Additional Coverage:
- Murder charges filed after 5-year-old’s suspicious disappearance from his own neighborhood in Idaho (foxnews.com)
Murder Charges Filed Four Years After Disappearance of Fruitland Boy
FRUITLAND, ID – Four years after the disappearance of 5-year-old Michael Vaughan from his Fruitland neighborhood, prosecutors in Payette County have filed murder charges in connection with the case. The young boy is believed to have been abducted and killed in the summer of 2021.
Payette County Prosecutor Michael Duke announced the development in a statement released late Friday morning. “My office is moving forward with charges against the individuals involved in the disappearance and murder of 5-year-old Michael Vaughan,” Duke stated, though he did not immediately disclose the identities or number of suspects being charged. A representative from his office declined to provide further details beyond the official statement.
However, local outlet KTVB-7 has reported that Stacey Wondra, 33, a felon previously suspected in the case and a former neighbor of the victim, is named in an arrest warrant. Wondra is expected to face charges of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and destruction of evidence, according to a local law enforcement source cited by the outlet.
The Fruitland Police Chief, JD Huff, deferred all inquiries to the prosecutor’s office, and the county sheriff’s office declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
Stacey Wondra and his wife, Sarah Wondra, 38, were both arrested in 2022 on lesser charges related to Michael’s disappearance. Sarah Wondra’s charges of failing to report a death were later dropped, while Stacey Wondra was sent to federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
His federal sentence concluded on Thursday, and he had recently petitioned for early release, citing “exceptionally good conduct.” He is reportedly anticipated to be extradited back to Idaho.
The Wondras had previously garnered public attention. Sarah Wondra drew scrutiny for social media posts, some of which showed her in front of Michael’s missing person flyers.
More recently, bodycam footage released by police reportedly showed Stacey Wondra blaming his wife for the crime during a search of their property. Sarah Wondra is currently held in an Idaho prison on an unrelated assault charge.
Prosecutor Duke acknowledged that while the hope was to recover Michael’s remains before escalating charges, the decision to move forward was partly to mitigate further distress for the victim’s family.
Brandi Vaughan, Michael’s mother, expressed her gratitude to the Fruitland Police Department and Duke’s office following the news. “Your sheer determination and strength during this whole process as of today has been nothing short of incredible,” she wrote on Facebook, sharing a copy of Duke’s statement.
Michael Vaughan, known by his nickname “Monkey,” vanished from his family home in July 2021. The Wondra and Vaughan families lived within walking distance of each other.
Police and volunteer K-9 units had conducted extensive searches of hundreds of acres in the area, including around the Wondra residence. Fruitland police had previously identified two other individuals, Adrien Lucienne and Brandon Shurtliff, as potential suspects in the case.
Duke emphasized the critical role of the Fruitland Police Department, stating, “The charges are only possible as a result of Fruitland [Police Department]’s unyielding tenacity and perseverance. They have not ceased to work the case since the crime occurred, and they are continuing to search and investigate so they can bring Michael’s body home.”
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding Michael Vaughan’s disappearance to contact the Fruitland Police Department at (208) 452-3110 or email [email protected].