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

 

[GrandmaBear]

View attachment 15456 View attachment 15457

Or long torsoed compared to legs. It is just his dress I guess.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

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...

My impression was that he was adjusting headphones / ear pods. But it's hard to tell with just a still image.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Missing Idaho boy's family refuse to give up hope

One year after Michael Vaughan went missing, his parents believe the things investigators are working on at the moment will lead to his discovery.

www.krem.com

Nearly one year goes by with no sign of missing Fruitland boy​

It's been nearly an entire year since Michael Vaughan went missing from his neighborhood in Fruitland, and every day since, his parents struggle to get out of bed. But, they do it for Michael, and the hope of his return.

Hope comes from their hearts, said Tyler Vaughan, Michael Vaughan's father. Every day when he doesn't want to get out of bed, he and Michael's mother Brandi Neal do it anyway to keep their family together.

"It was a very quick year," Tyler Vaughan said with a pause. "And... a long year at the same time. Time is a weird thing."

They can't give up, he said, so hope is something they latch on to in order to maintain that their son will be home someday. Hope looks like strength, Brandi Neal said.

"None of us are going to stop. Not a single one of us will stop. Michael is going to come home," she said.

Recently, the work investigators have done are leading the family to believe that Michael will come home someday, they said.



That night, Brandi Neal was working her shift at the local Albertson's grocery store. Tyler Vaughan was home with Michael and his other children, along with a daughter who they nicknamed "Buggy."

"I went back to change Bug, Michael was playing on his (Nintendo) Switch, she was sleeping, so it took a minute for me to rouse her. I changed her diaper and ordered pizza, probably took me about 15 minutes maybe," Vaughan said. "I went outside to smoke and Monkey wasn't outside, so I figured he was inside with his brother."

Tyler Vaughan said that once he realized Michael wasn't inside, he started to panic.

"I came outside and I looked down the street. I hopped in the car and called Brandi, and I drove to the splash pad, and then all over the neighborhood walking, running, driving. Like, I couldn't tell you where. I mean, I didn't leave the neighborhood, but all up and down," Vaughan said.

He said he called Brandi in a frenzy because he needed her home as fast as she could get there.

"I was scared. She was the first person I thought to call," he said. "I was panicked, I was out of my mind."

Michael is Tyler Vaughan's best buddy, he said. He loves comic books, monster trucks and spending time with his little sister.

"He's a wonderful, wonderful little boy, and he doesn't deserve this," Vaughan said.

Neal said that her daughter, Bug, will prop Michael's picture up with her while she watches TV. "She still doesn't understand quite where Michael went", Neal said.

Both parents feel Michael was taken, but whether that is by a stranger or someone close to the family, they don't know.



Some people that have been searched and interviewed have also been uncooperative, Fruitland Police Chief J.D Huff said.

"Why would you not cooperate?" Neal asked. "You see our family, you see our children that are heartbroken. All of us are heartbroken."

Brandi Neal and Tyler Vaughan both said that they have been cooperating with police, and police have publicly confirmed this. However, they have not cleared the two since so many parts of the case are "outstanding" and "not absolute.

"We are working with law enforcement,100%. And I will say that they are a very, very big part of our lives continuously. We will continue to work with them, 110%. So when everything is cleared, when they're ready to take that step we'll be grateful, but we know it takes time," Neal said.

Tyler Vaughan and Brandi Neal agreed that they completely trust the work that the police are doing for their son's case. Police want him home as much as the family does, they told KTVB.



She and Tyler Vaughan told KTVB that they are begging anyone who is out there that knows something to have the courage and the heart to come forward.

"We love you, Monkey," Neal said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Missing Idaho boy's family refuse to give up hope

One year after Michael Vaughan went missing, his parents believe the things investigators are working on at the moment will lead to his discovery.

www.krem.com

Nearly one year goes by with no sign of missing Fruitland boy​

It's been nearly an entire year since Michael Vaughan went missing from his neighborhood in Fruitland, and every day since, his parents struggle to get out of bed. But, they do it for Michael, and the hope of his return.

Hope comes from their hearts, said Tyler Vaughan, Michael Vaughan's father. Every day when he doesn't want to get out of bed, he and Michael's mother Brandi Neal do it anyway to keep their family together.

"It was a very quick year," Tyler Vaughan said with a pause. "And... a long year at the same time. Time is a weird thing."

They can't give up, he said, so hope is something they latch on to in order to maintain that their son will be home someday. Hope looks like strength, Brandi Neal said.

"None of us are going to stop. Not a single one of us will stop. Michael is going to come home," she said.

