TL/DR –
Chad Daybell faced murder and conspiracy charges over the deaths of his first wife and the two children of his second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell. The children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, were last seen in September 2019, and their remains were found on Daybell’s property in June 2020. The prosecution in Daybell’s trial claimed that the killings were driven by power, sex, money, and apocalyptic spiritual beliefs, while Daybell’s defense portrayed him as a religious man drawn into an unfortunate relationship.
A verdict is delivered in the Chad Daybell triple murder case
A verdict has been given in the case of Chad Daybell, who was tried for the murder and conspiracy in the deaths of his first wife and his second wife’s two children, as claimed by Idaho prosecutors.
Daybell denied the charges
Daybell denied the allegations in the deaths of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and his second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell’s children, Tylee Ryan (16) and Joshua “JJ” Vallow (7).
The timeline of the deaths
Authorities believe that Tylee and JJ were killed in September 2019, with Tammy Daybell found dead in her Idaho home the following month, shortly before Daybell married Lori Vallow Daybell. Tylee and JJ’s remains were found in June 2020 on Daybell’s property in Fremont County.
The jury deliberation process
Jury deliberations began on a Wednesday and lasted for just over two hours, resuming the next morning. After about two hours, the jury requested a missing instruction related to the first-degree murder count in the death of Tammy Daybell.
The prosecution’s claim
The prosecution claimed that the alleged murders were due to power, sex, money, and apocalyptic spiritual beliefs. The defense, however, claimed there wasn’t sufficient direct evidence against Daybell, suggesting others were responsible for the deaths.
Lori Vallow Daybell’s conviction
Vallow Daybell was convicted by a jury in May 2023 for the murder of her children, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. She has appealed her convictions to the state Supreme Court, raising the issue of her mental competence to stand trial.
‘Sex, money, and power’ were key focuses in the trial
The trial featured contrasting portrayals of the defendant. The state presented Daybell as a power-hungry man, while the defense painted him as a religious man drawn into an unfortunate relationship.
The couple’s religious beliefs
The couple was involved with doomsday preparations and labeled anyone who opposed them as “dark spirits” or “zombies.” The state accused them of using these beliefs to justify the killings.
Alex Cox’s involvement
Daybell’s defense attorney brought up Vallow Daybell’s now-deceased brother, Alex Cox, and his history of violence, suggesting he may have been involved in the deaths. DNA and forensics experts suggested Cox’s fingerprint was found on plastic wrapped around JJ’s body. However, no DNA or hair belonging to Daybell was found with the children’s bodies.
Lori Vallow Daybell’s sentencing
Vallow Daybell, after being indicted and pleading not guilty in 2021, spent nearly a year in a mental hospital before being deemed fit for trial. When sentenced last year, she denied killing her children and cited religious texts and beliefs. She has appealed her convictions to the state Supreme Court.
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