Hidden True Crime - Murder Charges Filed in Case of Missing 5-year-old Michael ‘Monkey’ Vaughan - Stacey Wondra suspect

Episode Date: November 2, 2025

*This episode was recorded live* After four long years of heartbreak and unanswered questions, there’s finally a major development in the case of missing 5-year-old Michael “Monkey” Vaughan. One of the key suspects—someone John and I have both interviewed—has now been charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and destruction of evidence. In this episode, we break down the shocking new warrant for Stacey Wondra, what this means for Michael’s family, and why prosecutors say justice is finally closing in—even as the desperate search for Monkey continues. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Smalls: For a limited time only, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to http://smalls.com/HIDDEN Little Spoon: Simplify your kids' mealtimes. Go to:  littlespoon.com/HTC and enter our code HTC at checkout to get 50% OFF your first Little Spoon order.   Smalls: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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premium materials like European linen, organic cotton, but they cut out the middleman. So everything is priced way lower than you'd expect. Refresh. your every day with luxury you can actually use. Head to quince.com slash hidden true crime for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's quince, quince, q-u-in-c-com slash hidden true crime for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com slash hidden true crime. Hello, everybody. Wow. I need to jump on a live because we have some major breaking news, major breaking news in the case of missing five-year-old Michael Vaughn. Michael, who many of you also know as monkey, this is what his family endearingly called him, is a little boy out of Fruitland, Idaho.

It is a case we've been following from the very beginning when he disappeared outside his home in July of 2021. And after more than four years of searching and waiting for answers, one of the people, please, have long suspected, someone that John and I have actually both interviewed. We'll get to that in just a minute. He has now been charged with first-degree murder in this case. This is huge. In a case that seemed to be going cold, we now have a murder charge. And it looks like more charges are coming. We'll get to that in just a little bit. Stick with us because Payette County Prosecutor Michael Duke is talking. This is just getting started, guys. So we'll get to. get to that. But a warrant's been issued for Stacey Wondra. And who is Stacey? Stacey is a man,

by the way, and Stacey lived just blocks away from Michael's home. We're going to walk through what we know so far, what's next, and hidden true crime also has a statement from Michael's mother, Brandy. She has sent us a statement this morning. So let's get into it. The charges include first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and destruction of evidence. Now, Stacey hasn't been extradited yet. He's actually currently serving time in federal prison down in Arizona, Maricopa County. Yeah, the same county as quite a few cases we've been covering. But in Maricopa County, he's there for a different case.

But he was said to be released until, well, these charges came down. and we were hearing whispers of the charges late last night. We've been working to confirm for a while now, and now here we are. So if you've followed this case with us, you'll remember that in 2022, investigators actually dug up the Wondra's backyard. Stacey and Sarah Wondra's backyard after receiving credible information that Michael's remains might be there. So that's all we knew at that time.

But then we later learned that this critical. incredible information came from two of the suspects themselves. Take a listen to the now-released interview between investigators and Stacey by the channel. Clutch them pearls. Take a listen here. I can't. Can you turn the camera around so I can show you? It's like right under that.

A little right to the right of the trees area. To the right of the trees. Yeah. Okay. A little bit. Right, right. Can you see that? Okay, we're at now.

Now he's off the dirt mound. It's like underneath the dirt mound area. And about where he's standing? Yeah, a little bit less, like closer to the house. Kind of closer to the house? Yeah. And what is he wrapped in? Um, you should be, I mean, it should be a garbage bag.

It would be either be white or black. black we only had two colors right off there I mean like I said that's where he was buried okay what that's the last place I had known again I haven't been home for quite a while and a lot of shit you know what I mean so the only other place I would say if he's not in that backyard is go to CUNA to Brandon's house and check in the backyard by the tree area. Okay, well we're gonna finish here first and then we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Okay.

