The father of a five-year-old autistic boy who had been reported missing several days ago has been charged with his murder.
TBI Deputy Director Jason Locke said Joseph Daniels has been charged with criminal homicide in the death of Joe Clyde Daniels.
Authorities said, "During the course of the investigation, and after a three-day search, it was determined that the child’s father, Joseph Daniels, intentionally killed his son sometime during the night of April 3-4, in their residence and then hid his son’s body."
They said the father had made a statement.
He is being held on a $1 million bond at the jail in Dickson, Tn.
Deputy Director Locke said the body has not yet been recovered.
He said the announcement was made "with great sadness."
Dickson County Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe called it "a devastating end to this."
Reporters had wondered why the parents were not out searching for the boy.
The father told a reporter that they had been advised by authorities not to do so because it might throw off the scent of the search dogs.
A Middle Tennessee Endangered Child Alert was earlier issued by the TBI on behalf of the Dickson County Sheriff's Office for Joe Clyde Daniels.
He was described as having blonde hair, blue eyes, is four feet tall and weighs 65 pounds.
Authorities earlier said Joe was last seen at his residence on Garners Creek Road, Dickson, Tn. wearing pajamas. Joe was non-verbal.
A number of volunteers had joined in the search for the child.
Joseph Ray Daniels