Michael Vaughan

Spring 2021 – Prior to Disappearance

December 18, 2021

• Sarah Wondra posted a link for Liberty Taxi Service LLC in Nampa, Idaho, captioning the post “My taxi.” Source
• The linked business listing identified Liberty Taxi Service LLC at 123 11th Avenue S., Nampa, Idaho.
• This provides direct evidence that Sarah publicly described herself as associated with a taxi operation by December 2021, before Faith Taxi LLC was organized.

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.
  • Investigators later link this tricycle directly to Michael’s disappearance.

July 18, 2021

• Stacey Wondra posted that he and Sarah Wondra had taken a trip to Washington and called it a “taxi ride.” Source
• Stacey thanked Sarah for driving them there and back.
• The post shows the Wondras referring to their transportation as a taxi ride nine days before Michael Vaughan disappeared on July 27, 2021.

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 Surveillance captures the same male (Shurtliff) again 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 a ground and aerial search (drones and St. Luke’s helicopter). Idaho Mountain S&R arrives shortly after with a K-9 unit. According to BN, K-9s tracked MJV’s scent to the end of their street, away from the field to the right of their home, where it abruptly stopped. Source: Source
• 8:18 PM PCSO issues CodeRED to residents in Hidden Meadow Subdivision. Source
• 8:20 PM A missing-and-endangered alert is issued. Source
• 11:22 PM Surveillance shows the Wondras’ maroon GMC pickup returning to the neighborhood, towing a silver Mercedes-Benz.

July 28, 2021

• Law enforcement, neighbors, and volunteers conduct massive searches throughout Fruitland.
• No trace of Michael is found.
• Investigators review video surveillance from multiple neighborhood cameras; Michael does not appear on any.

July 29, 2021

• Dorothy Starkey formally reports seeing 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 

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

August 1, 2021 

• Press Release: That search has included nearly 200 residential homes and properties, and interviews with all 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 makeshift 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
• Officers find Adrien Lucienne 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.

August 2, 2021

• 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.
• 3:13 p.m. Six days after Michael Vaughan disappeared, Sarah Wondra shared a missing-child flyer for Michael on Facebook. Source
  • Sarah wrote: “Boy missing from around my neighborhood please help find him!!!!!!!”
  • The flyer stated that Michael was last seen at approximately 6:30 p.m. on July 27, 2021, near his home at Southwest 9th Street and South Arizona Avenue in Fruitland.
  • Sarah’s post is significant to the chronology because it establishes that by August 2 she publicly acknowledged Michael’s disappearance and described him as a child missing from “around my neighborhood.”

August 4, 2021

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

August 5, 2021

• 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 during the previous day’s searches.
• Resident: Jim Smit reports he found it under the bluff beside the stroller, took it home briefly, and 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, said to have been taken just one month before he was last seen.
• Michael was last seen near SW 9th St. and South Arizona Avenue in Fruitland between 6:30 and 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-size 11 blue flip-flops. He is 3 feet 7 inches tall, 50 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

August 6, 2021 

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

August 8, 2021

• Communication 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

• 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 

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

August 17, 2021 

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

August 20, 2021 

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

August 21, 2021

• Follow-Up Interview With Sarah Wondra
  • 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 

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

August 27, 2021 

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

September 3, 2021 

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

September 12, 2021

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

September 17, 2021

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

September-December 2021 

• 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.” Source
  • 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 is now searching TWO different vehicles that were near his neighborhood when he vanished.

November 15, 2021

• Sarah and Stacey were re-interviewed.
  • Shown photo evidence of Sarah driving the GMC at 7:08 PM on July 27.
  • She changed 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 

• No answers, but police still committed to finding Michael: Four months after his disappearance, police renewed appeals to the public for assistance.