Recently, the work investigators have done are leading the family to believe that Michael will come home someday, they said.



That night, Brandi Neal was working her shift at the local Albertson's grocery store. Tyler Vaughan was home with Michael and his other children, along with a daughter who they nicknamed "Buggy."

"I went back to change Bug, Michael was playing on his (Nintendo) Switch, she was sleeping, so it took a minute for me to rouse her. I changed her diaper and ordered pizza, probably took me about 15 minutes maybe," Vaughan said. "I went outside to smoke and Monkey wasn't outside, so I figured he was inside with his brother."

Tyler Vaughan said that once he realized Michael wasn't inside, he started to panic.

"I came outside and I looked down the street. I hopped in the car and called Brandi, and I drove to the splash pad, and then all over the neighborhood walking, running, driving. Like, I couldn't tell you where. I mean, I didn't leave the neighborhood, but all up and down," Vaughan said.

He said he called Brandi in a frenzy because he needed her home as fast as she could get there.

"I was scared. She was the first person I thought to call," he said. "I was panicked, I was out of my mind."

Michael is Tyler Vaughan's best buddy, he said. He loves comic books, monster trucks and spending time with his little sister.

"He's a wonderful, wonderful little boy, and he doesn't deserve this," Vaughan said.

Neal said that her daughter, Bug, will prop Michael's picture up with her while she watches TV. "She still doesn't understand quite where Michael went", Neal said.

Both parents feel Michael was taken, but whether that is by a stranger or someone close to the family, they don't know.



Some people that have been searched and interviewed have also been uncooperative, Fruitland Police Chief J.D Huff said.

"Why would you not cooperate?" Neal asked. "You see our family, you see our children that are heartbroken. All of us are heartbroken."

Brandi Neal and Tyler Vaughan both said that they have been cooperating with police, and police have publicly confirmed this. However, they have not cleared the two since so many parts of the case are "outstanding" and "not absolute.

"We are working with law enforcement,100%. And I will say that they are a very, very big part of our lives continuously. We will continue to work with them, 110%. So when everything is cleared, when they're ready to take that step we'll be grateful, but we know it takes time," Neal said.

Tyler Vaughan and Brandi Neal agreed that they completely trust the work that the police are doing for their son's case. Police want him home as much as the family does, they told KTVB.



She and Tyler Vaughan told KTVB that they are begging anyone who is out there that knows something to have the courage and the heart to come forward.

"We love you, Monkey," Neal said.

I mean the following with all respect. The parents are for all intents and purposes and I believe are truly devastated and committed. However, in following cases and this is a crime site so to speak, I will go there just with observation and try to do it with respect.

*I get he apparently was seen outside after being noted missing or during that time frame but this has always bothered me and/or I just feel there is some false (maybe not intentional) info or something in this case or a wrong direction being followed or time or some such and I always have).

"I went back to change Bug, Michael was playing on his (Nintendo) Switch, she was sleeping, so it took a minute for me to rouse her. I changed her diaper and ordered pizza, probably took me about 15 minutes maybe," Vaughan said. "I went outside to smoke and Monkey wasn't outside, so I figured he was inside with his brother."

This bothers me for a few reasons and on a few levels. Not saying he did anything and not saying parents are perfect, they tire out and they need a break etc. and he was watching children alone while mom was at work. First, I believe the sister was around 18 months old. I guess you would rouse them from a nap to eat and so they would go back to bed later that night if that was the case. I do feel with a very messy diaper a toddler would be awake or waking and fussy and one wouldn't necessarily have to rouse the child and/or the child wouldn't be hard to rouse. I am not saying it is impossible just that I note it. I will link at the bottom but True Crime Society says there were reports the diaper was extremely messy and it took dad some time to deal with it. I hate going here but I believe my granddaughter was killed over extremely messy diapers and because she was not sleeping and was very agitated and not in the best of moods with a few messy diapers the day she was with her dad and he couldn't handle it nor being tied down when others he knew and family were out having fun. Now the young female child here is okay and nothing happened there but was dad maybe upset and stressed. True Crime Society also reports Michael was knocking on many doors and mom says she couldn't imagine why. Could dad have been maybe losing temper and he ran for help... I have seen a few things in my life that things just lead me here with this and I have to wonder. I feel horrid saying this but it just keeps crossing my mind in this case... Now either from there maybe he kept running or looking for help or maybe he returned home. Maybe he ran into or encountered the wrong person, I am not necessarily accusing dad at all but just saying maybe something scared Michael that he ran knocking on doors. Dad could have just been swearing, stressed, losing temper, even at him saying get me the wipes, WHERE are you with those wipes, hard to say. And MAYBE I am way off base. My apologies totally if so but it is a missing child case and parents are looked at and it says in this article the parents are not cleared but are cooperating.

