ID MICHAEL VAUGHAN: Missing from Fruitland, ID - 27 July 2021 - Age 5

Search continues for missing and endangered 5-year-old in Fruitland, Idaho

Michael Vaughan was last seen near SW 9th Street and S. Arizona Ave. in Fruitland on Tuesday evening. Crews and neighbors were out all day looking for the boy.

www.ktvb.com

Search continues for missing and endangered 5-year-old in Fruitland, Idaho​

Michael Vaughn was last seen near SW 9th Street and S. Arizona Ave. in Fruitland on Tuesday evening. Crews and neighbors were out all day looking for the boy.

The search for a missing 5-year-old-year-old boy intensified Wednesday as it entered its second day.

Michael Vaughn was last seen near SW 9th Street and S. Arizona Avenue in Fruitland around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Fruitland Police Department said Michael is considered missing and endangered.

Michael is about three feet, seven-inches tall and weighs 50 pounds. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. He answers to the nickname "Monkey."

Michael was wearing a light blue shirt with a Minecraft picture on it, dark blue boxer briefs and sandals.

Idaho Mountain Rescue brought in highly-trained and rescue personnel to assist in the search.

Crews from multiple agencies searched the area near Michael's home by ground and air by drone and helicopter. They also went door to door, talking with neighbors.

Right next to the boy's home is a field where crews spent much of the day searching for him.

Neighbors say they learned about his disappearance about an hour after he was reported missing. They say Michael is a happy kid who lives with his parents and grandfather.

Cynthia Walker was walking her dog as the search was happening.

"At five years old, I don't know that he would wander too far without one us seeing him by now," she said. "There are volunteers, many, many volunteers out searching, scanning the fields and we just want to have Michael back, we just want him home safe."





MEDIA - MICHAEL VAUGHN: Missing from Fruitland, ID since 27 July 2021 - Age 5

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Eight months since Michael Joseph Vaughan went missing

Its been eight months since five-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan went missing. Despite the endless searches. , even a reward, there's still no answer as to where he may be. "It's a very emotional situation. We live this every day," said Brandi Neal, Michael's mom. This week, Michael's parents...

idahonews.com

Missing 5-year-old boy's parents host a booth at Treefort to spread awareness
Its been eight months since five-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan went missing. Despite the endless searches., even a reward, there's still no answer as to where he may be.

"It's a very emotional situation. We live this every day," said Brandi Neal, Michael's mom.

This week, Michael's parents hosted a booth at the Treefort music festival, with photos and information on Michael, hoping to spread his story.

"Our goal here is to make more people aware of Michael still missing. Today is eight months, and we need everyone's help, " Brandi said.


The family also hosted a child identification booth in partnership with the Kyron Horman Foundation. People were able to bring their kids, get their photos taken, fingerprints, and additional information about the child in case they are ever lost.

Through all of this, all Michael's family wants is for him to come home.

"We're sad. We miss Michael. We want him home," Brandi said.

The $52,000 reward for Michael's safe return will expire Thursday, March 31.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Fruitland police to reinstate reward for information on Michael Vaughan

The reward for information leading to the safe return of missing five-year-old Michael Vaughan is set to be renewed after it expires, Fruitland Police told CBS2. "My intent is to reinstate the reward on April 1, 2022 non-expiring," said JD Huff, Chief of Police with the Fruitland Police...

idahonews.com

Fruitland police to reinstate reward for information on Michael Vaughan
The reward for information leading to the safe return of missing five-year-old Michael Vaughan is set to be renewed after it expires, Fruitland Police told CBS2.

"My intent is to reinstate the reward on April 1, 2022 non-expiring," said JD Huff, Chief of Police with the Fruitland Police Department.

The reward is currently set at $52,860. This reward is funded entirely through donations and is was set to be active until March 31. Police said the sunset dates on the fund were to incentivize people to come forward.

"If someone has or learns of information that can help find Michael, we want that information now," Fruitland Police said.

CBS2 spoke with Michael's mother Brandi Neal on Sunday. She tells us she is still holding on to hope that her little boy will come home. She tells us she's grateful to see her community has come together to bring her son home.

"We live this every day and for other people to be experiencing the hurt and that sadness that we are going through and seeing it, it's hard," she said.

"To have the positivity there and the support helps keep our hope going."

Michael's mother says she's staying strong for her son.