December 24, 2021

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

December 28, 2021

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

January 27, 2022

• Six months after Michael Joseph Vaughan disappeared, the Fruitland Police Department reported that the investigation remained active and that Michael’s information had been distributed to law enforcement agencies nationwide. Source
• Investigators had received 830 leads, with additional tips arriving daily. Over the past month, investigators focused on leads from across the Northwest and internationally, and several leads were under active investigation.
• Search efforts up to that point had involved local law enforcement, professional search-and-rescue teams, community volunteers, helicopters, drones, boats, divers and dogs. Crews also searched on foot through fields, along the river and around canal banks.
• Ground searches were temporarily suspended because of winter weather, but police said they would resume if a credible lead identified a specific forest or field requiring a search.
• Police said the investigation had received national and international attention and emphasized that undisclosed investigative efforts were continuing.
• The reward for Michael’s safe return had reached $52,860. The reward fund, maintained through the City of Fruitland, had been reactivated through March 31, 2022.
• Police reiterated that Michael had been missing continuously since July 27, 2021, and stated that investigators still did not know what caused his disappearance.

March 12, 2022

• Sarah Wondra stated that Liberty Taxi had been given to her by a man who had originally given it to her “for literally no reason.” Source
• Sarah claimed that Liberty Taxi had subsequently been “stolen from” her.
• She said her new taxi business was Faith Taxi LLC, based in Fruitland.
• Sarah advertised taxi service for Ontario and surrounding areas at 208-230-2528, provided her direct number 208-739-1477, and listed 208-740-8482 for service from Huntington to Mountain Home.
• She said Faith Taxi was not yet listed on Google because she was still working on establishing its online presence.

March 16, 2022

• Sarah Wondra publicly identified herself as the owner of Faith Taxi LLC in Fruitland, Idaho, and advertised for part-time drivers. Source
• She said the business was “going to be rapidly growing” and was looking for drivers throughout the Treasure Valley, including as far as Boise.
• Prospective drivers would use their own vehicles, keep their own proceeds, and work as independent contractors under a 1099 arrangement.
• Sarah stated that no driver would be approved without her approval and provided 208-739-1477 as her direct number for employment inquiries.
• In a separate March 16 post, Sarah wrote that she “now today” ran a taxi company and also operated a mobile mechanic business. She also referenced having previously been in prison, having a husband she cared for, a daughter who was 17 and approaching 18, seven cats and one dog.

March 24, 2022 

• 2:28 p.m. City of Fruitland Police Update: Eight months after Michael Joseph Vaughan disappeared, the Fruitland Police Department, Idaho State Police, and FBI continued investigating his disappearance. Source
• Investigators received nearly 850 leads, nearly all of which they cleared. Police were reviewing newly obtained data from the period surrounding Michael’s disappearance in an effort to develop additional leads.
• Police said the investigation had gone through several phases and that, following multiple searches in and around Fruitland and elsewhere in Idaho, there was a high probability Michael had been abducted.
• Investigators had considered the possibility of a criminal abduction since Michael disappeared, but police disclosed that it had become the primary focus of the investigation several months earlier.
• Police said they had not planned another large-scale ground search because law enforcement, search-and-rescue personnel, volunteers, helicopters, drones, boats, divers and K9 teams had already searched the area multiple times. Investigators would return to previously searched locations if new evidence or a credible lead warranted it.
• Police had not conclusively identified the white Honda Pilot previously sought in connection with the investigation. Police said they strongly believed they knew who owned the vehicle but were continuing efforts to confirm it.
• Police also noted that Idaho Senate Bill 1378, the Endangered and Missing Person Alert, passed both houses of the Idaho Legislature, describing the alert system as an important tool for future missing-person investigations.
• The reward for Michael’s safe return remained $52,860, with the City of Fruitland reward fund active through March 31, 2022.

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 found 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

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

April 29, 2022

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

April – June 2022 

• 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 and 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.

