02/09/2026
The Disappearance of Michael “Monkey” Vaughan — A Tragic Mystery Deepens
On July 27, 2021, 5‑year‑old Michael Joseph Vaughan, affectionately known as “Monkey”, vanished from his quiet neighborhood in Fruitland, a small town in Payette County, Idaho, United States. What began as an ordinary evening in a tight‑knit community quickly turned into a years‑long investigation that has gripped the region and raised questions that remain unanswered to this day.
A Neighborhoood Shaken
Michael was last seen around 6:30 p.m. on the evening of July 27, 2021, near his family’s home on Southwest 9th Street in Fruitland, a rural town of about 5,000 people. Neighbors later reported seeing him walking in the street or knocking on doors, looking for other children to play with before he disappeared. His parents—and eventually police—realized he was missing when they could no longer find him after a short time inside the house.
A massive search was launched almost immediately, involving the Fruitland Police Department, Idaho State Police, the FBI, volunteer search teams, K‑9 units, drones, and local residents. The search stretched over thousands of acres of fields, canal banks, and residential areas, but no trace of Michael was found.
Despite extensive efforts, including canvassing hundreds of homes, reviewing video footage and canvassing hundreds of tips from the public, Michael was never found. The community held onto hope even as days turned into weeks, months, and then years with no clear answers.
Growing Suspicion and Investigation
In the course of the investigation, police identified several people of interest, including neighbors who lived only blocks from the Vaughan family. In late 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the home of Sarah and Stacey Wondra, a couple who lived nearby. Cadaver dogs alerted to possible human remains in the backyard, leading investigators to excavate portions of the property. Prosecutors believed Michael may have been abducted and buried there, though no remains were recovered during the dig.
During that period, Sarah Wondra was arrested on a felony charge of failing to report a death, based on investigators’ belief that she may have had knowledge of Michael’s death and failed to notify authorities. Those charges were later dropped in April 2023.
A Breakthrough: Charges Filed in 2025
Nearly four and a half years after Michael’s disappearance, a major development occurred on October 31, 2025. Prosecutors in Payette County filed formal criminal charges against Stacey James Wondra, a former neighbor of the Vaughan family who had lived near Michael at the time he vanished. The charges included:
First‑degree murder
Second‑degree kidnapping
Destruction or concealment of evidence
These charges assert that Stacey Wondra unlawfully killed and kidnapped Michael and engaged in actions to obstruct the investigation.
In late October, Wondra appeared in a courtroom in Maricopa County, Arizona, where he waived his right to an extradition hearing and agreed to be transported to Idaho to face the new charges.
Investigation Still Ongoing — Michael Still Missing
Despite the dramatic new charges, Michael’s remains have not been found. Payette County law enforcement and prosecutors continue to work to locate him and uncover evidence that may explain what happened during the evening he disappeared.
Michael’s mother, Brandi Vaughan, has expressed a mix of relief that someone has been charged and deep anguish that the family still does not know where her son is or what happened to him. She has repeatedly called for answers about Michael’s final moments and his whereabouts.
The Impact on Fruitland and Beyond
The disappearance of Michael “Monkey” Vaughan transformed the lives of those in Fruitland and beyond. What began as an urgent missing‑child case became a complex investigation spanning years, involving intense scrutiny of neighbors, painstaking searches of property, and the enduring hope of a family seeking closure.
As the legal process unfolds, authorities and the community continue to look for answers that may finally reveal what happened to Michael nearly half a decade ago.