Spring 2021 – Prior to Disappearance

• April–May 2021
• Witness: Kim Elko attends a yard sale at the Wondra residence.
• She sees a pink “Big Flyer” tricycle resting on a stack of boxes in their garage.
• Elko later describes the garage layout, and investigators confirm the same boxes were still in place during a later search warrant.
• This tricycle is later linked directly to Michael’s disappearance.

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 – Day of Disappearance

3:23 PM

• Surveillance footage captures Stacey Wondra driving a white Lexus into the splash pad parking area off SW 8th Street in Fruitland.
• He exits the vehicle, walks around to the passenger side, and tests the door handle of another vehicle or structure.

3:24 PM

• Stacey re-enters the Lexus, returns to the driver’s seat, and leaves the area via SW 8th Street one minute after arriving.

5:00 PM

• Sarah Wondra later claims she and Stacey slept until noon and left home around 5:00 PM to tow a vehicle to Kuna, Idaho.
• Both deny being home around 6:30 PM (1830 hrs), though surveillance and phone data later prove otherwise.

5:08 PM

• Surveillance and cell data place Sarah Wondra, Adrien Lucienne, and Brandon Shurtliff in Sarah’s blue Toyota Corolla traveling within Fruitland.

5:12 PM

• The Toyota Corolla leaves the neighborhood.

5:56 PM

• The same Corolla returns to the area.

6:08 PM

• An adult male, later identified as Brandon Shurtliff, appears walking near Three Rivers Way on surveillance video.

6:15–6:30 PM

• Multiple neighbors see five-year-old Michael Vaughan near his home on SW 9th Street and South Arizona Avenue.
• He knocks on doors, asking to play with children.
• Neighbors instruct him to return home.
• These are the last confirmed civilian interactions before his disappearance.

6:18 PM

• The same male (Shurtliff) is captured again on surveillance walking near the splash pad area.

6:25 PM

• Witness: Dorothy Starkey drives westbound on SW 8th Street into the neighborhood.
• She later reports seeing Michael riding a “Big Wheel” tricycle near Redwing Street and Meadowlark Avenue.
• This becomes the final confirmed sighting of Michael alive.

6:28 PM

• Surveillance records the last image of Shurtliff, walking west through wooded terrain toward the Wondra residence.
• Shurtliff later tells detectives he was “searching for a missing child.”

6:30 PM

• Tyler Vaughan last sees his son Michael (“Monkey”) at their home on SW 9th Street.

6:45–6:50 PM

• Tyler Vaughan realizes Michael is missing.
• Begins searching his home, yard, and immediate neighborhood.

7:08 PM

• Surveillance footage shows Sarah Wondra driving a maroon GMC pickup truck leaving the area.
• Stacey Wondra is the front passenger.
• Brandon Shurtliff is seated in the rear driver-side seat.
• All three phones are co-located, indicating travel toward Kuna, Idaho.

7:21 PM

• Tyler Vaughan calls 911 to report Michael missing.
• Fruitland Police Department responds, joined by FBI and local agencies.

7:25 PM

• Dorothy Starkey is seen leaving the neighborhood eastbound on SW 8th Street.

7:26 PM

• Adrien Lucienne takes a selfie in the guest bathroom of the Wondra residence.
• His phone provides no GPS data for that period.

7:30 PM

• LE, fire and EMS agencies, along with local residents, begin ground search and aerial search (drones and St. Luke’s helicopter). Idaho Mountain S&R arrives shortly after with K-9 unit. According to BN, K-9s track MJV scent to end of their street, away from the field to the right of their home, where it abruptly stopped. Source:  Idaho News

8:18 PM

• PCSO issues CodeRED to residents in Hidden Meadow Subdivision Source:  KTVB

8:20 PM

• A missing and endangered alert is issued. 

11:22 PM

• Surveillance shows the Wondras’ maroon GMC pickup returning to the neighborhood, towing a silver Mercedes-Benz.

July 28, 2021

• Massive searches by law enforcement, neighbors, and volunteers are conducted throughout Fruitland.
• No trace of Michael is found.
• Video surveillance from multiple neighborhood cameras is reviewed; Michael does not appear on any of it.

July 29, 2021

• Dorothy Starkey formally reports her sighting of Michael riding the tricycle to police.

July 30, 2021 

• Investigators find photographs of packed boxes inside the Wondra residence, suggesting they were preparing to move shortly after Michael’s disappearance.

July 31, 2021 – Police chief renews plea for public’s help

• Chief JD Huff again urged the public to come forward with any information about the missing child.

August 1, 2021 – Initial Police Contact

• Press Release: That search has included nearly 200 residential homes and properties and interviews with all of the residents. 5-year-olds can get into things. We have looked through nearly 200 garbage cans, drained canals and irrigation ditches, and pumped a septic tank in the area that had a make-shift 2×6 wooden lid. We have gathered over 60 different video files from residential and business security cameras and are combing through that data as we speak.  Source
• Fruitland Police conduct an in-person check at the Wondra residence. Source
• Adrien Lucienne is found hiding in a closet.
• Residents present: Stacey and Sarah Wondra, Brandon Shurtliff, and Adrien Lucienne.
• All four are interviewed. Adrien is vague, refuses to provide his Social Security number, and uses Stacey’s number as his own.

August 2, 2021 – K9 Scent Search

• Live scent K9 teams begin tracking using Michael’s shoes.
• K9 “Banshee” follows Michael’s scent from Meadowlark and Redwing Streets straight to the fence and front door of the Wondra home, showing no interest in any other residence among approximately 300 homes checked.
• The scent trail continues down a bluff at SW 8th and Three Rivers Way into thorny bushes, where a discarded stroller is located.

August 4, 2021 – UPDATE: Dive team finds nothing in pond

• A dive team search in a local pond near the neighborhood produced no evidence.

