Louisiana Father Sentenced For Beating His 14 Year-Old Son To Death

In Waggaman, Louisiana, Jalen Daniel was a 14 year-old kid. Like most kids, he had trouble with one of his subjects, Social Studies. Instead of getting him a tutor, Jalen’s father, 45 year-old Furnell Daniel Sr., allegedly viciously beat him and reportedly chased him around their home. After giving Jalen the beating of his life, Daniel Sr. sent his son to bed. Hours later, Jalen Daniel required hospitalization as he was beat so severely on Feb. 5, 2016, that he died three days later. He was only 14 years old.

Here’s What We Know: According to The Advocate, Furnell Daniel Sr. was enraged when he learned his son, Jalen Daniel, had a F on his report card in Social Studies. On February 5th of 2016, Daniel Sr. allegedly beat both of his sons, Nell and Jalen Daniel, because of their bad grades. In court, Nell Daniel testified that he took his first five “licks” before his brother’s turn came. Apparently, while Daniel Sr. was disciplining Jalen, he moved instead of taking the hits like his brother Nell. Nell testified that if you moved, you would receive more hits. As Jalen attempted to get away, Daniel Sr. allegedly became angrier. After the beating, Nell Daniel said, Jalen said he couldn’t get up.



After allegedly being beaten by his father, Jalen apparently complained that he was in pain. When Terri Daniel, the victim’s stepmother, learned that Jalen was complaining of headaches and other injuries, she and Furnell Daniel went to a store to buy headache medicine and Epson salts to bath the victim. Obviously in need of medical attention, Jalen collapsed while he was bathing and could not stand. Furnell and Terri Daniel removed Jalen from the tub and put him in his bed, ignoring his pain. His brother Nell testified that Jalen awoke later that night complaining of pain and fever and threw up, but his father did not call 911 until just after noon the following day. Eventually, Jalen was taken to hospital where Furnell Daniel reportedly told investigators that he paddled his son for having poor grades. He told authorities that he thought the boy complaining of serious pain was a way to avoid more spankings.

By the time Jalen got to the hospital, he was in cardiac arrest and never regained consciousness. Jalen Daniel was pronounced brain dead on February 8, 2016.

When he spoke in court, Furnell Daniel called both the punishment and his delay in seeking help a mistake.
A Jefferson Parish judge on Monday sentenced Furnell Daniel to 40 years in prison after a jury convicted the Waggaman father of fatally beating his 14-year-old son for poor grades.