The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:45 PM
TBI: Father Under Arrest After He Admits To Killing 5-Year Old Son On 911 Call; Body Of Son Still Missing
The nearly four-minute call was made public Sunday amid a desperate search to find Joe Clyde Daniels' body after federal authorities said his dad, 28-year-old Joseph Ray Daniels, hid it.
"My son has autism and we cannot find him," Daniels' dad told dispatchers April 3, four days before TBI announced he was arrested in connection to the death of his son. "He must've unlocked the door and got out; he's non-verbal."
During the call, dispatchers asked the 28-year-old if his son is verbal or non-verbal after learning he has autism.
Daniels dad said, "It's [autism] is not severe, but it's pretty significant where he can't talk and is unable to communicate."
Joe Clyde Daniels was the subject of an endangered child alert issued out of Dickson Wednesday.
The child was last seen wearing his pajamas at his home on Garners Creek Road on Tuesday night. LTBI officials said Daniels was non-verbal, autistic and had a history of sneaking away form home.
In a press release, TBI indicated that the father is believed to have killed his son during the night of April 3 in their house.
CBS affiliate WTVF reported that Daniels' bond is set at $1 million and that officials are still searching for Joe Clyde Daniels' body. Daniels' was booked into Dickson County Jail.
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This missing 5-year-old from Dickson, TN, goes by Joe Clyde Daniels. He was last seen Tuesday night, wearing pajamas. An Endangered Child Alert has been issued for this child, who is non-verbal and autistic. Please call 1-800-TBI-FIND if you see Joe.
