ID MICHAEL VAUGHAN: Missing from Fruitland, ID - 27 July 2021 - Age 5

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

 

[Miccistella]

This just got into the news….

Reward fund set up for safe return of missing boy

FRUITLAND — Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff provided an update this morning on the case of 5-year-old Michael ‘Monkey’ Joseph Vaughan, who has been missing since July 27, having last

www.argusobserver.com

 

[Mel70]

here is the thing......
something I stumbled over just a couple of days ago....
it might not have anything to do with the vanishing of little Monkey and I might be completely off.... BUT somehow and I don't know why that missing person made me think if they are somehow connected....

I stumble over an missing person post for a young man, 31 years, who's car was found on a bridge over the Snake River ... This triggered my thinking about Monkey... so I kept looking...

the car was found on a bridge by Nyssa OR which made me look where that is in relation..... vicinity Ontario OR where he also has connections to.... which is not far from Fruitland......

now, sadly this young mans body was found further down in the river.... how awful for the family and friends left behind..... may he rest in peace....

the whole situation on him screams suicide... BUT WHY....
considered reasons: not being able to cope with a loss..? fear...? guilt..? background...? Knowledge of something...? depression..?


by all means I don't want to imply that there is a connection,,,,,, I just hope and pray not.,..

it though does make me wonder if these two cases somehow could be connected and just doesn't want to get out of my mind,..

any thoughts....?

What is the man's name?. We could try to look into his background.

 

[Mel70]

Reward fund set up for safe return of missing boy

FRUITLAND — Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff provided an update this morning on the case of 5-year-old Michael ‘Monkey’ Joseph Vaughan, who has been missing since July 27, having last

www.argusobserver.com

Reward fund set up for safe return of missing boy​

While the search for Michael continues, a reward fund has now been set up. Huff explained that the fund was made possible due to a $10,000 donation, made by someone who wants to remain anonymous. The chief said when the donor handed him the cashier's check he told the chief, "If that little boy is found and brought home safely, that will have been the best money I have ever spent."

Huff said not only did the gesture warm his heart, it was a big deal for the case.

"Our hope behind that is that it may motivate somebody that has information to share it with us," he said. "Obviously we are looking for the safe return of the child — that's our goal and continues to be our hope."

Huff added that he is not soliciting donations for the reward fund, as it is a lot of money; however added that law enforcement members are "very, very grateful," as they haven't had that up to this point.



The chief says they remain in contact daily with Michael's parents, who are "hanging in and absolutely 100% cooperative," adding that he wanted to continue to let the community know that the parents are working well with law enforcement.

As to how they are handling the situation, Huff says they are handling it about as well as somebody could who is missing their 5 year old.

"It is heartbreaking."



While searches have slowed down somewhat for now, Huff said the Payette County Sheriff's Office was still running its marine unit up and down the Snake River once or twice a week. On Wednesday, they spent the entire day on the stretch of the river from Payette to Annex, checking sloughs and searching banks.

They did find the one boy in the river. But why not this little guy with all the searching?. Seems a very thorough search.

 

[Mel70]

This just got into the news….

Reward fund set up for safe return of missing boy

FRUITLAND — Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff provided an update this morning on the case of 5-year-old Michael ‘Monkey’ Joseph Vaughan, who has been missing since July 27, having last

www.argusobserver.com

I lean more towards he was abducted now and not in the river. But buried or dumped in a secluded area. I know that sounds terrible. I wish they would find every child alive and uneffected.

 

[Miccistella]

What is the man's name?. We could try to look into his background.

the way I looked him up he does have criminal records but I didn't pay to see what it is..... I believe he is also connected to a 20 year old which assaulted and injured a child.... I wish I would know if he out of jail or still behind bars (though it says it was his step child) nevertheless worrisome...

I would put the names out but I am not sure if that goes by the rules...... Also it just is something which gave and gives me a bad feeling but also only assumption that it could be related since I do not have any profe ....... MOO

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Police: More than 400 tips called in on missing Fruitland boy

Tuesday marks seven weeks since the 5-year-old boy disappeared from his neighborhood in Fruitland.

www.ktvb.com

Police: More than 400 tips called in on missing Fruitland boy​

Tuesday marks seven weeks since the official search began for 5-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan, and police in his hometown of Fruitland say they've received at least 401 tips.

Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, Idaho State Police and the FBI have joined Fruitland Police in searching for Vaughan and investigating tips related to his disappearance.

