NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new piece of evidence in the case of a missing Tennessee 5-year-old indicates that Joe Clyde Daniels could still be alive.
The boy disappeared in April and investigators have long presumed he is dead. But, his body has never been found.
Scripps station WTVF in Nashville obtained photos of the letter that was sent anonymously to Joe Clyde's grandparents.
The handwritten letter was postmarked out of Nashville. It was sent this week to the grandparents in Dickson, Tennessee.
The anonymous writer claims Joe Clyde's mother, Krystal Daniels, arranged to give the little boy away.
"I believe Krystal got Joe's clothes, packed them into a bag... and left Joe on the side of the road," the letter says.
The writer claims that he is alive and living in west Tennessee, possibly in Jackson.
"If we could get Krystal to confess what really happened...with this case. I know it's a bizarre case," the letter reads.
The letter goes on to name those involved. WTVF has chosen not to reveal the names because the individuals have not been named by police as part of the investigation.
Jake Lockert, the attorney for Joseph Daniels — Joe Clyde's father who is charged in his death — confirmed the grandparents have turned the letter over to authorities.
Investigators have yet to comment on the new evidence.
Police say Krystal Daniels had motive against Joe Clyde. Investigators tell NewsChannel 5 she was frustrated with raising a child with autism and was angry the family was forced to give away their dogs because of him.
The letter doesn't mention the child's father. Earlier this year, investigators said Joseph Daniels confessed to killing his son. However, his attorney argues the confession was coerced. To this day, investigators said Joseph Daniels has not been able to tell them what happened to his son's remains.
