Chad Daybell
Chad Daybell has been convicted of murder and conspiracy charges by a jury in Boise, Idaho. The charges are related to the deaths of his ex-wife, Tammy Daybell, and two children of his current wife, Lori Vallow Daybell.
Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty for Daybell if he is convicted. In such cases, the jury would then hear from the two sides about any aggravating and mitigating circumstances, before deciding whether a death sentence is appropriate.
Prosecutors said Daybell concocted wild, religion-tinged fantasies about people becoming zombies to justify grisly crimes — with the goal, they said, of starting a new life with Lori Vallow after having an affair with her. They also accused Daybell of insurance fraud in his former wife’s death.
Daybell, aged 55, was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Tammy Daybell in late 2019. He was also convicted of conspiracy charges related to the deaths of Vallow Daybell’s two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua Jaxon “JJ” Vallow. Tylee was almost 17 years old when she and JJ, aged 7, were last spotted alive in September 2019 — the same month they relocated with their mother from Chandler, Arizona, to Rexburg, Idaho.
Daybell, 55, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Tammy Daybell in late 2019. He was also found guilty of conspiracy charges in the deaths of Vallow Daybell’s two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua Jaxon “JJ” Vallow. Tylee was nearly 17 when she and JJ, 7, were last seen alive in September 2019 — the same month they had moved with their mother from Chandler, Ariz., to Rexburg, Idaho.
Prosecutor said texts show Tammy was “in the way”
Tammy Daybell, Chad’s former spouse, was discovered deceased in her residence in October 2019. The 49-year-old, who worked as a librarian and educator, did not undergo an autopsy initially, as the coroner believed her death resulted from a heart attack. However, due to growing suspicions, Tammy’s body was later exhumed, revealing that her cause of death was actually homicide: asphyxiation by suffocation.
During her final statement this week, Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake claimed that Chad Daybell manipulated the coroner’s initial decision by making up information about Tammy’s health. Blake suggested that this was all part of Chad’s scheme to get rid of his wife in order to be with Lori Vallow. Prior to this, Vallow’s brother had fatally shot her husband, Charles.
Blake, in her closing statement, mentioned that it had been just over 24 hours since he reported his wife’s passing. He then revealed that Chad had messaged Lori, expressing his understanding of her emotions. However, he clarified that his sadness was not for the reasons that people assumed.
Vallow was actually in Hawaii at that time. Blake mentioned that Vallow had become really frustrated with Daybell and sent him a text stating that they couldn’t continue being together unless some things changed.
The prosecutor turned to the jurors and asked, “What should be different?” He added, “Tammy is causing a hindrance.”
Daybell replied to Vallow’s message, Blake mentioned, stating that his sole focus was being with Vallow.
Blake mentioned that Lori uses sex to control Chad. He was drawn to her from the start, and she was well aware of it.
Two children were found buried on Daybell’s property
Blake also detailed how Vallow started inquiring Daybell about potential arrangements concerning Tylee and JJ.
Blake showed a text message from Vallow to Daybell in court, where Lori asked Chad if he believed there was a well-coordinated plan to take the children about a month after Charles passed away.
Daybell mentioned in the messages that a plan is being put together for the children. He also shared that he saw how everything fit together again last night.
The bodies of the kids were discovered in June 2020 and laid to rest on Daybell’s property in Rexburg. The jury was presented with distressing and gut-wrenching pictures from the crime scene at the beginning of the trial.
Blake informed the jury that Tylee’s DNA was discovered on a pickax and a shovel located in the defendant’s garage during her closing argument on Wednesday.
Blake mentioned that Daybell employed a numerical scale to evaluate individuals within his and Vallow Daybell’s family, reserving higher numbers for those he believed were influenced by negative energies.
Blake informed the jury that Chad mentioned how if a person turns into a zombie, their body must perish.
Chad Daybell faced charges for two counts of insurance fraud as well. According to prosecutors, he reached the limit on Tammy’s life insurance policy just before her passing, naming himself as the beneficiary. Shortly after Tammy’s death, he tied the knot with Lori Vallow in Hawaii.
Couple was driven by odd beliefs, witnesses said
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell were charged with murder together in May 2021, but their cases were separated after Daybell asked for it.
Last year, Vallow Daybell received multiple life sentences for the three deaths in Idaho.
Melanie Gibb, a close friend of Vallow Daybell, testified in the past that she witnessed her friend’s deepening connection with Chad Daybell. They even shared with her their belief that they were married in a previous existence. They spoke of their eternal bond and their role in leading a group of 144,000 individuals during the end times, as mentioned in the Book of Revelation, according to Gibb.
Gibb mentioned that the couple shared similar beliefs about negative influences on individuals. The legal charges involve text messages discussing the possibility of Tammy Daybell’s death, her uncertain state, and her alleged possession by a spirit named Viola.
Besides the charges in Idaho, Vallow Daybell has also been sent to Arizona to deal with charges connected to her late husband’s passing in July 2019 and an attack on her niece’s ex-husband.