Ivestigators looking for two more individuals in Michael Vaughan case

By: 
Philip A. Janquart
Editor/Reporter
NEW DETAILS RELEASED IN MICHAEL VAUGHAN INVESTIGATION
Police looking for two additional individuals with knowledge of crime
 
by Philip A. Janquart
 
The Fruitland Police Department held a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 1, releasing new details in its investigation into the disappearance of Michael Vaughan.
Vaughan was 5-years-old when he went missing from his parents’ home in Fruitland on July 27, 2021, triggering a 16-month long investigation that has produced over 1,500 tips and leads in the case.
On Thursday, Fruitland Police Chief, J.D. Huff, provided an update on a search warrant served on Sarah and Stacey Wondra’s residence at 1102 Redwing St. in Fruitland, just a short distance from the Vaughan family’s home.
Fruitland police, joined by the Idaho State Police, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, the Fruitland Fire Department, and the Fruitland Public Works Department conducted a methodical excavation of the property, according to Huff.
“During that excavation process, the Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, Mountain States Detection Dogs deployed multiple certified human remains detection dogs on the property, all of them alerting to the presence of human remains,” Huff told reporters at the press conference. “Ground penetrating radar was also used and deployed, detecting anomalies in the back yard.”
Heavy equipment was used to remove 250 yards of dirt, which was meticulously sifted for evidence. Excavation was completed on Nov. 18.
“We did not find Michael’s remains,” Huff said. “Although the remains of Michael Vaughan were not recovered, we strongly believe, based on evidence, that Michael was abducted and is deceased, and that his remains were buried and later moved from the property.”
Law enforcement served a search warrant at the residence on Nov. 11, police finding Sarah Wondra, 35, alone in the house. She was arrested on Nov. 12 on probable cause that she had knowledge of Vaughan’s death and failed to report it to law enforcement, “with intent to prevent discovery of the manner of death.”
She was arraigned on Nov. 14, a Payette County magistrate judge on Nov. 21 determining Sarah Wondra mentally unfit to proceed. A preliminary hearing set for Nov. 22 was vacated and rescheduled for Friday, Dec. 23.
She is currently being held in the Payette County jail, according to Huff.
Sarah’s husband, Stacey Wondra, 30, is currently being held in the Washington County jail in Weiser on unrelated federal weapons charges.
Huff said the Nov. 11 search warrant was served after receiving a “very credible tip,” which he confirmed during Wednesday’s press conference.
“I assure you that the tip we received was credible,” he said. “It came from one of the occupants of the home.”
Huff said a search of the Wondra residence produced additional evidence.
“Once the excavation was complete, we conducted a thorough search of the Wondras’ residence,” he said. “The search was productive and additional investigative evidence was recovered and is currently being processed.”
That evidence, Huff said, points to both Sarah and Stacey Wondra, as well as two other individuals that had been staying with the couple when Vaughan went missing.
 
Suspects Sought
Investigators are now looking for Brandon Shurtliff, 30, of Kuna, Idaho and Adrien Lucienne, 32, of Toledo, Ohio. Huff said both men were staying with the Wondras during the time of Michael’s disappearance and that investigators believe they have “first-hand knowledge of Michael’s abduction.”
Shurtliff, he said, is believed to be somewhere in North Dakota and Lucienne in Toledo, although he, “floats between Ohio and California.”
“I strongly encourage Shurtliff and Lucienne to contact Fruitland Police Department detectives as the window of time for talking and cooperation is coming to a close,” Huff said. “We also believe there are others associated with the Wondras, Shurtliff, and Lucienne who may have knowledge of Michael’s abduction, and I would strongly encourage them to come forward and speak with my detectives.
“When we finally reach the conclusion of this investigation – and I can assure you that we will – all those who have knowledge of Michael’s disappearance and have failed to report or hindered our investigation will be pursued. There is a moment in time to do the right thing and bring your information forward and cooperate, and that moment in time is now.”
 
Neighbor’s Yard
Huff said a neighbor’s property will also be searched.
“We [are] deploying ground penetrating radar in the neighbor’s yard tomorrow (Friday, Dec.2),” he said, stating that a warrant was not issued since the search is consensual.
“This has been an all-hands on deck investigation and it remains very active,” he said. “You can’t take one of our most precious citizens from us and ever expect us to stop.”
Tips can be submitted to findmichael@fruitland.org; Crime Stoppers at 343cops.com or (208) 452-3110.
 
Pictured clockwise from top left, Sandra Wondra, of Fruitland, Adrien Lucienne, of Toledo, Ohio, Brandon Shurtliff, of Kuna, and Stacey Wondra, of Fruitland.

 

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