March 12, 2022

• Sarah Wondra stated that Liberty Taxi had been given to her by a man who had originally given it to her “for literally no reason.” Source
• Sarah claimed that Liberty Taxi had subsequently been “stolen from” her.
• She said her new taxi business was Faith Taxi LLC, based in Fruitland.
• Sarah advertised taxi service for Ontario and surrounding areas at 208-230-2528, provided her direct number 208-739-1477, and listed 208-740-8482 for service from Huntington to Mountain Home.
• She said Faith Taxi was not yet listed on Google because she was still working on establishing its online presence.

March 13, 2022

• Sarah reposted her March 12 announcement in the 208 Boise Buy Sell Trade Anything!!! Facebook group, advertising Faith Taxi’s services and contact numbers. Source

March 14, 2022

• Two days after Sarah publicly announced Faith Taxi, Faith Taxi LLC was formally organized with the Idaho Secretary of State. Source
• The company used 1102 Redwing Street, Fruitland, as its principal office. Sarah was its registered agent; Sarah and Stacey were governors, and Stacey James Wondra signed as organizer.

April 12, 2022

• Tanner Butler later told police that Stacey Wondra had sold a .17 HMR rifle to a private buyer in New Plymouth, Idaho, the day before the disturbance at the Wondra residence. Source
• Stacey acknowledged participating in the transaction but told police the rifle belonged to his friend Brandon, who had accompanied him.

April 13, 2022

• 6:59 p.m., Fruitland Police were dispatched to 1102 Redwing Street after receiving at least three 911 calls concerning a disturbance, including a report that a firearm had been pointed at someone. Source
• 7:04 p.m. Officer Benjamin Key arrived and encountered Sarah Wondra standing in the street.
• Sarah told police that Tanner Butler, who had been staying with the Wondras for about a week, had become belligerent and refused to leave. Butler told police an argument had begun while dinner was being prepared on the Wondras’ anniversary.
• Butler alleged that Sarah struck him in the head with a dog bone and later retrieved a handgun and pointed it at his head at close range. He barricaded himself in his room and called his mother.
• Sarah and Stacey initially denied knowledge of the handgun and told police there were no firearms in their residence.
• Investigators subsequently recovered a black Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol from Sarah’s parents’ residence. Sarah admitted hiding the firearm there because she knew she was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
• Stacey consented to a search of the Redwing Street residence. Police reported finding four acetaminophen/hydrocodone pills in Sarah’s purse. Sarah said she had previously been prescribed the medication but that the prescription was no longer valid and she had kept the pills.

May 10, 2022

• A federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho indicted Sarah Anne Wondra in Case No. 1:22-cr-00099-BLW on one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a convicted felon, under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Source
• Prosecutors alleged that on April 13, 2022, Sarah knowingly possessed an Iberia (Hi-Point) Model JCP .40-caliber pistol, serial number X7227924, despite her March 5, 2013 Oregon felony conviction.
• The indictment also sought forfeiture of the .40-caliber pistol and any associated ammunition if Sarah were convicted.
• The federal criminal coversheet identified the FBI as the investigating agency and Russell Nimmo as the investigative agent. The charging document listed Payette County as the county of offense and an estimated four-day trial.

June 2022 

• Jail call between Sarah and Kristi: Sarah recants, claiming Kristi misunderstood.

June 17, 2022 

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

June 21, 2022 

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

July 22, 2020

• Fruitland Police 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. Source
  • The man is described as a white adult male in his late 20s to early 30s.
  • He was seen wearing black shorts, a white T-shirt with cut-off sleeves, dark colored shoes, and a hat.
  • He is not a suspect or a person of interest, but police need to speak with him to determine his whereabouts and whether he witnessed anything that would help the investigation.

