The third day of Chad Daybell’s murder case unfolded in Ada County with more witnesses taking the stand. Daybell is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder. These charges relate to the deaths of Tammy Daybell, his wife, and two of Lori Vallow’s children - 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Additionally, he faces charges of grand theft and insurance fraud. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Chad Daybell during a court session. Image source: postregister.com
Detectives on the Stand
Prosecutors brought more detectives to the stand in the morning portion of the trial. They attempted to paint a picture of Chad Daybell’s behavior while law enforcement officers investigated his property on June 9, 2020.
Det. Eric Wheeler's Testimony
Prosecutor Rocky Wixom called Rexburg Police Department Det. Eric Wheeler to the stand. Wheeler’s main job on the morning of June 9 was crowd control, traffic control and security at the Daybell property. As investigators combed Daybell’s property, Chad Daybell was allowed free rein to move about as he chose. Wheeler testified that Daybell spent a large portion of the morning in his vehicle.
Wheeler testified that later in the morning, Daybell drove next door to where his daughter, Emma, lived. At the same time Chad Daybell left, detectives had discovered JJ’s remains. Wheeler testified that he felt Chad Daybell sped away from the scene, but defense attorney John Prior noted that Daybell was leaving the scene to meet his lawyer. That traffic stop appears to be the first time anyone had told Chad Daybell that bodies had been discovered on his property.
Read also: Vallow-Daybell Trial: Key Evidence
An in-car camera in the patrol car showed Chad Daybell speaking to his daughter Emma, instructing her on how to handle certain finances. A portion of Wheeler’s testimony was focused on times Chad Daybell looked over his shoulder while in the patrol car. Prior, meanwhile, countered with the idea that Chad Daybell was nervous because over two dozen law enforcement officers were combing his property.
Courtroom sketch of Chad Daybell trial. Image source: eastidahonews.com
Lt. Joe Powell's Testimony
The court called Lt. Joe Powell, of Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, to the stand. Prosecutors asked Powell what his reasons were to reopen the investigation into Tammy Daybell’s death.
The defense, however, challenged that by having Powell read a document from the time of Tammy Daybell’s death that says she had anemia, noting anemia can become serious, and was having fits and seizures at the time of her death. The document said she had vomited prior to going to bed that night. The document also says she did not like the doctor and preferred to use home remedies and essential oils. The prosecution then combated the defense pointing out that much of the information in the document came from Chad Daybell.
Powell said the death of Charles Vallow and Lori Vallow Daybell’s brother Alex Cox being implicated in an attempted murder contributed to his decision to exhume the body.
Read also: Key Testimony in the Daybell Case
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