Day 12 of the trial of Chad Daybell took place on Friday, April 26, in Ada County. Chad Daybell is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder in relation to the deaths of Tammy Daybell and two of Lori Vallow’s kids - 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan.
Chad Daybell sits at the defense table during his trial.
Witness Testimonies and Key Moments
Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, a neighbor of Chad Daybell until the end of 2015, was called to the stand. Shultz recalled learning of Tammy's death in 2019. Chad asked if Shultz could help bring Tammy's body to Springville, Utah, and Shultz agreed. Shultz described preparing funeral arrangements with Chad, noting that Chad didn't want to drag out the funeral process. When Shultz saw Tammy's body, he didn't find anything suspicious, but there were other red flags that raised concern. Shultz also recalled a group Chad was a part of that believed the Deer Creek Dam in Provo, Utah, was going to burst and flood Utah County, which was one of the red flags.
Ron Arnold
Ron Arnold, a real estate agent and neighbor who met Chad and Tammy through their church, testified about his interactions with Chad. Arnold explained that he asked Chad about the whereabouts of the missing kids at the time of Lori Vallow's arrest, asking why Chad wasn't telling anyone about the missing kids and other questions that "probably everyone else would ask." Arnold recalls attending the service for Tammy in Idaho, just days after her death. He spoke with Chad at the service, and they talked about how Chad was going to be staying with someone else as he was uncomfortable in the house where Tammy died. Chad said he would be going to Hawaii with a friend to write but did not mention going with Lori Vallow.
Arnold discussed plans Chad had for development on his property, specifically building a house for Lori to live in with him. Arnold also mentioned showing the property next to the Daybell property to David Warwick. Arnold says that based on the information that the bodies were found buried on Chad's property, he has a feeling that there was a different reason that Chad wanted to put a house on that property, implying that Chad may have been trying to conceal the bodies.
Read also: Vallow-Daybell Trial: Key Evidence
Whitney Arnold
The State called Whitney Arnold to the stand. Whitney says she was friends with Tammy Daybell. The two met as community members and also attended the same church. Whitney says she and her husband went to the Daybell residence to offer their condolences to Chad upon hearing the news of Tammy's death. Whitney explains she learned that Chad remarried just days after the wedding. She met Lori at a dinner, the Arnolds would host the Daybells for dinner regularly to give them support through their grieving. Whitney felt frustrated with Chad's new marriage, saying it felt unfair to the kids who were still grieving.
Craig Hough
The State called Craig Hough, a friend of Chad's, to the witness stand. Hough discussed the content of Chad's books, describing them as non-fiction as that is how Chad described them to him. Chad told Hough that a week before Tammy's death, he got access to the passwords and accounts he didn't have before, which he hadn't been a part of having those passwords before that. Hough tells Prior he believed Chad's grief at Tammy's funeral was genuine. Hough says Chad loved “being with the youth and being with people.”
Rich Gardner
The State called Principal Rich Gardner to the stand. Gardner works at Central Elementary School in Sugar City, Idaho. Gardner says he worked with Tammy Daybell, who was the librarian. He says she was "good with computers" and "always looking for ways to help out and improve." Gardner says Tammy was "always looking for ways to help out and improve." Gardner says Tammy never needed time off and he doesn’t recall her ever taking any sick days. Gardner says he knew Tammy went to Zumba with other teachers and her daughter and saw her at a running race.
Gardner recalls Tammy running a race and says there was nothing to indicate that Tammy was unhealthy. He remembers Emma Daybell answering the door and collapsing onto him, weeping. Gardner says Chad was just standing there as Emma wept. Gardner says Chad did not help with the logistics of the memorial service.
Tammy Daybell.
Read also: Key Testimony in the Daybell Case
Court Adjournment
Judge Boyce sent the court into recess for the weekend, indicating that the next witness would have a lengthy testimony.
FULL TESTIMONY: Retired FBI Special Agent Doug Hart testifies at Chad Daybell trial
Read also: Inside the Daybell Trial
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