The remains of missing Wisconsin toddler Elijah Vue were found on Sept. 7 after a nearly 7-month-long search for the three-year-old.
The toddler’s remains were found on private property by a hunter who was prepping his land for the hunting season. He was found close to three miles away from where he had originally been reported missing. The area had been searched multiple times since his disappearance according to Benjamin Meinnert, Two River’s chief of police.
The Wisconsin Crime Lab confirmed through DNA testing that the remains belonged to Vue, who would’ve celebrated his fourth birthday on Aug. 25.
“This is not the outcome that we hope for,” stated Meinnert. “The family is devastated. We’re devastated. Our community is devastated.”
Vue was reported missing on Feb. 20 by his caretaker, Jesse Vang. Vang was in a romantic relationship with the toddler’s mother, Katrina Baur.
Vang and Baur have been charged with felony child neglect following Vue being reported missing. Both pleaded not guilty to felony child neglect and other charges stemming from alleged incidents before the toddler’s disappearance. Allegedly Baur left Vue in the care of Vang to teach Vue “discipline” starting on Feb 12. The disciplinary actions were used as a punishment for Vue’s “bad behavior” in an attempt to teach the three-year-old to “be a man” according to a criminal complaint filed in Manitowoc County.
Baur released a statement through her defense attorney, Amber Gratz, on Sept. 17. “Katrina Baur is devastated by the most recent news, identifying the remains found as Elijah. She had continued to have hope that her little boy would be found alive. At this time, she is mourning the loss of her son,” said Gratz.
Baur’s next court appearance is scheduled to take place in Oct. As of right now, no criminal charges in relation to Vue’s death have been filed.