"We're sad, we miss Michael and we want him home, he needs us to be strong when he gets home."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

‘Bittersweet’: Governor Little signs law inspired by missing Fruitland boy

“It’s bittersweet,” Vaughan’s mother, Brandi Neal, said after the event. "It’ll help families.”

www.ktvb.com

‘Bittersweet’: Governor Little signs law inspired by missing Fruitland boy​

In a prayer given before a small crowd at Fruitland City Park on Wednesday morning, a pastor acknowledged the day drew “mixed feelings.”

The group was there to watch Gov. Brad Little perform a ceremonial bill signing for a law to create an Endangered Missing Person Alert, the first of its kind in Idaho. On one hand, the law will give families a new tool to try to help find their loved ones. On the other hand, the inspiration for the legislation, 5-year-old Michael Vaughan, is still missing.

“It’s bittersweet,” Vaughan’s mother, Brandi Neal, said after the event. "It’ll help families.”

She noted that the day marked 274 days since her son, who’s nicknamed “Monkey” has been gone from the Fruitland family’s home.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Michael Vaughan: Reward for Information About Missing Idaho Boy Tops $50,000

A 5-year-old Idaho boy who vanished without a trace last July remains missing, as the Fruitland Police Department continues its “exhaustive, labor intensive” work to find him. Michael Joseph Vaughan was last seen on July 27, 2021, on foot and near an open field near his home, as CrimeOnline...

www.crimeonline.com

Michael Vaughan: Reward for Information About Missing Idaho Boy Tops $50,000​

A 5-year-old Idaho boy who vanished without a trace last July remains missing, as the Fruitland Police Department continues its “exhaustive, labor intensive” work to find him.

Michael Joseph Vaughan was last seen on July 27, 2021, on foot and near an open field near his home, as CrimeOnline previously reported.

A reward for information leading to the missing boy has reached $52,860, Fruitland Police said.


Investigators say that one vehicle seen in surveillance footage near where the boy disappeared has still not been identified — a white Honda Pilot — although they believe they getting close to identifying its owner.

Police added that since the investigation has become a criminal one, they’re limited in what information they can share. But they said they’d received nearly 850 tips, most of which have been cleared.

They added that they don’t plan any more ground searches in the area since previous searches have covered the region thoroughly.


Tips can be sent to findmichael@fruitland.org or to Crime Stoppers, 343COPS.com. Tips may remain anonymous.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Friday marks 10 months since disappearance of five-year-old Michael Vaughan​

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Fruitland PD on missing boy Michael Vaughan: 'We haven't stopped, and we remain hopeful'

The search continues for Michael Vaughan who's been missing now for more than 10 months. Fruitland Police told CBS2 on Tuesday that officers continue to follow leads. "We haven't stopped (looking) and we remain hopeful," Police chief J. D. Huff said. Vaughan, who was 5 years old when he...

idahonews.com

Fruitland PD on missing boy Michael Vaughan: 'We haven't stopped, and we remain hopeful'
The search continues for Michael Vaughan who's been missing now for more than 10 months.

Fruitland Police told CBS2 on Tuesday that officers continue to follow leads.

"We haven't stopped (looking) and we remain hopeful," Police chief J.D. Huff said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Family hangs onto hope ahead of Monkey’s birthday

By Corey Evan

www.argusobserver.com

Family hangs onto hope ahead of Monkey’s birthday​

With 11 months having passed since the disappearance of 5-year-old Michael “Monkey” Vaughan from his Fruitland home, the community continues to come together to show support for parents Brandi Neal and Tyler Vaughan. A birthday gathering is set for this Friday at Kiwanis Park in Payette, with a cake donated for the event by the staff of the Payette Albertsons.

In the meantime, Fruitland Police Chief J.D. Huff tells the newspaper that efforts to recover Michael continues and that they are not alone at this point in the search.
“The FBI and the Idaho State Police continue working closely with the Fruitland Police Department to find Michael,” wrote Huff in an email Monday.

Huff further stated his team’s support for Michael’s family ahead of celebrating his 6th birthday.

“As we approach Michael’s 6th birthday, I want Brandi, Tyler, Bob and the Vaughan family to know that we haven’t stopped and we’ll not stop trying to find Michael. We remain hopeful and the leads continue to come in. As I’ve said before, every lead will be investigated.”

