The family of Elijah Vue is pleading for his mother to remain in police custody as the search for the missing 3-year-old continues to drag on more than two months after he was last seen alive.
Katrina Baur, 31, has been charged with child neglect in connection with Elijah's mysterious Feb. 20 disappearance, according to authorities.
She pleaded not guilty.
Baur allegedly told investigators she dropped her son off at 39-year-old boyfriend Jesse Vang's apartment on Feb. 12 because she wanted the toddler to "be a man," WBAY-TV previously reported, citing the criminal complaint. She claimed she hadn't seen her son since.
Baur alleged Vang "was the enforcer of rules in the relationship, and that was the reason for sending [Elijah] to stay" with him. She said she planned to pick Elijah up on Feb. 23.
On Feb. 20, Vang called police to report him missing.
"Until we find out where Elijah is or what happened to Elijah, her whereabouts and availability needs to be known at all times," Elijah's uncle, Orson Vue, said during Baur's bond hearing Tuesday, WGBA-TV reported. "There truly is a concern from everyone, especially our family, that she will be a flight risk."
"She is the mother of Elijah and is the main reason for all of this that has happened. Katrina needs to be found fully accountable for a lack of care for Elijah," Orson testified, according to The Independent.
"She has allowed Elijah to suffer abuse and neglect. Seeing her baby all bruised up and not doing anything to help him, instead taking a picture and then deleting it is absolutely disgusting," he continued.
Baur's defense attorney, Ann Larson, asked the judge to reduce her client's $15,000 bond to a signature bond, which would allow for Elijah's mother to be freed until her next court date. The judge denied the motion and remanded Baur back to jail.
She is due back in court May 28.
Vang also remains in custody on similar charges.