Does he need to go right or? That general area, I mean that bucket's enough to dig, but you're gonna want to like start digging underneath the dirt piles. I don't know how far she actually dug, to be honest with you. I mean, maybe four or five feet. Four or five feet? You know, four or five feet. Like I said, you ask for an end. ask for an estimate I'm giving you what I mean it's probably shorter than that I

don't have an exact idea okay when she dug the hole was she standing in the hole gosh standing outside of it okay and was she right using a regular shovel I think it was a bull nose or what do you call them pointed ones okay and did the shovel was she able to stand on the outside of the ground and the shovel able to reach the bottom of the hole yes okay about how far down was the shovel in the hole? I don't know. Let's say like three feet down, two feet down.

I mean, I don't have a, like I said, I don't have an exact, you know, measurement, like to give you. I mean, I didn't pay attention that far. All right. Thank you. All right. Yeah, difficult to listen to, right? So at the time, both Stacey and his then-wife, Sarah Wundra, were named as suspects, clearly.

It makes sense why after seeing that, along with two other people who were living in that same house at the time. So take a listen. This will give you a bit of background of what happened next. For more than a week earlier this month, heavy equipment worked in the backyard of a neighborhood home just blocks from where five-year-old Michael Vaughn disappeared. Police saying they received credible information, they would find his remains there. Lauren Matthews speaking for Michael's mother, Brandy.

Even as she was telling me that that was the word law enforcement used, the word remains, she could hardly say it herself. When she said it to me, she started crying. And she said, I can't say that word yet. She says the family still doesn't know what, if anything was found, only that an occupant of the house, 35-year-old Sarah Wondra, has been charged

with failing to report a death. The smiling little boy, known as monkey, disappeared in July of 2021. He was at home with his dad and baby sister while mom was at work. Dad says he went to change a diaper, and when he came back, Michael was gone. Searched the house, searched the backyard,

went out in the front yard, jumped in a band called Randy. Last winter, Michael's mom, Randy, invited our News Nation team to their Idaho home. showing us where the canine search teams had tracked Michael's path as he apparently looked for neighborhood kids to play with. He went to a neighbor's house and another's neighbor's house. But the trail went cold at the end of the street, police labeling the disappearance and abduction, many assuming that meant an outsider. We have wondered where he could be in the world. And so to find out that they're digging in a home in their neighborhood, a four-minute walk away is very,

very, very overwhelming. A year and a half of searching and interviewing, police saying they wouldn't give up. We haven't stopped. Every day we have unfinished business, and I'll tell you that every day is an anniversary of the disappearance from Michael Vaughn. I'm coming home, tell the world I'm coming.

Now vigils, and the wait to hear if police finally have answers to what happened to Michael. Beautiful, you guys. Beautiful. That day, cadaver dogs, when they took over that yard, the cadaver dogs even alerted to human remains, but nothing was found. Nothing has ever been found. It was also, for those of us following this case, a very frustrating moment because when we all prepared, we all prepared that day for the worst, right? A little boy's remains being found as they dug up a yard.

And we feared the worst. Monkey's family feared the worst. And we assumed, though, that they would find something and that charges for these suspects would happen. Yet nothing was found. And no charges were filed. And the news stories then began to sort of dwindle. Monkey's still missing. And updates were now few and far between and even more disheartening was the fact that while Sarah Wondra, she was

initially charged with failing to report a death, that charge was later dropped. So was this case going cold? It felt so disheartening. Let's be honest. Buying cannabis shouldn't be complicated, sketchy or low quality. That's why I want to tell you about mood.com. That's M-O-O-O-D.com. Mood ships federally legal cannabis straight to your door. No medical card, no hassle. And here's the kicker. The quality is better than anything you'll find at your local dispensary. Yeah, I said it. Whether you're into edibles, concentrates, flour, or just looking to explore, you'll find it all at mood. And it's not just the variety that makes them stand out. Every product is sourced from small American-owned family farms that care deeply about what they grow. It's cannabis you can trust,

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Let's, and I want you to know this, this was an interview, again, that was requested by unnamed parties. We kept it private, a lot of it private. We're going to listen to a lot of that interview now with Dr. John Matthias and Stacey Wondra. This is January of 2020, for Take a Listen. Okay. We left the house more so like six. Okay. So you're you're stopping the truck at 615-ish.

Correct. Correct. Okay. And you're stopping, you're stopping somewhere outside of your neighborhood a little bit, I assume. And how long does it take you to put the fluid in? 10, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, maybe a minute. Okay, but I mean, you have to stop. you have to put the hood up right i don't know oh yeah all together i mean i'd say maybe five minutes

okay five minutes yeah um what and so i mean i don't i don't know the exact timelines here in terms of you know when michael's leaving his home or goes missing or anything i have no idea i know it's afternoonish but um you stop do you notice anything at that point Not at that point. I mean, Sarah, I had Sarah pop the hood. Okay. I got out of the truck. Passengerside walked around, opened the latch on the hood, put the hood up,

pop the power steering cap off, ports of fluid in it. I noticed there was a kid playing further down the road. Excuse me, sorry. But it wasn't Michael. I can tell that 100%. This kid was definitely older, probably 9, 10 years old, dark hair. You looked more like, excuse my language, more like a Mexican or like, you know, Hispanic. He just wasn't Michael's description at all.

How old was this boy that you saw, would you guess? I'd say probably 8, 9, 10 years old. Definitely older, like more physique, you know what I mean? Like when more filled up, filled in, more defined. Did you, on that issue, did you know, did you know some of the kids in the neighborhood? No. You didn't know any of the kids in the neighborhood? No, we didn't hang out with it.

You're like, we could see them or drive by them. Yeah, we see kids, but we never personally know. on a personal level, no, we never, Sarah and I didn't really hang out with a lot of the neighbors. We kind of stayed to ourselves. You know, there wasn't like we didn't even, you know, when Michael Vaughn went missing, we didn't even know who Michael Vaughn was,

never heard the name, and know where he, never know that, that name existed. Like, they didn't even know who he was and know his family, nothing, never even been down the street that he lived on.

Okay. And so when did you, learned that Michael Vaughn went missing by the way? When we got back into the neighborhood. That night? Yes. Okay. How did you learn that he was missing? That seems pretty quick. Well, no, we learned it because we got back into the neighborhood later on that night, like 10, 30, 11 o'clock, maybe 1115. I don't know.

got back and noticed that the whole neighborhood was swarmed with people. Okay. And I told Sarah to stop. And we stopped. Brandon was steering his car behind us. And we were in, Sarah and I were in the truck and we stopped and rolled down our window and asked what was gone. They said a little boy has disappeared.

Okay. And we were shocked. We're like never even heard of this happening. I mean, out of the years, you know, the year and a half we lived on our house, none of this has ever happened. Never heard of it. And so it was a shock to us, you know, like, we're like, this is weird. This is supposed to be a secure neighborhood, you know. Gotcha.

Right. Well, okay. So let's go back to the, let's go back to your, okay, well, let me ask you that. I got to ask you this before I continue with this, but when you got, when you were leaving, you know, assuming that I don't again I don't know the timelines here but when you're leaving around 6 or whatever and you stop around

615 or 620 for the for the steering fluid did you got did you happen to see any suspicious vehicles or did you happen to see any suspicious people in the neighborhood um

okay you just you just saw this one younger boy Yeah, nothing was, you know, nothing was weird about it. Like he just looked like a boy who was just playing in the neighborhood. Do you remember? I mean, I know, I know you were trying to, you know, get your fluid in and move on. But, I mean, it seems like this could be an important moment.

Did you notice anything about the boy? Do you remember what he was playing with, what he was wearing, anything like that? I know, we had, like, a couple toys, but it was in the yard. You know what I mean? There was nothing. There was nothing weird about it. Like, it just seemed like a normal neighborhood bully. And no different from any other day that we drove or left our neighborhood, you know.

Was he sitting down? Was he walking? He was standing up in the yard. Standing up? Mm-hmm. Was he walking somewhere? No, I was just standing around in the yard. Okay.

Like by himself, I guess? If I recall it, yeah. I mean, he was, I mean, inside a residential area. You know what I mean? Like his own, I assumed it would have been his own home. Was he, do you remember, where was he in relationship to Michael Vaughn's house? Do you remember by any chance? Complete opposite side.

Like, whole other street. Okay. he was on 8th street Michael's house was on 9th street which you literally have to drive like a 500 yard or 500 feet to the next street you know what I mean and I if I don't know where Michael's house is like I said I've never been on that street yeah I don't maybe I don't understand your neighborhood well but so you prior to prior to learning he was missing you would never you didn't know who he was and you'd never ever been on that street before. Correct. By the way, I have actually been to the street. I have seen Michael's home. I have seen where the Wunders home was just a few blocks away. There's no way he has never not been on that street. I'll just say that. Anyway, shortly, after Dr. John interviewed Stacey in sort of a private forum, I interviewed him as well in a more public forum. It was actually

probably one of the most difficult interviews I've ever done, knowing what I knew, but let's revisit some of that interview I did with him as well at Hidden True Crime with Stacey Wendra. The suspect now charged with murdering. Let's take a listen.

Dick, for this little boy. Is that right? Help us understand that. Help us understand. Because you maintain your innocence. Let me explain this. Stacy maintains his innocence, right? Is that correct so tell me if that's true you told police where to dig help me understand that so at the time of being incarcerated and being interrogated this is in November so as previously mentioned on the video are the the YouTube video I did yesterday with you guys

I was diagnosed with different mental illnesses as a young, as a, as a young kid. Yes. And you mentioned, you mentioned fetal alcohol syndrome, bipolar. You mentioned autism, but I wasn't sure if that was accurate or not. That is correct. Okay. Anything else? And intermittent explosive disorder, it's no longer even a thing on the diagnosis table.

but um so okay when somebody and this is just um like something that it's been my whole life so i'm telling me this based up of life events and what i've dealt with but when somebody with fetal alcohol syndrome is put into a high pressure situation their instant reaction is to give something to get them off their back okay And at that point in time, I had been being interrogated. I mean, probably the third or fourth day of being interrogated four plus hours a day. And each and every day that, you know, always told me, oh, we know you know something. We know you don't have information.

You know, we know you're a part of this. And each and every day, I was like, I have no idea what you're talking about. I wasn't about a part of this. I don't even know who this boy is. I didn't even know that family existed. I have nothing. And so the reason I had given them the fable of him, him being in the backyard, was because I was under such an immense amount of pressure that it was just hard for,

it was just hard, hard to really. I don't know how to word it. You know, somebody that suffers with a disability, the fetal concern them, their instant reactions to get them off of their, you know, to give something to get them off of their,

their back. Correct. So you felt almost like you were being interrogated and you wanted them to back off. So this is... Correct, correct. You shared this moment of where they should dig during like a police,

interrogation. Correct. Okay. And thus, in order to get them up your back, you kind of, you said this, but you didn't mean it is what you're saying. Exactly. Okay. Okay.

I will tell you that the location that I pointed out that I gave the direct, the detectives was nowhere even relatively close. to the shed. I told them that he was buried directly outside, like in the middle of the yard, directly across right when you walk off the patio. And I know that, I knew he wasn't there, which is why they didn't find anything. Why, yeah, why did you say there, that area? Because they were going to hound me for a spot anyways. They were going to, they would want a location. And they did that. I initially did try telling him it was just the backyard he was in.

But they were like, okay, well, where is he at in the backyard? And that's when I told him he's here in this spot. And I was on video with, I think, Chris, the detective. And I pointed them in exactly where I told him he was that, you know, he was going to be at. But I knew he wasn't going to be there. and I know it sounds incredibly stupid to do so I didn't know what else to do

like they were so persistent and wanted to they wanted to make sure that I knew something and I didn't I don't there's no I don't have information I even took a polygraph and I passed the polygraph

of flying colors you did you did take the polygraph people are asking You got a chat if you took a polygraph. Absolutely. Okay. Mm-hmm. Okay. And what about Sarah?

