Some new information about the treatment of missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue was heard during the preliminary hearing for 39-year-old Jesse Vang.
Vang was said to be the last person to see Elijah on February 20th before Vue went missing.
Detective Michael Herrmann from the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office and Two Rivers Detective Jacob Glaeser testified during the hearing.
Herrmann reiterated information from the amended criminal complaint in which Vang allegedly told him he would make Elijah stand in the corner for 2-3 hours to pray.
If he didn’t behave, he (Elijah) would be threatened with a cold shower. Herrmann also said Vang only changed Elijah’s diaper once a day and was trying to keep milk away from him (Elijah) because he was still being bottle-fed, and he (Vang) wanted Elijah to start eating regular food.
Detective Glaser provided new information, including text messages and photos sent between Vang and his partner, 31-year-old Katrina Baur.
Glaser testified that a picture from Baur’s phone that was deleted but later recovered by police showed Elijah wearing a black blindfold and bruising around his face and arms.
A second photo sent from Vang to Baur showed Elijah wearing only a full diaper and standing in the praying position in Vang’s room.
He also testified that there was a night when Baur and Vang went to Manitowoc and didn’t have anyone watching Elijah for over an hour.
Glaser also testified that text messages showed Vang wanted to make Elijah “fear him.”
Detectives said these incidents all happened a few days before Elijah went missing.
Vang’s Attorneys, Timothy Hogan, and Michael Turner questioned the conditions of the apartment and if there was evidence to back some of the detective’s statements.
Judge Robert Dewane found probable cause in Vang’s case to move it to a trial and set his arraignment date for April 16th at 11:15 am.
Vang is still charged with chronic child neglect as a party to a crime.
