The remains of Elijah Vue, a missing Wisconsin toddler, have been found, bringing a tragic end to a nearly 7-month search.
Elijah's remains were discovered Sept. 7 in a “densely wooded area” by a hunter “preparing his land for hunting season,” Two Rivers Police Chief Benjamin Meinnert said at a news conference Friday.
The toddler's remains were found on private property just over three miles northwest of where he was originally reported missing, Meinnert said. The area had been searched multiple times in the months since Elijah's disappearance.
According to Meinnert, DNA testing by the Wisconsin Crime Lab confirmed that the remains belonged to Elijah.
“This is not the outcome we're hoping for,” the police chief said. “The family is devastated. We are devastated. Our community is devastated.”
According to police, Elijah would have celebrated his 4th birthday on August 25.
Elijah was reported missing on February 20 by his caregiver, Jesse Vang, who was in a relationship with his mother, Katrina Baur, according to a criminal complaint filed in Manitowoc County.
According to the complaint, Vang told police he noticed Elijah was gone when he woke up at home after a nap.
Court documents show Vang and Baur have pleaded not guilty to child abuse and other charges related to alleged incidents leading up to the toddler's disappearance.
In March, police confirmed that Elijah's red and white plaid blanket had been found about 4 miles from where he was reported missing.
“What began as a search for a missing boy is now an investigation into a death,” Meinnert said. “While we understand your need for information, we cannot share every detail and must maintain the integrity of the investigation.”
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation into Elijah's death, Meinnert said. The Amber Alert issued for the toddler has now been canceled.
In the months following Elijah's disappearance, the Two Rivers Police Department provided regular updates on their search for the missing toddler. Their intensive search included reviewing more than 10,000 video files; searching land, air and water; conducting dozens of interviews; and following hundreds of leads, Meinnert previously told CNN affiliate WLUK.
“Elijah was a little guy,” Two Rivers Assistant Police Chief Melissa Wiesner added at Friday’s news conference. “But he had a huge impact on all of us.”
CNN's Alisha Ebrahimji contributed to this report.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com
