Alabama police announced Friday the death of a 4-year-old boy who had been reported missing since Wednesday. Johnathan Everett Boley was found about two miles from his father's house in Walker County, accompanied by his dog Buck, who was found alive. The boy had last been seen around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 7000 block of Highway 195 in Jasper. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a yellow Mickey Mouse t-shirt, black pants, and Paw Patrol shoes. A massive deployment of rescue teams was underway. Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith reported that the search covered more than 500 acres and involved a large deployment of resources. The search involved helicopters, drones, at least 161 volunteers, 126 rescuers, and several trained search dogs.

From the moment his disappearance was reported, authorities considered the boy to be in danger, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Family Context and Cooperation with Authorities

According to Sheriff Smith, Johnathan's parents are separated, and the boy disappeared while visiting his father in Alabama. The man, a former military member, had five days of visitation rights per year.

The boy's mother traveled from Florida on Wednesday to pick him up the following day and, according to authorities, has fully cooperated with the investigation.

The exact circumstances of the boy's death have not been publicly detailed, as authorities continue their investigation to clarify what happened.