As the search for a missing 3-year-old in Wisconsin enters its third week, the mother faces additional criminal charges and police search for the missing vehicle.
An Amber Alert was issued for Elijah Beau in Manitowoc County on February 20th. This week, her mother, Katrina Baur, 30, and her boyfriend, Jesse Vann, 39, appeared in court on child neglect charges.
On Thursday, prosecutors upgraded Bauer’s charge to chronic child neglect and added a child neglect charge.
“We have now changed No. 1 to chronic neglect as a party to a crime,” Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn Labre told WISN. “We have added a fourth issue, which includes neglect,” he told WISN.
Wisconsin authorities believe missing 3-year-old Elijah Beau was abducted from his home.
Elijah Beau, a 3-year-old boy from Wisconsin, was last seen around 8 a.m. on February 20 in Two Rivers. (Two Rivers Police Department)
This is the fourth charge leveled against the mother, Fox 6 reports, and she also faces two counts of resisting a police officer.
Baugh’s attorney, Anne Larson, requested a reduction in her client’s $15,000 bail Thursday in Manitowoc County Circuit Court.
“She didn’t know where her son was, he was sick and she was worried,” Larson said. Wisun.
But Bauer’s own mother, Jody Bauer, opposed the bail reduction in court, WISN reported. Ms. Labret read a statement from her child’s grandmother in court Thursday.
“I have known Katrina Bauer longer than anyone because I am her mother,” the statement read by LaBre said.
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“Katrina has struggled with depression and anxiety for many years and has a history of erratic behavior. She has suffered a traumatic brain injury and is 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.” needs to be held accountable and I feel I want to release her.”She would be a flight risk.” ”
Beau’s mother, Katrina Bauer (right), and her boyfriend, Jesse Vann (left), are facing criminal charges of child neglect. (Two Rivers Police Department)
Vann, who is eligible to serve as a public defender but has not yet been appointed an attorney, also requested a reduction in bail.
“Oh, I have a question for you,” Vann said, according to WISN. “I would like to apply for a reduction in bail.”
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.
Prosecutors said Baur wanted to teach the toddler “how to be a man” and intended to send Elijah to live with her boyfriend, Van, for disciplinary purposes.
Authorities in Wisconsin issued an Amber Alert for missing 3-year-old Elijah Beau more than two weeks ago, and the vehicle responsible for his disappearance has since been seized. (Two Rivers Police Department)
Authorities said Elijah’s “punishments” included taking cold showers and standing for hours in prayer when his time was up.
An amended criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital provides insight into Elijah’s abuse and the days before his disappearance.
After reviewing text messages and Facebook messages between Bauer and Vann, prosecutors said they discussed meeting at Vann’s apartment on February 13 to have sex. ” according to the complaint.
Authorities say Elijah Beau is 3 feet tall, weighs 45 pounds, has blonde hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call 911. (Two Rivers Police Department)
Prosecutors said Baur arrived at Vann’s apartment at 2:30 a.m. on February 13 and left her 6-year-old older child unsupervised in her car.
At 3 a.m. the next day, Bauer’s cellphone took a photo of Elijah “lying in bed,” “blindfolded,” according to the complaint. The toddler appeared to have “bruising to his jawline and left side of his neck, as well as bruising to his upper arm.”
According to the Associated Press, Elijah was reported missing by Vann on February 20, and Vann told police she took the boy to her bedroom with him for a nap, but about three hours later She reportedly stated that when she woke up, her child was gone.
Rewards for Elijah’s recovery total $25,000, including $10,000 to Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers and $10,000 to the FBI for information leading to the child’s location and return or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his disappearance. He offered $15,000.
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On Monday, police announced they had seized the vehicle of interest in the child’s disappearance, a beige 1997 Nissan Altima with a Wisconsin license plate that begins with “A” and ends with “0.” Police are now asking home and business owners to review surveillance footage of the vehicle, which was taken between 2 and 9 p.m. on Feb. 19, according to Fox 6.
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Police said Beau, who is of Hmong descent, is about 3 feet tall with dark blonde hair and brown eyes and weighs about 45 pounds. He has a bruise on his left knee and was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a dark long-sleeved shirt, and red and green dinosaur slip-on shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 844-267-6648 or 920-686-7200. You can also submit a tip online. tips.fbi.gov.
