At the time of the incident, Michael was just a five-year-old boy who had started looking for a playmate on the evening of July 27, 2021.

Michael’s family lived in a quiet neighborhood in Fruitland, Idaho, with mostly ranch-style homes.

The area didn’t have many trees or obstacles, but several homes had privacy fences. Michael’s Street, Southwest 9th Street, was a short cul-de-sac.

Brandi Neal and her husband were at their home in Fruitland trying to decide what to eat on the evening of July 27, 2021.

Meanwhile, at 6:30 p.m., Michael left his house through the garage door, unnoticed by his parents, and went to a neighbor’s house to find a playmate.

After knocking on a few doors, Michael failed to find anyone to play with. He returned home, where his parents were surprised to discover that he was missing.

They searched their home, yard, and surrounding neighborhood, but were unable to find Michael. Eventually, they contacted the Fruitland Police Department to report Michael’s disappearance.

Subsequently, a 35-year-old lady was charged in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing and authorities are still trying to determine the circumstances of Michael’s disappearance.

The research

Fruitland Police launched an investigation into Michael Vaughan’s disappearance and early on in the case they suspected he had been kidnapped.

In an attempt to locate him, the department issued a search warrant describing Michael as a young child with blue eyes and blonde hair, about three feet tall and weighing about 50 pounds.

Since then, researchers have followed more than 1,000 clues and tips from the public, according to KTVB7. The department has also detained a suspect, Sarah Wondra, 35, who is charged with failing to report a death.

As Fox News reported, the judge temporarily sealed the probable cause document related to the case to preserve other investigative clues. Wondra and her husband Stacey Wondra live in the same house.

In one of Wondra’s TikTok videos, filmed in her kitchen, the missing child flyer was slung over her shoulder as she spoke to the camera. This detail has prompted further investigation into Wondra’s possible involvement in Michael’s disappearance.

At a press conference, a spokesman for the Fruitland Police Department, Sgt. Justin Huff stated that Wondra may have known about Michael’s death but did not make it public, indicating that others may also be involved in the case.

Authorities will continue to investigate all leads related to the case.