Still Missing ID - Michael “Monkey” Vaughan, 5, last seen near home, Fruitland, 27 Jul 2021 #3

[PawneeDew]

https://amp.idahostatesman.com/news/local/crime/article313659507.html

It's weird how they don't even name the other names... They have already named names...

 

[Unalienable Rights]

The man accused of killing Michael "Monkey" Vaughan to appear in court

The man accussed of killing then 5-year-old Michael Vaughan of Fruitland

idahonews.com

March 1, 2026

The man accused of killing 5-year-old Michael Vaughan of Fruitland will be in court next week.

*****
Stacey Wondra will be in court on Monday for a status update hearing. Preliminary hearings are scheduled to run from Tuesday through Thursday. Idahonews.com will be reporting live from the courthouse.

 

[Knox]

The man accused of killing Michael "Monkey" Vaughan to appear in court

The man accussed of killing then 5-year-old Michael Vaughan of Fruitland

idahonews.com

March 1, 2026

The man accused of killing 5-year-old Michael Vaughan of Fruitland will be in court next week.

*****
Stacey Wondra will be in court on Monday for a status update hearing. Preliminary hearings are scheduled to run from Tuesday through Thursday. Idahonews.com will be reporting live from the courthouse.

Thanks for the update!

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Attorneys ready to proceed in court case related to disappearance of Fruitland boy Michael Vaughan

PAYETTE — Payette County Prosecutor Mike Duke and Defense Attorney Anthony Geddes said today that they are ready to proceed with the evidentiary hearing in relation to the disappearance and

www.argusobserver.com

Payette County Prosecutor Mike Duke and Defense Attorney Anthony Geddes said today that they are ready to proceed with the evidentiary hearing in relation to the disappearance and death of Fruitland boy Michael Vaughan. Defendant Stacey Wondra was present in-person for a status check this morning.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 3-6, although attorneys may not need the entire time to present witnesses and evidence to Payette County Magistrate Judge Brian D. Lee.

*****
Michael’s mother was joined by some of her supporters at the status check. Her jacket had an embroidered patch in the shape of a black light bulb with blue lettering that reads, “Bring Monkey Home.”

*****
See more in article.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Brandi at court today

Court spokesman today

 

[Gemmie]

Brandi at court today

Court spokesman today

Boy that was sure sad to listen to. She's a strong woman. I'd have been crying if I had to speak like that about my missing and deceased child.

 

[Knox]

Is the evidentiary hearing going to be televised?

 

[Unalienable Rights]

This is the link for the Idaho News live coverage of today's hearing. They are giving a detailed account. They are updating throughout the day

Brief Summary, so far. More details at the link.

It is surprising, to me, to see witness testimony of K9 handlers that the Wondra property was identified very early in the investigation.

9 AM - Opening statement by prosecution, laying out probable cause. They say Wondra confessed to LE.H

Opening statement by defense: "Our client confessed to nothing."


9:10 AM - Tyler Vaughan, Michael's dad, took the stand. He had the day off and was taking care of the children while his wife was at work. After taking care of the baby's needs, he noticed Michael was missing at about 7:00 pm. When he couldn't locate him, he called the police at 7:20 pm.

9:30 AM - Defense questioned TV about marijuana use.

9:40 AM - Brandi Vaughan, Michael's mom, took the stand.

9:55 AM - BV told prosecution that she had never heard of the Wondras at the time MV went missing. She described the day MV went missing.

The defense asked if it was typical of TV to smoke marijuana while watching the children, and she said "yes."

10:10 AM - Defense continues questioning of BV.

10:33 AM - Dustin Witt took the stand. He has experience in SWAT & K9 investigations, and FBI asked him to help with MV investigation.

11:15 AM - Dustin Witt Cross-Examination.

11:40 AM - Prosecution questioning DW again.

1:10 PM - Julie Gibson called to the stand. She has certification and expertise in handling and training cadaver dogs. She assisted in the MV case.

