Huff said in a statement . Since then, our investigators continue to work to determine just what happened during the time leading up to Michael's disappearance. Fruitland police Chief JD Huff said the person they arrested, Sarah Wondra, is a resident at the home they are digging at. On Saturday investigators began searching again, using a tractor and specially-trained cadaver dogs to dig up the backyard of a house in Fruitland not far from Vaughan's home. Create a password that only you will remember. "We do not believe she is the only person that has knowledge of this and we will be seeking out those people who could possibly be connected," Huff said. For a while, Neal said she could barely do laundry -- she would see one of Michael's shirts or socks and break down. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Huff also announced that their department has made contact with the two men, but didn't elaborate further. Michael Joseph Vaughn vanished on July 27 around 6:30 p.m. from southwest 9th Street, near his home in Fruitland, Idaho, according to law enforcement. On Monday, Huff told Boise television station KTVB reported that a credible lead brought police to the home, and that Wondra was one of the occupants. She goes to work. Im not ready to use that word yet. Huff let out a breath when he approached his podium on Dec. 1, 2022, for a press conference to announce the results of the excavation of the Wondra's backyard. Sarah Wondra was found mentally unfit to proceed last year. Who Is Michael Vaughan From Idaho? Michael Joseph Vaughan, 5, whose family calls him Monkey, was last seen on July 27 near his home in Fruitland, Idaho, according to the boy's family. "When it does happen, it's shocking. Recently, police received a "very credible tip," Huff said, that led them to Michael's neighborhood and to Wondra, KATV reports. Huff let out a breath when he approached his podium on Dec. 1, 2022, for a press conference to announce the results of the excavation of the Wondras backyard. "I've literally worn my feet to the bone.". He previously told KTVB that his entire team is extremely emotionally invested in the case. K-9 dogs, divers, drones with infrared imagining capabilities, helicopters, paragliders and kayaks have been deployed to track down Michael, reported Idaho Statesman. Unexpectedly, police announced the identities of two more people thought to have firsthand knowledge in the abduction of Vaughan Brandon Shurtliff, 30, believed to be somewhere in North Dakota; and Adrien Lucienne, 32, believed to be somewhere in Toledo, Ohio, or California. FRUITLAND Brandi Neal, the mother of missing Fruitand boy Michael Vaughan, sat in her living room on a cold January day wiping tears from her face. Investigators did not locate Michael Vaughan's remains during an extensive search of Wondra's property in November. Michael Vaughan and Sarah Wondra. She didn't enter a plea but told the judge the accusations against her are "not correct," the Idaho Statesman reports. "This is arduous work," Huff said, according to KMTV. "I would like to sit down and have a conversation with (Sarah Wondra) face to face," Neal said. Trumps motion, if granted, would likely push his trial back until the heat of the presidential primary season in the early months of 2024. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. Huff previously said their investigation found Sarah Wondra had knowledge of Michael's death, and didn't say anything to law enforcement. For DNA, she said, putting his shoe back in the closet. Vaughan called Neal, who was at work. Ministers in clash as farmers fear Britain will be flooded with cheap Mexican and Canadian meat Britain's Special Forces are banned from TikTok and other apps amid fears their accounts could be Mamma Mia! I love you baby. "For DNA," she said, putting his shoe back in the closet. For now, he said, he just wants to maintain integrity of the case. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, Multiple law enforcement agencies surrounded the home at 1102 Redwing Street with shovels, human remains dogs, and heavy machinery that was digging in the dirt behind the home. "Some of those pieces have been sent to a private DNA lab for further analysis. Michael was on the couch playing with his Nintendo. Vaughan called Neal, who was at work. Our attorney will probably be calling a press conference for all this slander.". When law enforcement went over today to kind of debrief them and let them know what was going on, they specifically said to Brandi, Do not come over to this house. She told me, she said, Its doing everything I can, to not go over there. She said, This is my baby, this is my baby. She said she was pacing back and forth trying so hard not to go over to that house, Matthias said. "Each dog has a very specific reaction that it does when it does what it's trained to do," he said via text message. We have not found anything yet but we will continue to excavate in hopes of finding his remains.' "It's going to take us a while to get this done. But on the evening of July 27, 2021, the quiet corner of the world turned frantic when Brandis 5-year-old son, Michael Vaughan, walked out of the house and down the street. Fruitland Police along with Idaho State Police are using a tractor, canine dogs and a dumpster in the backyard. The High Priestess - Strength (reversed) - 7 of Wands (reversed) Row 2. The approximate last known location was 9th