August 25, 2022

• 6:57 p.m. The Fruitland Police Department and Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse partnered with the Washington State Patrol’s Homeward Bound program to expand nationwide awareness of Michael Joseph Vaughan’s disappearance. Source
• Police reported that investigators had examined more than 1,200 tips since Michael disappeared.
• In partnership with Kam-Way Transportation, Michael’s photographs and identifying information were placed on two tractor-trailers that would travel throughout the United States and Canada, effectively serving as mobile missing-person billboards.
• The two trucks were unveiled before beginning their routes across North America. Officials hoped the increased exposure would generate new leads in Michael’s case.
• The effort involved the Fruitland Police Department, Idaho State Police, Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse, Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Unidentified Person Unit, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Kam-Way Transportation.
• Officials said even a single new piece of information generated by the campaign could advance the investigation and reiterated that efforts to locate Michael were continuing.

August 26, 2022

• Fruitland Community Park hosts a conference to update the public on ongoing multi-state investigative efforts.

September 25, 2022

• Sarah Wondra: A GoFundMe campaign titled “Help to Those Who Can’t Help Themselves” is created and shared publicly. Source

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.”
• Afterward, 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 warrant executed at the Wondra residence. Sarah was detained and made 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, investigators recovered no remains.
• 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. Prosecuting Attorney Michael Duke filed the case. A magistrate found probable cause for the charge.

November 15, 2022

• 6:15 p.m Fruitland Police announced that investigators had received credible information that Michael Joseph Vaughan’s remains could be buried in the backyard of 1102 Redwing Street in Fruitland. Source
• Based on that information, police obtained a search warrant for the residence, front yard, and backyard. Police served the warrant late Friday evening, November 11.
• During the search, officers encountered Sarah Wondra, 35, a known resident. Police arrested her after developing probable cause to believe she had knowledge of Michael’s death and failed to report it to law enforcement.
• On November 12, Fruitland Police, Idaho State Police, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, Fruitland Fire Department and Fruitland Public Works began a methodical excavation of the backyard. Specialty K9 teams from Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue were deployed during the excavation.
• Police said ground conditions had not impeded the search and emphasized that investigators intended to continue excavating and searching the property until they were confident the search was complete.
• Police Chief J.D. Huff said investigators remained hopeful the search would lead them to the truth and stated that law enforcement believed other people had knowledge of Michael’s abduction and death.
• Police characterized Michael’s disappearance as an abduction and stated that the investigation would continue until Michael was found and those involved were brought to justice.
• By this point, investigators had received more than 1,500 tips and leads, with numerous additional leads received after the Redwing Street investigation became public on November 11.

November 22, 2022 –

• Sarah Wondra arrested in Michael Vaughan case to undergo treatment

December 1, 2022

• 1:42 p.m. Fruitland Police announced that investigators believed four individuals were involved in Michael Joseph Vaughan’s abduction. Police identified Sarah Wondra and Stacey Wondra, who were already in custody, along with Brandon Shurtliff, 30, and Adrien Lucienne, 32, who were wanted for questioning. Source
• Police said Shurtliff was believed to be in North Dakota, while Lucienne was believed to be in Toledo, Ohio, but traveled between California and Ohio. Investigators believed both men had first-hand knowledge of Michael’s abduction.
• Sarah and Stacey lived at 1102 Redwing Street in Fruitland when Michael disappeared. Police stated that they believed both Sarah and Stacey had first-hand knowledge of Michael’s abduction.
• Investigators also believed other people associated with the Wondras, Shurtliff and Lucienne could have knowledge of the abduction and urged them to contact detectives.
• Police reiterated that credible information had led investigators to believe Michael’s remains could be buried in the backyard of the Redwing Street property, resulting in the November 11 search warrant and subsequent excavation.
• During the excavation, multiple certified Human Remains Detection K9S alerted to the presence of human remains on the property.
• Investigators also used ground-penetrating radar, which detected anomalies in the backyard.
• Authorities excavated the entire backyard to a depth of four feet, removing more than 250 yards of dirt. Before backfilling the yard, investigators meticulously sifted the excavated dirt for potential human remains.
• Michael’s remains were not found.
• Based on the evidence developed during the investigation, police said they strongly believed Michael had been abducted and was deceased, and that his remains had been buried at the Redwing Street property and later moved. His remains’ location remained unknown.
• Police described the search of the Wondra residence as productive and said they recovered additional investigative evidence that was being processed.
• Investigators had received more than 1,500 tips and leads by this point, and the investigation remained active.
• Sarah Wondra, 35, remained in the Payette County Jail on a charge of failing to report a death to law enforcement. Stacey Wondra, 30, was being held in the Washington County Jail on unrelated charges. Source: City of Fruitland Police, December 1, 2022

