Idaho judge sends Chad Daybell case to jury trial

ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (KSTU) -- Fremont County Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins ruled Tuesday that Chad Daybell will face trial in District Court to answer to his charges in connection with the disappearance of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan.

The Idaho Post Register reports Judge Eddins ruled there is “probable or sufficient cause to believe the defendant Chad Daybell committed the offenses.”

East Idaho News reports once Daybell is arraigned in District Court, a jury trial will be scheduled.

The kids had been missing since September, until their remains were found buried in Chad Daybell's backyard on June 9.

TRUE CRIME DAILY: Vallow-Daybell case coverage - TCD

Judge Eddins made the ruling after hearing two days of testimony from 12 witnesses, along with closing arguments from state prosecutor Rob Wood and Daybell's defense attorney John Prior.

KSTU reports Daybell's arraignment has been scheduled for August 21. He faces two counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and two counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, all felonies.

Witness Melanie Gibb testified that both Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow called her in December, asking her to lie to police about JJ Vallow's location. She confronted Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell in a recorded phone call that was played in the courtroom on Monday.

"This is not the behavior of someone who sees Jesus Christ," Gibb said on the phone call. "I believe that you have been very deceived by Satan... It doesn't sound like God's plan to me."

"I know exactly where (JJ) is. He's perfectly fine," Lori Vallow responded. "It sounds like you've been influenced by somebody dark!"

On June 9, investigators say Lori Vallow called Chad Daybell from the Madison County Jail. She had been arrested on suspicion of deserting her two children. Prosecutors played audio of the conversation for the courtroom.

KSTU reports a preliminary hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell is scheduled for August 10.

MORE:

• Judge declines to dismiss Chad Daybell's charges after two days of testimony - KSTU

• Judge sends Chad Daybell to a jury trial - Idaho Post Register