Joshua Ian Larkin, 38, was last seen by his mother at her Kirbyville, Texas, residence at 9:00 a.m. on November 17, 2022. He informed his mother that he was going hunting at a friend's property, the Exotic Cat Refuge, located in the 200 block of Private Road 7025. The following day, the owner of the property contacted Larkin's mother to inquire about his whereabouts, as his locked vehicle, containing his personal belongings, was still parked on the property.
Larkin has not been seen or heard from since. His mother filed a missing person report with the Newton County Sheriff's Office on November 19, 2022.
The investigation into Larkin's disappearance was ongoing for three years. In a significant development on November 17, 2025, the third anniversary of his disappearance, authorities from Newton and Jasper counties announced the arrests of four individuals in connection with the case. Justin Taylor James and Johnathan Cody Bierhalter were both charged with first-degree murder. James Alex Jones was charged with second-degree felony tampering with evidence with intent to impair a human corpse, and Rodney Allen Blankenship was charged with a third-degree felony for the same offense. At the time of the new charges, James and Blankenship were already incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Bierhalter was arrested in Houston, and Jones was taken into custody in Kirbyville.
Despite the arrests, Joshua Ian Larkin's body has not been recovered, and authorities are continuing their search. Foul play is suspected due to the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. In January 2026, a large-scale search conducted on a property on County Road 418 near Kirbyville uncovered new evidence believed to be of evidentiary value. The items found included a pair of boots, a cell phone, and a hoodie that matched the description of the one Larkin was last seen wearing. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to search for Larkin's remains to bring closure to his family.Last Seen: Nov 17, 2022