December 8, 2022

• 1:42 p.m. Fruitland Police continued investigating Michael Joseph Vaughan’s abduction and the location of his remains. Source
• Police disclosed that on December 2, investigators searched a residence neighboring 1102 Redwing Street after obtaining voluntary consent from the property owner.
• Investigators deployed ground-penetrating radar and a certified human remains detection dog in the neighboring property’s backyard.
• Investigators found no additional evidence and said there was no indication Michael had been in any other neighboring yards besides 1102 Redwing Street. Police described the search as an investigative step intended to eliminate other possibilities.
• Fruitland Police Chief J.D. Huff said investigators remained confident that the evidence showed Michael’s remains had been moved and that the investigation would continue as additional leads were pursued.
• Police also announced that investigators had contacted Brandon Shurtliff and Adrien Lucienne, the two individuals identified one week earlier as needed for questioning.
• Fruitland Police continued working with the Payette County Prosecutor as the investigation remained active.

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 and found completely clean.
  • Cloud records show searches for rental housing in other states within weeks of the disappearance.
  • A photograph from July 30, 2021 shows packed boxes, confirming early preparations to relocate.

January 23, 2023

• Sarah Wondra hearings rescheduled for Feb. 6-7, 2023
  • Court hearings for Sarah Wondra, charged in the case, were postponed.

January 26, 2023

• Fruitland Police reported that the investigation into Michael Joseph Vaughan’s abduction remained active, with investigators working to validate information and follow up on new information received following the previous press conference. Source
• Police said investigators recovered several pieces of evidence during the search warrant at 1102 Redwing Street.
• Investigators submitted some of the recovered evidence to a private DNA laboratory for further analysis. Police said the testing process would take time, and investigators were awaiting the results.
• Police described the investigation as multi-faceted and cautioned that it would take time to reach a conclusion.
• Investigators continued working with assisting agencies and the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office while pursuing additional information in Michael’s case.
• Police thanked people who came forward with new information and continued asking the public for information that could help investigators find Michael.

March 20, 2023 

• Sarah’s Hearings were again delayed to April.

March 23, 2023

• Payette County prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against Sarah Wondra in Case No. CR38-23-0512 stemming from the April 13, 2022 incident. Source
• Sarah was charged with three felonies: aggravated assault, concealment of evidence, and possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors alleged that she pointed a firearm at Tanner Butler’s head, concealed the handgun to prevent its discovery as evidence, and unlawfully possessed acetaminophen/hydrocodone.

March 27, 2023

• Sarah Wondra deemed stable enough for trial’
• The accused was found competent to proceed to trial.

March 29, 2023

• The court set Sarah Wondra’s bond at $250,000 and imposed pretrial-release conditions, including restrictions on alcohol and unauthorized controlled substances, drug and alcohol testing, compliance with any no-contact order, waiver of extradition, and geographic travel restrictions. Source
• Her next court appearance was scheduled for April 10, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.

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 prosecutors could refile it later.

April 13, 2023

• A separate felony case related to a 2022 gun crime was rescheduled.
• Judges push out court date for Sarah Wondra over gun charges

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.

