Commencing arguments are anticipated Wednesday in the trial of Chad Daybell, who stands accused in Idaho of the murder of his spouse and the two youngest offspring of his then-partner, Lori Vallow Daybell, in a peculiar case intertwined with extremist religious convictions. This trial unfolds nearly a year following Vallow Daybell's conviction for the slayings of her children.
Initially, the duo was slated to be jointly tried, but a judge separated their trials subsequent to Daybell waiving his right to a prompt trial.
Aged 55, Daybell faces charges of first-degree murder, insurance fraud, and conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft in relation to the demises of Tammy Daybell, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow, and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Vallow Daybell was meted out a life sentence with no chance of parole for the aforementioned killings.
Prosecutors allege that the pair rationalized the three killings based on apocalyptic beliefs, as part of an intricate ploy to eradicate hindrances to their relationship and to gain access to funds from survivor benefits and life insurance. During her trial, a friend testified that Vallow Daybell labeled her two youngest children as zombies.
Who is Chad Daybell?
Chad Daybell was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and self-published fiction loosely based on its teachings.
In 2019, he attempted to fraudulently collect on his late wife's life insurance policy, and Vallow Daybell continued to receive both children's Social Security benefits after they passed away.
Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial is expected to last more than two months. Prosecutors have stated they will seek the death penalty if Daybell is found guilty.
Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were involved in an affair when both of their spouses died unexpectedly, according to investigators. Vallow Daybell's husband was shot to death by her brother in Arizona in July 2019; the brother claimed it was in self-defense.
Several months later, in October 2019, Tammy Daybell passed away. Chad Daybell initially informed the police that she was battling an illness and died in her sleep, but an autopsy later revealed she died of asphyxiation. Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell got married just two weeks after Tammy Daybell's death, surprising family members and raising suspicions from authorities.
According to friends, Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were convinced that they had been reborn and had a mission to gather individuals before an impending biblical doomsday.
