The FBI has announced a reward of up to $15,000 in the case of 3-year-old Elijah Vue, who went missing last week from Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
Elijah was last seen on February 20 at a residence, where his mother had sent him to stay with a man now charged with child neglect. Despite extensive searches by police and local residents, Elijah has not been located.
Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinnert stated at a news conference that the FBI is offering the reward for information leading to Elijah’s location and safe return or to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his disappearance.
FBI On Wisconsin Boy’s Disappearance (Credits: Toronto Star)
This reward is in addition to the $1,000 reward offered by Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers. Elijah’s mother, Katrina Baur, 31, from Wisconsin Dells, has been charged in Manitowoc County with one felony count of party-to-a-crime child neglect and two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing an officer.
She is currently held on a $15,000 cash bond. The man Elijah was staying with, Jesse Vang, 39, from Two Rivers, has also been charged with one felony count of party-to-a-crime child neglect and is held on a $20,000 cash bond.
During their initial court appearances on Monday, preliminary hearings for Baur and Vang were scheduled for March 7. According to Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre, Baur sent Elijah to stay with Vang for disciplinary reasons and was not present in Two Rivers when Elijah disappeared.
Baur reportedly left Elijah with Vang on February 12, intending to pick him up on February 23. Vang informed police on February 20 that Elijah was missing, stating that he had taken a nap with the child in the bedroom and discovered him missing when he woke up three hours later.
Vang claimed to be in a relationship with Baur and said he was trying to help with Elijah’s behavioral issues. The investigation into Elijah Vue’s disappearance is ongoing, and authorities continue to seek information from the public to locate the missing child.
