The body of a 4-year-old Alabama boy who disappeared after wandering into the woods with his dog on New Year’s Eve has been found, as authorities revealed his father was arrested on unrelated charges involving explosives discovered inside the family’s home.
Johnathan Boley was found dead on Jan. 2 roughly two miles from his home, Nick Smith, sheriff of the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, announced during a press conference. The boy’s dog, Buck, was found alive alongside him.
“Like so many across our community, we’re devastated by this news,” Smith said. “Johnathan was an adventurous boy, and he loved the outdoors.”
Johnathan was last seen around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 31 near his home in Jasper, about 43 miles northwest of Birmingham, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Family members said the child, often called “John John,” wandered off while playing outside with his brother and the family’s lab mix, Buck.
At the time he went missing, Johnathan was wearing a yellow Mickey Mouse shirt, black pants, and Paw Patrol shoes. Authorities issued urgent pleas to the public to check Ring cameras, deer cameras, garages, sheds, and surrounding properties as the search intensified.
More than 160 volunteers joined law enforcement in combing roughly 500 acres during the massive search effort. The Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted, though the sheriff’s office said it remained the lead agency in the investigation.
Smith said children wandering into wooded areas with dogs has happened before and that he initially held hope the boy and his dog were staying together and keeping warm, despite cold temperatures that dipped into the 30s in the days following his disappearance.
After Johnathan was reported missing, investigators searched the family’s home and allegedly discovered explosives. The boy’s father was arrested and charged with unlawful manufacturing of a destructive device and two counts of chemical endangerment of a child, according to local reports. Authorities emphasized the charges are unrelated to Johnathan’s death.
The Walker County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the charges.
At the press conference, Smith described Johnathan as a curious, energetic child who loved being outside.
“Him and his brother are very adventurous,” Smith said. “They’re just outdoor kids. Just boys being boys.”
The investigation into Johnathan’s death remains ongoing.
