Jury deliberations began in the trial of Chad Daybell, an Idaho man charged with murdering his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children. Prosecutors allege that Daybell committed the murders as part of a callous scheme for money, power, and sex. Daybell is facing multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, insurance fraud, and conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft. The prosecution has stated they will seek the death penalty if Daybell is convicted. However, Daybell’s defense attorney argues that there is not enough evidence to link Daybell to the deaths, claiming that the children’s late uncle, Alex Cox, is the true perpetrator.
The trial has revealed a complex web of conspiracies and beliefs involving Daybell, his girlfriend Lori Vallow Daybell, and their alleged involvement in the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, and Tylee Ryan. Prosecutors have presented evidence suggesting that the couple conspired to kill the victims to remove obstacles from their relationship and to obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. The prosecution has also highlighted the couple’s creation of an apocalyptic belief system involving the concept of “zombies” and the justification of murder as a means to save souls from possession. Chad Daybell is portrayed as a manipulative leader who convinced others, including Cox and Vallow Daybell, to participate in the killings.
The defense has argued that Daybell’s beliefs were based on his religious faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that he should be entitled to his own beliefs, including the concept of determining a person’s “death percentage.” The defense also points to inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case, suggesting that Alex Cox, the children’s uncle, was responsible for the murders and attempted to frame Daybell by burying the victims on his property. The trial has brought to light the suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of Tammy Daybell and the disappearance of her two children, which led to a widespread search and ultimately the discovery of their remains on Chad Daybell’s property.
The case began with the shooting death of Lori Vallow Daybell’s estranged husband, Charles Vallow, by Alex Cox in Arizona. This event set off a chain of events that culminated in the deaths of Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, allegedly orchestrated by Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell. The couple’s belief in possession by evil spirits and the concept of “zombies” played a significant role in the prosecution’s narrative, with witnesses testifying to hearing Vallow Daybell refer to the children as “zombies.” The trial has also featured expert testimony challenging the cause of death in Tammy Daybell’s autopsy and conflicting accounts from witnesses regarding the events leading up to her death.
As the jury deliberates on the charges against Chad Daybell, they are faced with the decision of whether to convict him of murder and conspiracy, and potentially impose the death penalty. The sequestered jury has heard from both prosecution and defense witnesses, with conflicting accounts of the events surrounding the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, and Tylee Ryan. The trial has shed light on the complexities of the case and the tangled relationships between the individuals involved, leaving the jurors with the difficult task of determining the truth behind the tragic deaths and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
