Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Newly revealed text exchanges between Elijah Vue’s mother and her boyfriend have come to light just before the young boy went missing.
Earlier in the year, in February, Elijah Vue, a three-year-old, was reported missing by Jesse Vang, the boyfriend of the child’s mother.
On September 13, authorities confirmed that skeletal remains found in Two Rivers, Wisconsin were those of Elijah Vue, with the cause of death identified as ‘homicide by unspecified means’.
A complaint filed by Manitowoc County prosecutors, as reported by ABC 15 News, details how Vang called 911, claiming he was ‘babysitting’ Elijah but fell asleep, waking up to find the child missing.
Vang asserted that he was attempting to assist Elijah’s mother, Katrina Baur, in ‘correcting’ Elijah’s ‘behaviors’, and Baur acknowledged her son had been in Vang’s care for a week.
However, upon examining the phones of both Vang and Baur, investigators found data that contradicted the couple’s testimonies.
The complaint highlights that Baur’s phone location data did not back her version of events, as she was not in the Manitowoc area on February 16-17.
Disturbing messages exchanged by the couple were discovered during the investigation.
One text from February 17 shows Vang telling Baur he was upset that Elijah ‘overfilled his diaper with poop and pee and that Vang gave [Elijah] a cold shower’.
“Vang noted that [Elijah] was clean but scared,” the complaint says.
Section 13 of the complaint reveals a message from Vang to Baur on February 18, 2024, at about 4:36 AM: ‘I told you to trust me.. I’m a make sure he hates me and being here’. Baur replied: ‘Don’t want him to *hate* YOU. Just fear you’.
“Jesse responds: ‘It’s ok. Some one had to be the bad person.’ Katrina messaged: ‘I know but either way at he can fear you and respect you.’ Jesse messaged: ‘He did fear me..but he didn’t respect me..now I’m making him respect me.'”
During an interview with authorities, Baur stated that Vang ‘was the enforcer of the rules in the relationship’ and that this was why Elijah was sent to stay with him.
Although Baur claims to have discussed with Vang the limits of discipline she disapproved of, she admitted to being ‘fine with whatever discipline Vang enforces’.
She listed examples of discipline, including praying, apologizing, and memorizing four rules.
A photo exchanged between Vang and Baur on Facebook allegedly shows Elijah ‘standing in a corner in just a diaper, hands in a praying position, and the diaper appears full’.
“Baur stated she wanted Vang to teach [Elijah] by example how to be a man,” her statement reads.
Vang acknowledged that Elijah was ‘afraid of him’, later attempting to amend his statement by saying the child ‘respected’ him.
Baur is facing charges of obstructing an officer, chronic neglect of a child leading to death, and child neglect.
Vang is charged with obstructing an officer, repeated physical abuse of a child causing death, and hiding a corpse.
If these issues have affected you or if you wish to discuss child welfare matters confidentially, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24/7 and takes calls from the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.