August 5, 2021 – Tricycle Discovery

• A pink “Big Flyer” tricycle is found behind the “Bluffs” sign at the intersection of Three Rivers Way and SW 8th Street.
• The tricycle was not present the previous day during searches.
• Resident: Jim Smit reports he found it under the bluff beside the stroller, took it home briefly intending to use one wheel for a project, but later left it behind the sign for children to use.
• This tricycle is later confirmed as the same one Kim E saw in the Wondra garage in Spring 2021.
• Huff released a newer photo of Michael, which was said to have been taken just one month prior to the time he was last seen.
  
• Michael was last seen in the area of SW 9th St. and South Arizona Avenue in Fruitland at about 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. on July 27. He was wearing a light blue Minecraft T-shirt, dark blue or black boxer briefs with a green stripe and child’s size 11, blue flip flops. He is 3-foot-7-inches tall, 50 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

August 6, 2021 – Community sets up webpage for missing boy

• A dedicated webpage was launched for citizens to find updates and resources on the case.

August 8, 2021 – Communication between between Sarah and Stacey Wondra

• Sarah tells Stacey she wants to move and “get out of this neighborhood and this house.”
• Sarah also writes, “I liked it better when you agreed to be no one else here ever, but then you didn’t want to listen to me about our sanctuary, so now we need to find another one. I need a new castle.”

August 10, 2021- Community rallies for missing 5-year-old boy and his family

• Two weeks after the disappearance, community members across the Western Treasure Valley held rallies in support of the family.

August 11, 2021- Fruitland Police Department turn to social media for missing boy updates

• Police began using Facebook to provide community updates and share new developments.

August 12, 2021 – Falling out between Stacey and Brandon Shurtliff.

• Brandon is kicked out of the Wondra residence.
• Sarah changes her phone number shortly after the dispute.

August 13, 2021 – Multiple agencies still actively searching local area for the missing 5-year-old Michael

• Authorities confirmed continued multi-agency cooperation in the local search effort.

August 17, 2021 – Investigators will circle back to areas near boy’s home

• Fruitland Police announced plans to re-search parts of the neighborhood close to Michael’s residence.

August 20, 2021 – Ground search for missing boy scales back

• Police announced a scale-back in ground operations but continued active investigation.

August 21, 2021 – Follow-Up Interview

• Sarah Wondra tells investigators that she and Stacey left at 5:00 PM to tow a car to Kuna and were not home around 6:30 PM.
• Data later disproves this, confirming their presence in the area during Michael’s disappearance.

August 24, 2021 – No answers, but police still committed to finding Michael

• One month after Michael’s disappearance, Fruitland Police reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to the case.

August 27, 2021 – Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff talks about his team’s mental health

• Chief Huff addressed the emotional strain on investigators as the search entered its second month.

September 3, 2021 – Reward fund set up for safe return of missing boy

• A reward fund was established to encourage tips for Michael’s safe return.

September 12, 2021 – Have a tip about Michael?

• Police continued to appeal to the public for leads regarding the missing boy.

September 17, 2021 – Reward fund for missing boy more than doubles

• The reward amount was increased significantly as the investigation continued.

September–December 2021 – Behavioral Changes

• Sarah Wondra begins public preaching near Love’s Travel Stop in Ontario, Oregon, holding signs reading “Repent of your sins” and “The end is near.”
• Her TikTok activity surges from 11 videos total (pre-disappearance) to 329 new uploads between September 15 and December 24, 2021, focusing on repentance, forgiveness, and sin.
• She claims to have broken all Ten Commandments, including “Thou shalt not kill.”
• Michael’s missing poster is visible in the background of several videos.

October 8, 2021 

• Update in the search for 5-year-old Michael ‘Monkey’ Vaughan. Fruitland PD are now searching TWO different vehicles that were near his neighborhood at the time he vanished. 

November 15, 2021 – Re-Interview

• Sarah and Stacey re-interviewed.
• Shown photo evidence of Sarah driving the GMC at 7:08 PM July 27.
• She changes her story, claiming they were retrieving Brandon’s Mercedes from Kuna.
• Admits stopping at SW 8th and South Arizona to input GPS directions.

November 19, 2021 – The search for Michael passes 115 days

• Four months after his disappearance, police renewed appeals to the public for assistance.

December 24, 2021 – Officers search woods near Weiser

• Police conducted searches around Weiser as the case reached the 150-day mark.

December 28, 2021 – Community lights candles for Michael

• Residents gathered to hold a candlelight vigil marking five months since Michael’s disappearance.

March 24, 2022 – 5-year-old Michael Vaughan has been missing for 8 months  Source

• The Fruitland Police Department, the Idaho State Police and the FBI continue to search for 5-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan. Michael Vaughan has been missing since the evening of July 27, 2021. Since then, our investigators continue to work to determine just what happened during the time leading up to Michael’s disappearance. We have received nearly 850 leads and nearly all have been cleared. We are working through newly obtained data from that time frame and are hopeful that will produce new leads. This is an exhaustive, labor intensive task. The search for Michael has taken on several phases and after multiple ground searches in and around the area and across the State of Idaho, as we have said, there is a high probability of an abduction.
• The white Honda Pilot as mentioned in an earlier update has not been confirmed as identified, but we feel strongly that we know who it belongs to. We will continue to seek confirmation on that vehicle.

April 13, 2022

• 6:59 PM Fruitland Police respond to multiple 911 calls reporting a disturbance and a possible firearm being pointed at someone.
• 7:04 PM Officers arrive and find Sarah Wondra in the street.
• 7:05 PM Sarah says her husband Stacey is inside the house. Officer instructs her to call Stacey outside. She reports that a guest staying with them, Tanner Butler, became belligerent and refused to leave.
• Officers contact Butler, who disarms himself and states that Stacey had been bumping into him and attempting to strike him, and that Sarah pointed a pistol at his head at close range before he barricaded himself in a room. Butler shows officers a scrape behind his ear.
• A consensual search identifies a holster in the backyard and a Savage .17 HMR rifle box inside, contradicting the Wondras’ statements that no firearms were present. Both Sarah and Stacey deny owning guns, though Stacey admits selling one the day before.
• Detectives then recover a black Hi Point .40 caliber pistol from Sarah’s parents’ home, which Sarah had brought to them after the incident. She later admits hiding it because she knew she was not supposed to possess a firearm. Officers also find hydrocodone pills inside Sarah’s purse during the search.

