ID MICHAEL VAUGHAN: Missing from Fruitland, ID - 27 July 2021 - Age 5 *ARREST* (12 Viewers)

Search continues for missing and endangered 5-year-old in Fruitland, Idaho

Michael Vaughan was last seen near SW 9th Street and S. Arizona Ave. in Fruitland on Tuesday evening. Crews and neighbors were out all day looking for the boy.

www.ktvb.com

Search continues for missing and endangered 5-year-old in Fruitland, Idaho​

Michael Vaughn was last seen near SW 9th Street and S. Arizona Ave. in Fruitland on Tuesday evening. Crews and neighbors were out all day looking for the boy.

The search for a missing 5-year-old-year-old boy intensified Wednesday as it entered its second day.

Michael Vaughn was last seen near SW 9th Street and S. Arizona Avenue in Fruitland around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Fruitland Police Department said Michael is considered missing and endangered.

Michael is about three feet, seven-inches tall and weighs 50 pounds. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. He answers to the nickname "Monkey."

Michael was wearing a light blue shirt with a Minecraft picture on it, dark blue boxer briefs and sandals.

Idaho Mountain Rescue brought in highly-trained and rescue personnel to assist in the search.

Crews from multiple agencies searched the area near Michael's home by ground and air by drone and helicopter. They also went door to door, talking with neighbors.

Right next to the boy's home is a field where crews spent much of the day searching for him.

Neighbors say they learned about his disappearance about an hour after he was reported missing. They say Michael is a happy kid who lives with his parents and grandfather.

Cynthia Walker was walking her dog as the search was happening.

"At five years old, I don't know that he would wander too far without one us seeing him by now," she said. "There are volunteers, many, many volunteers out searching, scanning the fields and we just want to have Michael back, we just want him home safe."





MEDIA - MICHAEL VAUGHN: Missing from Fruitland, ID since 27 July 2021 - Age 5

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Suspect in Michael Vaughan's disappearance sent to 1 year in prison for violating supervised release

Suspect Stacy Wondra will spend a year in prison after he violated the conditions of his supervised release.

www.ktvb.com

Suspect in Michael Vaughan's disappearance sent to 1 year in prison for violating supervised release​

Suspect Stacy Wondra will spend a year in prison after he violated the conditions of his supervised release.

VIDEO AT LINK

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Case of missing child Michael Vaughan reaches 4-year mark

FRUITLAND — Michael Vaughan has been missing since July 27, 2021. He was last seen outside of his home in Fruitland at the age of 5. His 9th birthday was

www.argusobserver.com

Case of missing child Michael Vaughan reaches 4-year mark​

Michael Vaughan has been missing since July 27, 2021. He was last seen outside of his home in Fruitland at the age of 5. His 9th birthday was June 24.

The last update on how the case is going was in February, when Police Chief JD Huff got approval from the Fruitland City Council to use $6,000 to purchase an item related to the investigation. Huff declined to comment on the item, saying it was tied to the investigation so he could not talk about it.

Just prior to that, in January, Michael's mom, Brandi Neal, leaked body-cam footage from the year he went missing in which one of the four named suspects confesses to knowing where Michael's body was. This lead to the digging up of two yards in Fruitland, but police did not find any remains. Suspects named by the police in his disappearance include Sarah Wondra, Stacy Wondra, Adrienne Lucienne and Brandon Shurtliff.


The longer someone has been missing, the lower the odds are that they will be found. However, there is still hope. According to missingkids.org, between 2021 and 2023, 117 children were recovered after having been missing for a decade or longer.

One way to help is through reminders on anniversaries and, even, birthdays. A useful resource that anyone can access is the ADAM Program, which lists those who have been missing in the U.S. since 1938.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

4 years;
48 months;
1461 days;
35,064 hours;
2,103,840 minutes;
126,230,400 seconds….
TOO LONG Michael has been missing 4 years today.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Four years later: Michael Vaughan remains missing

FRUITLAND, Idaho (CBS2) — Sunday, July 27, 2025, marks four years since the disappearance of Michael "Monkey" Vaughan from his Fruitland home.Michael, who would

idahonews.com

Four years later: Michael Vaughan remains missing
Sunday, July 27, 2025, marks four years since the disappearance of Michael "Monkey" Vaughan from his Fruitland home.

