Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow indicted for murders of children, former wife, among multiple counts

UPDATE May 27, 2021:

East Idaho News reports a psychological assessment has determined Lori Vallow Daybell is incompetent to move forward with further court proceedings. On Thursday, May 26, District Judge Steven Boyce issued a stay in the case based on the assessment.

“The completed assessment determined that at this time the Defendant is not competent to proceed and recommends restorative treatment,” wrote Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce in his report, according to the Rexburg Standard Journal.

Lori Vallow Daybell’s attorney requested the evaluation in March this year, and her case was held pending the results.

The results show Vallow Daybell is not mentally sound to proceed to trial, and the report recommends she undergo treatment, East Idaho News reports.

Judge Boyce said prosecutors are contesting the results, and a hearing will be scheduled. The case remains on hold in the interim.

MORE:

• Court proceedings on hold after psychiatrist finds Lori Vallow Daybell incompetent - East Idaho News
• Psychologist says Lori not fit for trial; needs restorative treatment - Rexburg Standard Journal
• Lori Daybell’s Idaho case on hold after competency decision. She may face Arizona charges - Idaho Statesman

May 25, 2021:

REXBURG, Idaho (TCD) --

Prosecutors announced Tuesday multiple criminal indictments against Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell after a grand jury returned the indictments against the married couple.

Lori Daybell and Chad Daybell have both been indicted on first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow, and Tammy Daybell, among multiple counts against them.

Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua Jaxon “JJ” Vallow, 7, were Lori’s children from a previous marriage. The children’s remains were found buried in a yard on Chad Daybell’s property in Idaho in 2020.

Tammy Daybell was Chad Daybell’s previous wife before he married Lori Vallow.

A Fremont County Grand Jury delivered the indictments on Monday, May 24.

KNXV-TV has the prosecutors' press release with the indictment details:

Count 1: Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder and Grand Theft by Deception for the death of Tylee Ryan.

Count 2: Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of First Degree Murder for the death of Tylee Ryan.

Count 3: Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder and Grand Theft by Deception for the death of JJ Vallow.

Count 4: Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of First Degree Murder for the death of JJ Vallow.

Count 5: Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder in the death of Tammy Daybell.

Count 6: Chad Daybell was indicted on the charge of First Degree Murder in the death of his wife Tammy Daybell.

Count 7: Lori Daybell was indicted on the charge of Grand Theft related to Social Security Survivor benefits over $1,000 allocated for the care of minors Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow that were appropriated after the children were missing and ultimately found deceased.

Count 8: Chad Daybell was indicted on the charge of Insurance Fraud related to a life insurance policy he had on Tammy Daybell for which he was the beneficiary and received funds after her death.

Count 9: Chad Daybell was indicted on the charge of Insurance Fraud related to another life insurance policy he had on Tammy Daybell for which he was the beneficiary and received funds after her death.

KNXV-TV: Prosecutors Announce New Indictments - KNXV 

Fremont County and Madison County prosecuting attorneys announced the indictments on Tuesday. Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake and Madison Prosecutor Rob Wood partnered on the investigation, according to the announcement.

“Fremont Prosecutor Lindsey Blake and I believe all three homicides and the related financial crimes were committed as part of a continuing criminal scheme,” said Wood.

At the time of the discovery of the children’s remains, one was concealed in a “particularly egregious” way, according to Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood.

Tammy Daybell was found dead in her Fremont County home on October 19, 2019, according to the Rexburg Police Department. Authorities initially thought her death was natural, but later determined her death was suspicious. Her remains were exhumed on December 11, 2019.

TRUE CRIME DAILY: Chad Daybell / Lori Vallow case coverage - TCD

Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow had not been seen since September 2019.

Rexburg Police said Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow repeatedly lied about the location of the missing children before investigators lost contact with the couple. Police confirmed at the time they believed the children's disappearance may have been connected to the death of Tammy Daybell.

Chad Daybell married Lori Vallow weeks after Tammy’s death. Lori Vallow was also a recent widow after her brother shot her husband in July 2019 in Arizona.

Daybell and Vallow were located in Kauai, Hawaii, in January 2020. The couple reportedly did not cooperate with authorities seeking the missing children.

Lori Vallow was arrested in February 2020 in Kauai and charged in Idaho with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children; resisting or obstructing officers; criminal solicitation to commit a crime; and contempt of court - willful disobedience of court process or order.

Chad Daybell was arrested in June 2020 after the children’s remains were found on his Idaho property. He was charged at the time with destruction/concealment of evidence.

In October 2020, an Idaho judge ordered the jury trials against the couple to be combined into one trial at the urging of prosecutors, who asserted the couple participated in the same “series of acts.”

Family members of Daybell and Vallow believe the couple may be members of religious cult. Chad Daybell is reportedly a self-proclaimed Latter-day Saint author of religious books detailing the end of the world. Lori Vallow participated in podcasts with Chad Daybell before they were married.

MORE: