A Wisconsin man is behind bars after police say he broke into the home of missing teen Jayme Closs over the weekend, just hours before mourners attended her parents’ funeral.
According to the Barron County Sheriff’s Office, authorities arrested 32-year-old Kyle Jaenke-Annis and charged him with burglary and felony bail jumping. Although he’s accused of breaking into and burglarizing the Barron home of Jayme Closs and her now-deceased parents, police reportedly cleared him from involvement in the teen’s disappearance. Jayme still remains missing.
According to the criminal complaint against Jaenke-Annis, he broke inside the Closs home on early Saturday morning, hours before the funeral for Jayme’s parents, James and Denise Closs. The suspect allegedly told police that once he noticed the house unlocked, he walked inside to take some of Jayme’s clothes.
Surveillance cameras set up at the Closs residence after Jayme’s disappearance apparently caught the suspect entering the home at around 2:20 a.m. Authorities were at the home within five minutes and noticed all the lights on inside the residence. After they ordered him out of the house, police found several items of Jayme’s clothing inside Jaenke-Annis’ “large, puffy dark coat.”
The complaint indicated the items of clothing found on the suspect included:
- Girl’s underwear
- A tank top
- A dress
The suspect reportedly told the police he was curious about “what size” Jayme wore and did not know the family personally. However, he’s employed at the Jennie-O Turkey Store in Barron, the same place Jayme’s parents worked.
Jaenke-Annis was out on bail from a previous burglary charge, and part of the bond requirement stated he couldn’t commit any other crimes. As of Monday, he’s still behind bars.
Kyle Jaenke-Annis Complaint by on Scribd
As CrimeOnline previously reported, at around 12:53 a.m. on October 15, a call to the Barron County 911 dispatch came from the cell phone of the missing 13-year-old’s mother, Denise Closs, 46. The caller didn’t speak directly to the 911 dispatcher but there was “a lot of noise” and sounds of distress in the background. After the call disconnected, the dispatcher called the number back numerous times but didn’t get an answer. The dispatcher then called the home’s landline, but it had been disconnected.
Three different officers were dispatched to the family’s home, around 45 miles northwest of Eau Claire.
An officer arrived at the family’s Barron home by 1 a.m., and 56-year-old James Closs was found by the front door. At 1:03 a.m., the officer noted that a male was down and “multiple rounds” had been spent. The incident was initially thought to be a suicide before the officer knew Denise had also been shot. At 1:06 a.m., the officer stated that the front door had apparently been kicked in.
“…ADVISED THE DOOR HAS BEEN KICKED IN. ADVISED THAT THE MALE WHO IS DOWN HAD ANSWERED THE DOOR. UNKNOWN IF ANYONE IS MISSING.” (1:06 a.m.)
At 1:11 a.m., an officer reported that both James and Denise “were down” and unresponsive. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald later confirmed that both victims had been shot and killed. Their deaths were listed as homicides.
Over two hours later, at 3:57 a.m., officers entered Jayme into the system as a “missing juvenile.” They combed the house and area thoroughly for the teen first, noting that they couldn’t find her nor any clues to her whereabouts. At 5:13 am, dispatchers sent out a “Missing Endangered Child” notification, indicating Jayme was likely abducted from the residence. Authorities later said she was likely taken by gunpoint.
Six days and over 1,000 tips later, Jayme remains missing. Authorities previously stated they didn’t have a description of a suspect. There was nothing amiss in her home or school life on surface, and family and friends said Jayme did not have a boyfriend. Investigators reportedly searched her social media accounts and didn’t find anything unusual.
“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 last week.
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
Jayme is 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]
