A tragic end has been confirmed in the search for a four-year-old boy from Alabama who disappeared on New Year’s Eve along with his black Labrador retriever. The child was discovered deceased just two miles from his father’s residence.
Johnathan Everett “John John” Boley was last seen at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, playing outdoors in Jasper with his six-year-old brother and their dog, Buck, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
On Friday, after an extensive two-day search, his body was found just miles away in a rural area outside Birmingham, Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith said at a press conference. The dog was found alive near his body.
“It is with profound sadness that I must announce we have located Johnathan, and he is no longer with us,” stated Smith, in a solemn address.
Smith also reflected on Johnathan, describing him as “an adventurous boy who had a great love for the outdoors.”
During the course of the investigation, the boy’s father, Jameson Kyle Boley, was apprehended after authorities reportedly discovered what appeared to be explosive devices on his property, WVTM 13 News reported.
Although the devices were eventually deemed non-explosive, Jameson Boley faces charges, including two counts of chemical endangerment of a child and one count of unlawful manufacture of a destructive device or bacteriological weapon.
Sheriff Smith stressed on Thursday that the father’s charges ‘had nothing to do with the connection of the missing child, it’s something totally separate.’
Johnathan Everett ‘John John’ Boley, 4, who went missing with his black Labrador retriever on New Year’s Eve, was found dead just two miles from his father’s Alabama home on Friday
Johnathan was last seen around 11:30am Wednesday playing outside with his six-year-old brother and their dog, Buck, in the 7000 block of Highway 195 in Jasper
On Friday, after an extensive two-day search, Johnathan’s body was found just miles away in a rural area outside Birmingham. The dog was found alive near his body
‘The family, including the dad, has helped, trying to do everything they can do help provide information,’ Smith added on Friday.
The grim discovery came after the Walker County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Johnathan’s father around 12:30pm on New Year’s Eve reporting him missing, according to police.
Sheriff Smith said that Johnathan’s mother moved to Florida last year, with the father granted only ‘five days of custody a year.’
The four-year-old boy was in Alabama for holiday visitation with his father and was scheduled to return to his mother on Thursday, who had flown in from Florida the night before.
Johnathan was outside playing when he suddenly disappeared, Smith told WBRC 6 News. His younger brother told their father that both he and their dog, Buck, had crossed the fence line.
Police initially scoured the home to see if Johnathan was hiding inside before investigators took to the air with drones.
The search intensified as agencies brought in divers, tracking dogs and a helicopter from Montgomery to assist.
By Thursday, over 160 volunteers and 126 first responders – including the FBI – had joined the search, which had already covered 500 acres, Smith shared.
The boy’s father, Jameson Kyle Boley, was taken into custody after authorities reportedly found what they believed were explosive devices on his property. They stressed it had nothing to do with Johnathan’s disappearance
The sheriff said that Johnathan’s mother moved to Florida last year, with the father granted only ‘five days of custody a year’ – including this recent holiday visitation
Jonathan’s younger brother told their father that both Johnathan and their dog, Buck, had crossed the fence line before he vanished
But the massive civilian search was soon halted over safety concerns after investigators discovered ‘evidence of explosive devices on the property,’ the sheriff shared on Thursday.
Smith also revealed at the time that authorities found ‘at least eight other potential explosive devices,’ across the street from Jameson’s home.
‘The FBI has been processing the house, trying to get the explosive devices contained and out of the residence,’ Smith said.
Neighbors told investigators they ‘have been hearing explosions for weeks,’ according to the sheriff.
‘They didn’t really know where it was coming from. The morning before the report came in, one of the neighbors reported that they heard an explosion about 4am that morning,’ Smith said on Thursday.
‘They just didn’t know where it came from,’ he added. ‘Can’t say that that’s any kind of connection to the missing child.’
Shortly after, however, officials confirmed the devices were not explosive and that the house had been cleared and secured from any further potential threats.
Jameson served in the Army from March 2003 to November 2006, WVTM 13 News reported, though the reason for his discharge was not disclosed.
The search for Johnathan intensified as agencies brought in drones, divers, tracking dogs and a helicopter from Montgomery to assist
By Thursday, over 160 volunteers and 126 first responders – including the FBI – had joined the search, which had already covered 500 acres
Even after authorities determined the devices were not explosive, Johnathan’s father was still charged with two counts of chemical endangerment of a child and one count of unlawful manufacture of a destructive device or bacteriological weapon
Nevertheless, Smith emphasized that Johnathan’s father has been cooperating as the investigation continues.
Kim Smith, Johnathan’s aunt, told the outlet that her young nephew was a ‘country boy who loves nature, Paw Patrol and running.’
Sheriff Smith echoed the community’s grief Friday afternoon, saying it ‘is devastated by the news.’
Johnathan’s cause of death remains unknown as of Friday evening.
A vigil was set to be held at 7pm CT Friday at Cornerstone Church, 7719 Highway 195, in Jasper.
