Brandon Shurtliff
FRUITLAND, Idaho (KFGO) – Police believe a 5-year-old boy who was abducted there last year was murdered, and one of the people involved in his disappearance is in North Dakota.
Police Chief JD Huff said Michael Vaughan disappeared on July 27, 2021. The boy is believed to be dead, but his remains have not been found.
Investigators believe there are four people involved in the abduction of Michael, including 30-year-old Brandon Shurtliff of Kuna, Idaho who is believed to be in North Dakota.
Police did not say why they believe Shurtliff is in North Dakota, or where in the state he could be.
Police told KFGO News they are not answering any more questions about the case as they continue their investigation.
Two of the individuals, Sarah and Stacey Wondra, are in custody.
Sarah Wondra, 35, is being held in the Payette County, Idaho Jail for failing to report a death to law enforcement. Stacey Wondra, 30, is currently being held in the Washington County, Idaho Jail on unrelated charges.
Shurtliff and another man, 32-year-old Adrien Lucienne of Toledo, Ohio, are wanted for questioning in the case. Lucienne is believed to be in Toledo, but floats between California and Ohio. Police believe that both Shurtliff and Lucienne have first-hand knowledge of Michael’s abduction.
Police said the Wondras were living at a home in Fruitland at the time of Michael’s disappearance. They believe Sarah and Stacey have first-hand knowledge of Michael’s abduction.
Officers said they have received over 1500 tips in the case and one of those tips provided credible information that the remains of Michael could be found at the home.
On Nov. 11, they executed a search warrant on the residence, including the front and back yards.
Officers found Sarah Wondra at the home and arrested her based on probable cause that she had knowledge of Michael’s death and failed to report the death to law enforcement.
On Nov. 12, Fruitland Police, Idaho State Police, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, Fruitland Fire Department, and the Fruitland Public Works Department, excavated the backyard of Wondra’s home. Ground penetrating radar was used and detected anomalies in the yard.
Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue and Mountain States Detection Dogs brought in Certified Human Remains Detection K9’s on the property, which alerted investigators to the presence of human remains. Crews dug four feet deep.
Prior to filling the yard back in, crews sifted the dirt for any potential human remains, but found nothing.
Investigators believe Michael was abducted, murdered, and buried in the property, and that his remains were later moved.
Police will be searching a neighboring home on Friday.
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