Police continue to appeal for information on the whereabouts of a 3-year-old boy who disappeared two weeks ago in eastern Wisconsin.
Elijah Vue was last seen at a home in Two Rivers, 40 miles southeast of Green Bay, where he and his mother had been staying.
Two Rivers police said Tuesday in an update on Facebook: “Elijah Vue has not been found.” The search has taken officers across the state, involved multiple agencies and employed door-to-door questioning in rural areas.
A missing persons poster to help find 3-year-old Elijah Vue in Two Rivers, Wis., on Feb. 27.Gary C. Klein / USA Today Network via Reuters
Police are asking for people in Two Rivers and the surrounding counties to check security or dashcam video from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 19 that might include images of a beige 1997 Nissan Altima, with Wisconsin plates and a registration beginning with A.
Both Elijah’s mother, Katrina Baur, 31, and the man who was looking after him when he disappeared, Jesse Vang, 39, have been charged with child neglect.
Baur was charged with being a party to the crime of neglecting a child, as well as two counts of obstructing an officer.
Both suspects appeared in court Feb. 26, with preliminary hearings set for Thursday. A public defender was appointed to represent both during the previous hearing. It is not known whether the pair have ongoing legal representation.
Elijah has sandy blond hair and brown eyes and may have been carrying a red and white plaid blanket. He is of Hmong heritage.
Court documents reviewed by NBC Chicago show that Vang called police before 11 a.m. Feb. 20 to report Elijah missing. He said he had fallen asleep watching the child and woke up to find him gone.
The documents showed that Baur was staying with Vang to help correct the boy’s “bad behaviors” and make him “be a man,” NBC Chicago reported.
That included disciplining Elijah by making him stand for one to three hours in “time outs,” making him pray and giving him cold showers, the documents allege.
Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said at the February hearing that Elijah’s mother “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.”
Both suspects deny any involvement in the boy’s disappearance.
Orson Vue, Elijah’s uncle, told NBC Chicago: “It’s just, trying to keep the bad thoughts out. But at the same time, not ruling out anything at all.”
There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or a conviction.
“Let us stand together, vigilant and determined, until Elijah is safely reunited with his loved ones. Your assistance can make the difference,” said Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers, which posted the reward.
A separate $15,000 reward is available from the FBI for any information on Elijah’s whereabouts or that leads to an arrest or a conviction.
In a previous update, the police department suggested people could show their support by displaying green and blue ribbons and lights: Elijah’s favorite color was blue, while green is a symbol of hope for the recovery of missing children.
Patrick Smith
Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.
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