April 2022 – Kay Ramsey Statement

• Sarah’s mother, Kay Ramsey, told investigators she had found a tricycle hidden in nearby bushes before Michael vanished and later threw away a green stuffed-animal ear their dog unearthed.

April 26, 2022 – Bill signing to honor Michael ‘Monkey’ Vaughan on Wednesday

• Governor Brad Little planned a ceremonial bill signing in Fruitland to honor Idaho’s Endangered Missing Persons legislation.

April 29, 2022 – Gov. Little honors signing of ‘Monkey’s Law’ at Fruitland on Wednesday

• Governor Brad Little formally signed “Monkey’s Law” in Fruitland, recognizing the case’s impact.

April – June 2022 – Additional Evidence

• Witness: Kristi Kutch tells investigators that Sarah confessed Stacey was involved in abducting a five-year-old boy.
• In a later June 2022 jail call, Sarah recants, claiming Kristi misunderstood.
• Investigators also learn that Sarah’s dog repeatedly dug holes in their backyard, in areas where cadaver dogs would later alert.

May 10, 2022

• Federal Indictment Filed Against Sarah Wondra: A federal grand jury returns an indictment charging Sarah Wondra with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3)). Source
• The indictment states that between April 14–17, 2022, Sarah knowingly possessed a Hi-Point .40 caliber pistol while unlawfully using controlled substances.
• This charge stems directly from the April 13, 2022 disturbance where Sarah pointed a handgun at Tanner Butler, then hid the gun at her parents’ home.

May 11, 2022

• The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho filed a motion for detention against Stacey Wondra in United States v. Wondra, Case No. 1:22-cr-00098-DCN. Source
• The filing, submitted by U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez Jr. and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin C. Blackadar, requested detention under 18 U.S.C. §3142(e) and (f).
• The motion cited a felony involving a minor victim and alleged that Wondra posed a risk of flight and a danger to the community.

June 2022 – Jail call between Sarah and Kristi

• Sarah recants, claiming Kristi misunderstood.

June 17, 2022 – Birthday gathering, tortilla fundraiser to be held in Monkey’s honor

• A community birthday celebration and fundraiser were scheduled for Michael’s sixth birthday.

June 21, 2022 – Family hangs onto hope ahead of Monkey’s birthday

• Michael’s family shared emotional reflections as his birthday approached.

July 22, 2020

• Investigators continue an effort to identify a man seen walking through the splash pad area of Crestview Park leading up to the time of Michael’s disappearance. The man is described as a white male adult, late 20s early 30s. He was seen wearing black shorts, a white t-shirt with cut off sleeves, dark colored shoes and hat. It is important to note that he is not a suspect or a person of interest, but police need to speak with him to determine his whereabouts and if he witnessed anything that would helpful to the investigation Source

August 26, 2022 – Search for ‘Monkey’ rolls on

• Fruitland Community Park hosted a conference updating the public on ongoing multi-state investigative efforts.

October 12, 2022 – Religious Confession

• Sarah Wondra tells detectives: “God told me He will help me find the boy.”
• Becomes emotional when Michael’s name is mentioned and writes a handwritten testimony stating that God forgave her sins.

November 5, 2022 – Stacey’s Jail Contact

• Stacey Wondra, incarcerated in Washington County Jail, contacts Fruitland Police.
• Stacey Wondra requested an interview from the Washington County Jail and said Sarah carried Michael into their house the night he disappeared.
• Says Sarah’s behavior changed days after Michael’s disappearance.
• Mentions switching SIM cards and selling phones to avoid being tracked.

November 10, 2022 – Stacey’s Full Confession

• Stacey confesses Michael was brought into their home the night he disappeared.
• Sarah carried Michael inside.
• She, Brandon, and Adrien bound him with duct tape and placed him in a duffel bag.
• Michael cried, struggled, then went silent.
• Stacey reports seeing Michael folded in a fetal position inside the bag and vomits while recounting it.
• They stopped at SW 8th and South Arizona to check if Michael was alive and heard a “dull scream.”
• They then drove to Brandon’s mother’s home in Kuna, where Brandon carried the duffel bag inside.
• The next day, Sarah, Brandon, and Adrien returned to Fruitland and buried Michael’s body in the backyard near the shed.
• Same day phone call:
• Stacey tells his mother, Tamara Johnson, that “Sarah accidentally killed him.”
• When asked how, he says: “Suffocation. They buried him in a duffel bag.”
• Afterwards, Stacey writes an apology letter to Michael’s parents and attempts suicide in jail.
• Cadaver dogs alerted multiple times in the Wondra backyard near a shed during a police search related to the disappearance of Michael Vaughan.

November 12, 2022 – Search and Excavation

• Search warrant executed at the Wondra residence. Sarah detained and makes several unsolicited statements:
• “I definitely did not kill that boy.”
• “God told me Stacey was the one who killed him.”
• “He buried him in the backyard by the shed.”
• Five certified cadaver dogs alert in the same area of the backyard.
• Investigators note freshly filled and re-sodded soil.
• Despite extensive excavation, no remains are recovered.
• Prosecutors allege that Sarah Wondra failed to notify law enforcement or the coroner about the death of Michael Vaughan with intent to prevent discovery of the manner of death.

November 14, 2022

• A felony complaint was filed in Payette County, Idaho, by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Eric Reed under Idaho Code §19-4301A(3), Failure to Report Death. The case was filed under Prosecuting Attorney Michael Duke. A magistrate found probable cause for the charge.

November 22, 2022 – Sarah Wondra arrested in Michael Vaughan case to undergo treatment

• A judge ordered the arrested woman to undergo treatment before trial.

