TWO RIVERS, Wisconsin — A hunter in northeastern Wisconsin has discovered the skeletal remains of a 3-year-old boy who went missing in February, police confirmed Friday.
Elijah Vue was last seen at his mother’s boyfriend’s home in Two Rivers, a town of 11,270 people about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Green Bay, police said at an afternoon news conference.
A hunter preparing his property in the town of Two Rivers, a rural municipality that surrounds the city, for deer season discovered the skeletal remains Sept. 7, Two Rivers Police Chief Benjamin Meinnert said. A forensic anthropologist with the state crime lab identified them as Elijah’s.
“This is not the outcome we were hoping for,” Meinnert said. “The family is devastated. We are devastated. The community is devastated.”
Elijah’s mother, Katrina Baur, 31, of Wisconsin Dells, was charged in February with one felony count of aiding and abetting child neglect and two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing an officer. She has pleaded not guilty. Her boyfriend, Jesse Vang, 39, of Two Rivers, was charged the same day with one felony count of aiding and abetting child neglect. He has also pleaded not guilty.
According to a criminal complaint, Bauer left her son with Vang on Feb. 12 because she wanted Vang to teach her how to “be a man.” Vang called police on Feb. 20 and reported the boy missing, telling police he had been taking a nap and brought her into the bedroom with him. When he woke up three hours later, he was gone.
The boy’s remains were found about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from where he was last seen, Meinnert said.
The chief said the investigation into what happened to Elijah will continue.
Baur’s attorney, Amber Gratz, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The phone at the office of Vang’s attorney, Timothy Hogan, was not working Friday afternoon, and no one immediately responded to an email left in the office’s general inbox.
