The preliminary hearing for Stacey Wondra, the man charged with kidnapping and murdering missing Fruitland boy Michael “Monkey” Vaughan, has ended after three days of testimony.
The judge presiding over the case determined that sufficient probable cause exists to proceed with a jury trial. Stacey Wondra will stand trial for the charges of murder, kidnapping, and destruction of evidence.
The judge said that the evidence in the case supports the conclusion that Micahel Vaughan was abducted and killed. Furthermore, they claim critical evidence was concealed or destroyed.
Neighborhood Reporter Riley Shoemaker provides an update after the judge presiding over the case orders a trial to proceed in the murder case of Michael "Monkey" Vaughan
Stacey Wondra has claimed that his ex-wife, Sarah Wondra, was the one who accidentally killed Michael Vaughan.
Regardless, the state alleges that the defendant engaged in conduct that resulted in the child's death.
Stacey Wondra will be arraigned in district court on April 15.
WATCH: Hours of police interview video played in court during day 2 of Stacey Wondra hearing
During the first two days of the hearing, prosecutors played hours of recorded police interviews with Wondra from November 2022, when detectives questioned him while he was jailed on an unrelated charge. In the recordings, Wondra described seeing Michael restrained with duct tape and referenced a duffel bag investigators believe may have been used to move the child.
Wondra also suggested others in the household — including his wife Sarah Wondra and roommates Adrien Lucien and Brandon Shurtliff — were involved, while portraying himself as a bystander. At one point in the video, he said he heard the boy crying for his mother, prompting Michael’s parents to leave the courtroom.
UPDATES FROM DAY #3 OF THE PRELIMINARY HEARING:
2:57 P.M.
The judge is deliberating whether this case will move to trial.
2:35 P.M. DEFENSE DELIVERS CLOSING ARGUMENT
Defense attorneys argued there is a significant gap between the evidence presented and the charges against Stacey Wondra, emphasizing that Michael Vaughan’s body has never been found and no physical or forensic evidence links Wondra to the alleged crimes. The defense said the case relies largely on speculation and pointed out Wondra never confessed to kidnapping or killing the child.
They also argued Wondra’s statements are unreliable, telling the court “we can’t believe a word Stacey Wondra says,” and claiming he “changes his story constantly” and “lies constantly,” with none of his claims corroborated by physical evidence. The defense maintained Wondra appeared upset in interviews not because he committed the crime, but because “something horrible happened and he didn’t stop it,” and concluded the state failed to establish probable cause.
2:05 P.M. STATE DELIVERS CLOSING ARGUMENT
In closing arguments, prosecutors said Stacey Wondra’s statements to detectives – while shifting at times – still provide a credible account of how Michael Vaughan was kidnapped and later died. The state argued Wondra attempted to minimize his own role while implicating others, but said his actions – including helping tow a vehicle, traveling to Kuna and assisting afterward – show he knowingly participated in the kidnapping.
Prosecutors told the court the kidnapping was an ongoing crime and that Wondra joined what they described as a “community of purpose” with Sarah Wondra, Adrien Lucien and Brandon Shurtliff. They argued that even if Wondra did not carry out the killing himself, his actions helped conceal the crime and maintain the kidnapping, ultimately leading to Michael’s death by suffocation.
2:01 P.M.
Court resumed with prosecutors announcing they intend to file an amended complaint, removing the premeditation element from the charge and instead pursuing a felony murder charge. Closing arguments begin.
12:00 P.M.
Detective Kelleher testified investigators reviewed communications between members of the Wondra household after Michael Vaughan’s disappearance and observed behavior changes but found no messages directly stating Michael had been abducted by them or killed. The defense also referenced statements Stacey Wondra made in a jail call with his mother, Tamara Johnson, where he said he “didn’t want anything to do with this” and blamed Sarah Wondra, while the detective acknowledged Wondra has consistently portrayed himself as being “out of the loop.”
11:53 A.M
Detective Kelleher testified cadaver dogs did not indicate Michael Vaughan had been inside the Wondra home, and based on the investigation she believes nothing of evidentiary value was recovered from inside the house.
11:45 A.M.
Detective Kelleher testified cadaver dogs were run on vehicles associated with the Wondra household, including a Toyota Corolla and a white Lexus. During questioning, she said she was not aware of any evidentiary findings from those searches and did not believe anything of evidentiary value was recovered from either vehicle.
11:15 A.M.