1:35 PM - JG Cross-examination.

2:00 PM - Deborah Hurlburt, K9 handler, testified. She assisted Fruitland PD in examination of Wondra property in Nov 2022.

Michael Vaughan case: Full day of witness testimony at Stacey Wondra preliminary hearing reveals new details

It's been almost five years since Brandi and Tyler Vaughan saw their five-year-old son, Michael. Both took the stand Tuesday during a preliminary hearing in the case against Stacey Wondra.

www.kivitv.com

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Court TV coverage:

Man charged with murdering 5-year-old Idaho boy appears in court

Stacey Wondra appeared in court, charged with the murder of 5-year-old Michael Vaughan, whose body has never been found.

www.courttv.com

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Continuing the brief summary of the Idaho News live coverage of today's hearing:

2:20 PM - Debra Hurlburt Cross-examination. She was asked to assist through her certification with NCMEC. She also works with Idaho S & R dogs.

3:00 PM - Bryce Crimin on the stand. He is now a deputy with Washington Co Sheriff's Office, but was previously a corrections officer who worked with inmates, including SW when he was on suicide watch. Around Thanksgiving he found an unfinished letter that SW was writing to the Vaughan family. BC made a copy of the letter and sent it to his father, who is a detective with Fruitland PD. He then returned the letter to where he had found it, because he wanted to see if SW would finish it.

3:10 PM - Bryce Crimin Cross-examination.

3:35 PM - Carson Starkey on the stand. He was the next door neighbor of the Wondras. He testified about seeing a big-wheel tricycle behind the Wondra's gate a few days after MV went missing. He had never seen it before.

3:30 PM - Cross-examination of Carson Starkey.

3:55 PM - Capt. Jason Horst, Idaho State Police, on the stand. He assisted in MV's case. He found a pink & white tricycle in the neighborhood in an unusual place. It was found in an area that had been previously searched.

4:00 PM - Capt. Jason Horst Cross-examination. He said that when he found the tricycle, it stood out to him because a witness had reported seeing MV riding a big-wheel tricycle.

4:30 PM - James Smit on the stand. He lived in the Wondra's neighborhood. He found the tricycle at what he called a dumping ground. He needed a wheel for a project, so took it home. When it didn't work out, he returned it to the "dumping ground."

4:37 PM - James Smit Cross-examination.

Court dismissed. Will resume tomorrow at 9 AM.

Michael Vaughan case: Full day of witness testimony at Stacey Wondra preliminary hearing reveals new details

It's been almost five years since Brandi and Tyler Vaughan saw their five-year-old son, Michael. Both took the stand Tuesday during a preliminary hearing in the case against Stacey Wondra.

www.kivitv.com

Nearly five years after 5-year-old Michael “Monkey” Vaughan disappeared from outside his Fruitland home in July 2021, the man charged with kidnapping and killing him, Stacey Wondra, returned to a Payette County courtroom Tuesday as preliminary hearings get underway.

Court began at 9:00 a.m. Stacey Wondra appeared wearing civilian clothing and shackles.

Day one of testimony included both of Michael Vaughan's parents, three K-9 handlers, an officer from the Washington County Jail and a few neighbors who testified about seeing a big-wheel tricycle nearby immediately after Michael's disappearance.

 

[Knox]

Below is a time-stamped recap of testimony from March 3, 2026.

4:37 P.M. JAMES SMIT CROSS EXAMINATION

Neighbor James Smit clarifies he found the tricycle "probably the week after" Michael went missing.

He had the tricycle for about a day before he returned it.

Court is dismissed for the day and will resume Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.

4:30 P.M. JAMES SMIT ON THE STAND

The state calls James Smit to the stand, who lives in The Bluffs subdivision in Fruitland near where Stacey Wondra lived at the time of Michael Vaughan's disappearance in July 2021.

Smit says he found the tricycle that was at the center of previous testimony over the bluff at the end of 8th Street. He described that as a "dumping ground" where people discarded items.

He was looking for a wheel for a project, so he took the tricycle to his house. The wheel didn't fit his needs, so he put the bike back together, and then brought it back to where he found it. He said the bike was still in good shape, so instead of throwing it over the bluff, he tucked it behind the subdivision sign, so it could be found and used again.

He knows it's the same tricycle in the photographs, because it lost one hubcap while he was working on it.

4:00 P.M. CAPT. JASON HORST CROSS EXAMINATION

Horst clarifies the location where he located the tricycle, describing it as the neighborhood entrance at the end of 8th Street in Fruitland where the road turns to gravel.

The tricycle was not easily visible from the street, only if someone looked at an angle to search behind the stone signage. He says it's possible the tricycle was there earlier and went unnoticed.

Horst said a potential witness had previously mentioned seeing Michael Vaughan riding a big-wheel tricycle, which is why it stood out to him when he saw it on August 5. It was then collected as evidence.

Capt. Horst was dismissed at 4:08 p.m.

3:55 P.M. CAPT. JASON HORST, IDAHO STATE POLICE

The state calls Captain Jason Horst with Idaho State Police to the stand, who was a detective sergeant in August 2021.

Horst was asked to assist with the Michael Vaughan case.

Prosecutors showed Horst a photograph of a pink and white tricycle that Horst says he found in the Fruitland neighborhood behind a large stone sign near a tree.

Horst said they'd been out to the area previously, but didn't see the big wheel tricycle until a search on August 5th. It stuck out to him because the location was not a place that a child would naturally leave a toy. It was then photographed and retained for evidence in the case where it remains to this day.

3:30 P.M. CARSON STARKEY CROSS EXAMINATION

Starkey lived next to the Wondras for about a year. The Wondras asked Starkey to assist with auto work a handful of times over the year.

"I fixed a hole in their wall one time," Starkey recalled.

Starkey was dismissed at 3:35 p.m.

The court will take a brief recess.

3:25 P.M. CARSON STARKEY ON THE STAND

The state called Carson Starkey to the stand. He lived on Redwing Street, next to the Wondras in 2021 but didn't interact with them often.

Prosecutors asked Starkey about a large-wheel tricycle that Starkey has seen on the Wondra's property, behind the gate that separates the two homes.

"That's the big-wheel I saw inside that gate," Starkey said confidently when shown a photograph.


Starkey says he saw the bike on Wondra's property a few days after Michael Vaughan went missing, and never saw it before that.

3:10 P.M. BRYCE CRIMIN CROSS EXAMINATION

Crimin clarifies he received an email from a lieutenant who informed him Wondra may be attempting to send a letter to the Vaughan family around Thanksgiving. He testified he was instructed to intercept the letter, but wasn't explicitly assigned to go through Wondra's belongings.

Crimin said it was regular practice to search through inmates' belongings while in custody.

Crimin's father also worked as a detective with the Fruitland Police Department at the time.

Crimin says he took a copy of Wondra's letter and sent it to his father at the Fruitland Police Department, and returned the letter to Wondra's belongings. "I wanted to see if he would finish it," Crimin said.

Crimin testified that he was tasked with coordinating a FaceTime call with Stacey Wondra, while in Washington County custody, and investigators in Fruitland on November 12, 2022.


3:00 P.M. BRYCE CRIMIN ON THE STAND

Bryce Crimin is a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, but previously worked as a corrections officer who worked with inmates, including Stacey Wondra.

Crimin testified that Wondra was placed on suicide watch while incarcerated on unrelated charges. He received word that Wondra was going to attempt to send the Vaughan family a letter around Thanksgiving.

While searching Wondra's property, Crimin says he located a letter that appeared to be "a work in progress" and was addressed "to the Vaughan family".

Michael's mother, Brandi, became visibly emotional in the courtroom during this testimony.

Crimin looked at the letter in court, which he testified was signed by Stacey Wondra.

