A little over four years after a 5-year-old boy vanished in Idaho, a suspect has been charged in connection with his disappearance.
Michael Vaughan was last seen on July 27, 2021 outside his home in Fruitland, located about 55 miles northwest of Boise, authorities said, per Idaho News, the Idaho Statesman and KTVB.
On Friday, Oct. 31, the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office announced in a press release that prosecutors are “moving forward with charges against the individuals involved in the disappearance and murder of 5-year-old Michael Vaughan.”
Though the office did not name the suspects, Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech confirmed to the Statesman that 33-year-old Stacey Wondra has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and destruction of evidence.
Stacey and his ex-wife, Sarah Wondra, were named suspects by local police in 2022 after investigators dug up their backyard in search for the boy’s remains, which have not been found, the Statesman reported.
Police said at the time that they received a tip from someone living in the house that the boy’s remains were there, KTVB reported.
Sarah was charged with failure to report a death following the search, but prosecutors later dropped that charge, per the Statesman. Two other people were identified as persons of interest in the case. It’s unclear if she is facing new charges in connection with the 5-year-old’s disappearance.
“Our foremost hope has always been to recover Michael but delays now risk further harm to his loved ones,” prosecutors said in the release. “We believe we know the individuals involved and are committed to pursuing justice with or without Michael’s recovery.”
Both suspects are currently serving prison sentences for crimes unrelated to the boy’s disappearance, the outlets reported.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office for additional comment.
Brandi Neal, the boy’s mother, told KTVB on Friday that the family is hoping for more details regarding the location of the boy’s remains following the news of charges.
“This is just a beginning to a hard road we know that’s up ahead,” she said, per the outlet. “We are here. We want Justice. Michael will get his Justice! We want Michael home and we’re never going to stop until we have Michael home.”
