An unidentified family member of two slain Wisconsin parents and missing teen, Jayme Closs, is clueless as to why the adults were killed, describing the mother as a caring woman who had no known enemies.
FOX News reports that the family member referred to 46-year-old Denise Closs as the “family angel” who would go out of her way to help anyone in need, even taking days off of work to assist people. Denise and her husband, 56-year-old James Closs, were found shot to death inside their Barron home on Monday morning at around 1 a.m. Their daughter, 13-year-old Jayme, was nowhere to be found.
The family member also indicated she was aware of the online rumors about the family, including speculation that Jayme may have had a boyfriend who played a hand in the shooting.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow. We’re not ruling anything out,” the family member said.
Yet, authorities have spoken to people at Jayme’s middle school and researched her social media accounts. They found nothing amiss or unusual. No one has indicated Jayme had a boyfriend.
Authorities are now asking anyone who knew James or Denise Closs to come forward with any information.
“We are seeking information about the victims Denise and James Closs. We are hopeful to learn more about the Closs family to help bring Jayme home. If you spent time with members of the Closs family recently or if you have ever had a misunderstanding with any members of the Closs family or know someone who has, please call the tip line,” Barron County Sherriff, Chris Fitzgerald, said on Friday.
Investigators are also asking people to observe family members, friends, or people they know in the community for any behavior that seems out of the norm, including:
- Missing work for no apparent reason
- Missing scheduled appointments
- Leaving town without a reasonable explanation
- Increase in drug and/or alcohol use
- Altering their appearance
- Paying “too much or too little” attention to the case, such as quickly shutting the news off when it reports on Jayme and her parents
- Selling and/or getting rid of a vehicle
“It was on a cell phone and there was no comment made — no one communicated with the dispatcher,” Fitzgerald said. “I don’t know if the word ‘help’ was said, but there was some sort of disturbance going on, which is why officers were sent to the house.”
According to the call log, the 911 dispatcher called the cell phone number back numerous times but didn’t receive an answer. Within four minutes from the time the initial call was made, officers arrived at the home, but Jayme was already gone. Inside the home, authorities found the lifeless bodies of James and Denise. Both deaths have been ruled a homicide.
Authorities initially thought they were dealing with a suicide incident, but later determined that they walked into a homicide after they noticed the door kicked in, “with multiple rounds spent” and two victims dead inside the home. The family dog was found at the residence, unharmed.
RadarOnline reports that an unidentified FBI source allegedly revealed that Denise barricaded herself inside a bathroom in the home and called 911. She reportedly died before she could talk to the dispatcher.
“The mother appeared to have barricaded herself in the bathroom and called police,” the insider reportedly said.
Jayme remains missing. She’s described as a white female who stands 5-feet tall, weighs around 100 pounds, and has green eyes and strawberry blond hair.
Anyone with any information on Jayme’s whereabouts is urged to contact a tip line made specifically for her case at 1-855-744-3879.
[Feature Photo: Jayme Closs/Handout]
