Officials in Alabama have confirmed the tragic death of four-year-old Johnathan Everett Boley. Known to his family as “John John,” the young boy vanished on New Year’s Eve. He was last seen playing outside his father’s home in Jasper with his black Labrador, Buck.
Search crews found Johnathan’s body on Friday afternoon after an intense two-day hunt. The effort involved the FBI and hundreds of volunteers. Sadly, he was discovered in a rural area just two miles from where he disappeared. In a heartbreaking twist, his dog Buck was found alive nearby. It appears the loyal dog stayed by the child’s side the entire time.
Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith described Johnathan as an adventurous boy who loved the outdoors. The child was visiting his father, Jameson Kyle Boley, for the holidays. He was supposed to return to his mother in Florida on Thursday.
During the search, police took Johnathan’s father into custody on separate charges. These charges involve chemical endangerment, but Sheriff Smith stressed that they are not related to the boy’s disappearance. As the community gathers to mourn, the investigation into the cause of death continues.