Is Joe Clyde Daniels alive? Police receive anonymous letter stating missing autistic boy was given away

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating an anonymous letter sent the grandparents of missing Tennesse boy Joe Clyde Daniels, who was presumed dead in April when his father reportedly admitted he beat his son to death.

News 5 reports that the grandparents of Joe Clyde, an autistic non-verbal 5-year-old from Dickson, received a handwritten letter postmarked out of Nashville, that reportedly read that the boy was alive and well. The letter also indicated that Joe Clyde’s mother, Krystal Daniels, made arrangements and gave the boy away.

The letter also claimed Joe Clyde was living in Tennessee, potentially in the Jackson area.

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“I believe Krystal got Joe’s clothes, packed them into a bag… and left Joe on the side of the road,” the letter read.  “If we could get Krystal to confess what really happened…with this case. I know it’s a bizarre case.”

The grandparents turned the letter over to TBI. The agency stated they are investigating the letter but haven’t changed the focus of the investigation at this time. Krystal Daniels, along with the boy’s father, Joseph Ray Daniels, remain behind bars in connection with Joe Clyde’s presumed death.

“As with any case we investigate, we pursue any evidence presented to us that is relevant to the case. We are working to determine the legitimacy of the letter sent to the grandparents of Joe Clyde Daniels, but a this time have no reason to believe this will change the focus of the investigation.”

The letter contained the names of other alleged people involved but did not mention the boy’s father.

According to investigators, Krystal Rogers was frustrated with raising a son with autism. She was reportedly upset she had to give away the family dog because of Joe Clyde, the station reports.

Joe Clyde Daniels parents arrested
Krystal Daniels (r), Joe Clyde Daniels (c), and Joseph Ray Daniels (l) [Photo: TBI]
As CrimeOnline previously reported, during a 911 call on April 4, Joseph Daniels calmly told a dispatch operator that his son disappeared from their Dickson home off of Garners Creek Road. Initially, police had no reason to believe Daniels harmed the little boy but after two days of intense searching, TBI announced that Daniels admitted that he killed his son.

WKRN obtained a copy of the 911 call, in which Daniels indicated that his son must have unlocked a door in the home and walked away. He claimed he went to the little boy’s room at 5:30 a.m. on April 4, and noticed he wasn’t there. Daniels never asked for help while talking to the 911 dispatcher and the only information that he volunteered without being asked was that his boy was autistic and disappeared from their home.

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

According to the affidavit of complaint released by Dickson County authorities, Krystal Daniels admitted she was in her residence on April 4 when the child’s father beat him to death. Further, she’s accused of failing to report the crime and taking steps to conceal the little boy’s abuse and death.

Krystal Nicole Daniels is charged with felony “Aggravated Child Neglect or Endangerment” while Joseph Daniels is charged with homicide. Both suspects are behind bars on a $1 million bail each.

Check back with CrimeOnline as we continue to provide updates.

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