Elijah Vue latest: Blanket of missing 3-year-old boy was found earlier in investigation, Two Rivers police confirm

TWO RIVERS — Two Rivers police said Monday they located a red-and-white plaid blanket they've confirmed belonged to Elijah Vue, a 3-year-old boy who was reported missing Feb. 20.

In a news release, police said the blanket was found "earlier in this investigation" on Goodwin Road east of County B in Manitowoc County. They said the location was 3.7 miles away from the apartment building in the 3900 block of Mishicot Road in Two Rivers where Elijah was reportedly last seen.

While police did not elaborate on when the blanket was found, a portion of Goodwin Road was closed by law enforcement Feb. 25 as they searched for the missing boy.

Police continue to ask people to help search all urban and rural areas, including water, to find Elijah and any evidence related to his disappearance.

A candlelight vigil was held for Elijah March 16. Family, friends and community members turned out to share in the hope that Elijah is soon found. They lit candles, blew bubbles and spoke of the community's resolve in searching for Elijah.

Among the speakers was Adam Wachowski, Two Rivers City Council president.

“There is power in numbers,” Wachowski said. “We live in a great community that cares so deeply about one another. When someone is in need of help, you don’t just get someone to help. Instead, you get the whole community. That’s Two Rivers, that’s who we are, that’s what we represent and that’s our love for one another.”

Monday marks the 28th day of searching for Elijah. Daily search efforts since that day by local, state and federal law enforcement have included canvassing of urban and rural neighborhoods; searches of rivers, shores and a landfill in Calumet County; and K-9 teams “checking and rechecking various areas.”

Two Rivers Police Department also sent a Wisconsin AMBER Alert, which is an emergency child abduction alert, for Elijah a few hours after he was reported missing, and that alert is still active.

Elijah is also listed as missing on the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults.

Civilian volunteers in Manitowoc County and throughout the state have conducted searches for the missing boy almost daily. The next organized search in Manitowoc County will take place 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday with volunteers meeting at Deja Vu, 214 N. Eighth St., Manitowoc.

Missing Wisconsin children:Elijah Vue is one of more than 30 missing children in Wisconsin

Katrina Baur and Jesse Vang expected in court again this week.

Katrina B. Baur, Elijah's mom and a Wisconsin Dells resident, was arrested in February after Elijah was reported missing. Jesse Vang, a 39-year-old Two Rivers man who police say was in a relationship with Baur, was also arrested.

Vang told police he fell asleep while Elijah was standing next to his bed praying as a form of punishment the morning of Feb. 20. When Vang woke up, he said Elijah was gone and he called 911.

Vang is expected to appear in Manitowoc County Circuit Court March 21 for a preliminary hearing and Baur is expected to appear March 22 for an arraignment.

Vang faces one charge of felony child neglect. At his previous court date March 14, he still had not yet been assigned an attorney from the Office of the State Public Defender.

Baur faces a felony charge of chronic child neglect, a second charge of felony child neglect involving a different child, and two misdemeanor charges of obstructing an officer.

At a previous court date for Baur March 14, she was bound over for trial after she waived her right to a preliminary hearing. Her attorney also withdrew a motion to dismiss the original felony child neglect charge which was changed to felony chronic child neglect.

Katrina Baur bound over for trial:Katrina Baur, mother of missing 3-year-old Wisconsin boy Elijah Vue, bound over for trial on child neglect charges

Do you have information about Elijah Vue?

Police describe Elijah as being of Hmong and white ethnicity with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He is approximately 3 feet tall and has a birthmark on his left knee. He was last seen wearing gray pants, a dark-colored, long-sleeve shirt and a pair of red-and-green dinosaur slip-on shoes.

If you have information that could help the Two Rivers Police Department find Elijah Vue, contact their tip line at 844-267-6648 or submit information via the Crime Stoppers app P3.

There is a combined $40,000 reward from the city of Two Rivers, Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for any information that leads to finding Elijah or to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his disappearance.

Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com.