July 27, 2023

• On the second anniversary of Michael Joseph Vaughan’s abduction, Fruitland Police reported that the investigation remained very active and that Michael, now age seven, had not been found. Source
• Police said ground searches had continued as recently as July 2023, while investigators continued reviewing new tips and leads.
• The investigation had entered a new phase, with investigators submitting the case, along with a probable cause affidavit, to the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office.
• Because the case had been submitted to prosecutors, Fruitland Police said future inquiries regarding the investigation would be referred to the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office.
• Investigators had received more than 2,000 tips and leads since Michael disappeared.
• Police emphasized that their work had not stopped and continued asking anyone with information that could help locate Michael to come forward. Source: City of Fruitland Police, July 27, 2023

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.

November 2, 2023

• Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the federal firearm charge against Sarah Wondra in United States v. Sarah Anne Wondra, Case No. 1:22-cr-00099-BLW.
• The federal case originated from the April 13, 2022 incident at 1102 Redwing Street, when investigators recovered a .40-caliber Hi-Point pistol that Sarah was accused of possessing despite her prior felony conviction.
• The May 10, 2022 federal indictment had charged Sarah with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, with the government also seeking forfeiture of the firearm and associated ammunition.

July 27, 2024

• On the third anniversary of Michael Joseph Vaughan’s disappearance, Fruitland Police reported that the case remained very active and that Michael had not been found. Source
• Police reiterated that the case had already been submitted to the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office, while investigators continued pursuing tips, leads, and other avenues to find Michael and solve the case.
• Fruitland Police said investigators believed they had a firm understanding of the events of July 27, 2021, but said moving the case forward ultimately depended on the Payette County Prosecutor assembling the case.
• The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which had partnered with investigators shortly after Michael disappeared, developed an age-progression photograph showing what Michael might look like three years after his disappearance.
• Despite the possibility of confusion created by releasing an age-progressed image while Michael remained missing, investigators determined that making the image public was necessary as an additional resource in the continuing search.
• Police continued asking anyone with information that could help recover Michael to contact investigators.

January 16, 2025

• Fruitland Police addressed video footage involving Stacey Wondra that had been released publicly on January 15, clarifying that the footage had been inadvertently released in 2023 following a public-records request to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, where Stacey was being held at the time. Source
• Police emphasized that neither the Fruitland Police Department nor the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office released the footage.
• Investigators reiterated that the case, including a probable cause affidavit, had been submitted to the Payette County Prosecutor in 2023. Police said they did not control the pace of prosecution but continued investigating leads and gathering evidence to support a successful prosecution.
• In a significant update, Fruitland Police disclosed that investigators were in communication with a suspect in Michael’s case.
• Police said investigators hoped those communications would produce additional information that could lead them to Michael’s remains.
• The investigation remained active, and police continued asking anyone with information concerning Michael’s location to come forward.

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
• 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

October 31, 2025

• Payette County Prosecutor Michael Duke announced that his office was moving forward with charges against individuals allegedly involved in the disappearance and murder of five-year-old Michael Vaughan, who disappeared during the summer of 2021. Source
• Duke said that following a robust investigation by the Fruitland Police Department and assisting agencies, investigators had been unable to locate Michael or recover his remains.
• Prosecutors expressed hope that they could recover Michael’s remains and return him to his loved ones, while acknowledging that the investigation could ultimately end without his recovery.
• Duke attributed the ability to pursue charges to the tenacity and perseverance of Fruitland investigators, saying they had continued working the case since Michael disappeared and were still searching and investigating.
• Prosecutor Duke reminded the public that anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent and that the prosecution bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• The prosecutor also asked the public and media to be sensitive to Michael’s surviving family members and neighbors and emphasized that the criminal case would be difficult for those affected by Michael’s disappearance.

