Chad Daybell, a central figure in an Idaho murder case intertwined with extreme religious beliefs, was found guilty on all counts on May 30. This verdict marks the culmination of a bizarre legal saga that began a year after his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, was convicted in a related trial.
Background of the Case
Initially, Chad and Lori were scheduled to be tried together. However, a judge decided to sever the trials after Daybell waived his right to a speedy trial. In May 2023, Lori Vallow Daybell was convicted of all charges, including the murders of her two children, and received a sentence of life without parole. Subsequently, she was extradited to Arizona, where she faces conspiracy to commit murder charges in connection with the death of her husband and the case involving Brandon Boudreaux.
Authorities allege that Alex Cox, Lori's brother, shot at Boudreaux, who was the former husband of Lori's niece. Cox passed away in late 2019. Judge Steven Boyce, who also presided over Lori Vallow Daybell's trial, oversaw Chad Daybell's trial.
Charges Against Chad Daybell
Daybell faced multiple charges, including:
- Murder in the death of his first wife, Tammy Daybell
- Murder in the deaths of Lori Vallow's children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan
- Conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of JJ and Tylee, including conspiracy to commit grand theft by deception
He pleaded not guilty to all charges. While the death penalty was removed from consideration for Vallow Daybell, Boyce denied motions to do the same for Daybell.
Read also: The Life of Chad Everett Harris
Timeline of the Trial
While Lori Vallow Daybell faced a jury in April 2023, Chad Daybell's trial commenced separately in April 2024. The judge granted a motion by Daybell's attorneys in March 2023 to sever the trials, as Daybell had waived his right to a speedy trial.
His attorneys had requested to delay the joint trial until 2024, but the judge denied this motion, citing Lori Vallow Daybell's right to a speedy trial. Vallow Daybell's trial began on April 3, 2023. On June 2, 2023, Boyce set Chad Daybell's trial date for April 1, 2024, at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.
Key Figures Involved
Several individuals played critical roles in the events leading up to the trial:
- Lori Vallow Daybell: The mother of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and Chad Daybell's second wife.
- Charles Vallow: Lori's fourth husband, who was killed in July 2019.
- Alex Cox: Lori's brother, who shot and killed Charles Vallow and was present at key moments in the timeline.
- Tammy Daybell: Chad Daybell's first wife, whose death was initially ruled as natural causes but later determined to be a homicide.
- Kay and Larry Woodcock: JJ Vallow's biological grandparents, who raised concerns about his well-being and prompted the police investigation.
Events Leading to the Trial
The case began with the disappearance of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. Tylee was last seen in September 2019, during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park. JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, last spoke to him in August and requested a welfare check in November.
On October 19, 2019, Tammy Daybell died at her home in Idaho. Initially, her death was attributed to natural causes, but authorities later deemed it suspicious. Chad Daybell declined an autopsy. Two weeks later, Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow married in Hawaii.
Read also: "Married to Evil": Chad Graves
By December, police and the FBI were searching for Tylee and JJ. The search continued into 2020, culminating in a search warrant executed on Daybell's property in Rexburg, Idaho, where the children's remains were discovered.
The Role of Religion
Both Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Daybell owned a religious publishing company and wrote about near-death experiences and the end times. Vallow Daybell became increasingly convinced that doomsday was imminent. They shared fervent beliefs and held gatherings, with Vallow Daybell believing she was chosen to lead 144,000 survivors of the end times.
'Doomsday Cult' Couple: The Disturbing Story of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell
Text messages between the two included religious elements, such as using the names "James" and "Elena," which they believed were their names in a past life where they were also married.
Defense of Chad Daybell
Chad Daybell's five adult children defended their father, asserting his innocence. They argued that the shallow graves in which JJ and Tylee were found suggested their father was not involved, as he would have been more discreet. Emma Murray, his daughter, suggested Vallow Daybell and Alex Cox were responsible, citing Cox's GPS data placing him at the property on the days the children were believed to have been buried.
The family also stated that they, not their father, decided against an autopsy for their mother. They claimed their father was in shock and traumatized, allowing them to make the decision.
Read also: Vallow-Daybell Trial: Key Evidence
Trial Testimony and Evidence
The trial included extensive testimony and evidence, including:
- Forensic Evidence: DNA evidence linking Tylee Ryan to tools in Daybell's garage and the condition of Tylee's remains indicating blunt force trauma.
- Testimony: Accounts from family members, forensic experts, and law enforcement officials detailing the events and circumstances surrounding the deaths.
- Communications: Text messages between Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell discussing "death percentages" and plans for the children and Tammy Daybell.
Jurors were shown video clips of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow and heard a jailhouse call between Chad and Lori discussing their "project" and the need for guarantees.
Verdict and Sentencing
Chad Daybell was convicted of conspiracy and first-degree murder in the death of Tammy Daybell and the deaths of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan. On June 1, the jury recommended the death penalty for Daybell. The judge agreed with the jury’s death penalty recommendation and sentenced Daybell to death for counts 1 through 6.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 2019 | Charles Vallow was killed by Alex Cox in Arizona. |
| September 2019 | Tylee Ryan was last seen alive. |
| October 2019 | Tammy Daybell died; initially ruled as natural causes. |
| November 2019 | Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow married in Hawaii. |
| December 2019 | Police and FBI began searching for Tylee and JJ. |
| June 2020 | The remains of Tylee and JJ were found on Chad Daybell's property. |
| May 2023 | Lori Vallow Daybell was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. |
| May 2024 | Chad Daybell was found guilty on all counts. |
The Chad Daybell trial exposed a complex web of religious extremism, conspiracy, and murder, leaving a lasting impact on the families involved and the community.
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