And then it is probably just wording or reporting but it says Michael wasn't outside so he figured he was inside with his brother. Why did he expect him to be outside when he left him playing Switch? A step is missing here at least like he saw him running outside (or why did he note he wasn't outside) OR he already had noted he wasn't inside but if he had why would he then think he was inside with his brother... He already thought he should be outside even though he left him playing Switch.

As most know I am (was) a smoker and going outside for a smoke can certainly be a calming down or attempt to or being very upset and going right for that cigarette. Where is the 18 month old at this point and the brother and of course Michael. How old is the brother and did he leave the 18 month old inside with him... Now again I am not accusing and am well aware that it isn't easy, try taking a shower ever with three children to watch, etc. or even using the toilet...

I am not even saying this was neglect, most parents are lying if they never ever had a child out of their sight for moments inside for sure and especially if the only adult and more than one kid to take care of and things to tend. You do the best you can.

So I am stressing that I am not accusing and if there was anything like this, authorities may even know but we don't and that Michael may well have run into the wrong person OR into the woods or some such just running from home and they just haven't found him.

Then there is this:

"I came outside and I looked down the street. I hopped in the car and called Brandi, and I drove to the splash pad, and then all over the neighborhood walking, running, driving. Like, I couldn't tell you where. I mean, I didn't leave the neighborhood, but all up and down," Vaughan said.

Now maybe it is nothing but poor reporting or just wording/semantics or looking for anything by me but making a point of saying you "didn't leave the neighborhood" seems to me just a bit of an odd thing to add... Making a point of saying you didn't (because had you?) or worried someone would think he left the others home alone and the 18 month old? It could be that simple, he doesn't want LE or others thinking he left the other children alone or it could be the youngest was sleeping and he had run somewhere EARLIER leaving Michael and his brother, the older ones, and was gone when Michael went missing. I recall how hard it was as a divorced single parent if I wanted or needed something but had children at home or one sleeping, one not, etc. I never took the chance ever even though tempted to run get a gallon of milk for two minutes while both sleeping instead of rousing them and putting them in car seats, etc. because I worried too much but was tempted but didn't and plenty have done just that. So is this comment because he had left...?

Also he ran, walked and drove? Possible for sure but just noting...

But then there is this which leans away from that or could combine with it:

Some people that have been searched and interviewed have also been uncooperative, Fruitland Police Chief J.D Huff said.

"Why would you not cooperate?" Neal asked. "You see our family, you see our children that are heartbroken. All of us are heartbroken."

This points away from father. It makes no sense to me why some would not cooperate. HOWEVER, something nags about this case AND a neighbor or someone said they had seen Michael going what way or that they hadn't seen him another may have said etc. so IS what someone said, if one of the ones not being truly cooperative, even true with sighting? Another thought I am sorry to say that keeps crossing my mind I can't shake is could one be friend of dad that is covering for maybe the fact he was over there or something and not home for some time...

This to me is big as well...

Brandi Neal and Tyler Vaughan both said that they have been cooperating with police, and police have publicly confirmed this. However, they have not cleared the two since so many parts of the case are "outstanding" and "not absolute.

I take this to mean sightings, statements and other info or even the general story or time frame may or may not be 100 percent solid. it also means the parents are not clear. I don't really see how mom couldn't be as she was at work BUT if knowing dad made a mistake or something she may want to believe him or keep the family left together after the fact. And LE does NOT tell family everything.

It says straight out they have not cleared the two. I am again not saying they did anything but that they can't clear them even though cooperating.

These thoughts aren't new but I haven't voiced them before as I don't want to accuse as there is no real reason and it seems as if this one is not a parent. I will say though there isn't enough reason here for me to even believe dad was necessarily home the whole time. The sticking point is the time frame and apparent sighting(s).

In my defense I want to say that I have seen not necessarily evil parents be stressed by two and a younger one and take it out even on the older one who should know better and/or lose tempers EVEN if not doing harm in ways that would scare children. Tempers scare young children and especially if they have seen it ever go too far which again not saying is the case but even just a temper at all scares.

This may be nothing as well and just interviews and statements by truly grieving parents and I DO believe both are upset, missing him and grieving but it also can be taken as making it clear dad was his best buddy and someone emphasizing the point. It is normal for parents to grieve and say he was my best bud but it also could be emphasizing such for a reason if feeling suspect.

Michael is Tyler Vaughan's best buddy, he said. He loves comic books, monster trucks and spending time with his little sister.