Each of the 401 tips called in to tip lines as of Monday night has been assigned to an investigator for follow-up, the Fruitland Police Department said Monday evening in a news release posted to Facebook.

"As we work to scrutinize data, we will be re-interviewing some individuals in the effort to make sure no detail is missed," the post continued.

Fruitland Police also said another Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue team with a specialized canine was deployed this week to search the area around SW 9th Street and an area north of the "primary search area."

"They have been a tremendous resource and have helped us cover thousands of acres of ground," Fruitland Police said about Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

City of Fruitland Police | Coeur d'Alene ID

City of Fruitland Police, Fruitland. 7,535 likes · 34 talking about this · 25 were here. Welcome to the Fruitland Police Department's Facebook page. Feel free to ask any questions and we will try to...

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9-13-21
Update: The Search for Michael Joseph Vaughan.
Throughout this week, resources from the Fruitland Police Department, the Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, the Idaho State Police, and the FBI have remained on task in the search for missing 5-year-old Michael Vaughan. Investigators continue to follow up on tips as they come in. To date we have received 401 tips through the tip lines and each tip has been assigned to an investigator for follow up. This investigation is requiring an intense effort to analyze data of all types. This is a shared effort among the partnered law enforcement agencies involving countless man hours. As we work to scrutinize data, we will be re-interviewing some individuals in the effort to make sure no detail is missed.
This week another Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue Team with specialized canine was deployed to a search the area around SW9th and an area north of our primary search area. We would like to thank the Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue for their responsiveness. They have been a tremendous resource and have helped us cover thousands of acres of ground.
We want our community know that Michael is our priority and the needs of the investigation and search demand a huge amount of our attention. As we enter this detailed phase of this investigation, we’re doing our best with regular updates posted to this page. Again, our public updates may not sound like “breaking news”, and a bit repetitive, but we hope they help members of our community understand our efforts continue. Our $10,000.00 reward is available to anyone having information leading us to the safe return of Michael.
At this point we continue to ask that you remain vigilant and please share the poster linked here,
https://www.fruitland.org/.../VAUGHAN_MICHAEL_JOSEPH..., and to keep him in your prayers.
We remain hopeful. Sometimes answers come slow, but the Fruitland Police Department and our partners remain committed to bringing Michael home safe. We thank you for your support
Please follow this page for more updates as they’re available.
Thank You.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

$26,000 reward offered for finding missing 5-year-old Fruitland boy

In early September, the initial reward offered for finding Michael was $10,000.

www.ktvb.com

$26,000 reward offered for finding missing 5-year-old Fruitland boy​

On Friday, the Fruitland Police Department announced that the reward for finding 5-year-old Michael Vaughan, a Fruitland boy who has been missing for nearly two months, has doubled.

Officials said in a Facebook post that Michael Vaughan's family recently received a large donation meant to help them through this difficult time. The family put that money and other funds towards the city's reward fund, which now sits at $26,000.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Reward Fund for Missing Southern Idaho boy More Than Doubles

FRUITLAND — Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff announced a major update this morning regarding the reward fund for missing 5-year-old Michael ‘Monkey’ Joseph Vaughan. The fund has more than doubled,

www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com

In a phone interview, Huff said that a group of citizens earlier this week had raised $12,000 to give to Michael’s parents to help the family out.

“They told me to turn around and put that toward the reward fund,” he said.

Shortly after that, the family brought in another significant donation for the fund, boosting it to the current amount.

“They remain 100% cooperative and the fact that they are giving up money donated to them means something. It is a big deal,” Huff said. “They want their child home, and I do, too. I want Michael home safely.”

The police chief said all options regarding Michael’s whereabouts remain on the table, with an “immense amount of data” that has been collected which is still being combed through. In addition to video footage from residents and businesses, data has come in from “a lot of places,” Huff said. This includes tips, which are still regularly coming in.

“We continue to follow up on leads,” he said.

Every tip — 415 and counting — is being followed up on.

“We’re just waiting for that one thread to push us in the right direction and help us get this unraveled,” Huff said.

Law enforcement officials are “staying after it,” he said, adding that the FBI is still here every week assisting members of the Fruitland Police Department. Idaho State Police are working from a distance on tasks related to the case, such as following up on leads that are outside of the local area but elsewhere in the state. Anything outside of the state is handled by the FBI.

“It’s so nice having the FBI with us throughout the week,” Huff said. “This is the heart of the operation. The investigation is going on all day, every day, and agencies outside of our state area actively following up on leads and tips.”

