MANITOWOC COUNTY, Wis. — Two Rivers Police Department said they arrested Jesse Vang and Katrina Baur on allegations of child neglect.
Baur and Vang had bond hearings on Friday afternoon at the Manitowoc County Court House. No criminal complaints had been filed at the time of the hearings.
They are allegedly the last two people to see Elijah Vue alive, according to a victim statement. However, their court hearings are currently only related to neglect.
Katrina Baur
Baur is the mother of 3-year-old Vue who was reported missing Tuesday. Baur is suspected of being party to child neglect.
The District Attorney said probable cause had been established in the case.
The DA claimed that Baur “intentionally sent that child for disciplinary reasons, for more than a week, to the residence. She was aware of the tactics used, the lack of care provided. This was an intentional thing by her.”
The DA said that Baur gave false information about her whereabouts in the past week. Obstruction charges will be coming in the future, the DA said.
The judge, Patricia Koppa, noted that Baur knew of the alleged neglect and enable those behaviors, but she was not present for it.
Cash bail was set at $15,000 for Baur. Baur is to have no contact with Vang or any child under the age of 18. Her next hearing will be Monday, Feb. 26.
Jesse Vang
Vang is suspected of child neglect. Vang is on federal supervision on other, unrelated charges.
Koppa said probable cause had been established in the case.
The DA claimed that Vang “was the actor that was here in the community dealing with the victim, and utilizing the discipline and the tactics, as well as the lack of care.”
Vang has been incarcerated multiple times in the past. In 2017, he was federally convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; he was incarcerated for about six years due to that conviction.
Other previous records include OWI, felony bail jumping for aggravated battery, disorderly conduct, drug charges and child abuse, among other charges.
“Taking the probable cause statement as true for today, he is the one who was present and would be responsible for any neglect resulting in the child being missing or the lack of care,” Koppa said.
Cash bail was set at $20,000 for Vang. Vang is to have no contact with Baur or any child under the age of 18. He also must remain sober. His next hearing will be Monday, Feb. 26.
The search continues
After the court hearings Friday, family, friends and strangers met up at a nearby movie theater to continue searching for Vue. From there, search groups fanned out to scour Manitowoc and Two Rivers.
“This is the third day that we have found of him missing. So, we are going day by day just doing whatever we can with still a lot of hope to find him," Sue Xiong, Vue's aunt, said.
Most of Vue's family does not live near Manitowoc. They said they are grateful for the support of locals who have helped them in their search, despite being strangers just days ago.
:You just see this on TV and don’t realize it is a reality. To really see [strangers out here searching for Elijah] is just heartwarming. It is overwhelming. It shows love, it shows there are good people out there really there to help us find Elijah," Xiong said.
One of those strangers joining in on search efforts is Dawn Rauen.
“It hits close to home. I have a little grandson who just turned four and it breaks my heart to know this little boy Elijah is missing. If it were me I would just want everybody to be out helping," Rauen said.
Vue is a 3-year-old male with sandy colored hair and brown eyes. Two Rivers Police Department said he “was described as having Hmong and white ethnicity.”
He has a birthmark on his left knee. He is 3-feet-tall and weighs 45 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 1-844-267-6648. The P3 app can also be used to submit anonymous tips.
-
