Authorities in Birmingham, Alabama, have located the body of a 4-year-old boy who had been missing since shortly before the end of 2025. The search for the child, Johnathan Boley, ended tragically when his remains were discovered on Friday morning.

Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith shared the heartbreaking update, confirming that Johnathan was found just a few miles from his home in Jasper. “Our whole community is heartbroken,” Smith stated. “Johnathan was a spirited boy who had a love for the outdoors.”

Johnathan and his pet dog, Buck, disappeared on Wednesday morning after they were last spotted wandering into the woods near his father’s property along Highway 195 in Jasper. At the time he went missing, Johnathan was dressed in a yellow Mickey Mouse shirt, black pants, and clothing with designs from the TV show “Paw Patrol.” Overnight temperatures in the area were known to drop into the 30s, adding to concerns for the young boy’s safety.

Boley and his dog, Buck, were last seen walking away into the woods away from his father’s property off Highway 195 in Jasper late Wednesday morning. At the time of his disappearance, Boley was wearing a yellow Mickey Mouse shirt, black pants and clothing from the TV show “Paw Patrol” as temperatures in the area dipped into the 30s at night.

Smith said deputies found Boley’s dog alive next to his body.

Since Boley’s disappearance, his father, Jameson Boley, has been arrested and charged with previous warrants of chemical endangerment and unlawful manufacturing of a destructive device. Jameson Boley was first arrested Thursday after explosive materials were found in his home as law enforcement searched for his son.

Jameson Boley’s bond was set at $300,000, with a judge citing him as a “danger to the community” due to the presence of explosives at his home where children were.

Smith did not offer any further details on the case, adding that the investigation was ongoing.