2:20 P.M. DEBRA HURLBURT CROSS EXAMINATION

The defense questioned K-9 handler Debra Hurblurt. Her K-9, Bannock, was her ninth German Shepherd. She was called to assist with the investigation through her certification with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She also works with Idaho Search and Rescue Dogs.


The court will take a brief recess.

2:00 P.M. DEBRA HURLBURT, K9 HANDLER

Debra Hurlburt was called to the stand. She has been training K-9s since 2002 and instructs K-9 handlers how to properly handle their dogs.

Hurlburt was asked about her now-retired dog, Bannock, who she says never had a false alert or a missed scent in a test environment.

Bannock was deployed in November 2022 to assist Fruitland Police in a search of the exterior of the Wondra property on Redwing Street. The yard was already excavated when Hurlburt and Bannock arrived.

"[Bannock] very much pulled me to that property," Hurlburt said. "He didn't know what property we were searching," she testified, leading her to believe he was following the scent of human remains.

Hurlburt said Bannock was "very much hunting the source" of the scent of human remains, but he was never able to pinpoint the exact location.

After leading the dog away from the area, he continued to bring her back to the same general location in the backyard.

1:35 P.M. JULIE GIBSON CROSS EXAMINATION

Gibson explains her Jack Russell Terrier, Yodi, was almost two years old at the time she was deployed at the Wondra home. Yodi is trained to detect human remains, including historical cases in which bodies were buried in the 1800's.

Gibson said the yard was dug up to a depth deeper than she was tall, except for a narrow perimeter around the fence line.

"The dog will alert to residual scent, and I believe that's what happened that day," Gibson testified.

1:10 P.M. JULIE GIBSON ON THE STAND

Julie Gibson was called to the stand. She has certification and expertise in handling and training cadaver dogs with the goal of locating human remains. Gibson was called to assist the in the Michael Vaughan case when investigators searched the Wondras Fruitland home and backyard in November 2022.

When Gibson arrived, much of the backyard was already excavated as crews searched for Michael Vaughan's remains. She emphasized her dog, Yodi, who was on scene during the Fruitland investigation "does not false alert."


Gibson testified her cadaver dog alerted at a location near the home's irrigation box, which was below the kitchen windows in the backyard. She testified that its possible for a scent to travel through pipes in the ground and to an area like an irrigation box that can hold a scent. Once the equipment was removed, the animal no longer alerted to the area.

Gibson testified that she's undergone training that assist in situations where bodies have been buried and later moved.

She says the conditions that day were cool and damp, which she described as "good" conditions for cadaver dogs to work in.

11:40 A.M. DUSTIN WITT ON THE STAND

The prosecution showed Witt photographs of a home.

Witt says he recognizes the house in the photographs as the home where his K-9 showed interest along the fence line and garage area. The dog alerted to the gate between two homes that led to a backyard. The photograph was entered into evidence.

Witt was excused at 11:48 a.m. The court is in recess for lunch.

11:15 A.M. DUSTIN WITT CROSS EXAMINATION

Dustin Witt told the defense they used Michael Vaughan's shoe and pillow to allow his certified K-9 to track a scent trail through the neighborhood.


The defense asked if the dog's ability to follow a scent would be impacted by traveling on a plane. Witt says that's not an issue at all and is part of their training, even taking the K-9 on a helicopter in the past. Witt says K-9s undergo a week-long training and testing every year to remain certified. This particular K-9 has worked with his department for seven years. She passed away in December due to medical issues.

Witt explain a testing scenario where dogs are taken through downtown Los Angeles. He says the K-9 used in the Michael Vaughan case has a 100% pass rate for all bloodhound certification testings.

Upon arrival in Idaho, Witt says he and his K-9 went straight to the police department and "went to work".

Witt says they went to several locations near the Vaughan family home, including a home where deer antlers were out in the frontyard. Witt says he had to "correct" the K-9's behavior and tell her to "get back to work". He said the dog had never seen antlers before, but quickly went back to her trail upon his correction.

