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Father of Joe Clyde Daniels wrote letter blaming wife for boy's disappearance

Joseph Ray Daniels admitted to beating his 5-year-old son, who had autism, to death and disposing of his body, which has never been found.

Joseph Ray Daniels wrote the letter to his parents — the grandparents of Joe Clyde Daniels — stating he believes Joe is still alive and his wife Krystal is responsible for the disappearance, according to Daniels attorney.

Joseph Daniels states in the letter that he believes another man “is involved with Joe’s disappearance” and that “it’s becoming more clear that he’s clearly involved and that who Krystal called that night.”

Daniels goes on to say he’s been “giving Krystal hell here at the (mental health institute). Anything they have been asking me, I attack Krystal. She’s playing with fire and she’s going to get burned.”

TBI says Joseph Ray Daniels is charged with murdering his 5-year-old son with autism.

Daniels then asks if a second person might have Joe. Both of those names in letter have been withheld by authorities and media.

He then writes that “everything that has been discovered points to Krystal.”

Daniels continues: “If we can get Krystal to confess what really happened, we can win this case. I know it’s a bizarre case.”

"I believe Krystal got Joe's clothes, packed them into a bag...and left Joe on the side of the road," Daniels writes.

Not anonymous

Jake Lockert, public defender and attorney for Joseph, said his client was not trying to write an anonymous letter to his father, Joe Clyde Daniels Jr. and stepmother Belle. The letter, which arrived in the mail last week, ends with the cursive initials “J.D.” However, the family thought the letters were “J.J.” and since the envelope had no return address, they believed it was an anonymous letter, Lockert said.

Joseph did not know the address for the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute, so did not write that information on the envelope, Lockert said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released its findings Monday from an expedited DNA analysis on the letter, which was traced back to Joseph. The TBI stopped short of saying Joseph wrote the letter, but added the letter did not change the focus of their investigation, which has included extensive search operations in Middle Tennessee since Joe Clyde was first reported missing in April.

Police arrested Joseph Ray Daniels, 28, in April. Investigators say Joseph confessed to beating his son to death. Multiple times following that alleged confession he led law enforcement to places where he said the boy was buried, TBI officials said. Joe Clyde, who would be 6 years old now, has not been found.

The boy's mother, Krystal Daniels, also was arrested on allegations of aggravated child neglect and endangerment.

TBI analysis

Joseph Daniels, father of Joe Clyde Daniels, arrived to a crowd of protesters for a court hearing on Friday

Joseph Daniels had been in the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute for evaluation until last week, when he was returned to Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, also in Nashville.

Lockert believes it's likely Daniels sent the letter while at the health institute.

Crystal Daniels, mother of Joe Clyde Daniels, walks into court for a preliminary hearing

The letter sent to Joe Clyde's grandparents claiming the boy was still alive was reported last week. The grandparents provided the letter to law enforcement.

The TBI conducted DNA analysis of the letter and provided those results to the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office and 23rd District Attorney General Ray Crouch.

"Due to the Tennessee Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct we are unable to comment on the results of the analysis," the press release states. "Just as the TBI stated, we do not believe this submission will change the focus of our investigation."

Court records indicate that Joseph Ray Daniels told investigators he beat the boy to death, put Joe Clyde's body in the trunk of his car and disposed of the remains in a "remote area."

Volunteers and investigators have canvassed the area for months looking for any sign of Joe Clyde's body.

Sheriff's deputies said in August they were halting the searches until a new clue emerges, and have kept open the possibility of resuming the search after temperatures drop and foliage is reduced.

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