At the time of his disappearance, Michael was three feet seven inches tall and weighed around 50 pounds.

Since he disappeared, family and friends along with the community have continued to bring attention to him.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Not sure what details are in the video. I haven’t watched. But Michael’s mom isn’t doing well.

 

[RoundPeg]

From what I've been reading on a FB page, Brandi was bleeding internally. I'm not sure what her transplant status is.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I've been poking around Facebook. It looks like Brandi was given a liver! She's posting on Facebook again and seems to be doing alright.

 

[RoundPeg]

A Payette County lieutenant on Friday confirmed to KTVB a warrant was issued for Stacey for first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence.

Suspect in Michael Vaughan case charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping

A warrant was issued for Stacey Wondra, who lived blocks away from Michael Vaughan, in connection to the Fruitland boy's disappearance.

www.ktvb.com

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

BREAKING: Stacey Wondra charged with murder in the case of missing Fruitland boy Michael Vaughan

BREAKING: New charges in the Michael Vaughan case. Stacey Wondra has been charged with murder and kidnapping.

www.kivitv.com

BREAKING: Stacey Wondra charged with murder in the case of missing Fruitland boy Michael Vaughan​

Charges have been filed in the case of missing Fruitland boy Michael "Monkey" Vaughan.

Stacey Wondra has been charged with first-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence, according to a Lieutenant with the Payette County Sheriff's Office.

A Vaughan Family spokesperson says Wondra was supposed to be released from an Arizona prison on Thursday and is now expected to be extradited to Idaho.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Suspect in Michael Vaughan case charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping

A warrant was issued for Stacey Wondra, who lived blocks away from Michael Vaughan, in connection to the Fruitland boy's disappearance.

www.ktvb.com

Suspect in Michael Vaughan case charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping​

Four years after Michael Vaughan’s disappearance, one of the people police believe is responsible has been charged with first-degree murder in the case.

A warrant was issued for Stacey Wondra, who lived blocks away from Vaughan, in connection to the Fruitland boy's disappearance.

The then-5-year-old, fondly referred to as “Monkey” by family and friends, disappeared from his home in July 2021. 

A Payette County lieutenant on Friday confirmed to KTVB a warrant was issued for Stacey for first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence.

The lieutenant said Stacey has not been extradited to Idaho as of Friday, Oct. 31. He is serving federal prison time in Arizona for a different crime.


Vaughan's mother, Brandi Neal, sent KTVB the following statement on Friday morning:

"All we have wanted is for Michael to come home! Knowing that charges are coming forth to these monsters, We pray that they will finally tell us where Michael is. Michael deserves to be home with his family! There's one thing that just keeps ringing in my head right now and it is something that JD Huff said. He said that you cannot take one of our most precious citizens and ever expect us to stop! Fruitland Police department continues to live up to that statement. This is just a beginning to a hard road We know that's up ahead. We are here. We want Justice. Michael will get his Justice! We want Michael home and we're never going to stop until we have Michael home."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

A few more links.

Man charged with murder in case of missing Fruitland boy Michael Vaughan - East Idaho News

FRUITLAND (KIVI TV) — Charges have been filed in the case of missing Fruitland boy Michael “Monkey” Vaughan. Stacey Wondra has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence, according to a Lieutenant with the Payette County Sheriff’s Office. A...

www.eastidahonews.com

Arrest made in case of missing boy Michael Vaughan

PAYETTE — A warrant has been issued for a man in connection with a 2021 missing person’s case. Michael Vaughan, of Fruitland, has been missing since 2021. He was last

www.argusobserver.com

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Justice for Monkey. And for his family.

 

[GrandmaBear]

So after the DA not charging for how long, it seems they may be now as he was due to be released from prison on other charges? We see that on occasion.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Murder charges filed in 2021 disappearance of Idaho child Michael Vaughn - Local News 8

The Payette County Prosecutor's Office has officially filed murder charges in the case of Michael Vaughn, the 5-year-old boy who vanished from his Fruitland, Idaho home in 2021. "We believe we know the individuals involved and are committed to pursuing justice with or without Michael’s...

localnews8.com

Prosecutor Michael Duke stated that his office’s "fondest hope is to recover Michael," but they are moving forward with the investigation and charges to ensure justice and to not pose further risk to Michael’s loved ones.