I can think of a situation I know of where a dad was home with two and one was under 2 and the other one crawling or starting to and dad also worked long hours and sat when mom worked, etc. and no one was killed but it is a stressful time for parents and they need sleep and down time, etc. too and everyone has a limit and yes the one child suffered the blunt of temper more than the young one and dad had anger issues. Again reiterating not saying it is fact here by any means but it is NOT unusual.

I don't like going there AND there are people that are NOT cooperating so it may very well be a neighborhood or some such abduction no doubt. I just am saying things in this case nag at me and have throughout and the short article today here I note several things and just saying even good parents can make mistakes. And maybe it was just so simple as stress, sleeping, stepping out for 10 minutes or so, etc. and something else happened to Michael.

I very much am not accusing but am saying an abduction is not the only possible scenario here although time frame and such does seem to indicate that. Yet LE is saying nothing is absolute.

My apologies to the parents especially dad but LE is not clearing them either. I don't lean that way necessarily at all so am not saying it was the case but I do feel it is as possible as anything or a combination of not watching them and something then happening to him outside the home.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

True Crime Society also reports Michael was knocking on many doors and mom says she couldn't imagine why.

Early talk in this case said he was knocking on doors looking for someone to play with.

Screenshots from post #72 on this thread, from Facebook.

And then it is probably just wording or reporting but it says Michael wasn't outside so he figured he was inside with his brother. Why did he expect him to be outside when he left him playing Switch? A step is missing here at least like he saw him running outside (or why did he note he wasn't outside) OR he already had noted he wasn't inside but if he had why would he then think he was inside with his brother... He already thought he should be outside even though he left him playing Switch.

This is the first time I'm hearing dad speak his version of what happened that day. So it is a bit unclear. BUT, perhaps Michael had been playing in an area that dad had to walk past to get outside. Like a couch in the living room. When he didn't see him there, he assumed he had gone outside. When he gets outside, he doesn't see Michael, so he thinks he must have gone to a different area of the house to play with brother.

So I am stressing that I am not accusing and if there was anything like this, authorities may even know but we don't and that Michael may well have run into the wrong person OR into the woods or some such just running from home and they just haven't found him.

That is what they assumed early on. That he wandered away while playing. But they clarified in the last presser that because of the level of searches they have conducted in the area, they don't believe that's possible anymore. (Of course anything is possible. They could have missed him. But I think evidence is pointing elsewhere.)

Now maybe it is nothing but poor reporting or just wording/semantics or looking for anything by me but making a point of saying you "didn't leave the neighborhood" seems to me just a bit of an odd thing to add... Making a point of saying you didn't (because had you?) or worried someone would think he left the others home alone and the 18 month old? It could be that simple, he doesn't want LE or others thinking he left the other children alone or it could be the youngest was sleeping and he had run somewhere EARLIER leaving Michael and his brother, the older ones, and was gone when Michael went missing. I recall how hard it was as a divorced single parent if I wanted or needed something but had children at home or one sleeping, one not, etc. I never took the chance ever even though tempted to run get a gallon of milk for two minutes while both sleeping instead of rousing them and putting them in car seats, etc. because I worried too much but was tempted but didn't and plenty have done just that. So is this comment because he had left...?

That struck me a bit too. But I think he just wanted to clarify. To avoid the types of accusations that you're thinking of. Not that you're accusing. But if he doesn't say that, there would be people saying WELL how far did you go? How long were you really gone?

It says straight out they have not cleared the two. I am again not saying they did anything but that they can't clear them even though cooperating.

This is EXTREMELY common. Saying that nobody is cleared. They could be 99% sure that the parents are not involved, but because they can't confirm that last 1% chance, they can't officially clear them.
There are ways to say that they suspect someone without saying it. Like Codi Bigsby's case. "We believe the people who claim to love Codi can give us more info." And yes, there have also been cases where they say the parents are cooperative only to later arrest them. But in this case, they have pretty much said: -They believe it is an abduction. -There is at least one person who has not been cooperative in the investigation -The family IS being cooperative in the investigation.



My suspicion right now lies 100% with the Honda Pilot. Being that Michael was seen outside of his home by neighbors after leaving his own home. Being that this vehicle was seen leaving the neighborhood in the 20 minutes that Michael is believed to have disappeared. Being that they "believe" this vehicle belongs to a neighborhood resident. And being that at least one person has been uncooperative - I am making the "leap" that because they can't confirm this vehicle belongs to the resident or not, this resident is not being cooperative.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Early talk in this case said he was knocking on doors looking for someone to play with.

