Rexburg, Idaho – Chad Daybell, recently sentenced to death in a triple murder case, faced justice nearly a year after his second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, received a life sentence. The charges against Daybell included the first-degree murder of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, as well as Lori Vallow’s children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Additionally, he was found guilty of conspiracy in the murders and of insurance fraud.
Lori Vallow Daybell, convicted of murder in the deaths of the three victims the previous year, was also sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The couple’s case grabbed national attention in 2019 after the disappearance of 7-year-old JJ and the subsequent discovery that Tylee had also gone missing around the same time. The investigation led to the arrest of Daybell and Vallow during their honeymoon in Hawaii, shortly after Tammy Daybell’s death.
The tragic discovery of the children’s bodies buried on Daybell’s property further intensified the public scrutiny on the couple’s unconventional religious beliefs, which included the belief in evil spirits possessing a person and turning them into a “zombie.” Judge Steven Boyce presided over the trial and confirmed that Daybell would be sentenced separately for the insurance fraud charges at a later date.
During the proceedings, emotional victim impact statements were given by nine individuals, including Tammy Daybell’s brother and Tylee and JJ’s older brother. Surprisingly, despite the opportunity to speak in his defense, Daybell chose not to testify during the penalty phase. As for Lori Vallow Daybell, she has been extradited to Arizona, where she awaits trial for the murder of her husband, Charles Vallow, who was fatally shot by her brother, Alex Cox, in 2019.
The case surrounding Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell represents a disturbing and tragic series of events that have captivated the nation’s attention. The sentencing of Daybell to death and Vallow Daybell to life in prison mark the culmination of a complex legal saga that has been tinged with elements of the supernatural and shrouded in mystery. As the families of the victims continue to seek closure and justice, the fallout from this case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked fanaticism and criminal behavior.