Remembering Monkey: Family gathers for Michael Vaughan's birthday amidst ongoing investigation

BOISE, Idaho — June 24th marks Michael Vaughan's 7th birthday. The Argus Observer reports that friends and family will gather for a private event to remember the sweet little boy they affectionately called "Monkey" who disappeared from his home in Fruitland nearly two years ago on July 21, 2021.

Michael Vaughan disappeared seemingly without a trace from his home in Fruitland. A statewide search was conducted and his disappearance prompted a new statewide notification for missing persons law dubbed "Monkey's law" by Governor Little.

Fruitland Police received more than 1,500 tips and interviewed dozens of people during an investigation that seemingly was turning up nothing. Until, late last year. Fruitland Police executed a search warrant on a property not far from where Michael Vaughan went missing. Police remained tight-lipped about what was happening while excavation of the backyard of the house began.

Chief Huff of the Fruitland Police held a press conference after nearly 4 days of searching. Police had discovered evidence that human remains believed to be Michael Vaughan were once buried in that backyard, but had been moved.

Sarah Wondra, one of the homes occupants, was arrested and charged with failure to report a death to the coroner. Sarah Wondra's partner who police believe might also be involved was already in custody on an unrelated charge. Two other men were wanted by Fruitland Police, believed to have information pertinent to the case or otherwise have been involved in the disappearance. Brandon Shurtliff and Adrian Lucienne who were no longer residing in Idaho. Fruitland Police stated they made contact with the two men, but have not reported further on what, if anything, came from that contact.

Then in April of this year, the prosecutor motioned the court to drop the charges against Wondra. A shocking and frustrating move to members of the public, however an attorney speaking with the Argus Observer said that this is sometimes necessary if the prosecution needs more time to bolster their case, or is looking to readjust how they are approaching the charges laid out before the court. The charges were dismissed without prejudice which means they can be refiled in the future.

Fruitland Police Chief JD Huff tells CBS2 that this doesn't change the course of the investigation and that the entire case will be forwarded to the Payette County Prosecutor soon.

CBS2 follows up with Fruitland Police on the state of the case regularly, but for now at least, the same question we started with nearly two years ago remains. What happened to Michael Vaughan?

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