On Friday, neighbors and volunteers bundled up in Two Rivers and gathered at a small memorial for 3-year-old Elijah Vue, marking the second anniversary of his disappearance. They set out dinosaur toys, candles and handwritten notes that read, “You still matter,” a quiet counterpoint to the massive Amber Alert search that began on Feb. 20, 2024 and the grim discovery that followed. Family members and organizers said the vigil was part remembrance, part demand for answers, and a reminder that the community is still watching.
According to WTAQ, roughly 13,000 people have joined a “Remembering Elijah Vue” Facebook group, where tributes, photos and long remembrance posts poured in on the anniversary. The station reports that during the original search, volunteers trudged across frozen ground, through woods, fields and along riverbanks, and that one detailed memorial post drew thousands of reactions. Organizers say that online community has become its own kind of watchtower, making sure Elijah’s case does not quietly slip off the public radar as the legal process grinds forward.
In September 2024, investigators confirmed that human remains found by a hunter on private land near Camp Manitou were Elijah’s, authorities said. FOX6 reports the remains were discovered about three miles northwest of where the boy was last seen, and that the Wisconsin Crime Lab used DNA testing to make the identification. Officials have said the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide by unspecified means and documented healed fractures on Elijah’s skull and face.
What investigators say
Court records and recent coverage outline troubling allegations about how Elijah was treated before he vanished. NBC26 reports that a deleted photo recovered from his mother’s phone showed Elijah blindfolded and bruised, and that text messages in the complaint referenced punishment involving cold showers and forcing the 3-year-old to stand for hours. Surveillance video captured a man leaving an empty suitcase outside a St. Vincent de Paul store, and investigators say that suitcase later tested positive for Elijah’s DNA, according to WTAQ.
Charges and next steps
Both of Elijah’s parents are facing criminal charges. Prosecutors allege that Katrina Baur is charged with offenses that include chronic neglect of a child resulting in death, while Jesse Vang is accused of more serious counts including physical abuse of a child, hiding a corpse and obstructing officers. Earlier hearings laid out the charges and bail in the case, and both defendants have entered not guilty pleas. A joint motion hearing is scheduled for May 18, 2026, according to local court reporting, and attorneys say that proceeding will help determine which evidence can be used if the case goes to trial (Seehafer News).
For many in Two Rivers, the anniversary served as a stark reminder that community memory can outlast the news cycle. Organizers at Friday’s gathering said they plan to keep tracking the court calendar, continue pressing for transparency and justice, and urge anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to contact local law enforcement as the investigation moves forward.
