Joe Clyde's mom present while dad beat him to death, tried to cover up murder: affidavit

DICKSON, Tenn. -- (WZTV) -- The mother of a five-year-old beaten to death at the hands of his father was present during the crime and didn't report the abuse to police, a newly released document says.

Krystal Daniels, the mother of Joe Clyde Daniels, is jailed on an aggravated child neglect or endangerment charge in Dickson County Jail.

An arrest affidavit for Krystal Daniels says that she was home on April 4 when Joe Clyde Daniels' dad, Joseph Ray Daniels, beat him to death. She also knew that Joe Clyde Daniels' body had "been disposed of" and didn't report that to police either.

Joe Clyde Daniels was reported missing last Tuesday. His father Joseph Ray Daniels was arrested for his murder on Saturday.

Court documents released Monday detail Joe Clyde Daniels' violent death. According to an affidavit, Joseph Ray Daniels confessed to police that he had beaten his non-verbal, autistic son to death at their Dickson home on April 4.

Joseph Ray Daniels told police that he "struck his son ... repeatedly in the body, upper torso, head and face with closed fist until his son was deceased," the affidavit said.

Joe Clyde Daniels died at his residence along Garners Creek Road. Joseph Ray Daniels told authorities he put the kindergartner's body in the truck of his car and "disposed" of his son's body in a remote, rural area. As of Tuesday morning, Joe Clyde Daniels' body still hadn't been found after authorities searched through the weekend.

After the murder, Joe Clyde Daniels' dad reported him missing to 911 dispatchers. Krystal Daniel's arrest affidavit also says she took steps to obstruct the abuse and murder of her son.

Heavy search efforts for Joe Clyde Daniels began Wednesday and continued for three days. Hundreds of volunteers and local and state agencies assisted in the search.

Joe Clyde Daniels' body still hasn't been found. His school is making pans to permanently honor the kindergarten student with apple trees.