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Update on search for missing Fruitland boy

Fields that have been harvested did not turn up the boy. Irrigation canals are about to be turned off. That's where the searches will focus.

www.ktvb.com

Update on search for missing Fruitland boy​

VIDEO AT LINK

Fields that have been harvested did not turn up the boy. Irrigation canals are about to be turned off. That's where the searches will focus.

Fruitland PD on missing boy: 'Corn fields harvested and cleared' with no trace of Michael

The long, exhausting search for a missing 5-year-old Fruitland boy continues. On Friday, Fruitland Police shared with the community another update on the ongoing search for Michael Joseph Vaughan, who disappeared in late July. To date, the department's tipline has received 446 tips. "We are...

idahonews.com

"We are committed to scrutinizing every detail in this investigation and it is going to take time," Fruitland PD said. "This remains a very active investigation at all levels and will continue."

Police also said in its update that many folks have shared concerns about the cornfields, but "those fields have been harvested and cleared leaving no trace of Michael."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Missing Idaho boy: No trace of Michael Joseph Vaughan after corn fields harvested, cleared

Investigators in Fruitland, Idaho, found no trace of missing 5-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan after corn fields were harvested and cleared last week, police said.

www.foxnews.com

Missing Idaho boy: No trace of Michael Joseph Vaughan after corn fields harvested, cleared​

The desperate search for a 5-year-old boy who went missing from a small Idaho community over two months ago continues this week after investigators say corn fields were harvested and cleared with no trace of the child.

Investigators remain "committed to scrutinizing every detail" in the search for Michael Joseph Vaughan, who went missing near his home in Fruitland – a small community of 5,400 residents – on the evening of July 27, Fruitland Police said in an update on Friday.

In addition to the harvested fields, including corn fields that police said many community members were concerned about, investigators will search the irrigation drainages within the next two weeks as it gets closer to the date when the irrigation water will be shut down for the season.

Police emphasized that analyzing every facet in "this detailed phase" of the investigation "is going to take time," saying that a total of 446 tips have poured in since the child first vanished. Tips are continuing to be assigned to investigators for follow-up.

"We remain hopeful," police said. "Sometimes answers come slow, but the Fruitland Police Department and our partners remain committed to bringing Michael home safe."

Vaughan’s family continued to cooperate and work with investigators in the search for the missing boy, police said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

5-year-old Michael Vaughan missing now for two months

The exhaustive search for a missing Fruitland boy has been underway now for a staggering two months. Last week, Fruitland Police shared with the community another update on the ongoing search for Michael Joseph Vaughan, who disappeared July 27. To date, the department's tipline has received 446...

idahonews.com

5-year-old Michael Vaughan missing now for two months​

The exhaustive search for a missing Fruitland boy has been underway now for a staggering two months.

Last week, Fruitland Police shared with the community another update on the ongoing search for Michael Joseph Vaughan, who disappeared July 27. To date, the department's tipline has received 446 tips.

"We are committed to scrutinizing every detail in this investigation and it is going to take time," Fruitland PD said. "This remains a very active investigation at all levels and will continue."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Fruitland Police say new tip could be 'very helpful' in search for Michael Vaughan

The reward for Michael's safe return has also increased to $40,000.

www.ktvb.com

Fruitland Police say new tip could be 'very helpful' in search for Michael Vaughan​

Friday marks 72 days since five-year-old Michael Vaughan was last seen outside his neighborhood in Fruitland. Police continue to investigate every detail of the case and reportedly have a new lead that may bring them closer to bringing the missing boy home.

The new lead was brought to police by a witness who had vehicle information that police believe "could prove to be very helpful with the timeline," according to the Fruitland Police Department.


Investigators continue to look through neighborhood surveillance videos from July 27, the last night Michael was seen. While looking through footage, they discovered two vehicles that were in the area Michael was last seen at approximately the same time he was last seen.

One of the cars was a 2016-2020 white Honda Pilot, which was seen leaving the area of southwest 8th Street in Fruitland at 6:47 p.m.

The other car was a 2010-2011 blue Dodge Avenger, which was seen leaving the same area and immediately turning right onto South Whitley Drive.

Police are now asking for the public's assistance in identifying the drivers of the two vehicles.

Officials also said two people were seen near the splash pad at Crestview Park on the evening Michael went missing but said these people are not suspects or persons of interest. Rather, police want to talk with them in order to put together an accurate timeline of events regarding what took place the evening Michael went missing.