"We believe we know the individuals involved and are committed to pursuing justice with or without Michael’s recovery," Duke stated. He credited the charges to the "unyielding tenacity and perseverance" of the Fruitland Police Department, which has not ceased working the case. "They are continuing to search and investigate so they can bring Michael’s body home."

Local News 8 has recieved a statement from Michael "Monkey's" mother Brandi. She says, "Our family has mixed emotions. Yes, we are glad charges are coming. We want them to tell us where Michael is. Period. We will let the Justice System take care of the rest."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

So, once he arrives back in Idaho, they should be able to release the Probable Cause Affidavit. (From the Kohberger case, they had to wait until he was in their custody coming from out of state.)

 

[Tresir]

Ok so i have, I think, got up to date on this case and have read a few things to help me. This is the most recent article I have read. So i will post the details.

What We Know: Suspects charged four years after the disappearance of Michael Vaughan

A little more than four years ago Michael "Monkey" Vaughan

idahonews.com

49°

Watch​

What We Know: Suspects charged four years after the disappearance of Michael Vaughan​

---

by CBS2 News Staff
Fri, October 31, 2025 at 10:22 AM

8VIEW ALL PHOTOS

New photos released as search for missing 5-year old Michael Vaughn hits one month mark (Photo Courtesy: Fruitland PD)

0Comment
Share​

• 
  

  topics:​

• Michael Vaughan
• Disappearance
• Kidnapping
• Murder
• Fruitland
• Suspects
• Investigation
• Prosecution

FRUITLAND, Idaho (CBS2) — A little more than four years ago, Michael "Monkey" Vaughan vanished from his home in Fruitland. Friday, Prosecutors announced the arrest and charges of two suspects in the kidnapping and murder of Michael.
How did we get here?
Michael Vaughan was four years old when he was taken from his Fruitland home on July 27, 2021. A frantic search began as police scoured the area, but with no sign of him anywhere, days turned into weeks and weeks into months. CBS2 first sat down with Brandi Neal, Michael's mother, in December of that year.
Nearly a year and a half after his disappearance, the first significant break in the case came when Fruitland Police began tearing apart and digging up the backyard of a home just a few blocks from where Michael first went missing. Police were digging for remains after receiving a tip that he had been buried there. The home belonged to Stacy and Sarah Wondra. We would later learn through leaked police footage that Stacy was directing police via video call to where he claimed Sarah had buried the body of Michael Vaughan.
The police didn't find Michael's remains, though Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff said he believed that Michael's remains were likely there at one point, but later moved. A statement from Payette County Prosecutor Michael Duke to Idahonews.com says that "Our foremost hope has always been to recover Michael, but delays now risk further harm to his loved ones. We believe we know the individuals involved and are committed to pursuing justice with or without Michael's recovery."
Stacy and Sarah were named as suspects more than two years ago by the Fruitland Police, and a probable cause affidavit was forwarded to the Payette County Prosecutor's office. Repeated questions and inquiries from Idahonews.com about why there had been no movement and what was taking so long largely went unanswered.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Sarah Wondra was arrested and charged with crimes unrelated to the disappearance of Michael Vaughan. She has been serving a 3-year fixed sentence for aggravated assault, among other charges. Stacy has been incarcerated in Arizona, also on unrelated charges, though he was set to be released from jail this week. Stacy will be extradited to Idaho to face charges related to the kidnapping and murder of Michael Vaughan.

 

[Kimster]

So after the DA not charging for how long, it seems they may be now as he was due to be released from prison on other charges? We see that on occasion.

Yes. If a suspect is safely tucked away in jail, it gives LE time to make their case.

 

[RoundPeg]

So, once he arrives back in Idaho, they should be able to release the Probable Cause Affidavit. (From the Kohberger case, they had to wait until he was in their custody coming from out of state.)

Really interested in seeing that.

 

[Guess Who]

Yes. If a suspect is safely tucked away in jail, it gives LE time to make their case.

Gives them time to be able to collect enough evidence to be more guaranteed to get a conviction.