The trial of Chad Daybell, accused of killing his wife Tammy Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell’s two youngest children, JJ and Tylee, began with opening statements alleging that the killings were motivated by power, sex, and money. Prosecutors claim that Daybell and Vallow Daybell believed they were destined to eliminate obstacles in their way, dehumanizing those who stood in their path. Daybell has pleaded not guilty to murder and conspiracy charges in connection to the deaths.
Prosecutor Rob Wood portrayed Daybell as the mastermind behind the murders, alleging that he was unsatisfied with his life with Tammy and concocted a fantasy world after meeting Vallow Daybell. The couple illicitly celebrated their wedding in Hawaii after Vallow Daybell’s children went missing in 2019, while authorities found Tylee’s dismembered and burned body and JJ buried and bound nearby in Daybell’s Idaho home. Tammy’s death was also ruled as not due to natural causes, but by asphyxia.
Defense attorney John Prior argued that Daybell was not responsible for the crimes, but rather a victim himself of a manipulative Vallow Daybell and her brother, Alex Cox. Prior claimed that Cox and Vallow Daybell were behind the murders, as their DNA was found on the victims’ bodies, while no samples linked back to Daybell. Cox, who died in 2019, was described as Vallow Daybell’s protector, always there to solve problems in her life.
The trial follows Vallow Daybell’s conviction for killing her children and conspiring to murder Tammy, for which she received a life sentence without parole. Prosecutors allege that the couple were motivated by financial gain, illegally cashing in on life insurance and survivor benefit payments. Cox, who was manipulated by both Daybell and Vallow Daybell, did as they wanted in exchange for spiritual rewards. The trial is expected to last 10 weeks.
Overall, the prosecution has painted a picture of Daybell as the mastermind behind the “doomsday” slayings, driven by a desire for power, sex, and money. Meanwhile, the defense has sought to shift blame onto Vallow Daybell and her deceased brother, arguing that Daybell was not responsible for the murders. As the trial progresses, more evidence and testimony will shed light on the events leading up to the deaths of Tammy, JJ, and Tylee, as well as the roles played by each of the individuals involved in this tragic and complex case.