March 16, 2026

• 1:30 p.m. A female suspect was observed removing signs and banners related to the disappearance of Michael Vaughan in Fruitland, Idaho. Source
  • Incident occurred in the 700 block of Whitley Court
  • Suspect Description: Female with sandy blonde hair. Wearing black pants and a red coat
  • Actions: Removed multiple missing-person signs and banners
  • Damaged at least one sign
  • Vehicle: Suspect was seen driving a white GMC Acadia
  • Left the area traveling west on Southwest 8th Street

March 23, 2026

• Fruitland Police Department Update: Police announced a suspect has been identified in connection with the March 16 incident. Source
  • The suspect has not been publicly named
  • Authorities stated the suspect is cooperating with law enforcement
• Investigation Status: Case remains active and ongoing
• No charges or additional details have been publicly released

April 3, 2026 (Payette County District Court)

• Wondra appears in court in Payette County District Court. Source
• Charges filed:
  • First-degree murder
  • Kidnapping
  • Destruction of evidence
  • Persistent violator enhancement
• Court action: Wondra pleads not guilty to all charges.

April 15, 2026

• 10:00 a.m. Stacey Wondra is scheduled to appear in Payette County District Court for a scheduling conference. Hearing time is set for 10:00 a.m. (local time, Mountain Time).

June 2, 2026

• Status Conference.

July 14, 2026

• 9:00 a.m. Status Conference.

August 31, 2026

• Stacey Wondra’s defense filed a Fifth Specific Request for Discovery in Canyon County District Court under Idaho Criminal Rule 16. In addition to the previously identified digital evidence, the defense requested all reports and recordings related to Robert Tyler Vaughan’s first polygraph examination and any information provided to law enforcement concerning changes or updates to the Wi-Fi password for the router at 911 SW 9th Street between July 26 and December 31, 2021. The filing was electronically submitted at 3:45 PM. Source

September 14, 2026

• 8:30 a.m. Jury trial scheduled to last through October 16, 2026.

October 1, 2026

• Stacey Wondra’s defense filed a Motion to Prohibit Disparaging and Harassing Conduct in Canyon County District Court, asking Judge Brent Whiting to restrict certain public conduct and comments by Michael Vaughan’s family and law-enforcement officers involved in the investigation.
• The defense asked the court to prohibit Michael’s mother, Brandi Vaughan, and other family members from disparaging Wondra, calling his defense attorneys liars, and photographing or recording Wondra’s attorneys or supporters as they walk to their vehicles outside the courthouse.
• The motion also asks the court to prohibit law-enforcement officers involved in the Michael Vaughan investigation from participating in online forums or publicly commenting about Wondra or evidence in the case.
• Wondra’s attorneys argue that statements made online, on television and on radio programs could prejudice prospective jurors and interfere with Wondra’s right to a fair trial.
• The defense requested a hearing on the motion. Wondra is scheduled to return to court on October 7, 2026, when the court is also scheduled to consider the defense request to exclude the unfinished handwritten “Thanksgiving apology letter.” Source⁠ 

Key Evidence Chain Summary

A concise overview of the principal evidence and the date or witness connected to each item.

1987

• Sarah Wondra was born into an abusive household. Her older brother began abusing her when she was 10 months old.

1989

• When Sarah was two years old, her biological father left the family.

1991

• At four years old, Sarah disclosed the abuse occurring in her home. She was removed from the household and placed in foster care. Sarah remained in foster care from age four until age nine, living with two different foster families during that period.

1993

• Sarah’s biological mother died when Sarah was six years old.

1996

• At age nine, Sarah was adopted by Edward and Kay Ramsey and moved to Oregon. Source
• 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

After Sarah’s adoption, Edward and Kay Ramsey adopted another girl. Sarah described the addition of her adoptive sister as a turning point that created a divide within the family. She described her adoptive sister as manipulative and said emotional and verbal abuse began after the adoption.

