Discovered: Missing Wisconsin Toddler Elijah Vue, Last Seen in February, in a Dense Forested Region
The deceased body of a child, later identified as Elijah, was found on September 7 in a dense forested area by a hunter preparing his land for the upcoming hunting season. The discovery was made approximately 3.2 kilometers northwest of the initial report of the child's disappearance, according to Benjamin Meinnert, the chief of police in Two Rivers.
The location had been thoroughly searched several times since Elijah's disappearance in February, as reported by his caretaker, Jesse Vang, who was in a relationship with his mother, Katrina Baur.
DNA analysis conducted by the Wisconsin Crime Lab confirmed the remains belonged to Elijah.
"This is not the outcome we had hoped for," said Meinnert. "The family, the community, we're all devastated."
Elijah's fourth birthday would have fallen on August 25, as per the police department's records.
Vang reported Elijah missing to authorities in February, stating he noticed the child was absent upon waking from a nap at their shared residence. Vang and Baur have pleaded not guilty to charges of felony child neglect and other related offenses in relation to incidents prior to Elijah's disappearance, court records show.
In March, Elijah's red and white plaid blanket was found approximately 3.7 kilometers from his reported last known location.
"What started as a search for a missing child has now evolved into a death investigation," Meinnert noted. "While we understand your eagerness for information, we have to preserve the integrity of the investigation, and as such, we can't share every detail."
The investigation into Elijah's death is being led by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Meinnert revealed. The Amber Alert issued for the child has since been canceled.
Throughout the months following Elijah's disappearance, the Two Rivers Police Department provided regular updates on their efforts to locate the missing toddler. These efforts included the review of over 10,000 video files, extensive land, air, and water searches, interviews with numerous individuals, and the pursuit of countless leads, Meinnert previously told CNN affiliate WLUK.
"Elijah was a small boy," added Two Rivers Assistant Chief of Police Melissa Wiesner at the news conference. "But the impact he left on all of us is immense."
CNN's Alisha Ebrahimji contributed to this report.
Despite the thorough searches conducted since Elijah's disappearance in February, it was his caretaker, Jesse Vang, who originally reported him missing to the authorities. (first sentence)
The family and the community, including us, are deeply saddened by the outcome of the investigation. (second sentence)
