Neighbours in a rural Alabama community reported hearing regular, loud explosions for more than a year before a four-year-old boy was found dead in nearby woods, an investigation has revealed.
Arrest and Shocking Discoveries
Jameson Kyle Boley, a 40-year-old ex-military father, was arrested on December 31 after authorities searching for his missing son uncovered a cache of homemade explosive devices on his wooded property near Jasper, Alabama. He faces charges of unlawfully manufacturing a destructive device and two counts of chemically endangering a child, after methamphetamine was allegedly found inside the home while his two young sons were visiting.
The discovery came during a desperate search for Boley's four-year-old son, Johnathan, known as John John, who vanished from the home just before noon on New Year's Eve. The search ended tragically on January 2, when the boy's body was discovered about two miles away, partially submerged in a creek. The family dog, Buck, was found alive beside him.
A preliminary autopsy found no signs of trauma or assault, indicating hypothermia as the likely cause of death. Officials have not specified when the child died.
Neighbours' Disturbing Accounts and Hindered Search
Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith stated the charges against Boley are "totally separate" from his son's disappearance and death. However, he acknowledged the explosives complicated the search and raised serious child safety questions.
Neighbour Stacy Dunn told investigators she and others had witnessed loud blasts from the vicinity of Boley's home for at least a year. "It was disturbing. It was loud," she said. "We've been hearing them for at least a year, if not longer, almost every day - at least a couple of times a week at all different times."
She described the impact on her former roommate, a veteran with PTSD, who was deeply troubled by the noises. Dunn said neighbours had reported the blasts to police, but the source had not been pinpointed until now.
The volunteer search for Johnathan was suspended until the FBI's bomb unit cleared the area and conducted controlled detonations. Sheriff Smith said at least eight devices were found, enough to "level an entire house."
Custody Visit Ends in Tragedy
Public records show Boley's ex-wife, Angel Boley, had custody of their two sons. The family had lived at the Jasper property before separating in 2021, with Angel and the boys moving to Florida last May. The sheriff said Boley had visitation for just five days annually.
It was during this holiday visit that Johnathan vanished. His six-year-old brother told investigators he saw Johnathan cross a fence line and follow the dog into the woods around 11:30 am on December 31. Boley reported him missing about an hour later.
Despite the dangerous explosives and alleged drugs, Boley had brought his sons to the property. The sheriff said Boley told investigators he knew "what he was handling was dangerous" but "he was just at a point where he didn't care anymore."
Boley is now held in Blount County Jail on a $300,000 cash bond, with a bond order citing he is a "danger to community - explosives around children." His preliminary hearing is set for January 20. It is unclear if he will be granted release to attend his son's funeral, scheduled for Saturday.
The community continues to support Johnathan's devastated mother and family. His grandfather, Michael, told reporters, "It's just very tragic," adding the family is "having a hard time."
