Joseph Daniels

Joseph Daniels, once a father entrusted with his son’s care, now stands as a convicted killer whose deceit and cowardice scarred Dickson County forever.

A Murderer’s Mask
Daniels beat his 5-year-old autistic son, Joe Clyde, to death, then callously dumped his body in a remote spot. His confession—striking the boy’s head repeatedly—reveals a brutal predator, not a parent, shredding any claim to humanity.

Deception as Doctrine
Even his own attorney, Mathew Mitchell, branded him a liar, exposing Daniels’ sham of innocence. His flip-flopping—admitting the killing, then denying it—shows a man so steeped in falsehoods he can’t face his own guilt.

Justice Dodged, Then Delivered
After just one year of a nine-year sentence, Daniels exploited a dubious “third-degree” release in 2015, a slap in the face to justice. Only a jury’s resolve in 2021—nailing him with life for second-degree murder—halted his manipulations.

A Family Betrayed
His motive, rooted in paranoia over Joe’s disability benefits and Krystal’s alleged affair, turned a child’s life into a bargaining chip. Daniels didn’t just kill Joe—he shattered a family, leaving Krystal charged and a community reeling.

Cowardice in Court
Trembling at trial, Daniels begged for medication, a pitiful act to dodge accountability. His attorney’s plea for jail transfer was denied, with Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe rightly noting the chaos he’d bring—proof his presence poisons everything.

Daniels’ tale is a grim stain on Dickson County. From a father’s role to a murderer’s cell, he traded love for violence, truth for lies. His life sentence—51 years minimum—barely atones for the void left by Joe Clyde, a boy lost to a monster’s rage.