TWO RIVERS, Wis. — The Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office is investigating after skeletal remains were found on private property on Saturday.
A local deer hunter came upon the remains in Two Rivers, which is the same town where 3-year-old Elijah Vue was last seen.
"We are fully aware of the ongoing case of missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue, who disappeared in February. However, at this time, we are unable to confirm if the remains discovered are related to this case," said the sheriff's office in a Facebook post.
The office cautioned that determining the identity of the remains will be a lengthy process.
"The Sheriff's Office is working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Wisconsin State Crime Lab, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Anthropology Department, Two Rivers Police Department, and the Manitowoc County Coroner's Office," said the statement.
Elijah was last seen at a residence in Two Rivers on Feb. 20, when prosecutors said his mother had sent him to stay with her boyfriend. His reported disappearance triggered extensive search activity by both law enforcement and volunteers, but the boy was never located. The chlid's fourth birthday was celebrated in his absence Aug. 25 during a community event at Kiwanis Park in Appleton.
Both Vue's mother and her boyfriend are currently charged with child neglect.
Two Rivers is located in far easter Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan, due east of Appleton and Oshkosh and about 100 miles north of Milwaukee.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.