December 1, 2022

• Update: The investigation of the Disappearance of Michael Joseph Vaughan To date, Fruitland Police investigators believe that there are four individuals involved in the abduction of Michael Vaughan.  Source
• Two of the individuals are in custody, Sarah and Stacey Wondra. The following two individuals are needed for questioning:
• Brandon Shurtliff, 30, of Kuna, Idaho. He is currently believed to be in North Dakota.
• Adrien Lucienne, 32, a male, of Toledo, Ohio. He is currently believed to be in Toeldo, but floats between California and Ohio.
• We believe that both Shurtliff and Lucienne have first-hand knowledge of Michael’s abduction. Fruitland police strongly encourage Shurtliff and Lucienne to contact detectives at (208) 452-3000 as the window of time for talking is closing. This remains an ongoing investigation with conversations taking place with the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office about the individuals involved.
• Currently Sarah Wondra, 35, is being held in the Payette County Jail for failing to report a death to law enforcement. Stacey Wondra, 30, is currently being held in the Washington County Jail on unrelated charges.
• The Wondras live at 1102 Redwing St. in Fruitland and were living there at the time of Michael’s disappearance. We believe that Sarah and Stacey have first-hand knowledge of Michael’s abduction.
• Update: During that excavation process, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue and Mountain States Detection Dogs deployed multiple Certified Human Remains Detection K9’s on the property, all alerting to the presence of human remains. Ground penetrating radar was also deployed, detecting anomalies in the yard. We completed the excavation to a depth of four feet of the entire back yard and removed over 250 yards of dirt. Prior to backfilling the yard, the dirt was meticulously sifted for any potential human remains. We did not find Michael’s remains.

December 8, 2022 – Police search 2nd yard for missing Idaho child; nothing found

• A second property search yielded no discoveries.

2023–2025

• Court proceedings continued regarding Sarah Wondra’s competency and detention status.
• The Fruitland Police Department and Idaho State Police continued their investigation into the disappearance and death of Michael Vaughan.
• Supporting Findings – Late 2022 – 2023
• Wondras sold or discarded phones, vehicles, and furniture soon after July 27, 2021, with Sarah claiming a “demon told her to.”
• The GMC pickup was repossessed, found completely cleaned.
• Cloud records show searches for rental housing in other states within weeks of the disappearance.
• Photograph from July 30, 2021 shows packed boxes, confirming early preparations to relocate.

January 23, 2023 – Sarah Wondra hearings rescheduled for Feb. 6–7

• Court hearings for Sarah Wondra charged in the case were postponed.

March 20, 2023 – Sarah Wondra hearings continued to April

• Hearings were again delayed to April.

March 27, 2023 – Woman accused in missing boy case ‘deemed stable enough for trial’

• The accused was found competent to proceed to trial.

March 30, 2023 – Prosecutor refiles old charges on Sarah Wondra

• Sarah Wondra was re-arraigned on previously dropped charges related to the case.
• Officials emphasized that the case remained active and complicated, with Sarah Wondra the only person charged.

April 2023

• Prosecutors dismiss the charge against Sarah Wondra in the Michael Vaughan case.
  The dismissal is without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled at a later date.

April 13, 2023 – Judges push out court date for Sarah Wondra over gun charges

• A separate felony case related to a 2022 gun crime was rescheduled.

April 17, 2023 – Prosecutor dropping charges ‘doesn’t change’ missing child case

• Prosecutors clarified that dismissal of one set of charges would not end the investigation into Michael’s disappearance.

October 13 2023 – Follow-Up Interview

• Sarah told Detective Kelleher and Cold Case Foundation investigator Chris McDonough, “God forgave everybody,” while crying when Michael’s name was mentioned.

June 11, 2025 – Criminal Complaint Filed

• Case Number: CR38-25-1296
• Court: Third Judicial District Court, Payette County, Idaho
• Filed By: Detective Juanita Kelleher (Fruitland Police Department)
• Prosecutor: Michael Duke, Payette County Prosecuting Attorney
• Judge: Hon. Michael W. Griffin
• Charges Filed Against Sarah Anne Wondra:
• 1. First-Degree Murder – Idaho Code §§ 18-4001, 18-4002, 18-4003 and 18-1701 (aiding and abetting). Alleged that on or about July 27 2021, she willfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice aforethought killed M.V. (DOB 2016), or caused his death during the commission or attempt of a kidnapping.
• 2. Second-Degree Kidnapping – Idaho Code §§ 18-4501 to 18-4503 and 18-1701. Alleged that on or about July 27 2021 she willfully and without lawful authority seized, confined, led, or enticed M.V. away with intent to secretly confine or detain him against his will.
• 3. Destruction or Concealment of Evidence – Idaho Code § 18-2603. Between July 27 2021 and May 21 2025, she knowingly destroyed, altered, or concealed a body and/or DNA evidence to prevent discovery in a felony investigation.
• Persistent Violator Enhancement – Idaho Code § 19-2514 Lists two prior felony convictions:
• 2013 (Oregon) – Attempted Robbery and Identity Theft.
• 2023 (Idaho) – Aggravated Assault and/or Concealment of Evidence.
• Additional Details: The complaint covers criminal conduct occurring “between July 27 2021 and May 21 2025,” indicating ongoing concealment activity through that date. Sarah Wondra is charged as a principal participant under Idaho Code § 18-1701 (aiding and abetting), not as a mere accessory. The document formally identifies Michael Vaughan as “M.V. (DOB 2016)” in the victim designation section.

June 25, 2025 – Criminal Charges Filed

• Detective Juanita Kelleher (Fruitland PD) files the Probable Cause Affidavit in Payette County District Court.
• Charges against Stacey James Wondra:
• First-Degree Murder – Idaho Code §18-4003(d)
• Second-Degree Kidnapping – Idaho Code §18-4503
• Destruction or Concealment of Evidence – Idaho Code §18-2603
• Detective Juanita Kelleher (Fruitland PD) files the Probable Cause Affidavit in Payette County District Court.
• Charges against Sarah Anne Wondra:
• First-Degree Murder – for the willful and premeditated killing of Michael Vaughan (IC §§ 18-4001–4003, 18-1701).
• Second-Degree Kidnapping – unlawful seizure and confinement of Michael Vaughan (IC §§ 18-4501–4503, 18-1701).
• Destruction or Concealment of Evidence – concealment of the body and/or DNA evidence between July 2021 and May 2025 (IC § 18-2603).
• Persistent Violator Enhancement – based on prior felony convictions (2013 Oregon, 2023 Idaho) under IC § 19-2514.