Screenshots from post #72 on this thread, from Facebook.

This is the first time I'm hearing dad speak his version of what happened that day. So it is a bit unclear. BUT, perhaps Michael had been playing in an area that dad had to walk past to get outside. Like a couch in the living room. When he didn't see him there, he assumed he had gone outside. When he gets outside, he doesn't see Michael, so he thinks he must have gone to a different area of the house to play with brother.


That is what they assumed early on. That he wandered away while playing. But they clarified in the last presser that because of the level of searches they have conducted in the area, they don't believe that's possible anymore. (Of course anything is possible. They could have missed him. But I think evidence is pointing elsewhere.)


That struck me a bit too. But I think he just wanted to clarify. To avoid the types of accusations that you're thinking of. Not that you're accusing. But if he doesn't say that, there would be people saying WELL how far did you go? How long were you really gone?


This is EXTREMELY common. Saying that nobody is cleared. They could be 99% sure that the parents are not involved, but because they can't confirm that last 1% chance, they can't officially clear them.
There are ways to say that they suspect someone without saying it. Like Codi Bigsby's case. "We believe the people who claim to love Codi can give us more info." And yes, there have also been cases where they say the parents are cooperative only to later arrest them. But in this case, they have pretty much said: -They believe it is an abduction. -There is at least one person who has not been cooperative in the investigation -The family IS being cooperative in the investigation.



My suspicion right now lies 100% with the Honda Pilot. Being that Michael was seen outside of his home by neighbors after leaving his own home. Being that this vehicle was seen leaving the neighborhood in the 20 minutes that Michael is believed to have disappeared. Being that they "believe" this vehicle belongs to a neighborhood resident. And being that at least one person has been uncooperative - I am making the "leap" that because they can't confirm this vehicle belongs to the resident or not, this resident is not being cooperative.

And believe me I see all you see too and hope it is right. Well either way he is gone and it is horrible but I pray no parent is involved.

I do have suspicion of the neighbors, the alleged sightings, the Honda Pilot and the jogger or whatever he was. I just have for more than a year held off saying that I really can't let go of the other possibility either as I don't want to think it was "in" the home. I heard the thing too about knocking on doors to play etc. but it is a maybe I think as to the reasons.

I debated going there for a long time and the article today just had me thinking it or more accurately wondering. If anything I would lean towards the children weren't being watched that closely and that certainly isn't uncommon especially if the children have been or family considers them safe or knowing better in their own neighborhood.

And I truly don't lean any more that way than towards an abduction however, I struggle with things falling into perfect place for an abductor just driving by, etc. at the very moment your kid rarely(?) wanders off. I would more easily believe an abductor may know the children aren't watched that closely and is someone who is from the neighborhood or has had their eye on the child more than once.

It isn't uncommon for LE not to clear parents and I do agree with that.

There were just more than a few things in that short blurb that stood out to me.

I am glad you understand I am in no way accusing him. I think he more than anyone is likely beating himself up over not being a helicopter parent which I truly don't agree with either but this world tempts such.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I just have for more than a year held off saying that I really can't let go of the other possibility either as I don't want to think it was "in" the home. I heard the thing too about knocking on doors to play etc. but it is a maybe I think as to the reasons.

It always has to be considered. But my biggest hang-up on that is, if it was "in" the home...WHEN? Neighbors saw Michael outside after 6:30. The exact timeline hasn't been confirmed, but 6:40 - 7:00 is when they believe something happened. So, when would dad have had time to do anything? Michael ends up back home in that 10 minutes, and then dad hurts him and takes him somewhere within 20 minutes? While also walking and driving around, calling his wife, etc. I just don't see it.

And I truly don't lean any more that way than towards an abduction however, I struggle with things falling into perfect place for an abductor just driving by, etc. at the very moment your kid rarely(?) wanders off. I would more easily believe an abductor may know the children aren't watched that closely and is someone who is from the neighborhood or has had their eye on the child more than once.

I think that's likely the case. From early accounts from neighbors (on Facebook, so rumor), it wasn't uncommon for Michael to play outside or walk around looking for playmates. Of course the family would deny it...it appears negligent. But it sounds like it wasn't actually uncommon. I think he was "supposed to" stay in the yard, but he's an active little kiddo who wanted some playmates.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It always has to be considered. But my biggest hang-up on that is, if it was "in" the home...WHEN? Neighbors saw Michael outside after 6:30. The exact timeline hasn't been confirmed, but 6:40 - 7:00 is when they believe something happened. So, when would dad have had time to do anything? Michael ends up back home in that 10 minutes, and then dad hurts him and takes him somewhere within 20 minutes? While also walking and driving around, calling his wife, etc. I just don't see it.


