Search for Wisconsin 3-year-old Elijah Vue nears four months
TWO RIVERS, Wis. (WFRV) — It's been nearly four months since 3-year-old Elijah Vue disappeared in Northeastern Wisconsin.
Vue has been missing since February and was said to have last been seen at the Two Rivers home of 39-year-old Jesse Vang, who was in a relationship with Vue's mother, Katrina Baur.
Search efforts by authorities and community volunteers have continued since Elijah's disappearance, with little progress. In March, Vue's blanket was found, but additional discoveries have been limited.
Still, Two Rivers Police have continued to provide updates on their investigation, including the latest, posted on Monday.
Police Chief Ben Meinnert confirmed Vue has not been found and spoke out about recent rumors that have surfaced on social media claiming the boy has been found.
"The spreading of false and misleading information is disrespectful to the family of Elijah and detracts from our efforts in locating him," added Chief Meinnert. "We remain the sole source of factual information in this investigation and will release more information and updates when they are available to share."
Meinnert continued, saying the department's search efforts are ongoing, including additional drone searches. Future search efforts will focus on the water, using sonar searches and assistance from Bruce's Legacy, a volunteer organization.
The FBI and state, county, and local agencies are also following up on leads within Wisconsin and around Two Rivers, the Wisconsin Dells, and Portage. Investigators are still analyzing an "extremely large amount of video and other data."
Meinnert encouraged the community to participate in "coordinated and legally permissible search efforts for Elijah."
"We will continue a variety of search efforts in our attempts to locate Elijah," said Chief Meinnert. "We, like many of you, want to find answers and are working hard to do so. We believe in transparency and keeping everyone up to date with facts. We will share facts as much as we are able and as timely as we can when new information is present, but please understand that we cannot jeopardize any portion of the ongoing investigation. We remain committed to investigating the circumstances regarding the disappearance of Elijah."
No additional details were provided.
A combined $40,000 in rewards is being offered in the search for Elijah.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Two Rivers Police Department tip line at 844-267-6648.
What happened to Elijah Vue?
Elijah Vue was reported missing on Feb. 20. He was allegedly last seen by Jesse Vang, 39, inside Vang’s residence in Two Rivers, about 40 miles southeast of Green Bay. Vang is reportedly in a relationship with Elijah’s mother, Katrina Baur.
On the day Elijah went missing, Vang claimed he saw Elijah asleep as he got his own son ready for school. Vang says he later went back to bed. When he awoke, he said he found Elijah had disappeared. Vang reportedly told authorities he had locked the door, including using the doorknob lock, a deadbolt and a security chain.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Nexstar’s WFRV, Vang had been trying to help Baur correct Elijah’s “bad behaviors.”
Baur, 31, of Wisconsin Dells, reportedly told authorities that Elijah had been in the care of Vang for about a week. She allegedly described Vang as the “enforcer of rules” in the relationship and said she sent Elijah to stay with him to learn how to “be a man.”
A criminal complaint also alleged neglect by both Baur and Vang, citing photographic evidence that appeared to show bruising on Elijah’s jaw, neck, side and arm. Authorities also found text messages between Vang and Baur that appeared to reference making Elijah “fear” Vang.
Baur, who was charged with chronic child neglect and obstructing an officer, entered a not-guilty plea in March. She is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for a status conference, online records show.
Vang, charged with one felony county of party-to-a-crime child neglect, has also entered a not-guilty plea. He is scheduled to appear for a status conference in late June.