[11:30] After the deer antlers, Witt says the K-9 picked up a trail and lead him to an intersection, across a street, and down 8th street toward a bluff.

Witt testified the K-9 lead officers to a corner house, based of the scent used from Michael Vaughan's shoe. The dog also lead him to an area of thorny vegetation, but he held the dog back from entering for her safety. Additional search crews came at that time.


The defense's questioning lead Witt to agree it is possible for the dog to follow the trail of items that were possibly worn by another person, or in the same house as Michael Vaughan.

10:57 A.M. DUSTIN WITT CROSS EXAMINATION

The defense team is questioning Dustin Witt, who was flown to Fruitland by the FBI with his K-9 to assist in the investigation of missing boy Michael Vaughan.

Witt explained how scent training works and how his K-9 was selected from a breeder on the east coast. The dogs begin trail training around eight weeks old and are ready for a handler around one year old.

The defense questioned Witt about what types of items typically do or do not obtain a strong scent trail. Witt says any personal items like clothing or jewelry could work for a strong scent trail, but he'd typically avoid an item from a shared space like a piece of clothing lying in the living room that may have multiple people's scent on it. He would also not use an item that's just been washed.

10:33 A.M. DUSTIN WITT ON THE STAND

The prosecution called Dustin Witt to the stand, who at the time of Michael Vaughan's disappearance worked in law enforcement in California. Witt has experience with SWAT and K-9 investigations and testified that the FBI requested his assistance in the Michael Vaughan case.

Witt and his K-9 were flown to Fruitland in August 2021, in the days following Michael's disappearance.

Witt testified his bloodhound is trained to follow a scent. Police used items collected from the family to allow the dog to smell Michael's scent.

Witt testified his certified bloodhound lead officers to a location near Redwing Street, which is about a half mile from the Vaughan's family home.

[10:45 a.m.] Witt says the K-9 was "on trail" and cut across a frontyard to lead detectives to a house on the corner or Meadowlark and Redwing, where we've previously reported Stacey and Sarah Wondra lived at the time.

Witt testified that his K-9 showed interest in the corner of the property near the fence to the backyard. He lead the dog away from the home and took her off the leash, when he says the dog turned back around and went directly back to the fenceline.

Past that home, the dog "did not have trailing behavior."

On another search, the K-9 also appeared to "show good trailing behavior" along 8th Street, at a bluff nearby, down a dirt road, and lead officers to an area of thick vegetation, where Witt says he stopped the dog from entering the thorny brush.

10:10 A.M. BRANDI VAUGHAN ON THE STAND

The defense questioned Brandi Vaughan about Michael's footwear. They noticed Michael's new pair of flip flops was missing. Brandi said he'd only had them for three days and recalled how he would mix them up and put the shoes on the wrong feet, likely making it difficult for him to travel very far or fast.


Although there was marijuana at the property, Brandi told the defense it was never in reach of children and was kept hidden away.

Brandi recalled law enforcement collecting items like Michael's toothbrush, and taking DNA samples from every family member, including all of Michael's siblings.

Brandi said Tyler didn't drink alcohol often, and said it never concerned her that he smoked marijuana.

Brandi Vaughan was dismissed from the stand at 10:17 a.m. but may be called to the stand again.

Court will take a brief recess.


9:55 A.M. BRANDI VAUGHAN

Brandi Vaughan told prosecutors at the time of her son's disappearance she had never seen or heard of Stacey and Sarah Wondra who lived a half mile from their home.

For context, Stacey Wondra is the only person currently charged in the death of Michael Vaughan, although Fruitland Police publicly named four people as suspects in the case in 2022, including Stacey's then-wife, Sarah. Sarah Wondra was arrested in 2022 and charged with failing to report Michael's death, but she was later released and charges were dropped. Michael's body was never found during an extensive search of the Wondra's home and backyard.

Brandi told the defense it was a typical day at work. She spoke with her family, including Michael, during her lunch break around 4:00 p.m.