I think that's likely the case. From early accounts from neighbors (on Facebook, so rumor), it wasn't uncommon for Michael to play outside or walk around looking for playmates. Of course the family would deny it...it appears negligent. But it sounds like it wasn't actually uncommon. I think he was "supposed to" stay in the yard, but he's an active little kiddo who wanted some playmates.

Agree and that's why I say it doesn't work with the timeline and sightings in my original long post and lean towards more that maybe Michael left not watched or upset and then encountered the wrong person. It would take at least two people being wrong or reporting wrong on sighting and one of them being dad maybe with facts or timeline and maybe just covering not watching him well. I would have to look back but I think it is the part (IF I recall correctly) that he was heading one way but then one person or something put him heading another way after or was it dogs or some such found he then went the other way...? I have this nagging feeling that someone is not telling something right or thinks they are but have it right but got it wrong or dogs did... Wasn't there also a 'sitter" who he had come from or went to in the early days of accounts in this case? I don't know... I agree as things stand nothing was done to him in the home and I truly don't think it was but then we have LE saying nothing is absolute in this case...

I truly don't think he went back and dad did something, I really don't, NOT in this case but there are some that come to mind where something did happen in the home and they missed it entirely until later and then couldn't prove it etc.

Your point about family denying it so they don't sound negligent is a big factor. I think that has a lot to do with what might not add up in this case, or what bugs me maybe, not because of outright wrongdoing but to cover for self and ways of tending children. It is like Summer Wells in that I think there is a wrong timeline there or mom etc. may be stuck in it as trying not to appear negligent where there was already apparently maybe some CPS involvement or those who tried to involve them on the family. But also because of this, it makes me question the story if parents are indeed not wanting to appear neglectful in like letting Michael walk around looking for playmates and leaving the yard. NOT that I am comparing necessarily these parents to the Wells because I'm not, I have entirely different feelings about both and I don't really suspect parental murder here. But in covering for oneself they may lose LE and the public knowing the facts and that can affect finding the child or finding them quickly and then they can't come out and admit they didn't tell all with protecting oneself. Just a possibility...

I honestly don't know. In most cases I lean one way or another. This one I truly don't think he was killed at home or anything necessarily but I DO think something is off or wrong here...

 

[Regina]

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 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".

Yeah, certainly, the vehicle driver and the man seen walking are considered as uncooperative...
And I imagine that they can't prove the vehicle since they can't determine the precise year model, but I can't wrap my head around needing proof if they already "believe" they know... It just doesn't make sense to me.

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.

It's beyond my comprehension.
Even now, they're vague as to precisely when and where this guy was walking.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Even now, they're vague as to precisely when and where this guy was walking.

Yes. They've said "leading up to the time of Michael's disappearance" but that could have been during that 20 minute window or a while before that.

He was "walking through the area of the splash pad of Crestview Park" and "walking off of SW 8th St., down into the park area past the splash pad, towards the lower drainage behind the neighborhoods."

Crestview Park is in the upper right corner of the first picture. I think the blue thing is the splash pad.
I'm not sure what they mean by "drainage". It seems to me like it would be the area to the north of that (see second picture).
Michael was seen around "SW 9th, SW 8th, and Cornwall Way".
So he was walking certainly in the immediate vicinity of Michael's last seen location. But if I'm reading correctly, away from Michael's neighborhood.
However, Michael's dad said the other day that one of the first places he looked for Michael was the Splash Pad area. I wonder if he had wandered to that location to play before. And if that's maybe why they want to talk to this guy so badly. What did he see?

 

[Regina]

Yes. They've said "leading up to the time of Michael's disappearance" but that could have been during that 20 minute window or a while before that.

He was "walking through the area of the splash pad of Crestview Park" and "walking off of SW 8th St., down into the park area past the splash pad, towards the lower drainage behind the neighborhoods."

Crestview Park is in the upper right corner of the first picture. I think the blue thing is the splash pad.
I'm not sure what they mean by "drainage". It seems to me like it would be the area to the north of that (see second picture).
Michael was seen around "SW 9th, SW 8th, and Cornwall Way".
So he was walking certainly in the immediate vicinity of Michael's last seen location. But if I'm reading correctly, away from Michael's neighborhood.
However, Michael's dad said the other day that one of the first places he looked for Michael was the Splash Pad area. I wonder if he had wandered to that location to play before. And if that's maybe why they want to talk to this guy so badly. What did he see?

