A comprehensive search is currently underway for a missing 3-year-old Wisconsin boy, Elijah Vue, who, according to Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre, was allegedly sent to stay with a man "for disciplinary reasons."
LaBre made this allegation in court on Friday in connection to the disappearance of Elijah Vue, last seen on Tuesday. Charges of child neglect were filed against Vue's mother, Katrina Baur, 31, and the man he was allegedly sent to stay with, Jesse Vang, 39.
Both Baur and Vang appeared briefly in court separately on Monday. Baur faces charges of being party to the crime of neglecting a child and two counts of obstructing an officer, while Vang is charged with child neglect, as stated by prosecutors. Preliminary hearings for the defendants are scheduled for March 7.
LaBre's statements in court, along with information from the police, provide some insight into the disappearance of the 3-foot, 50-pound boy with sandy blond hair and Hmong heritage.
Police reported that someone claiming to be Elijah's "adult caretaker" contacted authorities just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, stating that Elijah was missing from a residence in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and was last seen there around 8 a.m.
Following this report, an extensive search was initiated, and a statewide Amber Alert was issued. During a detention and bail hearing, District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre asserted that Elijah's mother, Katrina Baur, intentionally sent him to the residence for disciplinary reasons for over a week, being aware of the tactics used and the lack of care provided. Baur is held on $15,000 cash bail, while Jesse Vang, the man Elijah was sent to stay with, is held on $20,000 cash bail.
LaBre also claimed that Baur was not truthful with the police investigating Elijah's disappearance, stating that he was last in Vang's care. The nature of the relationship between Baur and Vang remains unclear.
Both Baur and Vang are in custody as per Manitowoc County Jail records. The arrests were made, and an affidavit supporting Baur's arrest was filed on Thursday, according to remarks during Friday's hearing.
Investigators have not disclosed their theories on what may have happened to Elijah. Ground and air searches, utilizing state, local, and federal resources, are ongoing. Two Rivers Police Chief Benjamin Meinnert emphasized the continuous efforts of law enforcement, volunteers, and the community to search for Elijah since his reported disappearance.
Residents were urged to inspect their property grounds for any signs of the boy and report any information to authorities. The search involved assistance from the Green Bay police dive team, particularly in the city rivers.
Two Rivers, with a population of approximately 11,000 on Lake Michigan, is situated about 90 miles north of Milwaukee.