Elijah Vue, 3, was reported missing from Two Rivers Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo source: Two Rivers Police Dept.)
TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Nearly three weeks after Elijah Vue’s remains were identified, the investigation into what happened to the toddler is moving forward.
The 3-year-old’s remains were found on Sept. 7, more than six months after he was reported missing from a Two Rivers apartment.
“This is not the outcome that we hoped for,” Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinnert said on Sept. 13. “The family is devastated, we’re devastated, our community is devastated.”
The announcement ended a lengthy and emotional search for the boy by the community that continues to remember him and the law enforcement agency that continues to investigate his death.
“I would say on a whole, the department, there’s a sense of sadness but relief,” Capt. Andrew Raatz said on Thursday. “It’s obviously not the outcome we wanted, but it does bring closure to finally finding Elijah and now just comes the part of talking about what happened and proving what happened.”
Police wouldn’t speak specifically about the ongoing investigation, but they did say they are determined to get justice for Elijah Vue.
“We already had an investigation we were working on based on the evidence we had,” Raatz said. “So, obviously I can’t speak to what this is; those details will be coming eventually. But yes, the investigation has been ongoing since. We’ve been collecting evidence, building the case, along those lines. You’ll — I’m not saying any more about that part.”
Investigators are working daily on the case.
And they continue to partner with local, state and federal agencies, too.
Much like the public had helped search for Elijah Vue since February, police continue to encourage anyone with information on the case to speak up.
“If something were to come up, someone remembers something, someone sees something on a video, by all means bring it forward,” Raatz said.
It will ultimately be up to the Manitowoc County District Attorney’s Office to decide when to file any additional charges in Elijah Vue’s death.
Two Rivers police saying they’re working hand-in-hand with the district attorney’s office as thousands of pages of reports and evidence are being reviewed.
Katrina Baur, Vue’s mother, along with Jesse Vang, the man who was caring for the boy when he disappeared, are both in jail, facing child neglect charges in connection to the case.
Baur has a status conference set for Oct. 22. The status of Jesse Vang’s case will be reviewed again on Nov. 6.
No one has been charged, yet, for the boy’s death.
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