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TBI scientists testify at Joseph Daniels trial





Joseph Daniels listens during his trial before Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe at the Dickson County Justice Center in June. Daniels was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole for killing his son in 2018.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Joseph Daniels listens during his trial before Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe at the Dickson County Justice Center in June. Daniels was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole for killing his son in 2018.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

After several delays in the beginning of the week, the murder trial of Joseph Daniels began to pick up speed Wednesday.

Joseph Daniels is accused of killing his 5-year-old son, Joe Clyde Daniels, in 2018. No body has been found.

Krystal Daniels, Joseph Daniels’ wife and Joe Clyde’s mother, will be on trial at a later date. She faces aggravated child neglect charges.

District Attorney Ray Crouch and the state called 11 witnesses Wednesday, and court still adjourned hours earlier than normal. The state plans to wrap up its presentation of proof by this evening or Friday morning.

Defense attorney Jake Lockert said he planned to be done presenting his case by Saturday. The jury will then have to come to a verdict.

The state’s main witness in the morning was Trevor Daniel, a detective with the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office. Daniel has been investigating this case since Joe Clyde was reported missing and was able to explain to the jury in detail what was searched in the early days after the boy’s disappearance.

Joseph Daniels' stepmother, Belle, and his father, “Big Joe,” listen in the courtroom at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Joseph Daniels’ stepmother, Belle, and his father, “Big Joe,” listen in the courtroom at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

On April 6, 2018, after Joseph Daniels made his initial confession, Daniel and another detective took the father on a ride to find Joe Clyde’s body. A five-hour recording was made of spontaneous statements Joseph Daniels made, as the prosecution characterized them. However, only 13 short clips were played for the jury.

In the clips, Daniels was emotional. He repeatedly mentioned how his father was going to kill him.

“I just wanted him to be happy,” Daniels said.

He also said that he wondered what Alex Nolan, his stepson and Joe Clyde’s half brother, would tell. Nolan was 8 years old at the time. Daniels later said that Nolan wasn’t a liar and that he told the truth.

“I guess he saw everything,” Daniels said.

Daniels told the detectives that Joe Clyde was buried next to a tree and in “that” field.

During cross-examination, the defense mentioned a tip that came in on the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page in which someone confessed to killing Joe Clyde. The tip was not deemed credible due to the mental illness of the person who made the confession.

Joseph Daniels, right, listens during his trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Joseph Daniels, right, listens during his trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

The defense has said Daniels is mentally ill.

Brandt Holt, who was with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in April 2018, also testified about riding in a car with Daniels.

After he was arrested, Daniels requested to speak with the TBI. He said he wanted to “provide closure” and show where Joe Clyde’s body was. Daniels said he threw Joe Clyde’s body off a bridge.

Holt was one of the TBI agents who rode with Daniels into Hickman County to four bridges. Holt said they slowed down at all the bridges and stopped at the one that Daniels had “eight out of 10” certainty about.

Holt testified that the bridges were searched but no physical evidence was found.

The state also called a witness who had seen Daniels driving slowly down the road early the morning of April 5. The woman worked at the Love’s truck stop on Highway 48 and followed Daniels to Love’s. Daniels talked to the woman and her supervisor for about six minutes and showed them a picture of Joe Clyde.

District Attorney Ray Crouch talks about law enforcement logs that were displayed during Joseph Daniels' trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

District Attorney Ray Crouch talks about law enforcement logs that were displayed during Joseph Daniels’ trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Security footage showed that Daniels came into the truck stop at 2:45 a.m. and 3 a.m. April 5.

The state also called seven TBI forensic scientists to testify.

Gregg Fort was a team leader of the Violent Crime Response Team that searched the Daniels residence on April 7. The house, as shown in pictures, was markedly cleaner than in pictures taken immediately after the disappearance. Some furniture was even rearranged.

The TBI marked several areas, including a possible bleach stain, that tested as a possibility for blood. However, after further testing, none of these spots indicated blood.

Other experts testified about trace evidence such as dirt, fibers, hair and trace prints that were found in the house and in the Chevrolet Impala Daniels confessed to putting Joe Clyde’s body in. Experts referenced TBI reports dated as recent as last month.

District Attorney Ray Crouch talks with the prosecution team as Joseph Daniels is on trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

District Attorney Ray Crouch talks with the prosecution team as Joseph Daniels is on trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Joseph Daniels’ blood was found on the center console and on articles of clothing. Two shovels were also tested for DNA evidence.

On a lock and key that were submitted for testing, a mixture of DNA was found. At least one of the individuals was a male.

A DNA standard for Joe Clyde couldn’t be extracted from provided materials. The TBI used a provided sample from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but the agent couldn’t verify where the hospital obtained it. However, nothing in the testing matched the supposed Joe Clyde DNA.

Although Joseph Daniels’ blood was found on several articles of clothing and even pillows, much of the testing resulted in a mixture of DNA or was inconclusive. No physical evidence seemed to be found that Joe Clyde was ever in the car.

The DNA of Nolan was found in a white stain on the back of the passenger seat. Nolan’s NDA was also found on one of Joseph Daniels’ shoes. The DNA of “Big Joe” Clyde Daniels Jr., Joseph Daniels’ father, was found on a shovel.

District Attorney Ray Crouch talks with the prosecution team as Joseph Daniels is on trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

District Attorney Ray Crouch talks with the prosecution team as Joseph Daniels is on trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Hair was brought up in the testimony. However, the TBI doesn’t test hairs.

Court will resume at 8 a.m. today.

District Attorney Ray Crouch makes his point before Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

District Attorney Ray Crouch makes his point before Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

District Attorney Ray Crouch talks with the prosecution team as Joseph Daniels is on trial before Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

District Attorney Ray Crouch talks with the prosecution team as Joseph Daniels is on trial before Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe listens to testimony against Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe listens to testimony against Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe listens to testimony against Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe listens to testimony against Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Joseph Daniels' father, “Big Joe,” listens in the courtroom during his son’s trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5, 2021.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Joseph Daniels’ father, “Big Joe,” listens in the courtroom during his son’s trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5, 2021.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe listens to testimony against Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe listens to testimony against Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe listens to testimony against Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Circuit Judge David D. Wolfe listens to testimony against Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Detective Sarah McCartney testifies at the Joseph Daniels trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Detective Sarah McCartney testifies at the Joseph Daniels trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Detective Sarah McCartney testifies at the Joseph Daniels trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Detective Sarah McCartney testifies at the Joseph Daniels trial at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Defense attorney Matt Mitchell speaks with District Attorney Ray Crouch during the trial of Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Defense attorney Matt Mitchell speaks with District Attorney Ray Crouch during the trial of Joseph Daniels at the Dickson County Justice Center on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Public defender Jake Lockert looks through papers during the trial of Joseph Daniels on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Public defender Jake Lockert looks through papers during the trial of Joseph Daniels on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Public defender Jake Lockert makes a point in the trial of Joseph Daniels on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Public defender Jake Lockert makes a point in the trial of Joseph Daniels on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Public defender Jake Lockert makes a point in the trial of Joseph Daniels on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Public defender Jake Lockert makes a point in the trial of Joseph Daniels on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Public defender Jake Lockert makes a point in the trial of Joseph Daniels on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Public defender Jake Lockert makes a point in the trial of Joseph Daniels on Saturday, June 5.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

 

 

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