Hormel, Jennie-O to donate $25,000 reward to Jayme Closs

Published 7:59 am Thursday, January 24, 2019

By Associated Press

Jayme Closs. Photo provided by Barron County Sheriff's Department

BARRON — Hormel Foods and Jennie-O say they’ll donate the $25,000 they had offered in reward money for information leading to Jayme Closs directly to the 13-year-old girl.

Jayme was kidnapped from her home near Barron on Oct. 15 and both of her parents were killed. She escaped 88 days later. Jake Patterson, 21, of rural Gordon, is charged with kidnapping and homicide in the case.

 Jayme’s parents, James and Denise Closs, worked at Jennie-O.

The FBI and Jennie-O contributed a total of $50,000 for information on Jayme’s whereabouts. Jennie-O and its parent company, Hormel Foods, announced Thursday that they’re working with law enforcement to get their share of the reward to Jayme.

Jennie-O President Steve Lykken says in a statement that he hopes a trust fund can be set up for Jayme’s current and future needs.“On behalf of the entire Jennie-O and Hormel Foods family, we are overjoyed at the news of Jayme’s safe return,” Hormel CEO Jim Snee said in a statement. “Her bravery and strength have truly inspired our team members around the world. Barron is an incredibly strong community and one that never lost hope. We celebrated with the community, and the world, that Jayme is home.”

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Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald added in a news release that he is thankful for Jennie-O’s support during the case and pleased the company elected to give the reward money to Jayme.

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