No Trauma or Assault Injuries Found in Death of Walker County 4-Year-Old Johnathan Boley as Toxicology Results Pending; Father Jameson Kyle Boley Faces Drug and Explosives Charges

Authorities say an autopsy performed on 4-year-old Johnathan Boley has found no signs of trauma or assault-type injuries, though the child’s official cause of death has not yet been determined.

Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith confirmed Monday morning that the autopsy ruled out physical abuse or violent injury. Investigators are now awaiting toxicology results, which are expected to play a key role in determining what led to the child’s death.

Timeline of Disappearance and Search

Johnathan was first reported missing on Wednesday, December 31, at approximately 12:28 p.m., after his 6-year-old brother told authorities he saw him crawl under a backyard fence while following the family dog, Buck, around 11:30 a.m.

By 1:02 p.m., deputies and Rapid Patrol Services had cleared the father’s residence and confirmed the child was not inside. Law enforcement then escalated the search, calling in air support and state K9 units to assist.

Nearly 48 hours later, at 12:55 p.m. on Friday, January 2, volunteer searchers located Johnathan and Buck roughly two miles from the father’s property. The dog was found alive, but Johnathan was discovered deceased and partially submerged in a body of water.

One volunteer told investigators that the dog appeared to lead them to the location where the child was found.

Location Where Child Was Found

Sheriff Smith described the area as a creek-like location that had pooled with water.

“I guess the best way to describe it is kind of a creek, but it pooled up,” Smith said. “When we measured it, it was about four feet deep.”

Recent rainfall in the area may have affected water levels, Smith added.

Explosives and Dangerous Materials Found at Home

The search effort was complicated after authorities discovered dangerous materials and explosive devices inside the home of Johnathan’s father, Jameson “Kyle” Boley.

“The lifestyle that was taking place in the home with explosive devices and things of that nature obviously created challenges,” Smith said. “It presented much more than just searching for a missing child.”

Sheriff Smith emphasized that the items discovered were not fireworks.

“The experts told us there was enough to level an entire house,” he said. “At one point, he admitted he knew what he was handling was dangerous, but he didn’t care anymore.”

Charges Against the Father

Jameson Kyle Boley has been charged with multiple offenses, including unlawful manufacture of a destructive device and chemical endangerment of a child. Following the recovery of Johnathan’s body, Boley was transferred from the Walker County Jail to Blount County due to the high-profile nature of the case.

Investigation Ongoing

Sheriff Smith stated that additional updates will be released once final autopsy and toxicology results are completed and investigators are able to share more information.

The case remains under active investigation.