MANITOWOC – Jesse Vang, a 40-year-old Two Rivers man, has been bound over for trial on charges of causing a child’s death through abuse and hiding the body.
Vang appeared at Manitowoc County Courthouse Nov. 6 for a preliminary hearing. He is accused of causing the death of 3-year-old Elijah Vue , whose remains were found in September after he was reported missing from a Two Rivers apartment Feb. 20.
District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre called two witnesses during the hearing, Eric Voland and Justin Ragen. Both are special agents with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in the Division of Criminal Investigations and both were involved with the case of Elijah’s disappearance since February.
Vang was arrested in February after he reported Elijah missing. He was charged with felony child neglect, but that was dismissed and incorporated into his current case. In addition to the two felony charges, he is also charged with misdemeanor obstructing an officer.
After hearing testimony about the investigation process from the two witnesses, Judge Anthony Lambrecht ruled there was enough cause to move forward with the felony charges of physical abuse of a child causing death and hiding a corpse against Vang. The preliminary hearing is just one step in the court case, though, and Vang is still considered innocent until proven guilty.