Chad Daybell, a self-published author, is set to stand trial in Idaho for the deaths of his wife Tammy Daybell and his girlfriend’s two youngest children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. The children’s bodies were found buried in Daybell’s yard in eastern Idaho in 2020. Chad Daybell is facing three counts of first-degree murder, as well as charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit murder. His girlfriend, Lori Vallow Daybell, who married him shortly after the deaths, has already been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The couple believed in bizarre beliefs including the ability to detect possessed individuals, whom they referred to as “zombies.”
The investigation into the deaths of the children and Tammy Daybell began in 2019, after extended family members noticed the children were missing. It was later revealed that Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were having an affair when both of their spouses died unexpectedly. Vallow’s husband was shot to death by her brother, who claimed self-defense, and Tammy Daybell died in her sleep, initially thought to be natural causes but later determined to be asphyxiation. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell married just two weeks after Tammy’s death, shocking their family and authorities. The couple’s friends reported that they held unusual religious beliefs, including the idea that they had been reincarnated and were preparing for a biblical apocalypse.
Chad Daybell’s trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks, with jury selection beginning in Boise. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. His attorney has stated that Daybell is ready to tell his story and plans to present a different version of the facts from Lori Vallow’s defense. The judge has issued a gag order in the case, preventing any discussion of the trial until after jury selection and opening statements. Originally scheduled to stand trial together, the cases of Chad and Lori Daybell were split due to “mutually antagonistic defenses,” meaning a jury would have to disbelieve one defendant in order to believe the other.
The couple’s friends testified in court about their belief in dark spirits and zombies, and prosecutors claim that their doomsday-focused beliefs were used to justify the deaths of the children and Tammy Daybell. It is alleged that the deaths were part of a scheme to eliminate obstacles to their relationship and to obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. The case has drawn worldwide attention due to its shocking and bizarre details, and the upcoming trial will shed more light on the tragic events surrounding Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow Daybell, and the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Joshua Vallow, and Tylee Ryan. Despite the gruesome nature of the crimes, the legal proceedings will seek to bring justice for the victims and closure for their loved ones.
