BOISE, Idaho – The trial of Chad Daybell, a man accused of murdering his wife and his then-girlfriend’s two youngest children, is set to begin with opening statements expected on Wednesday. The case, which centers around extremist religious beliefs, has garnered significant attention.
Daybell, 55, is facing a slew of charges including first-degree murder, insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit murder, and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Tammy Daybell, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Last year, Lori Vallow Daybell, the mother of the two children, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for her involvement in the killings.
Prosecutors have alleged that the Daybells used doomsday beliefs to justify the killings as part of a larger scheme to eliminate any obstacles to their relationship and to exploit monetary benefits from survivor benefits and life insurance policies. Testimony during Lori Vallow Daybell’s trial revealed that she referred to her two youngest children as “zombies.”
Chad Daybell, a former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, self-published fiction that drew inspiration from the church’s teachings. In fall 2019, he attempted to fraudulently collect on his late wife’s life insurance policy, while Vallow Daybell continued to receive social security benefits for both children after their deaths.
Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the charges, with the trial expected to last over two months. If convicted, prosecutors have indicated that they will seek the death penalty for him.
The tragic saga began in fall 2019 when extended family members reported the two children missing, prompting a multi-state search by law enforcement. The subsequent investigation took unexpected turns, revealing a complex web of deceit and manipulation between the Daybells.
Investigators uncovered that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were engaged in an affair when both of their spouses died under suspicious circumstances. Vallow Daybell’s husband was fatally shot by her brother in Arizona in July 2019, who claimed self-defense. Months later, Tammy Daybell, Chad’s wife, died in what was initially believed to be natural causes; however, further investigation revealed that she died of asphyxiation. Shortly after her death, Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell married, raising suspicions among family members and law enforcement.
Friends of the couple later disclosed to detectives that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell believed they had been reincarnated with a mission to gather individuals before an impending biblical apocalypse, adding a macabre layer to an already disturbing case.