Your wife? Your wife said that you did this. No. See, and that's, like, I'm a very firm believer in God. I may not follow God's word to the T or, you know, I may not practice. Christianity

to the T but I'm a very strong believer in God and God doesn't tell lies he's not he's not known to sit there and tell a lie to somebody and God speaks through the heart and not the mind and and I know I was appalled when Sarah said that and it was on the affidavit because I was like

God doesn't lie And God, reality is, God knows the truth behind everything. And truth will come to light. And I just know that it was incredibly just appalling in what Sarah was saying, because it made no sense. You know, first it was, oh, you know, I didn't do this. I don't know anything about it. I would never murder somebody. Then she said, the most high God told me.

me that Stacy did it and then it went from that to go in to have them to do with Adrian you know what I mean there's just no there's no consistency with any of her statement at all and there won't

I just don't Sarah is not she's never been an honest person she's been incredibly deceitful she's just she's not she's not an upfront person. She tries to cover her, her, um,

she has to cover herself to make yourself look good. But I mean, there's a reason her and I, or, like I'm getting a divorce with her is because number one, she was very abusive. Um, you know, she, she's abused me to the point of, of, like, me fearing for my life. and it's just been rough, you know, so I just... How was she abusive, can I ask? She's specifically, just to sum it up, I mean, she's punched me, she's kicked me, she's slapped me, she has helped me down on the couch with a butcher knife to my throat.

she has later on down the road and after 20 of 20 I don't remember one month but there was a time where she held me at gunpoint with a 12-gid shotgun with a slug loaded in the chamber and directly held me, held a gun against my chest

and I mean it's a very scary situation you know you're talking about something that will that will end your life for the rest of your life you know and she's just she's not she's not mentally stable there's a lot of i mean i'm sure a lot of people would agree with me you know my my family my friends know that she's not uh you know from everything that i've told them they just my family absolutely does not like her at all. They liked her at the start. You know, she, she, she, afraid of people, you know, she was this nice girl and, you know, she betrayed herself to, or she portrayed herself to be somebody that she wasn't. Okay. Again, most difficult interview I have ever done. Um, and many, it was live on

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hoping and praying for answers. And in January of this year, so 2025, January 2025, Brandy, Michael's mother came on our show once again to give us an update. And honestly, it was heartbreaking. Let's take a listen to that. About a year and a half later, there was a break in the case.

It was about a year and a half. We interviewed you. We were following. We were praying with you and hoping with you and doing all we could to report here at Hidden True Crime. And the break in the case is really big. Police listed four suspects, Stacey, Wondra, Sarah Wondra, Brandon Shirtliff and Adrian Luce Seine.

And they were then started digging for remains. This was very near your house about four minutes away. They told you to stay away, as I recall. I remember talking to you that day. They said, stay away. We are looking for remains. You weren't ready to say that yet. I remember you telling me that I'm not ready to say that.

I want to bring him home. He's going to come home. And they searched this house just four minutes from you where the wondrous had been living. And they didn't find monkey, although they did find evidence, I believe. And I don't know if I can share that evidence or if you can. I don't know. But at that moment, it was national news. And I think I want to share this with people.

This is really important. At that moment, it was national news. And I think many people thought at that moment that perhaps the case was solved. And news and media went quiet for a bit after that time. Yeah, okay. But what people don't realize is no. Monkeys never been found. And no one has ever, ever been charged in his disappearance or his kidnapping.

In fact, Stacey Wondra, or excuse me, Sarah Wondy. Sarah and Stacy were married. Sarah Wondra, the wife, was charged at that time with failing to report a body. Is that right? But those charges were then dropped. They were then dropped. Yes. You say that again? Dropped without prejudice. So they can refile those charges at a later date if those charges will once. then this charges apply, they'll bring those back, I'm assuming. That's what I was under the, that's under the assumption of if it's even necessary for that charge. And that was two years ago. Yeah. And that was two years ago. Yes. And so then here we are today. So can you, can you help us understand or share what's been going on in the past two years? And I think one reason this is so, important this live i just want to share this please share this with everyone brandy is hoping you do

that please we need to bring awareness yes to this case um we need to let people know that this case has not been solved that monkey um is missing and and that uh no one no one has been charged with taking your son what what has been going on the past couple of years if we can ask you um well as you there are four named suspects the chief of police did um across conference in 2022 November of 2002 and those four suspects names are stacy wandra sarah wanda adrian lucy and brann and sherlitt um at the time they had said that there had been a credible tip that came from someone inside the home. We were unaware of who the dip had come from. Stacey had been incarcerated at the time of the press conference on unrelated charges,

federal contractors at that time. And then when he got out, he wanted to to clear his name. Say clear his name. He did a lot of interviews. Of course, on YouTube, locally. He did some with local news media as well. I watched him for a very long time.

