The mother of a toddler boy found dead last month and her boyfriend have been charged in the child’s death.
Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre announced at a news conference on Thursday that Katrina Baur, Elijah Vue’s mother, has been charged with chronic neglect of a child resulting in death and neglecting a child, WBAY reported. Jesse Vang faces charges of repeated physical abuse of a child causing death and hiding a corpse.
“This has been a complex investigation involving meticulous review of hundreds of pages of police reports, video evidence and other materials. The charges we filed today reflect that diligent and thorough work,” Labre said.
A pediatrician specialzing in child abuse cases said that Baur and Vang provided a history of their treatment of the 3-year-old boy that amounted to “torture.” The child had wounds on his body that occurred several weeks before his death, the doctor said.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Baur told investigators she dropped the toddler off at Vang’s Two Rivers, Wisconsin, home earlier this year so that Vang could correct bad behavior and teach the 3-year-old child “how to be a man.”
Vang told investigators that he brought the child into a bedroom with him at about 8 a.m. on February 20 and ordered him to stand by the bed and pray. Vang said he fell asleep and woke up three hours later with the boy gone, launching a lengthy search.
Vang and Baur were both charged with child neglect and put behind bars without bond.
A hunter found remains on private property about three miles from Vang’s home last month that were identified as Elijah Vue. The medical examiner classifed the child’s death as “homicide by unspecified means,” WBAYsaid.
Investigators also said that Vang was seen leaving a suitcase on the ground near St. Vincent dePaul. When police recovered the suitcase, they found saliva inside that tests indicated was Elijah’s, according to WTMJ.
Baur and Vang, who have also been charged with obstructing an officer, are expected in court on Friday.
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[Featured image: Elijah Vue/Two Rivers Police Department]
