Missing Elijah Vue’s mom Katrina Baur cowers in jail after leaving son, 3, with mystery man ‘for disciplinary reasons’

THE mother of a missing 3-year-old boy could be seen cowering in jail as she appeared for a bail hearing on Friday charged with child neglect.

Elijah Vue, 3, was last seen by a caregiver at a home in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, on Tuesday wearing red and green dinosaur shoes.

One of those shoes has since been found on a street near to where he vanished, prompting police to ramp up their search and comb through local landfills for clues.

Katrina Baur was taken into custody shortly after her son was reported missing, along with a man named Jesse Vang.

Both of the suspects appeared on camera for bail hearings on Friday.

While Vang's relationship to Baur and Vue is still not clear, the district attorney said on Friday the mom had left her son with Vang for "disciplinary reasons" before he vanished.

“She intentionally sent that child, for disciplinary reasons, for more than a week, to the residence," Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said as she pushed for a high cash bond on Friday, local ABC affiliate WISN reports.

"She was aware of the tactics used and the lack of care provided."

She also claimed that Baur lied to investigators about her whereabouts in the time leading up to Vue's disappearance.

"At least two occasions during the interviews, she has provided false information on her whereabouts during the past week," LaBre said.

Baur sat quietly throughout the hearing in an orange jumpsuit, keeping her head bowed most of the time.

Her attorney argued that her client received social assistance and could not afford a large bail.

Vang was presented as possibly more culpable than Baur in the disappearance, due to his direct oversight and resulting neglect of the child leading up to his disappearance.

"Mr. Vang was the individual entrusted with the care of the child during the alleged neglect," the DA said.

"Given his direct hands-on involvement and the disciplinary methods he's accused of using, a $20,000 cash bail is necessary," they asked.

The judge ultimately decided on the side of the prosecutors and set bail at $15,000 and $20,000 for Baur and Vang respectively.

Both Baur and Vang remain in custody in Manitowoc County Jail.

Police said Vue has dark blond hair, brown eyes, and a birthmark on his left knee and was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a dark-colored shirt, and red and green dinosaur shoes.

LANDFILL SEARCH

FBI agents have been seen searching a landfill in Hilbert, around 40 miles from where Vue was last seen, for days.

Pictures from the waste site show a blue tent erected at the scene and agents in hazmat suits while heavy machinery was in the background.

Investigators have not yet confirmed if they found any potential evidence at the landfill.

The FBI is just one of the law enforcement organizations working alongside police to find the missing boy.

Drones and K9s are also being used as part of the search probe.

An air search from the Wisconsin Army National Guard was requested by cops, and boats and utility tank vehicles were also being used.

Orson Vue, Elijah’s uncle, shared his fears about what might have happened to Vue with local reporters at ABC affiliate WBAY-TV.

“We’re extremely worried, we’re all emotional at this point, at the moment,” he told the outlet.

“And we don’t want to think of the bad stuff that may have possibly happened to him and we’re hopeful.”

Twin Rivers Police have confirmed that the search remains ongoing.

“We are exploring all possibilities to locate Elijah,” police said.

“You may have seen officers searching areas such as local rivers and landfills, and that is correct. We will leave no stone unturned."

“You will continue to see similar large-scale searches as we receive tips and continue our search for Elijah," they wrote.

Chief of Police Ben Meinnert said parks and woodlands were combed and hundreds of volunteers have taken part in the search.

Locals have been urged to check their surveillance cameras from February 12 – 20 as cops continue to appeal for clues.

“Every piece of information could be key to bringing Elijah home,” Meinnert said.

Vang and Baur are both scheduled to next appear in court on Monday.

Anyone who may have information to help the case is urged to contact the Two Rivers Police Department's tip line on 1-844-267-6648.

You can also call the Two Rivers Police Dispatch at 1-920-686-7200.