Cornwall Way? My impression has been that he was either headed toward Washington (Washington is perpendicular to 9th and 8th and runs into Cornwall Way) or on already on Washington, headed toward 8th...
But now if there's a credible sighting "around" Cornwall Way, then I wouldn't think he was headed to the park...

Re drainage, I don't know where they mean, either- nor have I been able to pinpoint where that image was captured- but yeah, I imagine he's merely a potential eye-witness.

 

[Regina]

Yeah, certainly, the vehicle driver and the man seen walking are considered as uncooperative...
And I imagine that they can't prove the vehicle since they can't determine the precise year model, but I can't wrap my head around needing proof if they already "believe" they know... It just doesn't make sense to me.

I've thought more about this and have realized that I don't know how/when there was contact with the resident, in other words, that the resident might very well have been/is cooperative, and LE is merely needing to rule out the vehicle.
(I hope that makes sense....Admittedly, I'm almost crazy from trying to rationalize the info and circumstances, lol!)

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

One year since Michael Vaughan went missing: 'Our lives have completely changed'

July 27 will mark one year since 5-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan went missing from his home in Fruitland.

idahonews.com

One year since Michael Vaughan went missing: 'Our lives have completely changed'
July 27 will mark one year since 5-year-old Michael Joseph Vaughan went missing from his home in Fruitland.

Since then, there have been countless searches by police and community members, but there is still no sign of the little boy.

"It's just been too long. One day was too long. One hour was too long. This is not fair to him, it's not fair to his siblings, it's not fair to his family," said Brandi Neal, Michael's mom.


Despite the difficulties, Michael's parents remain hopeful and continue to ask the community for help.

"Help us keep his face out there. Help us keep on spreading the word across the country, across the world," Vaughan said.

"If you know something or you think you know something, please help us bring Michael home. If you have Michael, please look in your heart," Neal said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Michael Vaughan case to be featured on new REELZ series

The new series "On Patrol: Live" will feature ongoing cases of missing people.

www.ktvb.com

Michael Vaughan case to be featured on new REELZ series​

Michael Vaughan, the now 6-year-old boy missing from Fruitland for an entire year, will have his case featured on a new REELZ series to bring attention and hopefully additional information to solve his disappearance.

His case will be featured Friday night, July 29, sometime during the 7 p.m.-10 p.m. MT showing of "On Patrol: Live."

The series joins forces with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Black and Missing Foundation to help solve ongoing cases of missing people.

It will document the work of police officers in a missing persons investigation to get the word out about the disappearances, which could lead to call-in tips and possibly the recovery of a missing person.

Producers of the show have worked previously with NCMEC and have helped return 19 children to their families through tips, executive producer John Zito said.

 

[Miccistella]

I have a really heard time with this case:

Watched that last interview and was very much put off on reactions.

There are three points which don’t get out of my mind:

What parent wakes a baby up for diaper change, especially by dads claim It took a while to wake her up…

I also have a problem with the timeline/s, because there are way too many variations… Also the missing person report was put in way late…

I believe the mom is sincerely distraught… as for the dad, I hope he is just awkward but there is something I just can’t put my finger on…

Wonder what people don’t cooperate… I just hope LE has something which we don’t know about but they seem to a bit slow … which unfortunately brings the people to assume and speculate…

 

[GrandmaBear]

I have a really heard time with this case:

Watched that last interview and was very much put off on reactions.

There are three points which don’t get out of my mind:

What parent wakes a baby up for diaper change, especially by dads claim It took a while to wake her up…

I also have a problem with the timeline/s, because there are way too many variations… Also the missing person report was put in way late…

I believe the mom is sincerely distraught… as for the dad, I hope he is just awkward but there is something I just can’t put my finger on…

Wonder what people don’t cooperate… I just hope LE has something which we don’t know about but they seem to a bit slow … which unfortunately brings the people to assume and speculate…

I know what you mean and you have put it into words better than I have been able to. The other day I went back and watched some early ones where it was mom, her sister and dad and the cops. Dad did appear struck and didn't act inappropriate really but I have seen struck when it is realizing they lost it (regret and worry) or weren't there as they should have been or paying attention in the way they should have been, etc. and it struck me more that way... And it isn't unusual but so often people forgive dad in not being the outspoken person either fronting the case... It is mom here. It is mom with Gannon Stauch. Etc.

It struck me BIG TIME of no one wakes a baby up. This made me the other day refresh myself some on this case and ages etc. and so I went and looked and I do believe the child was a year and a half and not an infant BUT they talk like he couldn't wake the child to change a bad diaper. No dad I have ever known does that to begin with, wakes a sleeping child and certainly not to change the diaper. I am trying to give the benefit of the doubt though and so I said to myself well, he was ordering supper a 1.5 year old will eat people food and he wants the child to sleep later so he can't let the child sleep longer now...

