Elijah Vue’s mother and her partner have been charged with child abuse weeks after the 3-year-old’s remains were discovered in Wisconsin. Katrina Baur faces charges of chronic neglect of a child resulting in death, neglecting a child, and resisting or obstructing an officer, as announced by authorities on Thursday. Her boyfriend, Jesse Vang, has been charged with physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death, hiding a corpse, and resisting or obstructing an officer.
The tragic case unfolded after Elijah Vue was last seen alive in February at Vang’s home in Two Rivers. His remains were found on September 7, about 3 miles from where he was last seen, by a man preparing his property for deer season.
According to a criminal complaint, Baur left her son with Vang on February 12 with the intention of having Vang “teach him to be a man.” Allegations include the 3-year-old being subjected to cold showers, long periods of standing as punishment, and a disturbing incident where he was photographed with a blindfold and bruising while lying in bed.
Vang reported the boy missing on February 20, claiming he had been in the bedroom with him while he took a nap and was gone when he woke up three hours later. Baur was previously charged in February with one felony count and two misdemeanor counts related to child neglect, while Vang faced a felony count of child neglect.
Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre expressed the community’s shock and sadness over Elijah’s tragic death in a press conference, describing it as a complex investigation involving extensive review of evidence. Bail hearings for Baur and Vang were scheduled for Friday to address the charges brought against them.
The heartbreaking case of Elijah Vue serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable children and the devastating consequences of child abuse. As the legal process unfolds, the community mourns the loss of a young life that was unjustly cut short.