Elijah Vue’s mother and her boyfriend charged in his death

The mother of Elijah Vue, the 3-year-old from Two Rivers who was missing for seven months before his remains were found in September, and her boyfriend were charged Tuesday in connection with his death.

Katrina Baur is charged with chronic neglect of a child – consequences death, child neglect and obstructing an officer, Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said.

Her boyfriend, Jesse Vang is charged with physical abuse of a child – repeated acts causing death, hiding a corpse and obstructing an officer, LaBre said. 

A bail hearing and initial court appearance will be held Friday. Physical abuse of a child – repeated acts causing death is a class A felony that carries a sentence of life in prison.

“This is an incredibly tragic situation that has shaken our community,” LaBre said. “My thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Elijah’s family for enduring unimaginable pain. Elijah was a young boy whose life was tragically cut short. And his death has impacted not only his loved ones, but Two Rivers, the Two Rivers Police Department, the sheriff’s office, our partners in the FBI and Department of Justice.”

Baur called her son “awful” and “naughty” and asked Vaug to correct his behavior, according to the complaint.

Vang saw himself as a male disciplinarian of the 3-year-old. He would punish Elijah with threats of cold water, which he was afraid of, and standing for long periods of time on one foot praying, according to the complaint.

“His home was a punishment like a boot camp,” according to the complaint.

On Feb. 18, Vang told a witness Elijah was “bad, acting up and he didn’t know how to deal with it.”

Elijah was reported missing on Feb. 20, and over the next seven months there were multiple community efforts to locate the child, who would have turned 4 in August. 

His remains were found on privately owned hunting land in September about three miles northwest of where Vang reported him missing.

He was found when the property owner was preparing for hunting season. Baur and Vang were charged with felony child neglect in late February.