Katrina Baur, left, and Jesse Vang appear in Manitowoc County court via video conference Feb. 26, 2024, in connection with the search for Elijah Vue. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The mother of missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue was formally charged with child neglect and obstruction Monday morning.
Jesse Vang, a man prosecutors have said the boy was sent to for “disciplinary reasons,” has also been charged with child neglect.
Both appeared in court Monday afternoon. They return to court March 7 for preliminary hearings.
According to the criminal complaint, Vang said he was babysitting Vue at his Two Rivers home, but fell asleep. When he work up around 11 a.m. on Feb. 20, he called police.
Baur, who lives in Wisconsin Dells, told police she wasn’t in the Manitowoc area on Feb. 16-17, but cell phone records contradicted that, leading to the obstruction charge.
The complaint discusses various disciplinary methods used by Vang with Vue. Baur told police Vang was the “enforcer” in the relationship, and she discussed the limits of punishment she wanted Vang to use. According to the criminal complaint, “Vang stated VICTIM was disciplined using “time outs.” He described the time outs as standing for periods of time from 1-3 hours. During this time, VICTIM was required to pray or say “I’m sorry mommy.” Vang reported VICTIM was in “time out” for the majority of this time with Vang as it was intended as a form of bootcamp. Other than “getting into things,” Vang was unable to identify specific bad behaviors which required a “time out.” Vang reported that VICTIM is not potty trained and that he was still wearing diapers. Vang advised that he changed VICTIM’s diaper “at least once per day.”
Baur faces one count of being party to the crime of neglecting a child and two counts of resisting or obstructing an officer. Vang faces one count of being party to the crime of neglecting a child.
During a bond hearing Friday, Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre, said, “(Baur) intentionally sent that child for disciplinary reasons for more than a week to the residence. 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 whereabout during the past week.”
Vang is being held on a $20,000 cash bond, while Baur is being held on a $15,000 cash bond.
Two Rivers police have been searching for Vue since last Tuesday. An Amber Alert remains active.
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