The defense asked Brandi if it was typical for Tyler to smoke marijuana while watching their children. "Yes," Brandi stated.

Brandi says during her immediate search of the neighborhood she spoke with two women who were near the splash pad nearby. They told her they had not seen a little blonde boy at all, so she left.

Pool Camera
Brandi Vaughan in Court
9:40 A.M. BRANDI VAUGHAN TAKES THE STAND

Michael's mother, Brandi Vaughan was called to the stand. She appeared in a blue and black shirt and dyed blue hair, which she's told Idaho News 6 is Michael's favorite color. Many in the courtroom are also wearing blue ribbons in Michael's memory.

While Brandi began her testimony, members in the courtroom gallery were visibly emotional, wiping tears.


Brandi recalled the July day Michael went missing. She was working at Albertsons when she received a phone call from her husband, Tyler, who could not find Michael. She told him to look under their bed in his favorite hiding spot, but Michael wasn't there.

Brandi testified that she immediately left work and called her older daughter on her way home instructing her to get home right away.

Brandi appeared visibly emotional when prosecutors asked her if she ever located Michael or saw him again. "No," Vaughan stated sadly while grabbing a tissue.

Brandi told prosecutors she gave police several items to assist in the investigation that may include Michael's scent or DNA, including a shoe, his pillow, his favorite blanket, and a stuffed animal.

9:30 A.M. TYLER VAUGHAN ON THE STAND

The defense team questioned Tyler's use of marijuana at the time of Michael's disappearance. Tyler said he usually smoked a couple of joints a day outside their home. Tyler testified that he smoked a joint between the time he woke up their sleeping toddler and when he noticed Michael was missing.

Tyler told the defense that once police arrived at their Fruitland home that night, he and Brandi stayed in close proximity to the home, searching for Michael in the neighborhood.


Tyler Vaughan was dismissed from the witness stand at 9:40 a.m.

Pool Camera
Tyler Vaughan in Court
9:10 A.M. TYLER VAUGHAN TAKES THE STAND

The state called Michael's father, Tyler Vaughan, to the stand.

As we've previously reported, Tyler Vaughan is the person who noticed Michael was missing on the evening of July 27, 2021, and called 911.

Vaughan told prosecutors at the time of Michael's disappearance he was not familiar with the Wondras or anyone in their home, which is about a half mile away from the Vaughan's family home in Fruitland.

Vaughan laid out what was happening at the family's home the day Michael went missing: His wife, Brandi, was at work. He had the day off and was home with the family's children.

Tyler recalled spending time playing monster trucks with Michael that day. He testified that he saw Michael playing in the family's living room when he went to wake up their then-two-year-old around 6:15 p.m. "She can be hard to wake up," he explained, so it took a few minutes. He then changed her diaper, ordered pizza for dinner, and then realized Michael wasn't in the home around 7:00 p.m.

He looked all over the house and called Brandi Vaughan, who thought maybe Michael was hiding. After he was unable to locate Michael quickly, he says he called police around 7:20 p.m.

9:00 A.M. COURT PROCEEDINGS GET UNDERWAY

The prosecution began their arguments by laying out the probable cause they say would prove Wondra committed murder and then destroyed evidence to obstruct the investigation.

The state argued that Stacey Wondra confessed to law enforcement, telling police Michael Vaughan was abducted and taken to his Fruitland home in July 2021, before being put in a duffle bag and taken to another location in Kuna. Prosecutors say Wondra saw Vaughan buried in his backyard, but the boy's body was never located.

At the time in 2022, law enforcement shared their theory that Vaughan was buried at the Wondra home then later moved to a new location. His body has never been recovered.

The defense offered short opening remarks, stating "our client confesses to nothing."

Michael Vaughan case: Full day of witness testimony at Stacey Wondra preliminary hearing reveals new details

It's been almost five years since Brandi and Tyler Vaughan saw their five-year-old son, Michael. Both took the stand Tuesday during a preliminary hearing in the case against Stacey Wondra.

www.kivitv.com