Chad Daybell: Trial begins for 'cult mom' Lori Vallow’s husband for murdering his ex-wife and 2 children
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
BOISE, IDAHO: Chad Daybell's trial has begun in Idaho after he was accused of causing the deaths of his wife Tammy Daybell and his girlfriend Lori Vallow's two youngest children. The trial is predicted to go on for about 10 weeks and jury selection began in Boise on Monday, April 1.
Chad Daybell, 55, is accused of three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Tammy Daybell, 7-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, and JJ’s older sister, Tylee Ryan. Tylee was last seen a few days before she turned 17. 'Doomsday mom' Lori Vallow Daybell who was the slain children's mother, got married to Chad Daybell soon after the deaths. She was found guilty of the murder of her children last year and received a life sentence in prison without parole.
What happened in the courtroom?
The killer couple's former friend Melanie Gibb testified in court that the couple believed they could detect if people had been possessed by dark spirits, which they thought could transform them into "zombies." They thought the only way to get rid of a zombie was to kill the possessed person.
The bodies of the children were discovered buried in Chad Daybell's yard in eastern Idaho in the summer of 2020.
Daybell is also accused of insurance fraud related to Tammy Daybell's death, as well as two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception in connection with the children's deaths.
If found guilty, he could receive the death penalty. Daybell has pleaded not guilty.
Recently, his attorney John Prior stated that his client is prepared to proceed with the case and "wants to tell his story."
Shortly after, Judge Steven Boyce issued a gag order preventing anyone involved in the case from discussing it until after jury selection and opening statements.
Originally, the couple was set to stand trial together, but in 2022, Prior requested that the cases be separated, citing "mutually antagonistic defenses."
This term means that a jury would have to disbelieve one defendant in order to believe the other.
Prior told the judge that their version of events will differ significantly from what Ms. Vallow and her legal team will present. The judge agreed to separate the cases.
On Monday, the judge excused a few potential jurors because they expressed that the lengthy commitment would be too difficult for them.
He then inquired whether the remaining jurors were familiar with Daybell's case, had formed opinions about his guilt or innocence, or held any biases that might affect their ability to be fair.
Some acknowledged being aware of the case, but only a couple admitted they couldn't remain impartial.
Lori Daybell and Chad Daybell married after their spouses died
The troubling case unfolded in the autumn of 2019 when relatives noticed the sudden absence of the two children and urged authorities to initiate a search. The ensuing investigation, spanning multiple states, took unforeseen twists.
Investigators discovered that Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were romantically involved when their respective spouses died unexpectedly. Vallow Daybell's husband was fatally shot by her brother in Arizona in July 2019, who claimed self-defense.
In November 2019, Tammy Daybell died in her sleep, initially believed to be from natural causes but later determined to be asphyxiation by autopsy. Only two weeks after Tammy Daybell's death, Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell married, surprising both family and law enforcement.
Subsequent interviews revealed their unconventional religious beliefs, such as reincarnation and a mission to gather people before an apocalyptic event.
