Chad Daybell has been found guilty of the murders of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and his second wife Lori Vallow's two youngest children. The verdict concludes a high-profile case marked by bizarre doomsday beliefs and tragic deaths. Daybell, 55, was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2019 killings of 7-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and 49-year-old Tammy Daybell.
The jury in Ada County, Idaho, deliberated for less than six hours before returning the guilty verdict. Daybell was also convicted of insurance fraud related to life insurance policies on his first wife. The trial, which lasted nearly two months, featured testimony from multiple witnesses, including Daybell's two adult children.
Prosecutors painted a grim picture of Daybell, describing him as a self-published author of apocalyptic books who, along with Lori Vallow, believed that the children and Tammy were possessed by dark spirits. This belief was central to their actions, which prosecutors argued revolved around a small doomsday cult.
"More than anything else, Chad's obsession with Lori was rooted in her adoration for him," said Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood during the trial. "He called her an exalted goddess."
The case against Daybell included the tragic circumstances of Tammy Daybell's death. On October 19, 2019, Chad reported that Tammy had gone to bed with a cough and never woke up. Initially ruled as natural, her death was later determined to be due to asphyxiation, a revelation that came during Lori Vallow's trial.
The disappearance of J.J. and Tylee also played a crucial role in the case. The children's remains were discovered on June 9, 2020, on Chad Daybell's property in Rexburg, Idaho. J.J. was found wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape, while Tylee's remains were dismembered and burned. The children were last seen in September 2019.
During the trial, Daybell's adult children, Emma Murray and Garth Daybell, testified in his defense. Murray recounted her father's distress over Tammy's death, stating, "I'd never seen him more upset than in that moment. I know the grief was real. He may not have had the same romantic relationship with my mother in the past, but I know he valued her as a person and seeing her die was very traumatic."
Garth Daybell also testified, noting that his mother's health had been deteriorating before her death. According to Garth, Tammy "was getting tired extremely easily," often got winded, and had fainting spells.
The trial's conclusion comes nearly a year after Lori Vallow was found guilty of murdering J.J. and Tylee and conspiring to murder Tammy Daybell. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in July 2023. Lori Vallow did not face the death penalty.
Prosecutors argued that Daybell and Vallow's relationship was driven by a desire for "money, power, and sex," as well as their shared apocalyptic beliefs. "Three dead bodies ... and for what? Money, power, and sex. That's what the defendant cared about," prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors during closing arguments.
The children's remains were discovered after a months-long search initiated by concerned family members. Their discovery on Daybell's property provided crucial evidence linking him to their deaths. Ryan's DNA was found on a pickaxe and shovel in Daybell's garage, further implicating him.
Defense attorney John Prior argued that the prosecution failed to provide concrete evidence of a conspiracy to commit murder. He claimed that the prosecutors only showed a "handful" of text messages discussing "light and dark" and "death percentages" out of thousands exchanged between Daybell and Vallow.
During the trial, a forensic pathologist testified that Tammy Daybell's cause of death should have been classified as "undetermined." Daybell did not testify in his defense and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The case was presided over by Judge Steve Boyce, who also oversaw Lori Vallow's trial. Following her conviction, Vallow was sentenced to life in prison without parole. She faces additional charges in Arizona related to the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was fatally shot by her brother, Alex Cox, in 2019. Lori Vallow's trial for these charges is scheduled to begin in August.
Chad Daybell's sentencing phase is set to begin soon, with prosecutors indicating they will pursue the death penalty for the murder charges. The case has drawn significant media attention due to its shocking details and the bizarre beliefs of the defendants.
