‘Not Guilty': Idaho Man Enters Plea in Child Murder Case

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

Overwhelmingly emotional, the community has watched (and helped, where appropriate) 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.

After years of investigation, there is now a trial.

Just weeks ago, a Judge agreed that probable cause warrants a trial--and an Idaho man, Stacey Wondra, is the suspect facing charges for kidnapping, killing, and attempting to destroy evidence of it all, surrounding Michael Vaughan.

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

Now, ahead of the trial, Wondra has appeared in court and plead 'Not Guilty' to all counts.

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.

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

Fruitland Police have shared that they believe Michael's body was once buried in Wondra's backyard, but has since been moved.

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