One of the people police want to speak to is a man with dark hair and facial hair. He was wearing dark-colored shorts and no shirt. He was seen jogging on the sidewalk of southwest 8th Street near the park at approximately 6:15 p.m. on July 27.

The other person was also a man with dark hair. He was wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts. He was seen walking off southwest 8th Street, past the splash pads and towards the drainage behind the neighborhoods.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

City of Fruitland Police | Coeur d'Alene ID

City of Fruitland Police, Fruitland. 7,535 likes · 34 talking about this · 25 were here. Welcome to the Fruitland Police Department's Facebook page. Feel free to ask any questions and we will try to...

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[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I want to know if they've had this footage all along and are just now getting to it? This kind of makes it sound that way. Are they really still going through footage 2 months later? With so many people on the investigation and a child's life on the line?

Investigators continue to look through neighborhood surveillance videos from July 27, the last night Michael was seen. While looking through footage, they discovered two vehicles that were in the area Michael was last seen at approximately the same time he was last seen.

But then this makes it sound like someone may have just turned in this footage. And if that's the case, and they're in the neighborhood, why in the world did they wait so long? Certainly they heard about the investigation prior to now. It's been 2 months.

The new lead was brought to police by a witness who had vehicle information that police believe "could prove to be very helpful with the timeline," according to the Fruitland Police Department.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Fruitland PD asks for help Identifying cars, people in Michael Vaughan case

Fruitland police are asking for help in identifying cars and people in case of themissing five-year-old boy Michael Vaughan. "We continue to discover vehicles and individuals that we cannot identify," Fruitland PD said in a Facebook post on Friday. "We are seeking the public's assistance. "...

idahonews.com

Fruitland PD asks for help Identifying cars, people in Michael Vaughan case

"We continue to discover vehicles and individuals that we cannot identify," Fruitland PD said in a Facebook post on Friday. "We are seeking the public's assistance."

"We are encouraged by the fact that one of these individuals described above could help us bring Michael home safely," Fruitland PD says. "Recently, a witness brought forth some more vehicle information that could prove to be very helpful with the timeline."


The reward for information leading to Michael's safe return is now at $40,000, thanks to anonymous donations.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Maybe I'm underestimating how much it takes to look through the videos? La Vista Police just said this week that they are also still looking through videos for Ryan Larsen, and he disappeared in MAY, almost 5 months ago... Shouldn't this be a top priority in the investigation? Am I missing something?

 

[Miccistella]

Maybe I'm underestimating how much it takes to look through the videos? La Vista Police just said this week that they are also still looking through videos for Ryan Larsen, and he disappeared in MAY, almost 5 months ago... Shouldn't this be a top priority in the investigation? Am I missing something?

you would think....... to be honest i thought that was already done...... and if it is new footage, why is this coming out that late...?

 

[Kimster]

If it’s taking that long to go through footage, they probably should find some volunteers that will help.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Fruitland Police hopes $40K reward motivates 'those with information to come forward'

The Fruitland Police Department put out an update on the Michael Vaughan case saying they are still working to find the missing 5-year-old boy. "Since our last update, the Fruitland Police Department, the Idaho State Police, and the FBI have continued the search for missing 5-year-old Michael...

idahonews.com

Fruitland Police hopes $40K reward motivates 'those with information to come forward'
The Fruitland Police Department put out an update on the Michael Vaughan case saying they are still working to find the missing 5-year-old boy.

"Since our last update, the Fruitland Police Department, the Idaho State Police, and the FBI have continued the search for missing 5-year-old Michael Vaughan," Fruitland PD said in a Facebook update. "Tips are coming in and they are being followed up on."

Tips helped police identify two people who they believed had information about the case. But Fruitland PD is still looking for two more individuals who might have information.

"We are still asking the public’s assistance with the identification of the driver of a 2016-2020 model year, white, Honda Pilot seen leaving the area on SW8th St. around 6:47 p.m.," Fruitland PD said. "We also still need help with the identification of the male adult with dark hair, wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts seen walking off of Sw8th St., down into the park area past the splash pad, towards the lower drainage behind the neighborhoods."

Fruitland PD stressed that "these people are not suspects or persons of interest, but it is important to talk to each of them."

There is currently a $40,000 reward for any information leading to the safe return of Michael Vaughan.

"We hope that the reward motivates those with information to come forward and help bring Michael home to his family," Fruitland PD said.