Dive teams searched the rivers around a Wisconsin town where a toddler disappeared last week as the boy’s mother and the man she left him with “for disciplinary purposes” prepared to appear in court again on Monday.
“Our search efforts continued throughout last night and will continue today on our city rivers,” Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinnert said on Sunday. “Thank you to the Door County/Sturgeon Bay Dive Team and the Green Bay Dive Team for further assisting last night with the efforts already in place by Wings of Hope and NorthStar.”
Meinnert said ground crews are still canvassing neighborhoods and following up on tips in the search for 3-year-old Elijah Vue, who was reported missing on Tuesday, the Herald Times Reporter said.
Meanwhile, the boy’s mother, 31-year-old Katrina Baur, and 39-year-old Jesse Vang appeared in court on Friday, as CrimeOnline reported. Vang has been charged with child neglect and was given a $20,000 bond, while Baur was charged with being a party to the crime and givena $15,000 bond.
In court, prosecutors said Baur, who lives in Wisconsin Dells, left the toddler with Vang, who lives more than a 100 miles away in Two Rivers, “for disciplinary reasons.” More information was not available on Friday because probable cause statements were sealed.
“She intentionally sent that child for disciplinary reasons for more than a week to the residence,” Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said. “She was aware of the tactics used and the lack of care provided. This was an intentional thing by her. And, on at least two occasions, during the interviews she has provided false information on her whereabouts during the past week.”
Elijah was last seen at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday. An AMBER Alert was issued, although no information about a possible abduction was provided
Anyone with information is asked to call the tipline at 844-267-6648, submit information via the app P3 or call Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers at 920-683-4466. A $1,000 reward is available for information leading to the boy or to an arrest in his disappearance.
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[Featured image: Elijah Vue. Photo on the right shows the plaid blanket Elijah may have with him/Two Rivers Police Department]
