The mother of a 3-year-old boy who is the subject of a Wisconsin AMBER Alert told investigators she left the boy with a man in Two Rivers for a week “for disciplinary reasons.”
Katrina Baur, mother of Elijah Vue, and Jesse Vang were in court Friday, where police are recommending Vang be charged with child neglect and Baur with being a party to child neglect, WLUK reported. A court commissioner set bond for Baur at $15,000 and for Vang at $20,000.
Probable cause statements against both Baur — who lives in Wisconsin Dells, more than 100 miles away from Two Rivers — and Vang have been sealed, but Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre provided some explanation for the charges in court.
“She intentionally sent that child for disciplinary reasons for more than a week to the residence,” 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.”
The proceedings clarified some information that police had initially released. They said Elijah disappeared from the home of a caregiver and that there was no “family or other associates” in the area at the time.
“This case has drawn attention because we have a missing child involved,” Court Commissioner Patricia Koppa said. “And that of course pulls at the court’s feelings and emotions and heartstrings for the care of the child, but it doesn’t change the nature of the charges from any other neglect case.”
Elijah’s aunt, Linda Vue, had asked the court to deny bond.
“At this moment they are the prime suspects, so until we find the truth as to the whereabouts of Elijah, we want to make sure that these two are readily available for questioning,” she said.
Baur and Vang are due in court again on Monday.
The toddler was last seen at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday, as CrimeOnline reported. An AMBER Alert was issued, although no information about a possible abduction was provided
Investigators were seen at a local landfill Friday morning.
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[Featured image: Elijah Vue/Two Rivers Police Department]
