The Two Rivers Police Department has confirmed the identity of human remains found last week as those belonging to 3-year-old Elijah Vue, ending the seven-month search of the Two Rivers community. According to FOX6 News, the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office stated that a deer hunter discovered the skeletal remains, including a skull and bones, in a wooded area near a quarry and Camp Manitou on Sept. 7.
Police Chief Benjamin Meinnert expressed the collective sorrow, saying "The family is devastated. We're devastated. The community is devastated," in a statement obtained by WISN 12 News, where community member Dawn Kelso shared the personal impact of the tragedy, saying "It's a little boy. It's a baby, and we all have family."
Two Rivers Police Department located the remains a little over 3 miles from where Elijah was last seen. The DNA testing conducted by the Wisconsin Crime Lab confirmed the identity of the remains. Following the confirmation, the previously issued Amber Alert for Elijah Vue was officially canceled as the investigation transitioned into a death inquiry. During a press briefing reported by TMJ4, Meinnert said, "This is not the outcome that we hoped for."
WISN 12 News also reported that the property where the remains were found is across the street from where Elijah's mother, Katrina Baur, once lived.
