Missing 3-Year-Old Elijah Vue’s Red and White Blanket Found by Police Following Toddler's Disappearance
The 3-year-old was reported missing on Feb. 20 from a Two Rivers, Wis. home
Missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue's blanket was found nearly 4 miles from where the toddler disappeared, police confirmed.
Elijah was last seen around 8 a.m. local time on Feb. 20 at an address in Two Rivers, Wis. His mother, Katrina Baur, 31, and her boyfriend Jesse Vang, 39, have since been arrested and charged with child neglect.
On Monday, Two Rivers Police Department Chief Ben Meinnert gave an update on the case, confirming that a red and white plaid blanket, which had been located on Goodwin Rd, east of County Road B, in Manitowoc County earlier in the investigation, belonged to the child.
"Today we can confirm the blanket is Elijah’s blanket. This blanket was located 3.7 miles from the 3900 block of Mishicot Road in the City of Two Rivers, where Elijah was reported missing on February 20th, 2024," Meinnert said in a press release posted to Facebook.
"We continue to request the public’s assistance in checking all urban and rural areas, including water, to find Elijah and locate any evidence related to his disappearance," the statement added.
Related: Police Searching Landfills, Rivers for Missing Wisc. Boy, 3, Whose Mom Was Recently Jailed
Police said anyone with information that could lead to finding Elijah may be eligible for a reward of up to $40,000.
"$10,000 from Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers for the arrest and charging of the individual/s responsible for his disappearance, $15,000 for information leading to the location and return of Elijah Vue and/or the arrest and conviction of the individual/s involved in his disappearance and an additional $15,000 thanks to funds raised by donations set up through the City of Two Rivers," police said in the statement.
Following Elijah's disappearance, local authorities said that Baur had sent Elijah to Vang for "disciplinary" concerns despite being aware of alleged “tactics” the man uses, Fox 11, NBC 26 and CBS 58 reported last month, citing prosecutors' statements in court.
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“She intentionally sent that child for disciplinary reasons. For more than a week to the residence. She was aware of the tactics used and the lack of care provided,” Manitowoc District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre previously said in court, per NBC 26 and CBS 58.
Vang told authorities that he was helping Baur “correct” the child’s “bad behaviors,” per the complaint, claiming he fell asleep in his room after dropping his teenage son at the school bus. Vang said Elijah was with him in the room but when he woke up, the child was gone. He then called 911 claiming he couldn't find the toddler, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox 11 and reviewed by PEOPLE.
Vang lives at the same address in Two Rivers where Elijah was last seen, according to the complaint.
Police revealed in a statement shared on Feb. 22 that they'd been searching in landfills and local rivers amid the intense investigation to find the missing 3-year-old. “We will leave no stone unturned,” they promised.
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