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Prosecutors file new charges in Elijah Vue's death

TWO RIVERS, Wis. (WKOW) -- Authorities announced charges against two people in the death of Elijah Vue, a toddler who was previously missing out of Two Rivers. 

Jesse Vang, 39, Elijah's mother's boyfriend, was charged with the following counts:

  • Physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death (felony)
  • Hiding a corpse (felony)
  • Obstructing an officer (misdemeanor)

Prosecutors charged Katrina Baur, 31, Elijah's mother, with the following counts: 

  • Chronic neglect of a child, consequence is death (felony) 
  • Neglecting a child, no harm and child has a disability* (felony)
  • Resisting or obstructing an officer, x2 (misdemeanor)

"This has been a complex investigation involving meticulous review of hundreds of pages of police reports, video evidence and other materials," Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said. "The charges we have filed today reflect that diligent and thorough work."

Vang reported the toddler missing from Two Rivers on February 20. At that time, Elijah was 3 years old. 

A criminal complaint filed in Manitowoc County Court stated Elijah had been staying with Vang as "punishment" for his bad behavior that Vang was trying to correct. 

Vang admitted to making Elijah stand for up to three hours without sitting and said, at times, he changed Elijah's diaper only once a day. He said he also would not let Elijah play with toys for days at a time or speak to his mother.

Investigators also learned Vang would not let Elijah sleep at times and gave him cold showers.

The complaint said one minute after Vang called 911 to report Elijah as missing, Baur messaged him "Say you guys were taking a nap and he left."

Surveillance video and cell phone records showed Vang used a neighbor's vehicle to drop off a suitcase at St. Vincent de Paul the night before he reported Elijah as missing. A DNA swab from inside that suitcase found a single DNA profile that matched Elijah's profile. 

Human remains were found on Sept. 7 on a private property on Kristy Bob Lane in Manitowoc County. Testing revealed they belonged to Elijah. 

"Law enforcement confirmed that Vang was familiar with Kristy Bob Lane as he had been present at a residence on Kristy Bob Lane in September 2023," the criminal complaint stated. 

A doctor who responded to the Sept. 7 scene said evidence showed Elijah's death happened around the time he was reported missing. 

That doctor, as well as a specialist who reviewed the investigation, found Elijah had experienced head trauma, a neck and elbow injury, plus "physical abuse, psychological/emotional maltreatment, and neglect... consistent with torture," the criminal complaint stated. 

Vang and Baur were previously charged with neglecting a child in connection to events prior to Elijah's disappearance and death. 

Vang and Baur are scheduled to appear in court on the new charges on Friday. 

*Court documents stated this charge is in connection to Baur's treatment of her other child.

More at WKOW 27 News


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