Search teams discovered the child about two miles from his father’s home after a three-day search.
JASPER, AL — The body of 4-year-old Johnathan Everett Boley was found Friday afternoon about two miles from his father’s house in rural Walker County, ending a search that began on New Year’s Eve when he disappeared near Highway 195, authorities said.
Officials said crews located the child during a coordinated ground-and-air effort after pausing parts of the search Thursday to address potential explosive devices found at the residence. The Walker County Sheriff’s Office announced the discovery hours after midday briefings that outlined expanding search grids and water checks. The case now shifts from a rescue operation to a death investigation, with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency assisting. Investigators have not released a cause or manner of death. The boy’s family had reported him missing around 1 p.m. Wednesday, and hundreds of volunteers joined law enforcement in canvassing woods, ponds and dirt roads between the Manchester and Thach communities.
According to the sheriff, Johnathan was last seen around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday while visiting his father during a holiday custody period. The child had been outside with his 6-year-old brother and the family dog near a fence line along the 7000 block of Highway 195. Searchers focused early efforts within a two-mile radius, then expanded outward as drones, K-9 teams and dive units checked timber stands and nearby ponds. “We’re dealing with a large rural footprint and thick terrain,” Sheriff Nick Smith said earlier Friday, adding that teams were rotating to keep fresh eyes on grid assignments. By late afternoon, the sheriff confirmed the boy’s body had been found. The dog was located alive near the child.
Authorities said the father, Jameson Kyle Boley, was arrested Thursday on unrelated charges after investigators found items described as potential explosive devices at the home. He faces counts including unlawful manufacturing of a destructive device and chemical endangerment of a child. The sheriff said those charges are separate from the missing-child case. Neighbors reported hearing blasts in recent weeks, prompting the bomb squad’s response. Officials on scene said several items did not appear to be live, but specialists examined them out of caution. The discovery temporarily suspended civilian searching while technicians cleared the area and deputies secured the property for evidence processing.
Friday’s announcement came after two public updates at midday detailing step-by-step coverage of woods and water. Crews used thermal imaging from aircraft overnight, then returned at first light to re-walk sectors flagged by mapping software. ALEA troopers, county deputies, volunteer firefighters and search-and-rescue teams from surrounding counties joined the hunt. Command posts tracked assignments on whiteboards and GPS devices to prevent overlap. The sheriff said detectives are building a timeline from the moment the boys were seen near the fence line to the location where the body was found, including checks of traffic cameras and private surveillance along county roads. Investigators said no credible evidence of abduction had emerged as of Friday afternoon.
Records show the child’s disappearance spanned the holiday, complicating staffing and stretching volunteer resources. Rain and winter woods slowed line searches, and ponds near pasture edges required divers and sonar sweeps. Residents along Highway 195 offered fields and access roads for staging, and a church opened space for meals and rest. A community vigil was scheduled for Friday evening in Jasper as word spread of the discovery. Earlier, deputies had asked residents to search outbuildings and game cameras and to avoid wooded sectors marked for official teams. The sheriff emphasized that children can travel farther than expected in rural areas, especially when following a pet, and that terrain and visibility shift quickly in thickets and hollows.
Investigators said the death investigation remains active. The sheriff’s office is working with the coroner to determine the cause and manner of death, with autopsy results expected after the weekend. Detectives planned to re-interview family members and neighbors and to review evidence collected from the home following the bomb squad’s clearance. The father’s charges will move through initial appearances in district court, and any bond decisions will be recorded in court logs. Officials said additional briefings will be held if significant findings emerge. For now, deputies are securing the area where the body was found and preserving the scene for state forensic teams.
Outside the search area, residents placed stuffed animals and small bouquets near the highway fence line where the boys were last seen. Volunteers who had walked the woods described briars and creek cuts that made each pass slow. “It’s heartbreaking for everyone who came out,” Smith said, his voice low as he confirmed the discovery. A firefighter from a neighboring county said crews traded shifts through the night to keep momentum. By late afternoon, vehicles eased out along a rutted dirt road as deputies reset perimeter tape and chaplains spoke quietly with family members.
As of Friday evening, investigators had not released a cause of death, and officials said the next update would likely follow preliminary findings from the autopsy early next week. The sheriff’s office said the scene would remain secured through the weekend while mapping and evidence collection continue.
Author note: Last updated January 3, 2026.