October 27, 2025

• Parole Hearing for Sarah Wondra Source

Sarah Wondra was born to abusive parents. Abused by her older brother at 10 months old . in 1987 Her father left when she was two years old. When she was four she was placed in foster care after telling someone about the abuse at home. She lived in foster care from age four to nine with two different families. Her biological mother died when she was six.

At nine she was adopted by Edward and Kay Ramsey and moved to Oregon. After her adoption the Ramseys adopted another girl which Sarah said caused a family divide. She described her adoptive sister as manipulative and said that emotional and verbal abuse began after that.

Name after adoption: Sarah Anne Ramsey
Adoption granted to: Edward Eugene Ramsey, Jr. and Kay Lynette Ramsey (husband and wife)
Date of adoption: October 16, 1997
Place of adoption: Portland, Oregon
Born: February 21, 1987
Place of birth: Boise, Ada County, Idaho
Judge: Paula J. Kurshner
File No.: 9707-67590

Sarah Wondra (Sarah Anne Ramsey) – Life and Legal Timeline

February 21, 1987

• Born in Boise, Ada County, Idaho.

October 16, 1997

• Adopted in Portland, Oregon, by Edward Eugene Ramsey Jr. and Kay Lynette Ramsey.
• Adoption granted by Judge Paula J. Kurshner, File No. 9707-67590. Her legal name became Sarah Anne Ramsey.

2003 – Age 16

• Sarah began sneaking out and meeting strangers online. After an argument with her adoptive father, she ran away and met a man who offered her a place to stay. She reported being sexually assaulted but said no charges were filed after her adoptive mother claimed the encounter was consensual.

2004 – Age 17

• Sarah became pregnant, left high school, and gave birth to a baby girl. The child’s father urged her to place the baby for adoption, which she did.

2005 – Age 18

• Earned her GED and enrolled in college.

2006 – Age 19

• Worked while attending college. Around this time she met a man named Ricky, married him, and moved to Texas. Sarah later described the marriage as violent and controlling. She said Ricky broke her ribs and tried to strangle her during one assault that was witnessed by his mother. She left him soon after.

2010

• While living with her adoptive parents, Sarah attempted suicide by overdosing on Trazodone but warned her mother in advance. She was hospitalized and committed to a psychiatric ward.

2011

• Entered a court-ordered rehabilitation program.

2012

• Found a sales job but quit shortly afterward. She began a relationship with a homeless man and became involved in theft and drug use. Later that year, she was arrested for stealing gas and carrying a knife and was sentenced to 80 months in prison for robbery.

2012 – 2018 (Incarceration)

• While in prison, Sarah worked in the kitchen, completed two years of business courses, and turned to religion. During this time, her cousin died by suicide, which she said left her feeling responsible for being a negative influence.

April 13, 2018

• Married Stacey Wondra.

October 11, 2019

• Sarah and Stacey committed identity-theft-related offenses.

December 13, 2019

• Both were arrested and charged with theft in the second degree.
• Sarah – charged with identity theft, mail theft, or receipt of stolen mail.
• Stacey – charged with negotiating a bad check and theft in the first degree.

October 19, 2020

• Sarah released from Jail

April 13, 2022

• 6:59 PM Fruitland Police respond to multiple 911 calls reporting a disturbance and a possible firearm being pointed at someone.
• 7:04 PM Officers arrive and find Sarah Wondra in the street.
• 7:05 PM Sarah says her husband Stacey is inside the house. Officer instructs her to call Stacey outside. She reports that a guest staying with them, Tanner Butler, became belligerent and refused to leave.
• Officers contact Butler, who disarms himself and states that Stacey had been bumping into him and attempting to strike him, and that Sarah pointed a pistol at his head at close range before he barricaded himself in a room. Butler shows officers a scrape behind his ear.
• A consensual search identifies a holster in the backyard and a Savage .17 HMR rifle box inside, contradicting the Wondras’ statements that no firearms were present. Both Sarah and Stacey deny owning guns, though Stacey admits selling one the day before.
• Detectives then recover a black Hi Point .40 caliber pistol from Sarah’s parents’ home, which Sarah had brought to them after the incident. She later admits hiding it because she knew she was not supposed to possess a firearm. Officers also find hydrocodone pills inside Sarah’s purse during the search.

May 10, 2022

• Federal Indictment Filed Against Sarah Wondra: A federal grand jury returns an indictment charging Sarah Wondra with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3)). Source
• The indictment states that between April 14–17, 2022, Sarah knowingly possessed a Hi-Point .40 caliber pistol while unlawfully using controlled substances.
• This charge stems directly from the April 13, 2022 disturbance where Sarah pointed a handgun at Tanner Butler, then hid the gun at her parents’ home.

May 11, 2022

• The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho files a Motion for Detention against Stacey Wondra in United States v. Wondra, Case No. 1:22-cr-00098-DCN.
  The filing cites 18 U.S.C. §3142(e) and (f) and identifies a felony involving a minor victim, asserting that Wondra poses a flight risk and danger to the community.

September 25, 2022

• Sarah Wondra: A GoFundMe campaign titled “Help to Those Who Can’t Help Themselves” is created and shared publicly.
  URL: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-to-those-who-cant-help-themselves

November 12, 2022

• Prosecutors allege that Sarah Wondra fails to notify law enforcement or the coroner about the death of missing child Michael Vaughan, intending to prevent discovery of the manner of death.

November 10–12, 2022

• Cadaver dogs alert multiple times in the Wondra backyard near a shed during searches connected to the Michael Vaughan case.

November 2, 2023

• Prosecutors dismiss the charge against Sarah Wondra in the Michael Vaughan case. Source
  The dismissal is without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled at a later date.

2025

• Court proceedings continue for Stacey Wondra in federal and state jurisdictions.
  The investigation into Michael Vaughan’s disappearance and death remains active under the Fruitland Police Department and Idaho State Police.

