In a devastating turn of events, the Two Rivers Police Department has confirmed that the human remains discovered in Manitowoc County over the weekend belong to missing 3-year-old boy, Elijah Vue. What initially began as a search for a missing child has now turned into a full-fledged death investigation, leaving the community and authorities in shock.

Elijah Vue was reported missing on February 20 by his caregiver, Jesse Vang. According to prosecutors, Elijah's mother, Katrina Baur, had sent him to live with her boyfriend for disciplinary reasons. An Amber Alert was issued, and for the next seven months, law enforcement officials and volunteers conducted extensive searches, leaving no stone unturned.

It wasn't until recently that a man preparing for hunting season stumbled upon human remains on a private property near Camp Manitou, a Girl Scout camp. Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinnert described the discovery site as a densely wooded area with thick underbrush, located three miles northwest of where Elijah was last seen. Prompt investigations by TRPD, the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Wisconsin Crime Lab were carried out to recover the remains and any potential evidence.

Chief Meinnert heartbreakingly announced that a forensic anthropologist from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories had confirmed the identity of the remains as being Elijah Vue's based on a skull and bones. Despite numerous previous searches by law enforcement, private parties, and the landowner, the discovery was made only recently.

The remains have been taken to the Wisconsin Crime Lab for DNA testing to further confirm Elijah's identity. With heavy hearts, Chief Meinnert announced the cancellation of the Amber Alert in light of this tragic confirmation. The family, community, and law enforcement are devastated by this outcome. Although Chief Meinnert did not personally know Elijah, he noted how the young boy had touched the hearts of everyone in the community.

The investigation into Elijah Vue's death is expected to be a lengthy process, and authorities have appealed to the public for patience and understanding as they work towards seeking justice. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to come forward and contact the police.

While Elijah's mother, Katrina Baur, and her boyfriend, Jesse Vang, have been detained since shortly after Elijah's disappearance, they have only been charged with child neglect thus far in relation to the conditions of the home and the treatment of the boy. No charges have been filed against them in connection to Elijah's disappearance. Baur's request to lower her bond was denied by a judge last month, and a new attorney has recently been appointed to review the case. Vang is scheduled for a status conference on September 27, with no trial date set at this time.

The loss of young Elijah Vue has left a deep impact on the community, as the search for answers and justice continues.