BOISE, Idaho — After a modest five and half hours of jury deliberations for the high-profile murder trial of Chad Daybell, a 12-person jury found the East Idaho man guilty of murder in the first degree on all counts.
In the verdict reached on Thursday, May 30, Daybell was convicted for murdering his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and the two children of current wife Lori Vallow-Daybell, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. The convictions carry a potential sentencing of the death penalty.
Daybell will be sentenced in a hearing scheduled for Friday at 8:30 a.m., as guilty convictions in capital punishment cases require an immediate sentencing in the state of Idaho.
Daybell was charged with nine crimes in total in the capital punishment murder case. He received a guilty verdict on all of them.
In addition to three counts of first-degree murder, he was found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit grand theft by deception and three counts of insurance fraud.
Tammy Daybell, 49, was found dead in she and Chad's bedroom in October 2019. Her death was initially thought to be from natural causes. After the strange disappearance of Vallow's two children in September 2019 began to draw suspicion, Tammy's body was exhumed and ruled death by asphyxiation in December 2019.
Lori Vallow's children, 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, were found buried in shallow graves on Chad Daybell’s Rexburg property in June 2020 after disappearing in September 2019. The decaying remains of Tylee were found in charred, burnt pieces; while JJ was found suffocated and bound in duct tape.
Chad Guy Daybell was found guilty of the following charges on May 30, 2024:
- Conspiracy to commit murder, Tylee Ryan - Guilty
- First-degree murder, Tylee Ryan - Guilty
- Conspiracy to commit murder, JJ Vallow - Guilty
- First-degree murder, JJ Vallow - Guilty
- Conspiracy to commit murder, Tammy Daybell - Guilty
- First-degree murder, Tammy Daybell - Guilty
- Insurance fraud, Tylee Ryan's benefits - Guilty
- Insurance fraud, JJ Vallow's benefits - Guilty
- Insurance fraud, Tammy Daybell's benefits - Guilty
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Sentencing for Chad Daybell
Chad Daybell's guilty verdict on the murder charges has the potential to sentence him to death by lethal injection; a sentence taken off the table for 50-year-old Lori Vallow due to insufficient review of evidence.
The self-proclaimed "Doomsday Prophet" and "Doomsday Mom" were both charged with the murders, among other charges.
Vallow was found guilty by jury in early 2023 and sentenced to five life terms in prison without parole on July 31, 2023, following her guilty verdict for the murders of her two children and conspiracy to murder Chad's wife, Tammy.
For Chad to receive the death penalty, Idaho law requires all jurors in capital punishment cases to unanimously find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree.
Daybell's trial began April 1, 2024, with jury selection and concluded May 29 with closing arguments. Presiding Judge Steven Boyce dismissed the jury to deliberate at 4:33 p.m. following the arguments, before appearing to cease deliberations for the day at around 6:45 p.m. The jury reconvened Thursday morning and came to a decision at approximately 1 p.m.
The verdict of "guilty" was reached within five and a half hours.
Chad Daybell's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday, May 31 at 8:30 a.m.
Live Updates:
3:11 p.m.: Court is back in session for the sentencing portion of the Chad Daybell trial. Prosecution is huddling together, whispering. The jurors are brought back in. The capital punishment phase begins, with six of his criminal charges holding a possibility of death penalty. Judge Boyce goes over some scheduling and instructions. Court will go over the instructions today, with testimony taking roughly another week so it will begin tomorrow. Court in recess in 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
2:06 p.m.: Judge Boyce reminds the gallery of the courtroom conduct order in place. They complete a roll call of the jury, for the record. All jurors are present. Judge Boyce asks if they have reached a verdict, they have. The court has reviewed the verdict form, and are properly dated and signed. Daybell rises as the verdict is read.
Chad Daybell is found guilty of the murders of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow, and Tammy Daybell. In regard to insurance fraud, they found him guilty as well.
There will be a recess, then there will be discussion of sentencing.
2:00 p.m.: The courtroom shot is now up on the livestream. Judge Boyce has not entered the room yet, neither has the jury. Judge Boyce apologizes as he takes a few moments to log into his computer. Chad is wearing a blue shirt and yellow tie for what could be his last day in court. All of counsel is present, and all jurors, including alternates, will be brought in.
1:19 p.m.: In an update from KTVB reporter Abby Davis who is inside the courtroom, the verdict will be delivered at 2 p.m.
1:12 p.m.: A verdict has been reached in the Chad Daybell trial. Jury is coming into the courtroom in roughly 30 minutes.
12:19 p.m.: The jury is still in deliberations. They usually have gone to lunch around noon throughout this trial, so there is a likelihood they are currently eating while in deliberations.
11:07 a.m.: Jury returns to courtroom. Judge Boyce states that the closed hearing was to address a question from the jury regarding count six, which is the first-degree murder charge of Tammy Daybell. He provides additional jury instruction and dismisses the jury once again to continue deliberations.
10:52 a.m.: There have been few updates provided about the hearing, or if they are done.
10:17 a.m.: KTVB reporter Abby Davis states that the public was removed from the courtroom, as the hearing is closed to the public. The hearing will not be livestreamed. The jury has not reached a verdict yet.
10:03 a.m.: KTVB is informed that there is a closed hearing to discuss some procedural matters.
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