Michael Vaughan, who would now be seven years old, has now been missing for two years. The last time Michael, also known as "Monkey" was seen was on July 27, 2021 at his Fruitland home. Police believe Vaughn disappeared between 6:40 pm and 7:00 pm that Tuesday evening.
Investigators continue working on the case, performing ground searches as recently as this month. In a new post from the Fruitland Police Department, they say the investigation "is moving into a new phase as investigators have submitted this case along with a probable cause affidavit to the Payette County Prosecutor."
Last November, Fruitland Police spent a week digging up a backyard of a Fruitland home after a tip from someone who lived in the home. No remains were found. At the time, police said they believed Michael was buried on the property but later moved.
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A woman who lives at the home was arrested and initially charged with failing to report a death but charges against her were dropped in April.
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Fruitland Police Chief J.D. Huff told Idaho News 6 last year his department has cleared over 1,000 leads in the time since Vaughan's disappearance and Michael's family remains cooperative in the investigation.
In a post from the Fruitland Police Department's Facebook page, the police say that the case is still very much active and that ground searches are continuing, as recent as this month.
To date, Fruitland PD has received over 2,000 tips and leads, and continues to ask anyone with information that can help locate Michael to contact findmichael@fruitland.org or Crime Stoppers at 343COPS.com.