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. Source
• 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. Source

March 5, 2013

• Sarah Anne Wondra, also identified in federal records as Sarah Anne Ramsey and Sarah Anne Chambers, was convicted in Multnomah County, Oregon, of Attempted Robbery (Attempt to Commit a Class A Felony – Robbery).
• The conviction later became the predicate felony used by federal prosecutors to allege that Sarah was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

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 second-degree theft.
• Sarah – charged with identity theft, mail theft, or receipt of stolen mail.
• Stacey – charged with negotiating a bad check and first-degree theft.

October 19, 2020

• Sarah released from Jail

November 29, 2021

• Sarah Wondra posted that she had just learned her older brother had died seven years earlier while she was incarcerated.
• Sarah said no one had previously told her about his death and described having mixed emotions because of what he had done to her, referring to the abuse she had previously described experiencing from her older brother during childhood.
• Sarah shared older Facebook photographs of the man with the post. The embedded posts shown in the screenshot are dated March 28 and April 23, 2012.
• Sarah wrote that she was struggling to determine how she felt about learning of his death years after it occurred.

December 18, 2021

• Sarah Wondra posted a link for Liberty Taxi Service LLC in Nampa, Idaho, captioning the post “My taxi.” Source
• The linked business listing identified Liberty Taxi Service LLC at 123 11th Avenue S., Nampa, Idaho.
• This provides direct evidence that Sarah publicly described herself as associated with a taxi operation by December 2021, before Faith Taxi LLC was organized.

July 18, 2021

• Stacey Wondra posted that he and Sarah Wondra had taken a trip to Washington and referred to it as a “taxi ride.”
• Stacey thanked Sarah for driving them there and back.
• The post shows the Wondras referred to their transportation as a taxi ride nine days before Michael Vaughan disappeared on July 27, 2021.

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 and 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.

March 12, 2022

• Sarah Wondra stated that Liberty Taxi had been given to her by a man who had originally given it to her “for literally no reason.” Source
• Sarah claimed that Liberty Taxi had subsequently been “stolen from” her.
• She said her new taxi business was Faith Taxi LLC, based in Fruitland.
• Sarah advertised taxi service for Ontario and surrounding areas at 208-230-2528, provided her direct number 208-739-1477, and listed 208-740-8482 for service from Huntington to Mountain Home.
• She said Faith Taxi was not yet listed on Google because she was still working on establishing its online presence.

March 13, 2022

• Sarah reposted her March 12 announcement in the 208 Boise Buy Sell Trade Anything!!! Facebook group, advertising Faith Taxi’s services and contact numbers. Source

March 14, 2022

• Two days after Sarah announced Faith Taxi publicly, Faith Taxi LLC was formally organized with the Idaho Secretary of State. Source
• The company used 1102 Redwing Street, Fruitland, as its principal office. Sarah was its registered agent; Sarah and Stacey were governors, and Stacey James Wondra signed as organizer.

September 25, 2022

• Sarah Wondra: A GoFundMe campaign titled “Help to Those Who Can’t Help Themselves” is created and shared publicly. Source

November 12, 2022

• Prosecutors allege that Sarah Wondra failed 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 later.

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
• 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

Stacey James Wondra was born in 1992 or 1993. Public records place him in Montana, Oregon and Idaho during his adult life. He later married Sarah Anne Wondra and the couple lived at 1102 Redwing Street in Fruitland, Idaho. Wondra has a criminal history spanning multiple states and federal court. Before becoming publicly associated with the disappearance of Michael Vaughan, he had been involved in criminal cases in Montana, Oregon and Idaho. His prior felony convictions later became significant because they prohibited him from possessing firearms.

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.

MICHAEL VAUGHAN CASE FILE

Investigation Timeline

Missing Michael Vaughan

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.

Case Summary Table

A categorized summary of surveillance, digital evidence, witness information, and statements.

Movement Timeline

Reported movements and locations during the day Michael Vaughan disappeared.

MICHAEL VAUGHAN CASE FILE

Affidavit Narrative: The Abduction and Death of Michael Vaughan

What we know

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.

Michael Vaughan Case Map

Michael Vaughan Case Records