Street and Arizona in Fruitland. She says Arya, known as Buggy, will pull the pictures off the table and speak to Michael, her older brother. Hartmann said, it only takes a second. She stated that in most missing cases, the child is recovered, whether it be quick, or takes some significant time. His nickname is "monkey" and he has blonde hair and blue eyes. "They've become family," she said. He has not yet been charged in connection with this case. Lucienne has a lengthy criminal record in multiple states. Angeline Hartmann, the director of communications for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) , said their team has worked diligently with the Vaughan family and law enforcement since Michael was reported missing. She points to a stuffed monkey sitting on a shelf across the room. But when Neal saw the chief of police walk in the door, she said her stomach sank. Brandi Neal holds up photos of her 5-year-old son, Michael Vaughan, after an interview at her home in Fruitland on Thursday. She says Arya, known as "Buggy", will pull the pictures off the table and speak to Michael, her older brother. Our attorney will probably be calling a press conference for all this slander.. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Year in the Sun Hardcover Michael Vaughan at the best online prices at eBay! Fruitland Police Chief J.D. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. "It's not fair," Neal said. Then he disappeared from the small town of Fruitland, Idaho on July 27th. On Friday, Sarah Wondra, 35, of Fruitland, was arrested and charged with felony failure to report a death in a case that has haunted the city for more than a year, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE. Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff, center, speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 1, in Fruitland. Former President Trump on Friday asked for a roughly six-month delay in New York Attorney General Letitia Jamess (D) civil fraud suit against him. Neal said thatneighbors witnessed Michael in his front yard and on the street in the moments before he disappeared, even attempting to talk to neighbors -- he was friendly, she said. Wondra's arrest in mid-November was the biggest development in the case since Vaughan was reported missing in July of 2021. Sarah Wondras status conference has been reset for Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. but could be moved up sooner if the court is informed that her competency has been restored. Everyone has embraced this family, Hartmann said. They spoke calmly when they told her an arrest has been made. All those who have knowledge of Michaels disappearance and have failed to report or hindered our investigation will be pursued, Huff said. Posted at 9:33 AM, Dec 23, 2022 and last updated 8:39 AM, Dec 23, 2022 PAYETTE, Idaho The case against Sarah Wondra, the woman accused of failing to report the death of missing Fruitland boy. Our goal is no matter what the prediction is in any case, we want to know we are here to support the families in any way You just never know how a case is going to turn out, she said. She is charged with failing or delaying notification of a death, a felony. "I'm feeling really worried about my wife Sarah Anne Wondra," he wrote. Neal said they brought K-9 dogs in, which traced Michael's scent to the end of the road. The Fruitland Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Neal said it's clear that the police support their family and care about Michael just as much. In the summer of 2021, Michael Vaughan, who was only five years old at the time, went missing from Idaho. "She'll get sad," Neal said. She will say, I miss Monkey.. Neal said its clear that the police support their family and care about Michael just as much. Ive walked every inch of this town, Neal said. Morreale said his attorney is handling it. Proceedings were placed on hold. Huff later told reporters on scene that they continue to search for Michaels remains marking the very first time that the media learned he may no longer be alive. Michael was last seen wearing a blue Minecraft t-shirt, dark blue briefs, and blue flip-flops. "She's not feeling good at all. Sign up for a new subscription today and get home delivery or digital-only access for only $10/month!. The dirt was piled into a large truck, where it was driven off-site for evaluation, police later said. Vaughan went to check on Michaels little sister, Arya who they call Buggy in her bedroom. It use to be innocent until proven guilty, now it's guilty without proof. The boy's 6th birthdaywas on June 24, 2022. For years, there was a misconception that something bad happened if they werent found in a certain amount of time. The police have the other one, she said. He went missing from his neighborhood in Fruitland, near Southwest 9th Street, on July 27, 2021. We are not OK. Ive had to tell his siblings that he might not be coming home, Matthias said. Florida Gov. Sarah Wondra was found mentally unfit to proceed last year. People think it happens a lot more than it really does, she said. It's GRAYGATE! November 14, 2022. Someone still knows what happened that day, she said. Two K-9 dogs were brought in, but there have been no updates on what they may or may not have found. He's loves kids, animals, the elderly. That night and into the week ahead, searches ensued. Police arrived at the Vaughan family home that morning. 