June 11, 2025 – Criminal Complaint Filed

• Case Number: CR38-25-1296
• Court: Third Judicial District Court, Payette County, Idaho
• Filed By: Detective Juanita Kelleher (Fruitland Police Department)
• Prosecutor: Michael Duke, Payette County Prosecuting Attorney
• Judge: Hon. Michael W. Griffin
• Charges Filed Against Sarah Anne Wondra:
• 1. First-Degree Murder – Idaho Code §§ 18-4001, 18-4002, 18-4003 and 18-1701 (aiding and abetting). Alleged that on or about July 27 2021, she willfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice aforethought killed M.V. (DOB 2016), or caused his death during the commission or attempt of a kidnapping.
• 2. Second-Degree Kidnapping – Idaho Code §§ 18-4501 to 18-4503 and 18-1701. Alleged that on or about July 27 2021 she willfully and without lawful authority seized, confined, led, or enticed M.V. away with intent to secretly confine or detain him against his will.
• 3. Destruction or Concealment of Evidence – Idaho Code § 18-2603. Between July 27 2021 and May 21 2025, she knowingly destroyed, altered, or concealed a body and/or DNA evidence to prevent discovery in a felony investigation.
• Persistent Violator Enhancement – Idaho Code § 19-2514 Lists two prior felony convictions:
• 2013 (Oregon) – Attempted Robbery and Identity Theft.
• 2023 (Idaho) – Aggravated Assault and/or Concealment of Evidence.
• Additional Details: The complaint covers criminal conduct occurring “between July 27 2021 and May 21 2025,” indicating ongoing concealment activity through that date. Sarah Wondra is charged as a principal participant under Idaho Code § 18-1701 (aiding and abetting), not as a mere accessory. The document formally identifies Michael Vaughan as “M.V. (DOB 2016)” in the victim designation section.

June 25, 2025 – Criminal Charges Filed

• Detective Juanita Kelleher (Fruitland PD) files the Probable Cause Affidavit in Payette County District Court.
• Charges against Stacey James Wondra:
• First-Degree Murder – Idaho Code §18-4003(d)
• Second-Degree Kidnapping – Idaho Code §18-4503
• Destruction or Concealment of Evidence – Idaho Code §18-2603
• Detective Juanita Kelleher (Fruitland PD) files the Probable Cause Affidavit in Payette County District Court.
• Charges against Sarah Anne Wondra:
• First-Degree Murder – for the willful and premeditated killing of Michael Vaughan (IC §§ 18-4001–4003, 18-1701).
• Second-Degree Kidnapping – unlawful seizure and confinement of Michael Vaughan (IC §§ 18-4501–4503, 18-1701).
• Destruction or Concealment of Evidence – concealment of the body and/or DNA evidence between July 2021 and May 2025 (IC § 18-2603).
• Persistent Violator Enhancement – based on prior felony convictions (2013 Oregon, 2023 Idaho) under IC § 19-2514.

October 27, 2025

• Parole Hearing for Sarah Wondra Source

Overview
Stacey James Wondra is an Idaho man currently facing charges in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of five-year-old Michael “Monkey” Vaughan of Fruitland, Idaho. The Payette County Prosecutor’s Office announced the charges of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and destruction of evidence on October 31, 2025. As of this date, Michael’s remains have not been found.

Business
Wondra’s Lube LLC, registered October 30 2010 in Oregon. Industry: automotive lubrication. Stacey Wondra listed as President, Sarah Wondra as Secretary.

Background and Prior Conviction
Wondra was previously prosecuted in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho under Case No. 1:22-cr-00098-AKB, where a federal grand jury indicted him for unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He pleaded guilty on August 23, 2022, and was sentenced on November 1, 2023, to 21 months in federal custody followed by three years of supervised release.

Court records confirm that Wondra later violated the terms of his supervised release, leading to an additional eight-month term of imprisonment. In November 2024, the court denied his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate his sentence, upholding his plea agreement and waiver of appeal rights.

Extradition and Current Charges
Following the announcement of the new homicide and kidnapping charges in October 2025, Wondra was detained in Maricopa County, Arizona, where he waived extradition to Idaho. Reports indicate that Idaho authorities coordinated with federal officials for his transfer back to Payette County for prosecution.

Summary
Stacey James Wondra’s name first appeared publicly in 2022 when investigators searched his Fruitland property in relation to Michael Vaughan’s disappearance. Three years later, he was formally charged with the child’s murder. He remains in custody pending trial.

Chronological Timeline – Verified Facts

2010–2017
Lived in Montana and Oregon, with addresses recorded in Belgrade, Bozeman, Boulder, and Ontario. Operated an automotive business registered as Wondra’s Lube LLC in Oregon.

October 11, 2017
Charged in Malheur County, Oregon (Case 17CR80717) with Theft in the Second Degree, nine counts. Charges filed December 13 2017. Convicted April 15 2019.

April 15, 2018
Charged in Malheur County, Oregon (Case 18CR39015) with Negotiating a Bad Check and Theft in the First Degree. Filed May 15 2018. Pled guilty and fined 900 dollars.

November 5, 2018
Arrested in Canyon County, Idaho on an Oregon State Fugitive Warrant and Federal Hold. Detained by Canyon County Sheriff.

2018–2019
Charged in Canyon County, Idaho (Case 18-15080) with Insufficient Funds Checks, a felony. Sentenced to probation, released to supervision in June 2019. Idaho Department of Correction number 133795.

May 10, 2022
Federal grand jury indicts Wondra in the District of Idaho for unlawful possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

August 23, 2022
Wondra pleads guilty to the firearm charge through a written plea agreement in Case No. 1:22-cr-00098-AKB.

November 1, 2023
District Court sentences him to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Mid-2024
Court records note a violation of supervised release and imposition of an additional eight-month sentence.

November 4, 2024
Federal court denies his motion to vacate sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, citing waiver of appeal rights.

October 31, 2025
Payette County Prosecutor announces new state charges against Wondra:

• First-degree murder
• Second-degree kidnapping
• Destruction of evidence
  All charges stem from the July 2021 disappearance of Michael “Monkey” Vaughan in Fruitland, Idaho.

