Boy, 3, Missing After Mom Sent Him to Her Boyfriend for 'Disciplinary Reasons' — Police Ask for Help

After a three-year-old boy went missing in late February, new developments show that his mother and caregiver have been charged with circumstances surrounding his disappearance. The developments recently came to light.

A three-year-old boy named Elijah Vue was reported missing in late February this year. Now his mother faces charges of neglect and obstruction. Jesse Vang, the caregiver who was given custody of the boy for "disciplinary reasons," has also been charged with child neglect. Both individuals appeared in court on Monday afternoon, with preliminary hearings scheduled for March 7.

Vue was last seen at Vang's residence in Two Rivers, where Vang admits to falling asleep and discovering Vue's absence upon awakening on February 20. The child's mother, who resides in Wisconsin Dells, initially claimed absence from Manitowoc during the critical time frame, but her cell phone records suggest otherwise, leading to her obstruction charge.

The criminal complaint reveals concerning disciplinary methods employed by Vang. He described "time outs" lasting from 1-3 hours, during which Vue was made to pray or apologize to his mother. Vang admitted to this being a form of "boot camp," intended to correct undefined misbehaviors, noting Vue's lack of potty training and minimal diaper changes.

When Vang's time out methods proved ineffective, the caregiver resorted to threatening Vue with cold water, aware of the child's aversion to it. Vang's stated goal was to teach Vue to behave well at home, seeing it as a "privilege."

The Two Rivers community has been searching for Elijah since his disappearance, led by the Vue family's efforts. Elijah's Uncle, Orson Vue, expressed the family's determination and heartbreak over the situation. A local press conference amplified the grandmother's plea for continued public support in the search as she begged "Don't stop searching for my baby".

Elijah Vue is a child of Hmong and white ethnicity, with dark blonde hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing gray pants, a dark long-sleeve shirt, and distinct red and green dinosaur shoes, possibly carrying a red and white plaid blanket.

In an exclusive update, the owner of Ross Auto Service in Two Rivers recounted Vue's presence in his shop with Vang on February 16. Noting nothing unusual at the time, he has since cooperated fully with authorities.

Authorities and the Vue family urge anyone with information to come forward and assist in the urgent search for Elijah. The FBI has joined local efforts, offering a reward for information leading to Elijah's location and safe return. For any information regarding Elijah's whereabouts, please reach out to the authorities at (844) 267-6648.

Anyone with information on who is responsible for Vue's disappearance could possibly receive a $1000 reward. Additionally, anyone with information that leads to the location and return of Vue could receive a $15,000 reward from the FBI.

Another family who experienced their child going miss encountered an unexpected moment when the child's father found a note. Find the full story here.