BOISE, Idaho – The trial of an Idaho man accused of murdering his wife and his then-girlfriend’s two youngest children is set to begin with opening statements on Wednesday. Chad Daybell, 55, is facing charges that include first-degree murder, insurance fraud, and 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, their mother, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for her role in the killings.
The prosecution alleges that the couple justified the killings based on doomsday beliefs in an elaborate scheme to eliminate obstacles to their relationship and to collect money from survivor benefits and life insurance policies. During Vallow Daybell’s trial, a friend testified 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 loosely incorporated teachings from the church.
The disturbing series of events began in the fall of 2019 when extended family members reported the two children missing, leading to a multi-state search conducted by law enforcement officials. Subsequent investigations unveiled a complex web of deceit and tragedy surrounding the deaths of Tammy Daybell and the two young children. Chad Daybell entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and prosecutors have announced their intention to seek the death penalty if he is found guilty.
Investigators discovered that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were engaged in an extramarital affair at the time of their spouses’ unexpected deaths. Vallow Daybell’s husband was killed by her brother in Arizona in July 2019, who claimed it was in self-defense. Just months later, Tammy Daybell passed away in what was initially described as a sleep-related incident but was later determined to be caused by asphyxiation. Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell married shortly after Tammy Daybell’s death, sparking suspicion and raising questions within their community. Friends revealed to detectives that the couple believed they were reincarnated and had a mission to gather individuals before an impending biblical apocalypse.