TWO RIVERS, Wis. — A hunter in northeastern Wisconsin discovered the skeletal remains of a 3 year old boy who disappeared in February, police confirmed on Friday.
Elijah Vue was last seen at the home of his mother’s boyfriend in Two Rivers, a city of 11,270 about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Green Bay, police said at an afternoon news conference.
A hunter preparing his property for deer season in the town of Two Rivers, a rural community that surrounds the town, discovered the skeletal remains on Sept. 7, Two Rivers Police Chief Benjamin Meinnert said. A forensic anthropologist with the state crime lab identified them as Elijah.
“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 also has pleaded not guilty.
According to a criminal complaint, Bauer left her son with Vang on February 12 because she wanted Vang to teach him “how to be a man.” Vang called police on February 20 and reported the boy missing. He told police he had been taking a nap and had taken the boy into his bedroom. 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.