Photo: TBI
Krystal Daniels knew her husband killed their son.
By Sarah Gangraw — Written on Apr 11, 2018
The mother of a Tennessee boy with autism admitted she was present while her son was allegedly beaten to death by his father.
Krystal Nicole Daniels, 27, told authorities she was in the house when 5-year-old Joe Clyde Daniels was murdered, according to court documents.
The father of the autistic and non-verbal child, Joseph Ray Daniels, told authorities he beat Joe to death and hid the body.
A detective wrote in an affidavit that Joseph "struck the boy in the body, upper torso, head, and face with a closed fist until his son was deceased.”
Krystal was arrested Monday and charged with one count of aggravated child neglect or endangerment and Joseph was arrested Saturday on a criminal homicide charge.
The affidavit states that the mother knew her husband "intentionally caused the death of their son, Joe Clyde Daniels, who was 5-years-old at the time of his death."
She was also aware Joseph disposed of the boy’s body but never reported the crimes to authorities.
Krystal “failed to report the abuse and resulting homicide” of the boy.
“Krystal Daniels failed to report the injuries, abuse, and/or homicide despite multiple opportunities,” the document reads. “Krystal Daniels took active steps to obfuscate the abuse and homicide of Joe Clyde Daniels."
Joe’s body has still not been found although Joseph admitted to murdering him.
“We’re following indicators that we have, looking at bodies of water, and things that are secluded or may be out of the way. We’re just not leaving anything uncovered,” Dickson County Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe said. “We’re in the same mode of search that we were prior when we were looking at a rescue. Now, with the recovery, we’re still working everything we can.”
Joseph said he loaded his son’s lifeless body into the trunk of his car and disposed of it in a “remote area." That has been the only hint to the location of the boy’s remains since the father killed him around last Wednesday, The Tennessean reported.
"Right now, we’re feeling that it’s a nightmare, and we’re hoping to get closure soon," Joe’s grandmother, Belle Daniels, told News Channel 5.
The three-day search for the boy turned into a criminal investigation that led the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Dickson County Sheriff’s Office to Joe’s father and eventually to his mother.
The Daniels’ two other children, ages 8 and 3, have been put in the care of relatives, a Department of Children’s Services spokesman said.
Krystal is being held on a $1 million bond at the Dickson County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Joseph is also behind bars on a $1 million bond and will appear in court Friday.