8 of Wands - 2 of Swords (reversed) - 9 of Cups. More than a month later, on Jan. 26, Fruitland Police provided a slight update on their Facebook page. Nothing was found Saturday but crews returned on Sunday and the police chief is expected to give an update later in the evening. Attorneys for the former president argued that [], Teen hikers rescued after days stuck in California snowstorm, Multiple dead after severe weather hits Southern states. Michael Joseph Vaughan was last seen near his Fruitland home on July 27, 2021. Updated: 9:10 PM MST November 12, 2022 FRUITLAND, Idaho Police have been outside a home in Fruitland on Saturday with a tractor, dumpster and other individuals based on a lead they got in. She claims their cadaver dog smelled the poop outside near her vent and crawlspace, which was near her leaking toilet, she said. Police have said they believe four individuals are responsible for the disappearance of 6-year-old Michael Vaughan, who has been reported as missing in Idaho since he was 5. Law enforcement officers have combed through thousands of acres of surrounding land and sifted through hundreds of tips in their search for the child. She points to a stuffed monkey sitting on a shelf across the room. They did find my toilet was leaking, which Im grateful for, Morreale said. Police arrived at the Vaughan family home that morning. KTVB asked why Shurtliff hasnt come back to Idaho. Sarah Wondra previously told Payette County Judge Brian Lee at her initial appearance hearing that she understood the charges against her, but that "it's not correct." He has wandered a few times, but it doesnt make sense, Neal said. "The untrained human may not know, or recognize, when a dog alerts its handler. But when Neal saw the chief of police walk in the door, she said her stomach sank. Since then, authorities have been looking for Vaughan, who was reportedly 50 pounds and stood 43 inches tall. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Her attorney had no comment. "I think it was silent for most of the day," Hartmann said. "You've watched us for the past 545 days and you haven't said a damn word. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Idaho State Police and the FBI, have scoured thousands of acres of rural land, drained runoff ditches and reviewed security footage in search of the missing five-year-old. The most recent data we have on him indicates that he is a white male with blond hair, blue eyes, and a height of 3 feet, 6 inches (1 meter). "You've watched us for the past 545 days and you haven't said a damn word. Huff continually told the press there was not much he could say -- it's still an open investigation, he said, and releasing additional information could compromise the case and justice for Michael. Neal moves to make another attempt, like she has done so many times before, pleading for the return of her 6-year-old blonde, blue-eyed son she calls "Monkey.". He nodded at the media, who were anxiously awaiting answers. She wanted so badly to just go over to the excavation site, Neal said, but she stopped herself. Hartmann said she feels for Neal and her family. Update On Missing Idaho Child Michael Vaughan On May 20, 2022, the Fruitland Police Department (FPD) issued an update on the investigation into Michael Vaughan's disappearance. We need you home to be whole. Stacey Wondra is currently incarcerated in Washington County on an unrelated charge. Authorities have not said whether Stacey is a suspect. It came on a brisk day, in mid-November of last year -- a break in the case. The day before Michael vanished, Stacey Wondra took Sarah Wondra to the emergency room, he wrote on his Facebook page. They are even pointing fingers at me and telling me Im lying and hiding something, she said. Shurtliff and Lucienne were living in the Wondras home at the time of Michaels disappearance. ", First published on November 15, 2022 / 4:47 PM. Please keep sharing his beautiful smile, beautiful face. Stacey Wondra, her husband, has not been charged in connection to the disappearance of Michael, but he remains in the Washington County Jail on firearm charges. Last year,Michael's family released a written statement through the Fruitland Police Department. PAYETTE (KIVI) The case against Sarah Wondra, the woman accused of failing to report the death of missing Fruitland boy Michael Vaughan, remains on pause as court officials await an update on her mental competency. Lucienne has a lengthy criminal record in multiple states. For Michael when he comes home.. But the grief and the struggle of missing Michael, mixed with her anger and frustration, intertwined with having to be a wife and a mother, can be too much. According to his mother, Tina Morreale, he is in North Dakota and she knows his location. The family of a missing 5-year-old boy who vanished without a trace more than four months ago is pleading for his safe return as authorities scramble to gather clues as to his whereabouts. Former Idaho Gov. REVEALED: Huge sonic boom felt by thousands across the country was caused by RAF Typhoon jets scrambling to DR ELLIE CANNON: My breast has not got lumps but it's itchy, should I be concerned about cancer at age 72? Last year, Brandi Neal, Michael's mom, thanked 'beautiful soul' who offered the reward money. Youve watched us for the past 545 days and you havent said a damn word. ", Neal opens a gift, revealing a small stuffed animal named "Kiwi. Shell get sad, Neal said. However, Huff believes these arent the only people who have knowledge of what could have happened to Michael. Police said in the December press conference they had searched a home in Kuna without a warrant, but did not elaborate. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. While she was detained Friday night, she allegedly told police she had nothing to do with Michael's death, the affidavit states, the Idaho Statesman reports. Theres still hope. An Idaho woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the 2021 disappearance of a 5-year-old boy who lived just down the street from her, say authorities. Mother of Trinity Backus, 16, who was found dead in northern PICTURED: Tragic twin brother and sister, 23, electrocuted 'Cautious' Duke 'was careful not to attack members of the Royal family' says Royal watcher amid fears he A 14-year-old autistic boy's naive prank. Occasionally, Neal would glance at his toys when speaking about her son, her eyes welling with tears. He went missing from his neighborhood in Fruitland, near Southwest 9th Street, on July 27, 2021. They found nothing but my leaking toilet, Morreale wrote. Unfortunately, due to juror bias, the conviction was . We need a place to discuss possible places to search, talk ideas. Former England captain Michael Vaughan says the disciplinary hearing into allegations of racism at Yorkshire is a "terrible look" for cricket. Vaughan went to check on Michael's little sister, Arya -- who they call "Buggy" -- in her bedroom. . At a press conference on December 1, Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff said investigators believed Sarah Wondra's husband, Stacey Wondra, also had knowledge about Vaughan's death and said they were confident additional charges in the case would be forthcoming. Holidays and birthdays have passed. She allegedly said she "definitely did not kill that boy," and that "God already told me who did it," the affidavit says, the Idaho Statesman reports. You have permission to edit this article. Investigators and locals have been on the search ever since for Vaughan, who is described as 43 inches tall and weighing 50 pounds. Sarah Wondra was later seen on TikTok videos in October 2021, in front of Michaels missing person flyer, which was hanging on a refrigerator door behind her. Morreale said his attorney is handling it. Neal walks back into the living room, and points to a table with pictures of Michael resting on top. More than a month later, on Jan. 26, Fruitland Police provided a slight update on their Facebook page. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Police searched 1102 Redwing St. in Fruitland on Nov. 11 after receiving "credible information that the remains of Michael Vaughan may be found in the backyard." During the search, police said they used multiple search and rescue dogs. FRUITLAND, IDAHO : Five-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan from Fruitland, Idaho vanished from his neighborhood on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in the late evening. It has to be torture, she said. Dont forget about him," Neal said. Neal said they brought K-9 dogs in, which traced Michaels scent to the end of the road. The commitment order indicates she was found unfit to assist in her own defense. JD Huff said at a news conference last month that the dogs alerted her to the possible human remains. "We try to give the family space," Hartmann said. Huff said. With Brandi working at the time and her husband inside checking on the toddler and ordering dinner, neither parent knew Michael took off. They did go over to the Neal home, to Brandis home, and told them yesterday morning This is happening. Police told her they received a credible tip that Michaels remains could be in a backyard nearby and they were going to excavate every single inch. But, he said something else that made listening ears perk up that police believe Michaels remains were buried there, but later moved. KTVB reached out to Lucienne and Shurtliff but never received a response. Hes always giving of all he has. Police in southwestern Idaho have arrested a woman in connection with the disappearance of a 5-year-old boy who went missing more than a year ago. Wondra's parents live directly around the corner, but when KTVB knocked on their door, they didn't answer. A blanket with his face rested beside her on the couch. At a press conference on Dec. 1, Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff said investigators believed Sarah Wondras husband, Stacey Wondra, also had knowledge about Vaughans death and said they were confident additional charges in the case would be forthcoming. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Date added: 8/07/2020. This group is run and managed by locals in our town. Authorities are searching the backyard of an Idaho home in connection with an investigation into the disappearance of a 5-year-old boy who has been missing for more than a year, KIVI-TV reports. Limited information is available at this time. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Vaughan ordered a pizza, and came back out to the living room. Investigators say that on the day Michael went missing, he was last seen between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. near his home. Fruitland Police have briefings every day where they talk about Michael and the next steps, Huff said. The Fruitland Police Chief said the department received a tip that Michaels remains could be in the backyard of the home, but nothing has been found so far. We have to wait, and wait, and wait -- and still take care of our family.". Police showed the family a timeline of Michael's disappearance, which Neal said she "couldn't even believe" they were able to put together. CBS2 December 1st, 2022 - Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff believes Michael Vaughan is deceased. Four days later, he posted the boy's picture on his Facebook page. 'Monkey's sisters are missing their [sic] partner in crime, and his brother won't play Minecraft until Michael comes home. The Police Chief tells us Officers continue to work through leads, though those leads have slowed a bit. She was scheduled to make her first court appearance Monday afternoon. Huff previously said their investigation found Sarah Wondra had knowledge of Michaels death, and didnt say anything to law enforcement. The police chief told KTVB thattheir intent is to dig three or four feet deep and that they will not stop until the entire backyard is excavated. Investigators have excavated much of the backyard of the home looking for Vaughan's remains. Where is Shurtliff? One person is deadfollowing a huge tanker truck fire Saturday that closed both lanes on a section of U.S. Route 15 in Frederick, Maryland. Fruitland Police maintained their work was never over. Huff said investigators believe Sarah Wondra, 35, may have had knowledge of the child's death, CBS affiliate KMTV reported. And why is it on your car? Sullivan said that he's never heard of a K-9 dog being trained to find feces. She takes care of her family. Huff declined an interview, but he said he still wants to be transparent and there will come a time for that. Then, during a press conference in the summer of 2022, police dropped a small piece of information: they were back in the Fruitland area investigating. Michael Vaughan was last seen on July . Row 1. More than 90% of missing children are found, she said. Cadaver dogs also searched the yard. Neal talks as she plays with her bracelets nervously, which have Michaels name printed on them. Toxic trauma expert Gabor Mate diagnoses Prince Harry with attention deficit disorder but tells him it CAN 'I felt different to the rest of my family - and my mum felt the same': Prince Harry opens up on his 'broken Hollywood's love affair with the new non-binary Brit Pack: After MeToo sex scandals, Tinseltown is desperate Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Michael Vaughan has been missing since the evening of July 27, 2021. "Please keep sharing his beautiful smile, beautiful face. Every day since, Neal says she gets out of bed. Arrest made in case of missing. They did find my toilet was leaking, which I'm grateful for," Morreale said. Its not fair, Neal said. It's been over 500 days, she said, since her family has seen Michael. The couple's backyard was being torn apart. The police say they have no leads. The entire family was called in for a polygraph test, Neal said, during which police kept them all separated. Fruitland PD also named Adrien Lucienne of Toledo, Ohio, and Brandon Shurtliff of Kuna, believed to currently be in North Dakota, as people who were staying with the Wondras at the time of Vaughans disappearance and believe they also have information about what happened to Michael. Everyone has embraced this family," Hartmann said. But we're not going to stop. "These communities band together. Its next to his parents bed, lined with his toys, blankets and stuffed animals. Idaho police announced a woman's arrest Monday in connection with the 2021 disappearance of Michael Joseph "Monkey" Vaughan, a Fruitland boy who vanished weeks after his fifth birthday - and. The community began paving their way on foot through the farm fields, through the streets, looking in bushes and storm drains, checking in trash cans, under tables, in park bathrooms -- anywhere that a small child could hide. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. When he disappeared, he was described as being 3-foot-7 and weighed about 50 pounds. Multiple law enforcement agencies surrounded the home at 1102 Redwing Street with shovels, human remains dogs, and heavy machinery that was digging in the dirt behind the home. Michael 'Monkey' Joseph Vaughan, 5, of Fruitland, has been missing since July 27, having last been seen near his neighborhood. Things had gone quiet in the last few months. Huff said during a press conference that there was an increased probability Michael was abducted, because police made little headway in ground searches. Neal said she had never seen or met the Wondras but when the search was underway for Michael, she left flyers at their door. TX Michael Eugene Vaughan. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. On that day in January, when Neal sat before the cameras, she sat next to Michaels monster trucks, his pictures and his stuffed animals. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Year In The Sun, Vaughan, Michael, Used; Good Book at the best online prices at eBay! Michael was reported missing on July 27. Proceedings were placed on hold. Huff said he could not elaborate on Morreale's comments due to the nature of the investigation. Neal said that neighbors witnessed Michael in his front yard and on the street in the moments before he disappeared, even attempting to talk to neighbors he was friendly, she said.