Hunter discovers remains of missing three-year-old Wisconsin boy

TWO RIVERS, Wisconsin – A hunter in northeastern Wisconsin discovered the skeletal remains of a 3-year-old boy who went missing in February, police confirmed Friday.

Elijah Vue was last seen at his mother's boyfriend's house in Two Rivers, a city of 11,270 people about 30 miles southeast of Green Bay, police said during an afternoon news conference.

A hunter preparing his property for deer hunting in the town of Two Rivers, a rural community that surrounds the city, discovered the skeletal remains on Sept. 7, Two Rivers Police Chief Benjamin Meinnert said. A forensic anthropologist with the state crime lab identified it as Elijah.

“This is not the outcome we were hoping for,” Meinnert said. “The family is devastated. We are devastated. The community is devastated.”

Elijah's mother, Katrina Baur, 31, of Wisconsin Dells, was charged in February with complicity in child neglect and two counts of obstructing an officer. She has pleaded not guilty. Her boyfriend, Jesse Vang, 39, of Two Rivers, was charged the same day with complicity in child neglect. He also pleaded not guilty.

According to a criminal complaint, Bauer left her son with Vang on Feb. 12 because she wanted Vang to teach him to “be a man.” Vang called police on Feb. 20 and reported the boy missing. He told police he took a nap and took the boy into the bedroom. When he woke up three hours later, he was gone.

The boy's remains were found about 3 miles from where he was last seen, Meinnert said.

The chief said the investigation into the incident involving Elijah is ongoing.

Baur's attorney, Amber Gratz, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The phone in the office of Vang's attorney, Timothy Hogan, was not functioning properly Friday afternoon, and no one immediately responded to an email left in the office's general inbox.