TWO RIVERS, WI - For nearly a week law enforcement, family members and an entire community have been searching for three-year-old Elijah Vue.
According to NBC News, the young boy was last seen on Tuesday, February 20th, after allegedly being sent to stay with a man for "disciplinary reasons." The Wisconsin Department of Justice issued an Amber Alert that same day and despite expansive, ongoing searches, has yet to be found.
Prosecutors have reportedly charged the boy's mother, Katrina Baur, 31, with felony child neglect and with obstructing police. Jesse Vang, 39, Baur's boyfriend, has also been charged with felony child neglect. Baur allegedly told police that she would sent her young child to Vang's apartment in Two Rivers for "discipline."
The criminal complaint states that Vang is the person who called 911 to report Vue missing. He told police that he put the child down at 8:00 a.m., and when he woke at 11:00 a.m., Vue was missing from the apartment. Investigators have since searched the apartment and collected evidence, including a small slip-on shoe, which was allegedly the same one Vue was wearing when he disappeared.
On Monday, February 26th, both Baur and Vang made brief appearances in court. Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for March 7th. During the detention and bail hearing, Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre alleged that Baur "intentionally sent the child for disciplinary reasons for more than a week to the residence" and that she was "aware of the tactics used and the lack of care provided." She added, "This was an intentional thing by her [Baur]."
LaBre also alleged that Baur was not honest with police during questioning, stating that the young boy was last in the care of Vang. The relationship between Baur and Vang is unclear, but it is believed that they are involved in a relationship.
According to the criminal complaint, Vang told police that he has been "trying to help Baur correct the victim's bad behaviors" and that he had been caring for the young boy on and off since January. Two Rivers detectives said that Baur told them Vang was the "enforcer of rules in the relationship" and that she wanted "Vang to teach the victim by example of how to be a man."
Detectives obtained cellphone data from Baur and Vagn's phones, and found disturbing messages from Vang to Baur on February 17th. The messages indicate that Vang was "angry that Elijah overfilled his diaper with poop and pee, and that Vang gave him a cold shower. Vang noted that the child was clean but scared."
Vang told detectives that the little boy "respects" him and that he would visit the Two Rivers apartment as "punishment" for his bad behavior. Vang said that he is "trying to make him understand that going home is like a privilege for him." He told detectives that he used "time outs" where Vue would be forced to stand for periods of 1-3 hours and that being with him was intended to be a form of "boot camp."
Vang is being held on a $20,000 bond and Baur on a $15,000 bond in the Manitowoc County Jail. Investigators have not yet said what they believe may have happened to Vue. They are continuing to search day and night, in the ground and in the air, to find the young boy.
Two Rivers Police Chief Benjamin Meinnert said in a statement, "Since the moment Elijah was reported missing, our law enforcement from local, state and federal agencies, along with dedicated volunteers and community members, have been working tirelessly around the clock to search every inch of our city and beyond." He urged residents to check the grounds of their homes for the boy and to report any sightings or clues to authorities.
Vue's uncle spoke on behalf of the family, asking that both Baur and Vang not be released from county jail. Orson Vue said, "Our family would like to ask that the court does not allow or change any bail or bond amount, and have these two individuals held fully accountable for their actions, or lack thereof."
According to NBC News, the young boy was last seen on Tuesday, February 20th, after allegedly being sent to stay with a man for "disciplinary reasons." The Wisconsin Department of Justice issued an Amber Alert that same day and despite expansive, ongoing searches, has yet to be found.
Prosecutors have reportedly charged the boy's mother, Katrina Baur, 31, with felony child neglect and with obstructing police. Jesse Vang, 39, Baur's boyfriend, has also been charged with felony child neglect. Baur allegedly told police that she would sent her young child to Vang's apartment in Two Rivers for "discipline."
The criminal complaint states that Vang is the person who called 911 to report Vue missing. He told police that he put the child down at 8:00 a.m., and when he woke at 11:00 a.m., Vue was missing from the apartment. Investigators have since searched the apartment and collected evidence, including a small slip-on shoe, which was allegedly the same one Vue was wearing when he disappeared.
On Monday, February 26th, both Baur and Vang made brief appearances in court. Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for March 7th. During the detention and bail hearing, Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre alleged that Baur "intentionally sent the child for disciplinary reasons for more than a week to the residence" and that she was "aware of the tactics used and the lack of care provided." She added, "This was an intentional thing by her [Baur]."
LaBre also alleged that Baur was not honest with police during questioning, stating that the young boy was last in the care of Vang. The relationship between Baur and Vang is unclear, but it is believed that they are involved in a relationship.
According to the criminal complaint, Vang told police that he has been "trying to help Baur correct the victim's bad behaviors" and that he had been caring for the young boy on and off since January. Two Rivers detectives said that Baur told them Vang was the "enforcer of rules in the relationship" and that she wanted "Vang to teach the victim by example of how to be a man."
Detectives obtained cellphone data from Baur and Vagn's phones, and found disturbing messages from Vang to Baur on February 17th. The messages indicate that Vang was "angry that Elijah overfilled his diaper with poop and pee, and that Vang gave him a cold shower. Vang noted that the child was clean but scared."
Vang told detectives that the little boy "respects" him and that he would visit the Two Rivers apartment as "punishment" for his bad behavior. Vang said that he is "trying to make him understand that going home is like a privilege for him." He told detectives that he used "time outs" where Vue would be forced to stand for periods of 1-3 hours and that being with him was intended to be a form of "boot camp."
Vang is being held on a $20,000 bond and Baur on a $15,000 bond in the Manitowoc County Jail. Investigators have not yet said what they believe may have happened to Vue. They are continuing to search day and night, in the ground and in the air, to find the young boy.
Two Rivers Police Chief Benjamin Meinnert said in a statement, "Since the moment Elijah was reported missing, our law enforcement from local, state and federal agencies, along with dedicated volunteers and community members, have been working tirelessly around the clock to search every inch of our city and beyond." He urged residents to check the grounds of their homes for the boy and to report any sightings or clues to authorities.
Vue's uncle spoke on behalf of the family, asking that both Baur and Vang not be released from county jail. Orson Vue said, "Our family would like to ask that the court does not allow or change any bail or bond amount, and have these two individuals held fully accountable for their actions, or lack thereof."
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