Mother of Missing Wisconsin Toddler Pleads Not Guilty to Charges Related to His Death

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The mother of Elijah Vue, a 3-year-old boy whose remains were found months after he was reported missing, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges linked to his death in Manitowoc County. Katrina Baur, 31, appeared over Zoom from the Manitowoc County Jail as her attorney entered the plea on her behalf.
Baur is charged with two felonies, including chronic neglect of a child resulting in death, along with two misdemeanors. Baur remains in custody on a $400,000 bond. During the hearing, the court allowed her a conditional modification to visit her daughter if approved by Child in Need of Protection and Services (CHIPS).
The case traces back to Feb. 20, when Elijah was first reported missing by Baur’s boyfriend, 39-year-old Jesse Vang. An extensive search was launched throughout Manitowoc County and beyond. After months of uncertainty, human remains were discovered by a deer hunter on Sept. 7 in a wooded area near a quarry and Camp Manitou, roughly three miles from the family’s home in Two Rivers.
The Wisconsin Crime Lab confirmed through DNA testing that the remains belonged to Elijah, who had been missing since winter. The sheriff’s office later informed his family. The county medical examiner ruled the toddler’s death a homicide with fractures found on his face, though the exact cause of death remains unspecified.
In addition to Baur’s charges, Vang faces multiple charges in connection to the case, including physical abuse of a child, hiding a corpse, and obstructing an officer. He is held on a $500,000 bond and is expected to appear in court next week.
According to court documents, surveillance footage from the night before Elijah disappeared shows Vang discarding a suitcase near St. Vincent de Paul in Manitowoc County. DNA analysis later linked the suitcase to Elijah. Investigators also recovered deleted Facebook messages between Baur and Vang from Feb. 20, in which Baur instructed Vang on what to tell authorities. “Say you guys were taking a nap and he left,” Baur messaged Vang, adding, “the way you word things is very important.”
The judge set a deadline of Dec. 20 for any potential resolution offer in Baur’s case. She is due back in court in February, while Vang’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 6.
The case continues to unfold as authorities work to bring justice for Elijah Vue.
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