Detective Kelleher testified Stacey Wondra claimed he questioned Sarah about taking Michael and suggested calling law enforcement before later saying he went to bed. The defense also raised inconsistencies about Michael’s clothing – noting family members and investigators said he was wearing flip-flops that were never recovered, while Wondra recalled him wearing tennis shoes. Kelleher said Wondra’s statements sometimes shifted – at times saying “I remember” before correcting himself to say Sarah had told him – while consistently portraying himself as uninvolved and pointing investigators to a backyard location where he believed Michael was buried.
During questioning, the defense pointed out investigators believe Michael may have been transported in a vehicle. Kelleher said a piece of duct tape was collected from the area of a vehicle where investigators believe Michael may have been placed, but no fingerprints or direct connection to Michael was found on it. She also testified a cadaver dog alerted on a vehicle used by Stacey Wondra, though no evidence was recovered inside.
10:57 A.M.
Detective Kelleher clarified that when she told Stacey Wondra she would be “on his side 100%,” she meant she would tell a judge he was the only one who helped investigators find Michael – not that he wouldn’t face consequences. Defense attorneys also pressed her on whether it was realistic for a child to be forced into a duffel bag, but Kelleher testified she believes Michael Vaughan was placed inside the bag based on statements from Wondra and the investigation. At one point, the Detective indicated that Michael may have been drugged before they put him in the duffel.
10:38 A.M. CROSS EXAMINATION CONTINUES
Detective Juanita Kelleher referenced interviews with both Sarah and Stacey Wondra, noting Stacey had requested to speak with detectives from jail and claimed Sarah had been abusive toward him. Kelleher also reiterated she found it suspicious that Wondra was seen “testing his door handle” at the splash pad hours before Michael Vaughan disappeared. There is also mention of a “snapchat scam” Sarah Wondra and Adrien Lucienne were allegedly cooking up to make money.
In a conversation with Brandon Shurtliff, the Detective says he described a duffel bag he owned, and asked if she had "found it yet."
10:26 A.M. DEFENSE CROSS-EXAMINES DETECTIVE
During cross-examination, Detective Juanita Kelleher testified this was the first missing child case she had worked in the area and described the large search effort that followed Michael Vaughan’s disappearance, including professional search teams and canvassing roughly 300 homes. She also discussed surveillance showing Stacey Wondra’s white Lexus near the splash pad around 3:22 p.m., saying she found it unusual for an adult to stop a vehicle in an area where children were known to be playing.
10:02 A.M.
Testimony returned to Detective Juanita Kelleher, who said after the November 2022 interviews with Wondra, investigators obtained a search warrant and spent days digging on the Wondra property with cadaver dogs but never recovered Michael. She also testified Wondra told detectives phones and SIM cards used at the time were discarded because he didn’t want to be “followed,” and said roommate Brandon Shurtliff later reported Wondra called him saying they needed to get their stories straight.
10:01 A.M.
Wondra’s mother urged him to promise he was telling the whole truth, telling him withholding information would be the same as lying; Wondra said he was being honest. She told him it’s not fair to Michael’s family to keep them wondering.
9:52 A.M. DETECTIVE DETAILS SEARCH OF WONDRA PROPERTY
His mother asked if detectives would find Michael where they had sent them – referring to the backyard Wondra previously described – and Wondra nodded yes.
9:45 AM
Wondra claimed Michael was taken “to make money,” while insisting he was “completely out of the loop on everything.” When his adopted mother asked why he didn’t speak up, Wondra replied “I was scared to.” He also claimed Michael was taken to Brandon Shurtliff’s house and at one point asked, “Am I going to die in prison?”
9:41 A.M. JAIL CALL VIDEO CONTINUES
Wondra told his adopted mother he had told detectives where Michael Vaughan was and said they promised to “fight for me.” When she asked if Michael was alive, Wondra shook his head and said “Sarah accidentally killed him.” He also claimed Sarah Wondra and Adrien Lucien brought Michael into the home while he was there.
9:32 A.M. VIDEO OF JAIL CALL PLAYED IN COURT
Prosecutors began playing a video of Stacey Wondra speaking with his adopted mother while in custody. In the call, Wondra tells her he “told them everything” about speaking with detectives. At one point, his mother asks if he was “completely honest with them about everything,” later telling him, “You have to take responsibility for your part.” Wondra responds, “I’m sorry I let you guys down.”
9:29 A.M. COURT PROCEEDINGS RESUME
Court is underway as prosecutors continue testimony from Fruitland Police Detective Juanita Kelleher. The state told the court it plans to publish “one last exhibit” – a 28-minute video – as testimony continues.
