The Chad Daybell case has captivated the nation, revealing a series of disturbing events tied to religious extremism and murder. Chad Daybell was convicted of conspiracy and first-degree murder in the Oct. 2019 death of Tammy Daybell. On June 1, the jury recommended the death penalty for Daybell. Daybell has been sentenced to death for murder of wife and girlfriend’s 2 youngest children on Saturday, June 1.
This article delves into the key pieces of evidence presented against Chad Daybell, shedding light on the events leading to his conviction.
Chad Daybell sits at the defense table after the jury’s verdict in his murder trial.
The Victims
The Vallow-Daybell doomsday murders consist of a series of killings-including child murder, filicide, and spousal murder-committed by an American couple, Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell. The victims include:
- Charles Vallow: Lori's estranged husband, shot dead by her brother Alex Cox on July 11, 2019, in Chandler, Arizona.
- Tylee Ryan: Lori's daughter, disappeared September 9, 2019.
- Joshua Jaxon "JJ" Vallow: Lori's adopted son, disappeared September 22, 2019.
- Tammy Daybell: Chad's first wife, died in October 2019.
The case was set in motion by the children's disappearances. Tylee was last seen alive on September 8, 2019, and J.J. on September 22, 2019.
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Discovery of the Bodies
The remains of Vallow’s children were found on Daybell’s property in June 2020, nine months after they were last seen alive. On June 9, police discovered the remains of Tylee and J. J.
Bodies of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow were discovered buried on Chad Daybell’s property in June of 2020.
Daniels said JJ was buried under stones and cement, and since his body was found before Tylee's, they thought they might encounter similar buried markers, but they did not find anything.
Forensic Evidence
Forensic analysis played a critical role in the trial, providing concrete evidence linking Daybell to the murders.
DNA Evidence:
- Tylee Ryan’s remains were delivered to the coroner’s office in multiple bags. The bags contained charred bones and portions of flesh.
- Tylee's DNA was found on a pickax and a shovel that were in the defendant's garage," Blake told the jury as she reviewed the evidence in her closing argument on Wednesday.
- A partial DNA profile from samples on one of the shovels and from a pickax, she said, matched Tylee Ryan.
Autopsy Findings:
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- An autopsy of Tamara “Tammy” Daybell determined that her cause of death was asphyxia, and the manner of death was a homicide. Bruising to Tammy Daybell’s left and right arms and chest were determined to have hemorrhaging in the soft tissue.
- Dr. Garth Warren, Forensic Pathologist for the Ada County Coroner’s Office, testified that Joshua “JJ” Jackson Vallow died as a result of asphyxia by a plastic bag over the head and duct tape on his mouth.
Cellular Communications Analysis:
- FBI agent Nick Ballance provided jurors with information regarding cellular communications between Chad Daybell, Lori Daybell and her brother Alex Cox.
- During his testimony, Ballance said that a phone under Daybell’s account was purchased and activated between Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 2019, but was being used by Cox.
- Google locations also showed Cox to be near the Daybell property during that time - which also happens to be when Tammy Daybell was assaulted by an unidentified man at gunpoint outside her home.
- He also testified that Cox’s phone was again near the Daybell property on Oct. 19, 2019, the day Tammy Daybell died.
Internet Search History:
- He said investigators saw Chad Daybell had searched for wind directions for Sept. 9, 2019, the day before, and they believe Tylee was burned and buried that day behind his house.
FULL TESTIMONY: Rexburg Detective David Stubbs testifies in Chad Daybell trial
Testimonies
Numerous witnesses provided crucial testimonies that painted a grim picture of Daybell's actions and beliefs.
- Garth Daybell: Chad’s son, told jurors that he felt “threatened and pressured” by law enforcement to “change my story” when questioned at the police department and before a grand jury.
- Emma Murray: detailed how her mother would drink colloidal silver daily and antidepressants to alleviate her symptoms. When asked about the children’s whereabouts, Emma answered that her father told her several times that the children were safe. When pressed about where the children were found, Emma took a deep breath and said, “In the backyard."
- Alice Gilbert: Chad Daybell’s neighbor, testified that Chad asked her not to “tell” anyone that his wife had passed away, not even the Bishop of the Ward.
- Colby Ryan: Lori Vallow Daybell’s oldest son, confronted his mother about his siblings' deaths in an emotional phone call prosecutors played for the jury shortly after Ryan took the stand.
- Melanie Gibb: Lori Vallow Daybell's friend Melanie Gibb told jurors that Vallow Daybell described some people as possessed or as "zombies." Gibb said Vallow Daybell claimed some people were "light" and others were "dark," meaning they had been possessed by evil spirits. Gibb also testified that Vallow Daybell said she and Daybell had been married in past lives.
- Zulema Pastenes: the wife of Alex Cox, testified he feared being the "fall guy" Daybell and Vallow Daybell had convinced her brother, Alex Cox, that his divine mission was to protect her.
The "James and Elena" Story
Jurors heard more steamy passages from the “James and Elena” story, which is a parallel depiction of Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow’s extramarital affair. The story provided insight into their relationship and potential motives.
Read also: Prosecution's Closing Arguments: Daybell Trial
Timeline of Events
An investigator with the Idaho Office of the Attorney General pieced together a timeline using phone records, witness interviews, and police reports of what happened surrounding the timing of Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 23, 2019 | JJ Vallow was absent from school. |
| September 30 - October 2, 2019 | Cox’s cell phone stayed in Lori Vallow’s Rexburg apartment overnight. |
| October 5, 2019 | Chad Daybell texted Lori that his wife was in limbo and a demonic entity had entered Tammy’s body. |
| October 19, 2019 | Garth Daybell saw two “forms” in the bed and his father snoring. |
| October 20, 2019 | Tammy Daybell died. |
| November 5, 2019 | Chad and Lori were married in Hawaii. |
Doomsday Beliefs and "Death Percentages"
An indictment accused the couple of espousing religious beliefs to justify the murders. Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow texted each other about “death percentages” for Lori’s two children and Chad’s first wife in July and August of 2019. Chad Daybell talked about “giving pain” to people around Lori Vallow. He claimed to have “turned up the pain” and placed a “spiritual virus” inside Tylee Ryan.
Chad and Lori led a Mormon religious sect described in the media as a "doomsday cult."
The evidence presented against Chad Daybell painted a picture of premeditation, manipulation, and a disturbing belief system that led to the tragic deaths of Tammy Daybell, Tylee Ryan, and JJ Vallow. The jury's decision reflects the weight of this evidence and the profound impact of these crimes.
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