Katrina Baur (Photo courtesy Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office)
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A judge denied Katrina Baur’s request to be released from jail on a signature bond Tuesday, as the search for her missing son, Elijah Vue, enters its 10th week.
Baur is charged with being party to chronic neglect of a child. She allegedly placed Vue with Jesse Vang for “disciplinary” reasons. Vang, who is also charged with child neglect, reported Vue missing on Feb. 20. Neither Baur or Vang has been charged in connection with Vue’s disappearance.
Defense attorney Ann Larson asked for the $15,000 cash bond to be converted to a signature bond, noting her inability to post the cash bond. Baur would live in Manitowoc County and could be required to check in at the jail each day, Larson said.
A signature bond is a written promise to show up at court, but does not require money to be posted to be released.
District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre opposed the change, nothing prior missed court appearances and the seriousness of the offense.
Orson Vue, one of the boy’s relatives, asked for the bond reduction request to be denied, believing Baur to be a flight risk. Vue called Baur the “main reason” for the current situation, and until the boy is found, Baur’s whereabouts need to be known, he said.
Judge Robert DeWane rejected the request.
“This would be an entirely different situation if the child in question were here. He’s not. And I don’t know what that means in terms of the context this and taking a long view of the case here. But it’s a significant factor. I mean, she’s charged with party to the crime of neglect of the child, and the child is missing,” DeWane said.
The idea of a local address didn’t impress the judge, and the daily jail check in may be more dangerous for her.
“The reality of the situation is that would defeat the purpose of sealing her proposed address. For anyone to think that she could go anywhere in this county and not be followed by somebody, I don’t think you’re living in reality. And, at that point, there’s no control over what might happen,” the judge said.
A defense request to lift a no-contact provision was withdrawn
Baur returns to court May 28 for a status conference. No trial date has been set.
Vang returns to court June 28 for a status conference. No trial date has been set.
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