Wisconsin Police Dismiss Sightings Of Missing Teen In South Florida As Not Credible
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/CNN) - Police dismissed sightings of a missing Wisconsin girl in South Florida during a 5 p.m. press conference.
"We followed up on that tip. It did not come from this podium. It's not credible information," they said.
Earlier in the day, there were reports that the missing girl had been spotted in South Florida.
Miami police say a girl matching the description of 13-year-old Jayme Closs was seen at a gas station on NW 27th Avenue and 11th Street Monday afternoon.
Endangered Juvenile, Jayne Closs from Barron, WI, may have been seen in the afternoon of 10/15/18, in the area of N.W. 27 Ave and 11 St. If it was her, she was in a black Ford Explorer with a possible WI plate of I60WER. If you have any information please call 911 immediately. https://t.co/BX6ouqPDKi
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) October 16, 2018
The person who reported it said they saw a black Ford Explorer with possible Wisconsin license plates reading "I60 WER" and two well-dressed Middle Eastern men in their 30s with the girl they believed to be Closs.
CBS4's Peter D'Oench obtained new surveillance tape from that gas station that shows the Explorer pulling in to the station and a man getting out of it and speaking with other customers. Surveillance tape images show another man getting out of the vehicle and what could be a female in the front passenger side. Miami Police detectives looked at the tape Tuesday morning and plan to work with a technician to enhance the images.
An Amber Alert was issued for Closs, whose parents were found dead in their home near Barron shortly after someone there called 911 early Monday, the Barron County Sheriff's Department said.
During the 911 call, the dispatcher heard someone in the background yelling for help, said Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald.
No one talked to the dispatcher directly and investigators don't know who called.
When deputies arrived, they found Jayme's parents -- James Closs, 56, and Denise Closs, 46 -- dead. The sheriff's office didn't say how the couple died but did confirm that gunshots were involved.
"We believe Jayme was in the house when this took place," said Fitzgerald. "I have been doing this for over 20 years and this was unlike anything I have ever seen."
On Tuesday, Fitzgerald made a plea for the public's help as new photographs of the girl were released.
"We are requesting the community's help in bring Jayme home," he said. "Jayme is described as a sweet and shay 13 year old girl who enjoys dancing and sports. We are working with agencies at the local and state level and with the F.B.I. We are using every resource at the national level to help us with this case."
The FBI is now leading the nationwide search for her, they believe she may be in danger. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is also involved.
Barron, a city of 3,400, is about 75 miles northeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Residents of the rural town are anxious for Jayme's return.
"All kids need to be home," said one resident. "We need to find her."
Another resident said "We hope and pray with God's help and that all of us in the community will rally round and help bring Jayme home."
Anyone with information that can help should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
(©2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. CNN contributed to this report.)
