Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard announced Monday that four men have been arrested for the November of 2022 murder of 38-year-old Joshua Ian Larkin. However, his body has not yet been found despite numerous search efforts in both Newton and Jasper County.
Havard said the following individuals, all from the Kirbyville Area have been charged in having an alleged role in the death of Larkin. However, at the top of the list is Justin Taylor James who has been charged with Murder followed by Johnathan Cody Bierhalter, who is charged with Murder and Tampering with Evidence. Rodney Allen Blankenship and James Alex Jones are both charged with Tampering with Evidence.
Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard said that Justin Taylor James has confessed to the crime. However, Havard said there are questions that he hopes will be answered as the investigation continues such as the whereabouts of Larkin's remains, how he died and what was the motive of the killing.
Larkin was last seen leaving in his truck after he told his mother he was going hunting. However, he was never seen again.
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