Katrina Baur pleads not guilty to all child neglect charges connected to disappearance of 3-year-old son
Update on March 22 at 5:10 p.m.
MANITOWOC COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Katrina Baur pleaded not guilty to all child neglect charges connected to the disappearance of her son, Elijah Vue. Baur appeared in court Friday, March 22 for an arraignment hearing.
The 3-year-old boy was reported missing more than a month ago.
Baur and her boyfriend, Jesse Vang, are in jail facing child neglect charges.
Baur did not speak as her attorney entered not guilty pleas to all the child neglect charges connected to Vue's disappearance.
That plea was expected, but it still bothered a lot of community members in the gallery who have been looking for her son for more than a month now.
After the hearing, Yolanda Godfrey told us, "It brings your morale down. Because again, we have a three-year-old little boy. He is three. He didn't just walk down the street and nobody saw him. He's somewhere."
Godfrey helps search after work and on weekends.
She said the month-long search for Elijah has taken a mental toll on the community.
It has also had a financial impact.
This week the city of Two Rivers reallocated $310,000 because the search efforts were draining existing resources.
For now, without evidence to the contrary, Elijah is still presumed alive.
So the only charges Baur and Vang face are connected to his disappearance, not what may have happened to him.
Still, Godfrey and others believe "They know where he's at. And I wish to God they would just tell law enforcement and get this over with."
This week, Baur's complaint was amended to show she visited Vang for sex days before Elijah went missing. That night she took a photo of a sleeping Elijah, who was bruised and blindfolded. She later left.
Two days later she and Vang went to a Two Rivers bar together while the 3-year-old was left alone at Vang's apartment.
Also this week, we uncovered old court records that show Jesse Vang was accused of sexually assaulting Katrina Baur back in 2015, then conspiring to traffic her.
Godfrey called the recent developments baffling. "No good mother would leave their child with somebody that they know is abusive or try to traffic her at one time. You would stay far and clear away from that person."
Baur will be back in court April 26.
Jesse Vang will have a preliminary hearing April 4.
Volunteer searchers said they paused their efforts because of Friday's snow. They tell us they'll be back out there looking for Elijah Vue as soon as the weather allows.
MANITOWOC COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- It has been more than a month since a 3-year-old Wisconsin boy went missing, and as the community he disappeared in continues to search for him, the case against his mother and her boyfriend continues.
On Thursday, March 21, Jesse Vang appeared in a Manitowoc County court with legal representation for the first time since he was arrested for charges of child neglect. According to court documents, Vang was caring for Elijah Vue when he reported the toddler missing on Feb. 20. The judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for Vang on April 4.
Vang was allegedly caring for the child with permission from Elijah's mother, Katrina Baur, who investigators claim sent her son to her boyfriend's home to "teach him how to be a man."
Court documents obtained by CBS 58 from Outagamie County highlight the connection between the couple. The 2016 documents show Vang was charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking and sexual assault. One of the victims is listed as "K-B-B." That victim's birthdate matches Baur's. Sources have also confirmed to us that it is Baur. The outcome of that case is unclear, but around that time, Vang was sentenced to federal prison for felony drug charges.
The City of Two Rivers allocated $310,000 to help the police department continue its efforts to find the 3-year-old. Community members tell CBS 58 they are hopeful they will find Ellijah, but the month-long search has been taxing.
"It's just frustrating right now because, again, I honestly don't know where to look anymore, and I just feel that he's close. I really do. I feel that he's close," search party member Yolanda Godfrey said.
Katrina Baur's arraignment hearing is Friday at 4 p.m.
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- CBS 58 has uncovered new information that highlights the connection between Elijah's mother, Katrina Baur, and her boyfriend, Jesse Vang.
Newly secured court documents filed in 2016 show Vang was charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking and sexual assault.
One of the victim's is listed at "K-B-B." That victim's birthdate matches Baur's. Sources have also confirmed to us that it is Baur.
The outcome of that case is unclear, but around that time, Vang was sentences to federal prison for felony drug charges.