Murder Charges Filed in Case of Missing 5-year-old Michael ‘Monkey’ Vaughan - Stacey Wondra suspect

A father. A missing teen. A 67-year-old accused predator. In seconds, everything changed. Aaron Spencer says he acted to save his daughter; prosecutors call it murder. Today we unpack the timeline, the 911 call, the charges, Arkansas self-defense law—and the national debate: protection or vigilante justice? Sponsors: Aura Frames: You can save on the perfect gift that keeps on giving by visiting AuraFrames.com. For a limited time, listeners can get 20 dollars off their best-selling Carver Mat frame with code HIDDEN. That’s A-U-R-A Frames.com promo code HIDDEN. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Terms and conditions apply. Tovala: For a limited time, save up to $300 on the Tovala smart oven when you order meals 6+ times, by visiting http://tovala.com/HIDDEN and using code HIDDEN. Nurture Life: For 55% off your order + FREE shipping, head to http://NurtureLife.com/HIDDEN and use code HIDDEN. AG1: Head to https://drinkag1.com/HIDDEN to get a FREE Welcome Kit, including a bottle of Vitamin D and free AG1 Travel Packs, when you first subscribe! About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

*This episode was recorded live* After four long years of heartbreak and unanswered questions, there’s finally a major development in the case of missing 5-year-old Michael “Monkey” Vaughan. One of the key suspects—someone John and I have both interviewed—has now been charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and destruction of evidence. In this episode, we break down the shocking new warrant for Stacey Wondra, what this means for Michael’s family, and why prosecutors say justice is finally closing in—even as the desperate search for Monkey continues. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Smalls: For a limited time only, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to http://smalls.com/HIDDEN Little Spoon: Simplify your kids' mealtimes. Go to:  littlespoon.com/HTC and enter our code HTC at checkout to get 50% OFF your first Little Spoon order.   Smalls: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard vanished after a cross-country trip with her mother—then Mom came home alone and stopped cooperating. Surveillance shows Melodee in a hood and what appears to be a wig; a rental car logged hundreds of miles; the FBI is now involved. In this episode, we trace the paper trail, the digital breadcrumbs, and the chilling 72-hour ultimatum to “produce Melodee or face arrest,” and ask the only question that matters: where is Melodee? About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠ You can go to my sponsor https://aura.com/hiddentruecrime to try 14 days for free. That’s enough time for Aura to start scrubbing your personal info off these data broker sites, without you lifting a finger.  ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 15th, Lauren did a 9 hour live going through the most painful details of their families lives in the last several months. Now, John is here to follow up on the psychology of smear campaigns, mob mentalities, cyber stalking and physical stalking. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 15th, Lauren did a 9 hour live going through the most painful details of their families lives in the last several months. Now, John is here to follow up on the psychology of smear campaigns, mob mentalities, cyber stalking and physical stalking. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a surprising twist, Jake Haro plead guilty to the murder of his 7-month-old son Emmanuel and Lauren is here to break down all of the latest details. Mint Mobile: Ready to say yes to saying no? Make the switch at https://www.mintmobile.com/HIDDEN About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Lori Vallow-Daybell has finished her 3rd, and final, trial and is back in Idaho, her only surviving son, Colby Ryan sits down with Lauren and Dr. John to talk about what really comes after justice. NOTE: This is a live recorded episoe Sundays For Dogs: Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to http://sundaysfordogs.com/HIDDEN and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code HIDDEN at checkout. AG1: Head to http://drinkag1.com/hidden to get a FREE Welcome Kit, including a bottle of Vitamin D and free AG1 Travel Packs, when you first subscribe About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A small New Jersey town is reeling after two high school seniors were struck and killed by a speeding SUV — but prosecutors say it wasn’t an accident. What began as teenage drama has exploded into a case of obsession, stalking, and revenge. From gaming livestreams and disturbing messages to claims of police favoritism, this episode uncovers how months of warning signs led to a tragedy no one stopped. Beam: To get up 35% off on your order of Beam Dream, head to www.shopbeam.com/Truecrime and use code TRUECRIME About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kevin Greenlee and Aine Cain are a husband and wife duo podcast that covered the Delphi case extensively. Today they talk with Hidden True Crime about what it was like covering the case... from the secrets, to the leaks, and all through the trial... they saw it all. Shadow of The Bridge Book: https://a.co/d/9V44GFf Follow Kevin and Aine/ Murder Sheet Podcast anywhere you get your podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/murder-sheet/id1538289354 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lCbTxX7QAJUgVewVKmApA?si=8f2c11f4f5d04493 About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. John explores not only the case of Laken Snelling, but the topic of neonaticide as a whole. What is the psychology behind pregnant women who give birth and murder? Are there red flags we could be picking up on? Sponsors: OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code HIDDEN at https://www.oneskin.co/ Remi: Go to http://shopremi.com/HIDDEN and use code HIDDEN  at checkout for 50% off. Smalls: For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to http://smalls.com/HIDDEN About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices