The trial of Chad Daybell, a 55-year-old man charged with three counts of first-degree murder, is scheduled to commence in Idaho this week. The case involves the deaths of his wife, Tammy Daybell, and his girlfriend's two youngest children, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee Ryan. The children's bodies were discovered buried in Chad Daybell's yard in 2020.
Chad Daybell's trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks, with jury selection starting in Boise. He is also facing charges of insurance fraud in connection with Tammy Daybell's death, as well as conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception in the children's deaths. If convicted, he could potentially face the death penalty.
Chad Daybell's former wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, was found guilty last year and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The couple allegedly believed in the existence of dark spirits that could possess individuals and turn them into 'zombies.' They claimed that the only way to eliminate a zombie was to kill the possessed person.
The case took a grim turn in 2019 when Lori Vallow's two youngest children went missing, prompting an investigation that revealed the deaths of both spouses of Chad and Lori Daybell under suspicious circumstances. The couple's friends disclosed their unusual religious beliefs, including claims of reincarnation and a mission to gather people before an impending apocalypse.
Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and expressed a desire to share his side of the story. The trial was initially set to include both Chad and Lori Daybell, but their cases were separated due to conflicting defense strategies.
The trial is expected to shed light on the disturbing events surrounding the deaths of Tammy Daybell and the two children, unraveling a complex web of alleged murder, fraud, and religious extremism.
