Summary (tl;dr)

Four-year-old Johnathan Everett Boley, who went missing on New Year's Eve, has been found deceased approximately two miles from his father's home in Alabama; his father, Jameson Kyle Boley, was arrested on unrelated charges after explosives and materials for destructive devices were discovered on his property during the search.

Essential Background

Johnathan Everett Boley, also referred to as Jonathan Boley, was reported missing on December 31, 2025, after last being seen around 11:30 a.m. near the 7000 block of Highway 195 in Jasper, Alabama. He was visiting his father, Jameson Kyle Boley, as part of a custody agreement, with his mother residing in Florida. An Emergency Missing Child Alert was issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and a frantic search involving air and ground crews, thermal detection drones, and canines was launched.

The Full Story

The search for Johnathan Everett Boley concluded tragically on January 2, 2026, when his body was discovered about two miles from his father's residence in a wooded area near Jasper. Notably, Johnathan's dog, Buck, who was with him when he disappeared, was found alive next to the child's body. Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith confirmed Johnathan's death but stated that a cause of death has not yet been determined, and the investigation remains active. During the initial search for the child, investigators found explosive materials and components for destructive devices on the father's property, leading to Jameson Kyle Boley's arrest. He faces charges including unlawful manufacturing of a destructive device and two counts of chemical endangerment of a child; however, authorities have emphasized that these charges are not currently linked to his son's disappearance or death.

Why It Matters

The tragic death of a young child and the subsequent arrest of his father on serious, albeit currently unrelated, charges have deeply impacted the community and garnered significant public attention. The circumstances surrounding Johnathan's disappearance and death, coupled with the discovery of explosives at his father's home, raise serious concerns about child safety and welfare. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the cause of Johnathan's death and any potential connections to the charges against his father, highlighting the complexities and devastating outcomes in such cases.

Geographic Location

• Jasper, Walker County, Alabama, United States (location where Johnathan Everett Boley went missing and his body was found)
• Walker County Jail, Walker County, Alabama, United States (location where Jameson Kyle Boley was taken into custody)