TWO RIVERS, Wis. (TCN) – Prosecutors have added new charges against a woman and her boyfriend in connection with the abuse and death of 3-year-old Elijah Vue, who was missing for eight months and was then found dead in a wooded area in September.
Manitowoc County Prosecuting Attorney Jacalyn LaBre announced in an Oct. 17 press conference that Vue’s mother, Katrina Baur, is being charged with chronic neglect of a child — consequence is death, neglecting a child — specified harm did not occur and child has a disability, and two counts of obstructing an officer. Baur’s boyfriend, Jesse Vang, was indicted on physical abuse of a child — repeated acts causing death, hiding a corpse — repeater, and obstructing an officer — repeater.
Vang reported Vue missing to the Two Rivers Police Department at approximately 11 a.m. on Feb. 20. Vang said the boy was last seen at around 8 a.m. that day. Investigators learned that Baur sent her son to stay with Vang because she wanted Vang to “correct [Vue’s] bad behaviors” and to show the boy “how to be a man.”
According to the criminal complaint, Vang allegedly forced Vue to stand and pray for long periods of time and withheld food as punishments. Vang reportedly said he would not allow Vue to speak with Baur because the point was “to deprive [Vue] of what he has so he is appreciative of them.”
While interviewing Baur, detectives reportedly showed her a photo of Vue wearing a blindfold with bruising on his face and arm. She allegedly initially claimed the bruises were shadows, then admitted to taking the picture. She also allegedly texted Baur during an interview with police at his apartment and said in messages, “Don’t say too much,” “Nooo,” “stop,” “Shhhh,” and “You let him.” She reportedly sent him Facebook messages that read, “Jesse, listen the way you word things is very important. I need you to call me.”
Detectives obtained several videos and photos that Vang and Baur texted each other in the days leading up to Vue’s disappearance. In one message on Jan. 21, Vang reportedly said, “Yeah he’s a naughty one he’s in baby prison rn,” to which Baur replied, “Lmfao.”
On Feb. 18, Vang reportedly wrote, “I told you to trust me… I’m a make sure he hates me and being here.”
Baur said back, “Don’t want him to *hate* YOU. Just fear you.”
Vang replied, “It’s okay. Some one has to be the bad person.”
When Baur told him that Vue could “fear and respect you,” he said, “He did fear me. But he didn’t respect me. Now I’m making him respect me.”
On Sept. 7, a homeowner preparing his property for hunting season called police after finding bones, including a skull, on his land. The complaint says there “appeared to be a sand or gravel mixture near the area where the remains were found that appeared to be foreign to the existing terrain.” Vue’s DNA was traced in a blanket left near his body and a suitcase that Vang donated to charity around the same time was reported Missing.
The remains were positively identified as Vue’s. The forensic anthropologist determined Vue had trauma to his head. A child abuse pediatrician told investigators that Baur and Vang’s messages to each other are “consistent with torture” and that Vue “experienced multiple types of maltreatment.”
Baur’s bail was set at $400,000 cash, while Vang’s is $500,000.
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