October 31 – November 1, 2025
Wondra appears in an Arizona courtroom and waives extradition to Idaho. Media confirm the Idaho warrant and pending transfer.

November 2025
Wondra remains in custody awaiting extradition or arraignment in Payette County.

1. Surveillance Timeline

July 27, 2021

• 3:23 PM (1523 hrs) – Stacey Wondra captured on surveillance parking a white Lexus near the splash pad off SW 8th Street. He exited the vehicle, tested a door handle, and walked around before returning to the car.
• 3:24 PM (1524 hrs) – Stacey left the area heading onto SW 8th Street.
• 6:08 PM (1808 hrs) – An adult male captured walking near Three Rivers Way.
• 6:18 PM (1818 hrs) – Same male seen again near the neighborhood splash pad.
• 6:25 PM (1825 hrs) – Dorothy Starkey seen on camera entering the neighborhood westbound; she later reported seeing Michael riding a “Big Wheel” tricycle at the corner of Redwing Street and Meadowlark Avenue.
• 6:28 PM (1828 hrs) – The same male walks through a wooded area west toward the Wondra residence. Later identified as Brandon Shurtliff.
• 7:08 PM (1908 hrs) – Sarah Wondra seen driving a maroon GMC truck with Stacey in the front passenger seat and Brandon in the rear passenger seat.
• 11:22 PM (2322 hrs) – The Wondra GMC truck returns to the neighborhood towing a silver Mercedes-Benz.

2. Digital Evidence Timeline

Cell Tower and Device Data

• 5:08–5:12 PM (1708–1712 hrs) – Cell tower data shows Sarah, Adrien, and Brandon in Sarah’s blue Toyota Corolla, verified by surveillance in Fruitland.
  5:56 PM (1756 hrs) – The Toyota re-enters the neighborhood.
• 7:08 PM (1908 hrs) – Sarah’s, Stacey’s, and Brandon’s phones co-located, confirming they left together toward Kuna, Idaho.
• 7:26 PM (1926 hrs) – Adrien Lucienne’s phone shows no location data, but he takes a selfie in the Wondra residence’s guest bathroom.

Subsequent Digital Patterns

• 2021–2022: Investigators later learned Sarah and Stacey sold or replaced their phones multiple times after Michael’s disappearance.
• Sarah stated she sold her devices because “a demon told her to.”
• Stacey admitted they changed phones three times in five months and used new SIM cards to avoid detection.
• Sarah’s iCloud and financial data showed she and Stacey searched for new homes and moved boxed belongings by July 30, 2021, suggesting early efforts to relocate.

3. Witness Timeline

Pre-Disappearance

Spring 2021:

• Kim saw a child’s tricycle in the Wondras’ garage during a yard sale, sitting on a stack of boxes. The same stack was later observed during a search warrant.
• Kay Ramsey (Sarah’s mother) claimed she found a tricycle in nearby bushes before Michael’s abduction and discarded a green stuffed animal later tied to Michael.

Day of Disappearance (July 27, 2021)

• Dorothy Starkey reported seeing Michael riding a Big Wheel around 6:25 PM near Redwing Street and Meadowlark Avenue.
• Kay Ramsey later told police that Sarah and Stacey’s dog dug up holes in their backyard, one containing a green stuffed animal ear.

Post-Disappearance

August 1, 2021: Fruitland Police visited the Wondra residence.

• Adrien Lucienne was found hiding in a closet and refused to give identification.
• Sarah and Stacey Wondra, Brandon Shurtliff, and Adrien were all interviewed.
• Tina Morreale (Brandon’s mother) told police Brandon became reclusive and depressed after living with the Wondras.
• Kay Ramsey was later implicated for concealing evidence in a separate 2022 firearm case.

4. Confession and Statement Timeline

2021–2022

November 15, 2021:

• Sarah Wondra interviewed again after being shown photos of her leaving the neighborhood at 7:08 PM.
• She changed her story, claiming she was towing Brandon’s Mercedes from Kuna.
• Later admitted she stopped near SW 8th and South Arizona before leaving town.

2022

April 2022:

• Kristi Kutch informed police Sarah had told her Stacey was involved in the abduction of a 5-year-old boy.

June 2022:

• Recorded jail call: Sarah told Kristi she had already told her lawyer she would not “turn on” Stacey.

October 12, 2022:

• Sarah told detectives “God told me who did it” and broke down crying when asked about Michael.

November 5, 2022:

• Stacey contacted police from Washington County Jail, requesting an interview.
• He described Sarah’s religious obsession, claimed she killed Michael, and provided details of burial.

November 10, 2022:

• Stacey sought another interview, confessed in detail, and admitted:
• He saw Sarah carrying Michael into their house.
• Michael was taped, bound, and placed into a duffel bag.
• Adrien and Brandon assisted.
• They transported Michael’s body to Kuna in a maroon GMC truck to hide him at Brandon’s mother’s home, then later buried him in the Wondra yard.

November 12, 2022:

• Search warrant executed at the Wondra residence.
• Sarah detained; confessed that “the most high God told me Stacey was the one who did it and buried him.”
• Cadaver dogs alerted in multiple areas of the backyard, but no human remains were found.

Background

On the evening of July 27, 2021, five-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan disappeared from his neighborhood in Fruitland, Idaho. He was last seen riding his Big Flyer tricycle near Redwing Street and Meadowlark Avenue, only a short distance from his home on Southwest 9th Street.

Despite immediate searches by family, neighbors, Fruitland Police, Payette County deputies, and the FBI, no trace of Michael was found that night. Surveillance footage, later reviewed by investigators, showed multiple persons of interest moving through the area during the same hour that Michael vanished. Among them were Stacey and Sarah Wondra, Brandon Shurtliff, and Adrien Lucienne, all of whom resided or were staying at the Wondra home located on Southwest 8th Street, within walking distance of where Michael was last seen.

Surveillance and Movement Before the Abduction

According to neighborhood cameras and cell data recovered by the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team, Stacey Wondra was recorded driving a white Lexus sedan into the area near the splash pad on SW 8th Street at 3:23 PM. He exited the vehicle, attempted to open another car’s door, and left within one minute.

