After a week long trial, a Frio County jury found Caleb Patrick Daniels guilty of the murder of his father, Dennis Eldon Daniels and sentenced him to 50 years in prison. The shooting death of Dennis Daniels took place on July 14, 2018. Officers received a 911 call from Caleb Daniels stating that his father shot at him and he shot back in self-defense. In his initial call, he claimed both he and his father were bleeding. A few minutes later, 911 dispatchers received a second call from Caleb Daniels stating he was fine and wasn’t bleeding after all but that his father still needed medical attention. Frio County sheriff’s deputies and members of the Texas Rangers arrived to find Dennis Daniels already deceased. The Texas Rangers interviewed Caleb that day and were told that he and his father went to family property in Pearsall to shoot. Caleb stated that his father began arguing with him and turned and fired his gun at Caleb, causing Caleb to shoot back.
Jurors heard testimony that upon investigating Caleb Daniels’ claims of self- defense, officers discovered that two days prior to the murder, Caleb drafted his Last Will and Testament. One day prior to the murder, Caleb mailed a package to a friend that contained several “good-bye letters” as well as detailed instructions of how to send these letters out and what to post on his social media pages should he not return from his day at the shooting range with his father.
The Texas Rangers made contact with Caleb to interview him a second time. It was during this second interview that Caleb Daniels admitted there was no argument with his father, and his father never shot at him or even pointed a gun at him. Caleb admitted to shooting his father without provocation, and admitted to making the scene look as if his father had shot at him by shooting his father’s gun towards his direction prior to calling 911. In addition to hearing from the Texas Rangers, jurors also heard from Caleb’s mother who stated he’d confessed to her that he’d killed his father and had staged the crime scene.
We are grateful to the jurors for their service. The criminal justice system only works when jurors are willing to serve. We are grateful for their thoughtful reflection in ensuring Mr. Daniels received justice. Many thanks to the hard work of the Frio County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Ranger Shane Staley, as well as the prosecution team of First Assistant Leslie Carranza, and ADA Kenny Lam.
