Investigators looking for 2 vehicles in case of missing Wisconsin teen, call for volunteers to help with search
Updated: 5:05 p.m. October 22, 2018
BARRON COUNTY, Wis. (AP) -- Authorities said Monday that they're looking for two cars in connection with the disappearance of a Wisconsin girl whose parents were gunned down last week.
Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said during a news conference that investigators are looking for a red or orange Dodge Challenger and a black Ford Edge or black Acura MDX that may have been traveling near the Closs family's home on the night that James and Denise Closs were killed and their 13-year-old daughter, Jayme, disappeared. He said he didn't have information on the cars' license plates.
State, local and federal investigators have been searching for Jayme since around 1 a.m. on Oct. 15. Deputies responding to a 911 call early that morning discovered that someone had broken into the family's home near Barron, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) northeast of Minneapolis, and gunned down the couple. They believe Jayme, who is not a suspect in her parents' deaths, was abducted.
Also Monday, the sheriff called for 2,000 volunteers to help in a ground search set to start Tuesday morning. A search involving 100 volunteers combed the area near the family's home on Thursday but found nothing.
Fitzgerald said investigators have received more than 1,300 tips and have closed 1,100 of them. Some of the tips led to the decision to resume the ground search, he said, though he declined to elaborate. A sheriff's deputy and agents from the state Department of Justice and the FBI mapped the area by helicopter Monday afternoon in preparation for Tuesday's search.
"We've determined we'd like to search a bigger search area based on information our investigators have collected," Fitzgerald said. "These tips have led us to this."
Jayme's classmates planned to hold a vigil for her Monday evening at the Barron High School football stadium.
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Posted: 12:19 p.m. October 22, 2018
BARRON COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Barron County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for help on Tuesday, October 23 in conducting an expanded routine search for articles of evidentiary value that may be related to the incident.
The Sheriff's Office says 2,000 volunteers are needed and should report to the staging area at 1883 Hwy 25 in Barron, also known as the Hungry Hollow Grounds at the intersection of Hwy 25 and 19th Ave no later than 9 a.m.
All volunteers must be registered at the staging area in order to participate in the search.
Barron County officials will register all volunteers until 9:00 a.m., gates will close promptly at that time.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older and present a picture form of identification. Volunteers must be able to walk on uneven terrain. Proper footwear (boots required) and cold weather clothing are required and may become dirty or stained.
Once there are 2,000 able-bodied volunteers, the Sheriff's Office says they will need to turn additional people away.
The Barron County Sheriff's Office continues to urge people to phone in tips. You can do so by calling 1-855-744-3879.