."

One month later: Residents still in fear after murder, disappearance in Barron County
“It’s definitely changed the scope of Barron County,” said Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald. “There’s still some fear out there. Rightfully so.”

“We keep waiting for a final arrest or something going on with these people, but I guess there’s no evidence to do something with,” JB said.

Despite the many unanswered questions, the fear and the heartbreak for the Closs family, the community has stood strong.

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 15, 2018
Relatives Plead for Vigilance as They Share Profound Loss of Closs Family
"My sister will not rest until she's home, neither will my brother in law, she was the world to both of them," said JS, Denise's sister and Jayme's Aunt. "They were inseparable, they did everything together," Smith said.

RN keeps artwork Jayme made for him on a table in the living room so he can readily see them. She sketched a cardinal for him. While recovering in the hospital from pneumonia, she put together and decorated a birdhouse.

Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald is consumed with her disappearance and her parents' murders, too. Wednesday, he said there is still no obvious motive. Fitzgerald confirmed Jim owned three guns and they were located in the home, but were not used in the crime, which means someone else murdered the couple and likely took off with Jayme.

The sheriff also said there are still no suspects, no gun, no vehicle and no credible sighting of Jayme. Investigators are cross-referencing the driver's licenses obtained from volunteer searchers on Oct. 23. Plus, video from squad car dash cams that initially responded to the Closs home are being analyzed for possible leads.

 

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15 Nov 2018

Smith tells WCCO-TV the family has asked to listen to the 911 call made from Denise Closs’ cellphone that night, but authorities will not let them. It is still considered evidence in an active investigation.

The AMBER Alert issued for Jayme on October 15 remains active.

Wisconsin deer hunting licenses will have information on Jayme Closs printed on them, like her height, weight and what to look for in the woods. The state’s nine-day firearm deer hunt starts on Saturday.

‘We Will Not Give Up’: Godmother Of Jayme Closs Speaks Out

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 16,2018
Sister, aunt opens up about Closs family tragedy
JS said she talked to her sister the night before, and they got off the phone at about 10 p.m. She said everything seemed fine. She had no idea that was the last time she’d hear her sister’s voice.

Smith said social media rumors about her family are upsetting. There are entire Facebook groups dedicated to theories about the crime, not all of them are kind to the family. “And all that stuff on social media that’s made up, I just get so angry, I can’t even go read it anymore. It’s a tragedy, it’s horrible. Losing a sister and a brother-in-law and then have your niece missing, and people saying this about us, it’s awful. I just wish it would stop,” said Smith.

“Jayme, wherever you are, please just get help, get somewhere safe and get help, and we’ll come and get you. No matter where you are. We just want you home, we all love you we miss you so much,” said JS.

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 14, 2018
Closs case enters second month
Local readers called the News-Shield last Thursday about the reappearance of a military-style helicopter, which was seen slowly crisscrossing the area west of where the crimes took place. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said that the copter landed at Rice Lake Regional Airport.

“It picked up a member of our department and a member of the FBI,” Fitzgerald said. “Nothing new was located.”

DNA samples have been collected and are being processed by the state crime lab, the sheriff added, even though he declined to go into more detail.

In addition, a team of FBI specialists from Milwaukee is compiling a slide show from surveillance video taken the night of the murders, at locations along U.S. Hwy. 8 between Barron and Turtle Lake.

Fitzgerald said the footage is being combined into a single package of slides for investigators to review.

A helicopter flies low over a portion of the town of Clinton in this photo taken Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The location is about a mile south of U.S. Hwy. 8 and west of the Sweeney Pond area. In the craft were investigators looking for clues in the disappearance of rural Barron teen Jayme Closs.

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 16, 2018 - 10 minute video includes Sheriff Fitzgerald, Jayme's aunt JS and community members, view of home with new door.
WATCH – One Month Missing: The Closs Mystery special report

One piece of evidence they do have is shell casings from the gun used to kill James and Denise. "The gun" is nowhere to be found.

Investigators have scoured the Closs' phones and computers, including Jayme's. All of the social media platforms have been searched.

No evidence that Jayme was involved, at all. She wasn't shot at the house. She wasn't injured.

JS said, "Everything was fine on the phone. We said our goodbyes at 10 o'clock."