Authorities in Alabama have confirmed the death of Johnathan Everett Boley, a four-year-old boy who went missing on New Year’s Eve. His body was discovered about two miles from his home in a wooded area near Jasper, according to law enforcement.
“We have located Johnathan, and Johnathan is deceased,” Nick Smith, the Walker County Sheriff, said during a press conference on Friday. He added that the child’s dog was found alive and still with him when the body was located.
Timeline of disappearance
Johnathan was last seen at around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday near Highway 195, wearing a yellow Mickey Mouse shirt, black pants, and Paw Patrol shoes. The Walker County Sheriff’s Office received a missing child report at approximately 12:30 p.m. the same day.
According to Sheriff Smith, Johnathan had been with his six-year-old brother and their dog when he disappeared. The older brother was later able to identify the last place where he saw Johnathan and the dog.
Family background and investigation
Johnathan’s parents are separated, and his mother moved to Florida last year. Under the custody agreement, the child’s father was allowed five days of visitation per year. The mother traveled to Alabama on Wednesday evening after learning of the disappearance and is cooperating with investigators.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed the child’s father on Wednesday, Sheriff Smith said.
Why was Jameson Kyle Boley arrested?
Court records show that Jameson Kyle Boley, Johnathan’s father, was arrested on an explosives-related charge. He has also been charged with two counts of chemical endangerment of a child and with unlawful manufacture of a destructive device or bacteriological weapon.
Sheriff Smith said explosive devices were discovered on the father’s property during the search for the missing child. Law enforcement first had to secure and neutralize those devices before executing a full search warrant.
Explosives charges separate from child search
The sheriff emphasized that the explosives-related charge “had nothing to do” with the search for Johnathan. Smith described the father as formerly being in the military and said it remains unclear why explosive materials were present at the home.
Neighbors reportedly told authorities they had heard explosions in the area for weeks prior to Johnathan’s disappearance. One neighbor reported hearing an explosion around 4 a.m. on the morning the missing person report was filed, though Smith said there is no confirmed connection between those reports and the child’s death.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities have not released details about how or when Johnathan Everett Boley died. Sheriff Smith said the investigation remains active, and further information will be provided as it becomes available.