Lie. After I had heard this a confession of this. I couldn't handle listening to that man every which way on all these platforms as I'm trying to bring awareness to Michael's case to these four suspects because Michael is still missing.

And I just couldn't, I couldn't stand listening to him lie to everyone anymore. Yeah. John and I were two of those people that interviewed Stacy. And we did so to try to help to try to understand a little bit more. We, John's interview, John is a criminal and forensic psychologist. And we actually, for reason, put John's interview behind a paywall because we did want fewer

people seeing this. It is on Patreon. I did mine publicly. Stacey understood that. But I'll tell you, it was a very, very difficult interview for me to do. I had a very hard time.

In fact, a lot of people even said to me, Lauren, I usually like your interviews and I didn't like that one. And I had a really hard time. I'll just say. And I'm very appreciative for you and John

and everyone that interviewed, Stacey Wanderer. It just showed more. and more of the inconsistencies in his story and the lies that he's continuously told. Now, where do we find the truth in that? Where is Michael? We're again going to watch this interrogation with John, you know, after we talked to Brandy. And so for people to understand this interview, had you seen this interrogation or this police interview with Stacey before?

before it was released through FOIA docs, you had. You had seen it. Oh, before it was released through. Right. No, no, no law enforcement. This, it's, I had not seen any, any of this. All I was told was from law enforcement. Trust them, which of course I always do.

We do, we do wholeheartedly. And, um, there were solid reasons and evidence why they were these four people are suspects. So this information was acquired through a FOIA request. It was attached to a different incident. and that was a whole lot. Do you know, do you know Brandy, could you fill us in about the,

do you know the circumstances under which that information was obtained? Did they, did Stacey volunteer that information or, you know, when he was incarcerated or the unrelated charges? Do you know, do you know exactly why? he was assisting law enforcement with that statement? I do not have a definitive answer on that. I have a few different things that have been told. Okay.

And I'm not sure the exact order how everything happened, so I'm not going to speculate on that. That will, you know, I mean, that it is all in the probable cause affidavit that is, with the prosecution. So all of that information when said time. So the probable cause

obviously has not been released. Correct. Because there's been no arrest. Right. Okay. Yeah, I was just curious that when we look at the statement,

you know, usually it's helpful to have the context or the circumstances under which somebody is making that type of statement. I guess you could call it a confession of sorts. So from my understanding is my understanding. I could be wrong. This is this is just my perception of how this occurred. Sarah Wondra had been speaking to Stacey Wondra. I'm not sure when and how the context of all of that happened. Stacey, I believe, had said he had information about the location and the

of Michael's range. And they went and spoke with him. And then I believe they were able to get a search warrant, served that search warrant. I was arrested and I believe that's the next morning is when they started excavating the yard. So as far as I know Stacey Wander was the one that

contacted for the police department and that's how that I believe I don't know how all of the rest goes and with all of it. Gotcha. But it so it may have originated with some type of recordings

from calls between Stacey and Sarah. I'm sure it came in some sort of investigation process that they've been working on.

Gotcha. Okay. I would really, really thank you all for continuing to share Michael's story. I'm battling a life-threatening illness right now.

Yes. And very, very resolved. resilient and strong person, but I need everyone's help. I made a promise. 1,272 days ago to Michael. To Michael. I promised him. And no matter what, I would never give up, and I will bring him home. Now things have added along the way. And Michael, we are going to bring you home. That still stands.

That promise still stands. And we will get justice for you. Now, there are a few family members and a few law enforcement officers that I, in case I am unable to fulfill this promise before my days end. They're going to hold up my word as if it's mine. So please keep my goal in our family and everyone in your prayers. How can all of us help you best? Sixth Sense Amelia is stating we are not giving up either. What can all of us do from where we are?

Share Michael's story. share the facts from law enforcement. Keep a story out there. Please don't forget about them. Please don't forget about him. And don't forget about all of the missing. We need justice. Justice needs to be served.

At this point, that's where I'm at. It's continue to support law enforcement and our community. and pray that these four suspects or anyone that has any information possibly knows more than what they're actually saying. Please have the heart to come forward, please. Please let me keep that promise before. I can't. Please.

Minnie asking how Brandy is doing now, she is currently recovering from a transplant. We're going to get to that in just a moment. But first, let's just go back to this breaking news at hand. This is the first major step forward that we have seen in a very long time. And major step forward is an understatement. We are seeing a murder charge. The case has now officially been turned over to the Payette County prosecutor.

And for Michael's family, this is hopefully the beginning of long-awaited justice. Although, in a statement sent to Hidden True Crime from Brandy Vaughn, Michael's mother, she states, our family has mixed emotions. Yes, we are glad charges are coming. We want them to tell us where Michael is, period. We will let the justice system take care of the rest. End quote. They want to know where Michael is, period.

because Michael has still not been found, despite the murder charges, which is clearly a painful unknown for the family who still wants to bring their little boy home. And three other suspects have still not been charged. Those are Adrian Lucene, Brandon Shirtliff, and Sarah Wondra. Sarah Wondra is in prison on completely unrelated charges, which include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and concealment of evidence. That means she's expected to be behind bars until at least next year. And it feels like the clock is ticking. And today, the Payette County prosecutor released a statement reading,

and I'm going to read it here just today, quote, Michael Vaughn's case update. My office is moving forward with charges against the individuals, individuals involved in the disappearance and murder a five-year-old Michael Vaughn, which occurred in the summer of 2021. After a robust investigation by the Fruitland Police Department and countless assisting agencies, we have unfortunately been unable to locate Michael to recover his remains. Our foremost hope has always been to recover Michael, but delays now risk further harm to his loved ones. We believe we know the individuals involved and are committed to pursuing justice

with or without Michael's recovery. These charges are only possible as a result of Fruitland's unyielding tenacity and perseverance. They have not ceased to work in the case since the crime occurred and they are continuing to search and investigate so they can bring Michael's body home. Michael's body home. As Chief Huff has previously stated, it would be foolish to believe Fruitland police will ever stop in their pursuit of recovering one of the most cherished members of our community, a child. I would remind the public that anyone accused of a crime by my office is entitled to the

presumption of innocence, and it is the office's duty to prove that they are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. I would also ask the public and immediate to be sensitive to how difficult a case like this is to the surviving family members and neighbors and ask that any efforts to speak with those involved be tempered appropriately. Cases such as these tend to thrust family members into the public eye against their will, and my hope is that the public will respect their privacy as they weather this difficult process. Signed, Michael Duke, Payette County Prosecutor.

end quote. So a couple things. I think the first line is the most profound that they tend to bring charges to individuals, individuals, meaning not just Stacey Oadra. Perhaps this is just the beginning. And the other heartbreaking thing in that statement is that they have said they have been unable to bring home Michael Vons. body, meaning they do believe that he has been murdered. We're going to keep following this story throughout the day and coming weeks as more details come in. If you want to help the family, there is a meal train link in the description of this episode where you can even donate money to help those in planning meals for the family while Brandy continues to recover from a recent life-saving liver transplant. She is recovering from a life-saving liver transplant. So not only is this news coming down, she is weak. She is recovering. They just removed the feeding tube. This family has been going through so much. Thank you, by the way, to those that are donors. Thank you. This is

what happens. Thank you to those who are donors. She has received a recent life-saving liver transplant and the family continues to hope and wait and as brandy asks do not forget michael let's help her keep her promise to her little boy keep this family in your thoughts your prayers your energy your good vibes and may justice be served let's not forget little monkey thank you before i switched to wealth front my apy was probably zero point one like it was a joke i was literally getting penny Once I switched chiching. With a Wealthfront cash account, earn up to 4.2% APY on your cash. The high APY with Wellfront was a clear winner.

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