Authorities say Elijah Vue’s remains were found last week, months after he disappeared in February.
Manitowoc Co. Courthouse; Two Rivers Police Department/facebook
Katrina Baur (left); and Elijah Vue
The mother of 3-year-old Elijah Vue is responding from jail after the child’s remains were found months after the boy’s disappearance.
Elijah’s mother, Katrina Baur, was arrested along with her boyfriend on suspicion of child abuse after the child went missing, PEOPLE reported at the time, citing a statement from the Two Rivers, Wisconsin, police department.
On Sept. 7, police in Two Rivers found human remains just a few miles from where the child disappeared, the department reported at a Sept. 10 news conference. The remains turned out to be Elijah’s, the department said.
Days after the missing boy’s skull and bones were found, Baur, 31, responded through her attorney. Prosecutors said in court that she had sent the boy to her boyfriend as punishment just before he disappeared.
“Katrina Baur is devastated by the latest news that the remains found have been identified as Elijah,” Baur’s attorney, Amber Gratz, said in a statement to WFRV Local 5, FOX 11 and NBC 26.
“She continued to hope that her little boy would be found alive,” Gratz said in the statement. “At this time, she is grieving the loss of her son.”
Police Department Two Rivers
Elijah Vue
Related: Mother of missing boy, 3, sent him to boyfriend for ‘disciplinary’ reasons for disappearance: officials
Elijah was last seen around 8 a.m. on Feb. 20 at his Two Rivers home, investigators previously said. He was reported missing by his mother’s boyfriend, 39-year-old Jesse Vang, who called 911 to report he couldn’t find Elijah, PEOPLE previously reported, citing a criminal complaint obtained by FOX 11.
Two days after Elijah was reported missing, police announced that the boy’s mother had been arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
Manitowoc County online court records show that Vang, who lived at the same address where Elijah was last seen, was also arrested on child abuse charges. (Neither has been charged in connection with Elijah’s disappearance or death.)
Manitowoc County Jail; Two Rivers Police Department
Jesse Vang (left); and Katrina-Baur.
Related: Remains of Elijah Vue, 3, Found in ‘Thick Wooded Area’ After Nearly 7 Months Missing: ‘Devastated’
In February, prosecutors alleged in court that Baur sent Elijah to Vang for “disciplinary” purposes shortly before the child disappeared, Fox 11, NBC 26 and CBS 58 reported at the time.
“She intentionally sent that child to the residence for over a week for disciplinary reasons,” Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said in court, according to NBC 26 and CBS 58. “She was aware of the tactics used and the lack of care. This was an intentional act on her part.”
Vang allegedly told authorities he was helping Baur “correct” the child’s “bad behavior,” the complaint said. Before the disappearance, Vang allegedly expressed anger toward Baur, claiming Elijah had “overfilled” his diaper, the complaint said.
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Vang allegedly told police that Elijah disappeared from his room while he was sleeping, the complaint further states.
Manitowoc County online court records show that both Baur and Vang have entered not guilty pleas to the charges.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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