Rexburg, Idaho – Chad Daybell, convicted in a triple murder case, received a sentence of death on Saturday, nearly a year after his former wife Lori Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison. Daybell was found guilty of the first-degree murder of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and Lori Vallow’s children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as conspiracy in the murders and insurance fraud.
Lori Vallow Daybell, who was previously convicted of murder related to the same case, was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The case gained national attention in 2019 when JJ Vallow was reported missing by his grandparents and Tylee Ryan could not be located. The investigation led to the arrest of Daybell and Vallow during their trip to Hawaii shortly after Tammy Daybell’s death.
Months later, the bodies of the children were discovered buried on Daybell’s property. The case shed light on the couple’s unconventional religious beliefs, including the notion that evil spirits could possess people, turning them into “zombies.” The sentencing of Chad Daybell for the capital charges was deliberated by the jury, with Judge Steven Boyce indicating that sentencing for insurance fraud charges would occur at a later date.
During the trial, victim impact statements were delivered by nine individuals, including Tammy Daybell’s brother, Tylee and JJ’s older brother, and others affected by the tragic events. Daybell chose not to testify in his defense or make a statement during the penalty phase. Lori Vallow Daybell, after her Idaho conviction, was extradited to Arizona where she faces trial for the murder of her husband in 2019.
The case has been a harrowing journey of twists and turns, revealing the dark underbelly of crimes committed within a family dynamic. As justice is served in the courts, the memory of the victims lives on as a solemn reminder of the consequences of heinous actions in the pursuit of personal gain and nefarious beliefs.