In a June 17 email ahead of the Friday gathering, Michael’s father, Tyler Vaughan, made it known how painful Michael’s disappearance remains.

“We are thankful to the community and law enforcement for their ongoing efforts to locate Michael,” wrote Tyler Vaughan. “As the day of his birthday draws closer, our hearts continue to break more than we imagined possible. It is our hope every day that Monkey is returned to us. It is our hope that the person who has him returns him safely to us before his birthday. Thank you.”

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

‘We love you Monkey’: Community honors missing Fruitland boy for his sixth birthday

Nearly a year after his disappearance, community members gathered to honor Michael Vaughan and support his family on his sixth birthday.

www.ktvb.com

‘We love you Monkey’: Community honors missing Fruitland boy for his sixth birthday​

Blue balloons were sent off into the sky in Kiwianis Park in Payette Friday to celebrate and honor missing Fruitland boy Michael Vaughan's sixth birthday.

“I hope he sees them," said Brandi Neal, Michael’s mother. She added blue was his favorite color and she made sure to get biodegradable balloons because he "loved the environment."

"Today is about his beautiful face and his life that was brought here to us and everyone here six years ago," Neal said.

"He's beyond missed and beyond loved and we need him. We need him," said Tyler Vaughan, Michael's father.

"He's coming home and we're waiting for him- we're all waiting for him," Neal said. "Every single one of us are waiting for him and we're going to bring him home."


KTVB reached out to Fruitland Police in person and via email Friday about new details into Michael's case. They were not immediately available.

Fruitland Police Department told KTVB in March investigators had received nearly 850 leads on Michael's disappearance, but almost all of them have been cleared.

Huff said Fruitland Police continue to work with their partners from the FBI and Idaho State Police on the case. Huff called this a criminal investigation. Back in October 2021, law enforcement said it is highly likely Michael has been abducted.

The reward for Michael's safe return is more than $52,000.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

11 months since Michael Vaughan went missing

Monday marks 11 months since the five-year-old Michael Vaughan went missing from his Fruitland home. Michael went missing on the eveningg July 27, 2021.

idahonews.com

11 months since Michael Vaughan went missing
Monday marks 11 months since the five-year-old Michael Vaughan went missing from his Fruitland home.

Michael went missing on the evening of July 27, 2021. Police have cleared hundreds of community leads in their search, and efforts are still being made to bring him home. "We haven't stopped (looking) and we remain hopeful," Fruitland police chief J.D. Huff said last month.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

A Year Without Michael...

www.missingkids.org

A Year Without Michael...

About 50 miles west of Boise, Idaho, sits "The Big Apple of Idaho," a small town otherwise known as Fruitland. Fruitland is a tight-knit community, one that gets its name from the apple orchards that surround the family-filled city.

In the last year, the quiet town of Fruitland has made national headlines, not because of its agriculture, but instead because of a missing boy, a 5-year-old who vanished one July night last summer.

Fruitland, Idaho, is the home of Michael Vaughan.

And nearly a year ago, it’s where he was last seen.



July 27, 2021, started like every other normal summer day for Michael and his family. His mother, Brandi Neal, told NCMEC that she had been working numerous days in a row and that this was finally her last day before a break.

She promised her son Michael, whom she affectionately dubbed "Monkey" due to his rambunctious and full-of-energy personality, that when she returned home, she would have a few days off for them to play together.

Brandi called home later that afternoon, around 4 p.m., and Michael was playing video games. Everything was normal.

She didn’t know at the time that a few hours later she would receive the call that would change her world.

Michael “Monkey” Vaughan, a fun-loving, blue-eyed little boy who likes to play outside, was missing, and no one could find him.

That’s when the seemingly normal summer day of July 27 would turn into a year-long, nationwide missing child search, leaving everyone pondering the question:

Where is Michael?



Investigators say that on the day Michael went missing, he was last seen between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. near his home. At the time, he was walking east in the area of Southwest 9th Street. He was wearing a blue Minecraft T-shirt and blue boxer-style shorts with flip-flops.

Soon after he was last seen, a county-wide search began. Photos of Michael circulated around Idaho and the rest of the United States. Countless searches were performed by search and rescue units, law enforcement agencies and community volunteers, yet there was still no sign of Michael.

