All Four Suspects Indicted in Joshua Larkin Murder Case as Search Continues

Rita Shipp
3 days ago
2 min read

NEWTON COUNTY — A Newton County grand jury has formally indicted all four men previously arrested in connection with the 2022 killing of Joshua Ian Larkin, pushing the long-running investigation into its next phase as efforts to locate Larkin’s remains continue.

***Joshua Ian Larkin, who has been missing since November 17, 2022.***

The indictments were formally filed January 27, 2026, according to court records obtained by the East Texas Banner.

Larkin has been missing since November 17, 2022, and despite multiple search efforts and recent investigative developments, his remains have not yet been recovered.

Murder Charges

Two of the four defendants were indicted on murder charges.

Johnathan Cody Bierhalter was indicted for murder, with the indictment alleging he intentionally or knowingly caused Larkin’s death by holding another person at gunpoint and forcing them to shoot Larkin. Bierhalter was also separately indicted for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse.

Bond was set at $500,000 on the murder charge and $250,000 on the tampering charge.

Justin Taylor James was indicted for murder, with the indictment alleging he intentionally or knowingly caused Larkin’s death by shooting him. James was also indicted on a charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse.

No bond amounts were listed in his indictments. Court records do not list bond amounts for James or Rodney Allen Blankenship Jr. Both men were already in Texas Department of Criminal Justice custody at the time the indictments were filed.

Additional Indictments

James Alex Jones was indicted for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse, with the indictment alleging he observed a human corpse following the commission of a murder and failed to report its existence or location to law enforcement.

Bond was set at $250,000.

Rodney Allen Blankenship Jr. was indicted for tampering with physical evidence, with the indictment alleging he knowingly concealed a shotgun with the intent to impair its availability as evidence in a subsequent murder investigation.

No bond amount was listed in his indictment.

Search Efforts Ongoing

The indictments come amid continued search efforts in Newton County. Earlier this month, authorities announced the reward for information leading to the recovery of Larkin’s remains had been increased to $15,000, with support from Texas EquuSearch, private donors, and other stakeholders.

Law enforcement officials have repeatedly stated that locating Larkin remains a top priority. Recent searches resulted in the recovery of several items of interest, including a pair of boots, a cellphone, and a hoodie consistent with the clothing Larkin was last seen wearing. Those items were sent to the crime lab for DNA testing. No results have been released.

Investigation Continues

Despite the indictments, authorities stress the investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to Joshua Larkin’s disappearance or the possible location of his remains is urged to contact: