After 5 Years, Idaho Child Murder Case Heads to Trial

It has been an ongoing search that has spanned over five year's time now--Fruitland boy Michael Vaughan, missing from his home and never seen again.

It has been overwhelmingly emotional to watch the investigation since the 5-year-old boy went missing. In a community as small and tight-knit as Fruitland (a population of just over 6,000) news like this is totally unheard of. Through the entirety of the investigation, the parents of Michael Vaughan have been cooperative with authorities and different speculations of an abduction or run-away story lines have run wild online.

Over a year ago now, a search began--which included several police officers and a tractor--digging up the backyard of a Fruitland home. After days of searching, authorities are still determined to find, what they are referring to, as "remains" of Michael Vaughan-- in or around this home.

Since then, it has been far from clear what exactly happened--but now authorities are confident in their 'probable cause'

After a few days in court, a Judge has now agreed that probable cause warrants a trial--and Stacey Wondra is the suspect facing charges for kidnapping, killing, and attempting to destroy evidence of it all, surrounding Michael Vaughan.

Stacey frequently tried to implicate his wife, Sarah, who was taken into custody for Failure to Report a Death--but was then ruled unfit to proceed.

During the preliminary hearing, prosecutors showed hours of recorded interview footage between Stacey Wondra and detectives. Some of that chilling footage surfaced on TikTok:    

@idahonews6 Video played in court shows Stacey Wondra speaking with his adoptive mother about 5-year-old Michael “Monkey” Vaughan. In the recording, Wondra claims his then-wife, Sarah Wondra, accidentally suffocated the boy and that the child was buried in a duffel bag. The interview was played during Wondra’s preliminary hearing Thursday in Payette County. At the end of the hearing, a judge ruled there is enough evidence for the case to move forward. One charge was amended from first-degree murder to felony murder. Wondra is scheduled to be arraigned April 15. ▶️ Watch the clip from court and read our full coverage from court at the link in our bio #Idahonews6 #neighborhoodnews #michaelvaughan ♬ original sound - IdahoNews6

Prosecutors believe Michael died by suffocation during the kidnapping--the defense argued that there is no forensic evidence.

The trial will begin at Payette County District Court on April 15th when Wondra will be arraigned.

Vaughan was just 5-years-old when he went missing in 2021.