In October 2021, Fruitland Police Department announced that they were asking for help in identifying a car that was seen in the area around the time that Michael went missing. Police believe the car below is a 2016-2018 white Honda Pilot. The car was seen on surveillance footage leaving the area of Southwest 8th St. around 6:47 p.m. that afternoon.



In March 2022, the department's Facebooksaid that they had received nearly 850 leads on Michael’s disappearance and that nearly all of them had been cleared. They thanked the public for their support.

"Please know that while not all investigative efforts can be made public, our focus remains strongly on finding Michael, with no stone being left unturned, every option carefully considered, and all leads investigated," the post said.

As for Michael’s family, his parents are holding onto hope. In June, the local community gathered to celebrate Michael’s 6th birthday. His mom and dad told KTVB 7that no matter what, they would continue the search.

"He’s coming home and we’re waiting on him—we're all waiting for him," Brandi said. "Every single one of us are waiting for him and we’re going to bring him home."

"He’s beyond missed and beyond loved and we need him," Tyler Vaughan, Michael’s father, said.

"We need him."

 

[Kimster]

Notes from today's presser:

Alexandra Duggan​

@dugganreports
·


#MichaelVaughan takeaways from being at the presser: LE is back in the area from a lead they’re focused on. There are people that have been non-cooperative. Family is cooperating 100% but have not been cleared because… everything is so up in the air. They cannot rule out a ton.


https://twitter.com/dugganreports
https://twitter.com/dugganreports
No suspects. It could’ve been a stranger abduction, but LE has looked into people close to Michael and some of them are persons of interest. Everything is outstanding. Everything is a grey area — but they’ve still narrowed the case down SUBSTANTIALLY.
A lot of their investigation has been convoluted or muddied because people not involved with the case have been putting out extreme theories, contacting law enforcement, harassing people; etc.

 

[Regina]

Seems strange that they can't be sure whether the white Honda Pilot belongs to a resident...
And I can't imagine why it's only now that they're releasing a photo of the unidentified man seen walking through Crestview Park.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Fruitland PD chief on Michael Vaughan case: Some people have been uncooperative

Fruitland Police on Friday held a news conference to update the community on missing boy Michael Vaughan, who disappeared nearly one year ago.

idahonews.com

Fruitland PD chief on Michael Vaughan case: Some people have been uncooperative
Fruitland Police on Friday held a news conference to update the community on missing boy Michael Vaughan, who disappeared nearly one year ago.

Michael was 5-years-old when he went missing on July 27, 2021. Fruitland police say Michael disappeared sometime between 6:40 p.m. and 7 p.m. that day. The driver of a white Honda Pilot seen leaving the area is believed to be a resident, but that information has yet to be confirmed.

There was also a man seen walking through Crestview Park before the time of Michael's disappearance who has not been identified. This man is not a suspect, but police want to talk with him for additional information.

A photo of that person will be released to the public later Friday.

Police have spent thousands of hours and cleared thousands of community leads in their search. Fruitland Police said there have been some people who were interviewed or searched that have been non-cooperative.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I cannot believe Michael is still missing a year later.
Narrowed down to a 6:40 - 7:00 pm disappearance time. The still unidentified Honda Pilot was seen leaving at 6:47 pm.

Seems strange that they can't be sure whether the white Honda Pilot belongs to a resident...

Seems very concerning, is what it seems like.
The video footage cannot see the plates. Perhaps the resident is denying that they left the area at that time? Which would be even more concerning. And they can't prove for sure it was that resident's vehicle? Would be an ultimate coincidence if it was not their vehicle, though...
Maybe the resident has said the vehicle was stolen? Or, something I thought earlier on, perhaps it belongs to a family member of a resident who was "visiting".
I do have to wonder if this is someone they have spoken to who is "uncooperative".

And I can't imagine why it's only now that they're releasing a photo of the unidentified man seen walking through Crestview Park.

Same. A year later. Though not entirely surprising, I guess. They didn't even "identify" these people and vehicles, and ask for help, until more than 10 weeks after Michael disappeared (in October!).
Oh, we still can't identify this guy. Maybe we should put out the actual image... Clearly not a priority to them.

 

[GrandmaBear]

A Year Without Michael...

www.missingkids.org

A Year Without Michael...

About 50 miles west of Boise, Idaho, sits "The Big Apple of Idaho," a small town otherwise known as Fruitland. Fruitland is a tight-knit community, one that gets its name from the apple orchards that surround the family-filled city.

In the last year, the quiet town of Fruitland has made national headlines, not because of its agriculture, but instead because of a missing boy, a 5-year-old who vanished one July night last summer.

Fruitland, Idaho, is the home of Michael Vaughan.

And nearly a year ago, it’s where he was last seen.

View attachment 15429 View attachment 15430

July 27, 2021, started like every other normal summer day for Michael and his family. His mother, Brandi Neal, told NCMEC that she had been working numerous days in a row and that this was finally her last day before a break.

She promised her son Michael, whom she affectionately dubbed "Monkey" due to his rambunctious and full-of-energy personality, that when she returned home, she would have a few days off for them to play together.

Brandi called home later that afternoon, around 4 p.m., and Michael was playing video games. Everything was normal.

She didn’t know at the time that a few hours later she would receive the call that would change her world.

Michael “Monkey” Vaughan, a fun-loving, blue-eyed little boy who likes to play outside, was missing, and no one could find him.

That’s when the seemingly normal summer day of July 27 would turn into a year-long, nationwide missing child search, leaving everyone pondering the question:

Where is Michael?

View attachment 15431 View attachment 15432

Investigators say that on the day Michael went missing, he was last seen between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. near his home. At the time, he was walking east in the area of Southwest 9th Street. He was wearing a blue Minecraft T-shirt and blue boxer-style shorts with flip-flops.

Soon after he was last seen, a county-wide search began. Photos of Michael circulated around Idaho and the rest of the United States. Countless searches were performed by search and rescue units, law enforcement agencies and community volunteers, yet there was still no sign of Michael.

In October 2021, Fruitland Police Department announced that they were asking for help in identifying a car that was seen in the area around the time that Michael went missing. Police believe the car below is a 2016-2018 white Honda Pilot. The car was seen on surveillance footage leaving the area of Southwest 8th St. around 6:47 p.m. that afternoon.

View attachment 15433

In March 2022, the department's Facebooksaid that they had received nearly 850 leads on Michael’s disappearance and that nearly all of them had been cleared. They thanked the public for their support.

"Please know that while not all investigative efforts can be made public, our focus remains strongly on finding Michael, with no stone being left unturned, every option carefully considered, and all leads investigated," the post said.

As for Michael’s family, his parents are holding onto hope. In June, the local community gathered to celebrate Michael’s 6th birthday. His mom and dad told KTVB 7that no matter what, they would continue the search.

"He’s coming home and we’re waiting on him—we're all waiting for him," Brandi said. "Every single one of us are waiting for him and we’re going to bring him home."

"He’s beyond missed and beyond loved and we need him," Tyler Vaughan, Michael’s father, said.

"We need him."

He sure does look like mom, one can't miss it in the photo with this.

Said it before and will again, this one BUGS me. There is something we don't know imo. OR that they don't know that is wrong info. Said this before too, can't quite put my finger on what bothers me.

On another note IF that is the vehicle that is involved in some way, was it too late in the investigation (can't recall) to find it on other surveillance cameras, getting gas, someone remembering it at a business that day, etc., etc.? Any other angles or cameras?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[GrandmaBear]

They still haven't found him either or had him come forward?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

They still haven't found him either or had him come forward?

Nope.



Investigators continue an effort to identify a man seen walking through the splash pad area of Crestview Park leading up to the time of Michael’s disappearance. The man is described as a white male adult, late 20s early 30s. He was seen wearing black shorts, a white t-shirt with cut off sleeves, dark colored shoes and hat. It is important to note that he is not a suspect or a person of interest, but police need to speak with him to determine his whereabouts and if he witnessed anything that would helpful to the investigation (Picture below).

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[GrandmaBear]

Nope.



Investigators continue an effort to identify a man seen walking through the splash pad area of Crestview Park leading up to the time of Michael’s disappearance. The man is described as a white male adult, late 20s early 30s. He was seen wearing black shorts, a white t-shirt with cut off sleeves, dark colored shoes and hat. It is important to note that he is not a suspect or a person of interest, but police need to speak with him to determine his whereabouts and if he witnessed anything that would helpful to the investigation (Picture below).

View attachment 15454 View attachment 15455

Looks tall and lanky or at least the shorts look longish compared to what some would wear. Does he have a phone in the first view that his hand is up? I wonder if they've tried to triangulate or whatever they call it...