More than four years after 5-year-old Michael Vaughan vanished in Fruitland, Idaho, prosecutors have filed charges in connection with his disappearance and presumed death.
Michael was last seen on July 27, 2021, outside his home in Fruitland — about 55 miles northwest of Boise — according to reports from Idaho News, the Idaho Statesman, and KTVB.
On Friday, October 31, the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office announced in a press release that it is “moving forward with charges against the individuals involved in the disappearance and murder of 5-year-old Michael Vaughan.”
While the office did not initially release the suspects’ names, Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech confirmed to the Statesman that 33-year-old Stacey Wondra has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and destruction of evidence.
Stacey and his former wife, Sarah Wondra, were first identified as suspects in 2022 after investigators excavated their backyard searching for Michael’s remains — which have still not been recovered. Police said the dig was prompted by a tip from someone living in the house who claimed the boy’s remains were buried there, according to KTVB.
Sarah was previously charged with failure to report a death following that search, though the Statesman reported prosecutors later dropped the charge. Two additional individuals were also identified as persons of interest in the case, and it remains unclear whether Sarah now faces new charges.
“Our foremost hope has always been to recover Michael, but delays now risk further harm to his loved ones,” prosecutors said in their statement. “We believe we know the individuals involved and are committed to pursuing justice with or without Michael’s recovery.”
Both Stacey and Sarah Wondra are currently serving prison sentences for unrelated offenses, multiple outlets reported.
Michael’s mother, Brandi Neal, told KTVB that the family is holding onto hope for more information about the location of her son’s remains in light of the new developments.
“This is just the beginning of a hard road we know lies ahead,” she said. “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.”
