FRUITLAND, Idaho (CBS2) — Fruitland Police along with other agencies that include Idaho State Police and the Homeward Bound Program continue to search an area in Fruitland near where Michael Vaughan disappeared on July 27th, 2021.

Since the search began yesterday, police have blocked off Whitletail Ave. in Fruitland and police have excavated soil from a home near the area. Dogs were also seen around the area as well.

CBS2 has a crew on the scene and the Fruitland Police chief is expected to give a statement later today.

UPDATED:

Fruitland Police Chief, J.D. Huff confirmed during an update around 4:15 p.m. today that they are following up on what he called, a very credible tip in the case. Huff says a search warrant was issued on the home at 1102 Redwing and they began digging in the backyard with a backhoe on Saturday and continued the process on Sunday. "This is arduous work," said Chief Huff. "It's going to take us a while to get this done. But we're not going to stop. We're pretty confident in the information we received."

Huff adds that the dirt removed from the backyard is being taken to another location for "processing." And he confirmed that specially trained "cadaver" dogs were also brought in.

Huff said he still hopes that Michael is alive, but that investigators will follow wherever the leads take them.

Michael Vaughan was just five years old when he disappeared around his home on July 27th, 2021. Since then police have followed up on thousands of tips however, this is the first time that a tip has led to a search warrant.

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