A Dickson County man has been charged with criminal homicide in the disappearance of his 5-year-old son.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Saturday morning that 28-year-old Joseph Ray Daniels was arrested and charged with one count of criminal homicide.
(WARNING: Graphic language in video below.)
His son, Joe Clyde Daniels, was reported missing Wednesday morning, prompting the TBI to issue an endangered child alert.
Over the past several days, law enforcement officials and hundreds of local volunteers have been searching for the boy, whom they said is autistic and non-verbal.
Though this news is profoundly disappointing, we are grateful for the volunteers who gave time and resources this week to help search for Joe Clyde. That work will continue by law enforcement today, so we might provide a small degree of closure for his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/i8OmU0gte9
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) April 7, 2018
The TBI said a criminal investigation was opened Friday and it was determined that the elder Daniels allegedly killed his son some time on April 3-4 in their home and then hid his body.
His body has not been found. Authorities said they will be the ones searching for the child's body. Volunteers were no longer needed.
The investigation remained ongoing. Daniels was booked into the Dickson County Jail on a $1,000,000 bond.
Reports from the Department of Children's Services stated the office is investigating the family with law enforcement.
The child's siblings (two boys, ages three and eight) have been placed with relatives.
DCS officials will go back and check records, but they confirmed the department had not had previous involvement with the family within the last three years.
According to reports, the sheriff's office had been to the home previously because Joe Clyde Daniels had walked away from the home before. The child's cause of death and motive remained unknown.
Multiple vigils have been planned in the child's memory and honor:
- Joe Clyde Daniels Remembrance Candlelight Vigil - Saturday, April 7 at 6 p.m. - Buckner Park
- Candlelight Vigil In Remembrance of Joe Clyde Daniels - Sunday, April 8 at 6 p.m. - Cumberland Furnace Community Center
- Prayer Vigil for (Little) Joe Clyde Daniels - Sunday, April 8 at 5 p.m. - Compassion Church
- Vigil and Prayer Service - Sunday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m. - Friendship Baptist Church
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