Parents found dead, 13-year-old girl missing in Barron County, Wisconsin

BARRON COUNTY, Wis. (KMSP) - Authorities sent out an AMBER alert for a 13-year-old girl who is missing and believed to be in danger after deputies responded to a 911 call and found her parents dead at the family’s home in western Wisconsin Monday morning. 

The Barron County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call made from a residence on Highway 8 east of Barron shortly before 1 a.m. When deputies arrived, they found two adults shot to death inside the home, according to Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald. The parents have been identified as 56-year-old James Closs and 46-year-old Denise Closs.

Jayme Closs, the victims’ only child, was not found at the home. She is considered “missing and endangered.” 

Fitzgerald said the 911 call came from the home, but no one was specifically talking to the dispatchers. Investigator are trying to enhance the audio for clues. 

“We don’t know why, we don’t know how. We don’t know who made the 911 call," he said. 

Joan Smrekar and her husband live right next door to the Closs family, who they describe as “very quiet, almost reclusive.” The Smrekars reported hearing two high-powered gunshots after 12:30 a.m. Monday. 

Fitzgerald told Fox 9 the sheriff’s office has had zero calls to the home in the past.

Jayme is five feet tall, weighs approximately 100 pounds and has green eyes and blond or strawberry blond hair. 

Anyone with knowledge of Jayme's whereabouts is asked to call the Barron County Sheriff's Department at 715-537-3106.