Dad ARRESTED for homicide while police continue to search for missing autistic boy, 5

While the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and other authorities and volunteers continue to search for a missing 5-year-old boy, evidence uncovered has led to the arrest of the boy’s father.

TBI reports that the Joseph Ray Daniels, the father of missing child, Joe Clyde Daniels, has been arrested and charged with homicide. Authorities still haven’t found the boy but during a press release, the TBI announced that they believe Daniels killed his son on the night of April 3. Police booked Daniels into the Dickson County Jail on $1 million bond.

“During the course of the investigation, it was determined the child’s father Joseph Daniels intentionally killed his son in his residence and then hid his body,” TBI deputy director Jason Locke said.

Daniels previously spoke out before his arrest and thanked authorities for searching for his son while claiming that he thought there was a possibility the child had been abducted.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Joe Clyde was last seen on Tuesday night at his home off of Garners Creek Road in Dickson. According to authorities, he’s autistic and non-verbal. He has blonde hair, blue eyes, stands 4 feet tall, weighs about 65 pounds, and was last seen wearing black pajamas.

Hundreds of volunteers have been helping search for the boy, stopping when the search when it turned dark. Trained first responders continued the search overnight, according to FOX 17 Nashville.

“It’s overwhelming,” Dickson Count Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe told FOX 17. “Of all the different searches I’ve been on, I’ve never seen this volume of support come this quickly. And we do appreciate it.”

Search crews have been focusing on the Highway 70 area outside Dickson city limits. Helicopter crews are also assisting in the search, hoping it will lure the boy out somehow since his family indicated that he loves helicopters.

Anyone who wants to volunteer in the search should go to the Friendship Baptist Church at 4295 Hwy 70 West, where authorities set up a command post. Volunteers are asked to show up around 9 a.m.

The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.

[Feature Photo: Joe Clyde Daniels and Joseph Daniels/TBI]