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Cops confirm disturbing discovery at 4-year-old boy's home before he was found dead in chilling position
Authorities have confirmed a disturbing discovery made during the search for Johnathan Boley, a 4-year-old boy from Alabama who went missing on New Year's Eve.
While the search efforts were intensifying, officers found items inside the home of Johnathan's father, Jameson Kyle Boley, that made the situation more complicated, The US Sun reports.
The chilling discovery involved suspected explosives, forcing the authorities to pause their search temporarily. This unexpected development added complexity to an already challenging case.
Johnathan was last seen at his father's house around 11:30 AM on New Year's Eve. An hour and a half later, the search expanded to include the property, where authorities uncovered potential explosive devices.
Sheriff Nick Smith confirmed that these items, which were not fireworks, were serious enough to halt the search operation.
According to Smith, “The lifestyle that was taking place in the home with explosive devices and things of that nature obviously created challenges, challenges that we obviously weren’t ready to see, so it was much more than just blazing through the woods looking for a child, it presented challenges.”
The discovery of explosives at the home
The search for the missing boy took a darker turn when explosives were found inside the house. Authorities later revealed that the amount of materials discovered could have caused significant harm if detonated.
However, no live explosives were found outside the property. Smith also noted that neighbors reported hearing explosions in the area prior to the discovery. While the search was delayed, video footage showed officers safely deactivating the devices.
Despite these challenges, volunteers, K9 teams, and other law enforcement agencies continued their search for the missing child.
Johnathan was eventually found on January 2 by a group of volunteers. His loyal dog, Buck, was standing by his side when his body was discovered in a creek-like area, partially submerged.
The volunteers, who had been involved in the search for hours, were visibly shaken by the discovery. Sheriff Smith described their reaction, saying, “You know, obviously you come out to do a good deed and when you get out there, you may have thought that you have fully prepared yourself for what you might come across.”
Charges against Johnathan's father
Following the discovery, Jameson Boley was charged with unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device or biological weapon. He also faces two counts of chemical endangerment of a child related to the presence of methamphetamines at his property. These charges are not related to Johnathan’s death, and authorities continue to investigate the cause of the child's passing. Johnathan's mother, who now lives in Florida, has since traveled to Alabama to cooperate with the investigation.
Johnathan's tragic death has left a community in shock, and questions remain regarding the circumstances surrounding both his disappearance and the discovery at his father’s home.