BUT it all sounds odd to me.... A child with THAT bad of diaper is generally going to be cranky, not sleeping and crying... And then you change what takes you a long time and leave the child where??? And go smoke...

I don't suspect mom per se, she wasn't home, but I do wonder if she wonders and is trying to give him the benefit of the doubt or keep the family together... i also wonder how well dad watched the kids in general when mom wasn't home and if neighbors knew...

Dad does seem not comfortable in public and he does seem distraught but when a man can't stand up and speak up for his CHILD I have to wonder... If eh truly thinks somewhat abducted his BOY then that kind of thing I feel would come naturally as to having something to say to the kidnapper... Whether upset, indignant, threatening or begging! He lets mom talk for him and talk for all and honestly that doesn't sit right with me...This is HIS SON. I feel that way in the Stauch case too. I feel like the moms/women know their husbands or ex won't help the case in his ways of taking care of children, cheating, or whatever and so they don't want it to go down that road and take the reins to keep it about the child. Admirably so.

I don't know in this case that there is any reason to doubt dad but something is off here. It may just be the timeline and what dad was really doing, not necessarily that he harmed anyone.

In all cases, I'd honestly like to know more about normal daily life... Did dad work all day and was tired and then had to watch the kids... |was dad faithful and never would have left the kids alone? Was dad fine watching them all when mom worked, great at it and no resentment and on top of it? As I said in an earlier post, was baby sister left alone or with older brother who we don't hear much about either while dad had a smoke and then realized Monkey was gone and searched for him...

He doesn't have to be guilty of harm for just watchers or people in the neighborhood to know if she went to work the child ended up untended...

I also wonder about the Nintendo Switch aside from dad. Was he playing a game with others... Was Michael's locale on there, did he play with some in the neighborhood, he is a young child that wouldn't know any better... We think of online predators as towards tweens or teens as targets but...

There IS something wrong in this case. I don't know what it is either. I cannot put my finger on it but I don't like it.

Does anyone know any more family history? Days events.... Length of relationship... Long term job for her? Did he work and where? How long together? Etc.?

NOT accusing. Just trying to figure out what isn't sitting right etc. and praying this child is found. I seriously doubt he is alive. Sadly.

 

[Regina]

Wonder what people don’t cooperate…

In a Nov. 18th press conference, the police chief seemed to imply that not everyone on 9th allowed search dogs on their property.
He said "nearly" all of the front and back yards of homes on SW 9th were searched with specialty dogs...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Fruitland Police teams up with Washington State Patrol to find Michael Vaughan

The Fruitland Police Department and the Idaho Missing Persons Clearinhouse are working together with.

idahonews.com

Fruitland Police teams up with Washington State Patrol to find Michael Vaughan
The Fruitland Police Department and the Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse are working together with the Washington State's Homeward Bound program to find Michael Vaughan.

The Homeward Bound Project uses semi-trailers that travel across North America in hopes of generating leads to help find missing children.

Two semi-truck trailers will be unveiled at the event before departing to travel the roadways of the US and Canada in hopes of finding Michael, who went missing one year ago when he was five years old.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Fruitland Police teams up with Washington State Patrol to find Michael Vaughan

The Fruitland Police Department and the Idaho Missing Persons Clearinhouse are working together with.

idahonews.com

Fruitland Police teams up with Washington State Patrol to find Michael Vaughan
The Fruitland Police Department and the Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse are working together with the Washington State's Homeward Bound program to find Michael Vaughan.

The Homeward Bound Project uses semi-trailers that travel across North America in hopes of generating leads to help find missing children.

Two semi-truck trailers will be unveiled at the event before departing to travel the roadways of the US and Canada in hopes of finding Michael, who went missing one year ago when he was five years old.

This is awesome. Trucks are on the road so much and semis can't be missed. I can't recall which case it was but I think it was the Closs case sin WI where someone did their semi up with her on it and such and then she escaped and was located safe so not sure if it ever got on the road. Can't swear it was that case but I think it was. I felt it was such a nice thing to do.

So is the Homeward Bound project in that state run by the State Patrol as I don't think I've heard of that. I thought it was owner/operators who did such. I wonder how that works, do such volunteer to the state or something?

Places like Walmart should do it, their trucks are all over. However, I'm sure they want their logo and advertising on their trucks. Come to think of it Walmart used to do missing children pictures in their stores and I think in their ads and I don't think they do either any longer. I wonder why.