By 5:08 PM, surveillance and phone data placed Sarah Wondra, Brandon Shurtliff, and Adrien Lucienne driving together in Sarah’s blue Toyota Corolla. They left the neighborhood, returned at 5:56 PM, and remained in the area for the next two hours.

Between 6:00 PM and 6:25 PM, witnesses reported seeing Michael walking and riding his tricycle near Redwing and Meadowlark, knocking on doors and asking to play with children. This was the final verified sighting before his disappearance.

Sequence Inside the Wondra Residence

In his recorded statement provided to investigators on November 10, 2022, while incarcerated in the Washington County Jail, Stacey Wondra described the events of that evening in detail.

He said that after Michael was last seen outside, Sarah brought the boy into their home, carrying him inside through the front door and sitting him on their couch. Stacey recalled that Michael was crying, appearing confused and scared.

According to Stacey, Sarah, Brandon, and Adrien then placed duct tape over Michael’s mouth, bound him, and forced him into a duffel bag. He stated that Michael was still struggling and crying as they did this, and that shortly afterward, the boy went silent.

He told investigators, “He was crying. Then he stopped.”

Stacey admitted to witnessing this entire act. He said he was overwhelmed and nauseated, describing that he began vomiting while watching the others restrain the child.

Departure from the Scene

At 7:08 PM, neighborhood surveillance captured Sarah driving a maroon GMC pickup truck leaving the subdivision. Stacey sat in the front passenger seat, and Brandon Shurtliff was seated in the rear driver’s-side seat. Their phones were all co-located and moving together toward Kuna, Idaho.

Adrien Lucienne was not with them; his phone and later photographs confirmed that he remained at the Wondra house.

Stacey said that as they left the area, Sarah stopped the truck at the intersection of SW 8th Street and South Arizona Avenue, only one or two blocks from the Vaughan home. He told investigators they stopped there to check if Michael was alive.

“We stopped to check the bag. We heard a dull scream,” he said.

Stacey reported that Sarah and Brandon both touched or opened the duffel bag during the stop and that Michael did not respond audibly afterward.

Trip to Kuna

Stacey told detectives that the group then drove approximately 35 miles southeast to Kuna, Idaho, arriving at the home of Brandon’s mother. There, he said, Brandon carried the duffel bag inside the residence. Stacey did not state whether anyone else was present.

He claimed that the next day, Sarah, Brandon, and Adrien returned to Fruitland and buried Michael’s body in the Wondra backyard near the shed, while Stacey remained inside the home.

Confession and Corroboration

On November 10, 2022, Stacey also placed a phone call from jail to his mother, Tamara Johnson. During that call, he said:

“Sarah accidentally killed him.”

When his mother asked how, Stacey replied:

“Suffocation. They buried him in a duffel bag.”

Investigators documented this phone call and compared it to Stacey’s earlier recorded statement. The details matched, including the method of restraint, use of duct tape, and reference to a duffel bag.

Following this confession, Fruitland Police and Idaho State Police executed a search warrant at the Wondra residence on November 12, 2022. Five cadaver dogs alerted in the same area of the backyard near the shed where Stacey claimed the body had been buried. The ground displayed freshly filled soil and new sod, though extensive excavation did not uncover remains.

During the search, Sarah Wondra made several unsolicited statements, including:

“I definitely did not kill that boy.”

“God told me Stacey was the one who killed him.”

“He buried him in the backyard by the shed.”

Supporting Digital and Forensic Evidence

• Cellular analysis confirmed that Sarah, Stacey, and Brandon’s phones traveled together from Fruitland toward Kuna between 7:08 PM and 8:00 PM, then back toward Fruitland later that night.
• Video surveillance from neighborhood cameras confirmed both the GMC’s 7:08 PM departure and its return at 11:22 PM, towing a silver Mercedes.
• K-9 units during the initial 2021 search had previously tracked Michael’s scent directly to the Wondra property and down into the wooded bluff behind it—matching the area where the tricycle and stroller were later found.
• Witness Kim Elko had seen a pink “Big Flyer” tricycle inside the Wondra garage in spring 2021; that same tricycle was later recovered near the bluff.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

Based on the totality of the evidence, Detective Juanita Kelleher of the Fruitland Police Department filed a Probable Cause Affidavit on June 25, 2025, resulting in the following charges against Stacey James Wondra:

• First-Degree Murder (Idaho Code §18-4003(d))
• Second-Degree Kidnapping (Idaho Code §18-4503)
• Destruction, Alteration, or Concealment of Evidence (Idaho Code §18-2603)

The affidavit formally identifies the cause of death as suffocation and states that the fatal act occurred between 6:25 PM and 7:08 PM on July 27, 2021.

Summary

The evidence establishes the following sequence of events:

• 6:25 PM: Michael is last seen riding his tricycle near Redwing and Meadowlark.
• 6:30–6:45 PM: Michael is brought into the Wondra home, placed on the couch, bound, and sealed in a duffel bag.
• 7:08 PM: The Wondras and Brandon leave the neighborhood in a maroon GMC.
• 7:10 PM: They stop briefly near SW 8th and South Arizona to check the duffel bag.
• 7:45–8:00 PM: The group arrives at Brandon’s mother’s house in Kuna with the duffel bag.
• 11:22 PM: The GMC returns to Fruitland, towing a Mercedes. But Stacey claimed they returned Next morning: Michael’s body is allegedly buried near the Wondra shed.

Conclusion

According to the affidavit, Michael Vaughan’s abduction, death, and concealment were deliberate and coordinated actions carried out within a 43-minute window on the evening of July 27, 2021.

The statements of Stacey Wondra, Sarah Wondra, and corroborating digital evidence establish the crime’s sequence, location, and participants.

Although no remains have yet been recovered, the affidavit concludes there is probable cause to believe that Michael Joseph Vaughan was abducted, suffocated, and concealed by the named suspects, beginning inside the Wondra residence on SW 8th Street and extending to Kuna, Idaho.