Elijah Vue, 3, was reported missing from Two Rivers Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo source: Two Rivers Police Dept.)
TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As the search for Elijah Vue enters its fifth week, we’re learning more about the cost of trying to bring the little boy home. The Two Rivers City Council approved the release of additional funding to help cover the cost of the investigation.
For more than four weeks, local, state and federal authorities, along with volunteers, have been trying to find Elijah Vue.
The large scale law enforcement search of Goodwin Road, where the boy’s blanket was found, shortly after his disappearance, is just one example of the hundreds of man hours that have been put into the case – not just by law enforcement but other city departments too.
Two Rivers officials have been unable to put an exact number on the cost of the investigation, from the beginning, but realizing things were starting to add up.
“We knew that there were going to be some additional costs coming up. We didn’t know what it was, but we wanted to make sure that we have enough money allocated should we find out how much it’s going to be. As of now, we are roughly over $70,000 in overtime fees,” said city councilman Jeff Dahlke.
To be fiscally responsible, while still committed to the case, the city council unanimously approved a measure to make about 150-thousand dollars in additional funding available to cover the cost of the investigation and search for Vue. The funds had been allocated for two new positions within the city, that will remain unfilled for this year.
According to Dahlke, “We didn’t eliminate any positions, we just decided to halt the position from being filled. And there were two positions, one was a GIS position and another one was a public works but the departments all chipped in their part.”
Dahlke adding the community is determined to find out what happened to Elijah Vue, saying, “We figured this was the most important thing to keep everybody funded to make sure we could keep looking because we did not and we will not give up.”
While the city and volunteers are committed to bringing Elijah Vue home, prosecutors are also seeking justice. After Jesse Vang’s attorneys asked for a revised criminal complaint to be filed in his child neglect case, prosecutors filed an amended criminal complaint adding more detail to the charge he is facing.
The complaint now includes information about his communication with Katrina Baur, Elijah Vue’s mother.
Some of those exchanges include Vang and Baur discussing her leaving her young daughter in the car, outside in the cold, while she goes into Vang’s apartment for sex.
The criminal complaint also mentions a picture found in Facebook messenger exchange between Baur and Vang that shows Elijah Vue, in Vang’s apartment, standing in a corner – his hands appear to be in a praying position, and the diaper he is wearing looks full.
And finally, the complaint mentions another text exchange where Vang tells Baur to “…trust me.. I’m a make sure he hates me and being here.”
Baur responds, “Don’t want him to *hate* YOU. Just fear you.”
Vang later saying via text, “He did fear me…but he didn’t respect me..now I’m making him respect me.”
A Manitowoc County judge was supposed to holding a preliminary hearing for Vang on Thursday morning, but that is being delayed and instead the hearing will simply be to handle scheduling.
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