The grandmother of a missing Wisconsin toddler has asked a judge to keep the boy’s mother behind bars, citing a “history of erratic behavior.”
The desperate plea was made Thursday during a preliminary hearing for Katrina Bauer, 31, who faces charges of chronic child abandonment in connection with the disappearance of 3-year-old Elijah Beau.
According to court documents, the boy disappeared on February 20 after Bauer dropped him off at the home of her boyfriend, Jesse Vann, for “disciplinary reasons.”
In a statement read at the hearing, Jodi Baur asked the court to deny her daughter’s request to reduce her bail to $15,000.
“I have known Katrina Bauer longer than anyone because I am her mother,” said a statement read by District Attorney Jacalyn Labret.
“Katrina has struggled with depression and anxiety for many years and also has a history of erratic behavior. She has suffered a traumatic brain injury and is very likely to miss mandatory appearances.
“We do not believe it is worth the risk of lowering her bail, especially given that the victim has not been found and many questions remain unanswered. She will be excluded in the future. We feel that she needs to be held accountable and that releasing her would be a flight risk.”
Jody Bauer also revealed that her daughter cut ties with her family in October 2022 after years of erratic behavior.
Jodi Bauer claims she was the victim of Katrina Bauer, who allegedly subjected her to years of “verbal and emotional abuse” before their relationship ended.
The abuse was so bad that Jody Bauer asked the court to issue a no-contact order against Katrina Bauer if she was released on bail.
However, the judge in the case rejected Katrina Baur’s plea to reduce her bail, saying it was set at $15,000 in cash “where necessary.”
Katrina Bauer was arrested on February 21, the day after Van, 39, reported Elijah missing.
The boy told police that he and Elijah took a nap in the bedroom in the morning, but woke up three hours later to find the boy missing.
According to the criminal complaint, Elijah’s mother told police that Elijah had been living in a van in Two Rivers since she sent Katrina Baur on Feb. 12 to teach the boy “to be a man.” He was reportedly staying at his home.
Katrina Bauer had planned to pick up Elijah on February 23, but was about 30 miles away when he went missing.
She was initially charged with child neglect, which was later amended to chronic child neglect. She also faces two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing a police officer.
Mr. Vann was charged with one felony count of child abandonment by a party to a crime and is being held on $20,000 cash bail.
Investigators are still searching for little Elijah, who is about 3 feet tall, has dark blonde hair and brown eyes, and weighs about 45 pounds.
I also have a bruise on my left knee.
Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Elijah’s location and return, or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his disappearance, Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinert said in a news release. He said it reached $.
In addition to Crime Stoppers rewards. FBI reward In this case, up to $15,000.
