Lori Vallow’s murder trial begins in Idaho

BOISE, Idaho (TCD) -- Jury selection has begun in the trial of Lori Vallow, a mother accused of killing and conspiring to kill her two children and her husband's wife.

According to KTVB-TV, about 1,800 potential jurors were asked to fill out a questionnaire by District Judge Steven Hippler. Attorneys on both sides of the case reportedly looked over the questionnaires, then called the remaining potential jurors to the Ada County Courthouse for voir dire, which is the process of choosing the jury.

Vallow is on trial for conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and grand theft for the deaths of her son Joshua Jaxon "JJ" Vallow, daughter Tylee Ryan, and her husband Chad Daybell’s late wife, Tammy Daybell. Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Vallow, but KTVB reports a judge decided in March the death penalty would not be permitted due to prosecutors disclosing evidence late.

Seven-year-old JJ and 17-year-old Tylee were last seen Sept. 23, 2019, in Rexburg, Idaho. Tammy Daybell was found dead Oct. 19, 2019, and officials initially ruled her death natural. Two months later, however, her body was exhumed after investigators determined she might have died under suspicious circumstances.

In June 2020, Rexburg Police Department investigators served a search warrant at Chad Daybell’s home and found two sets of human remains, which were positively identified as JJ and Tylee. JJ’s hands and legs had reportedly been tied together, and he had a plastic bag over his head, according to the Idaho State Journal. Tylee’s body was dismembered and burned. Tammy had reportedly been suffocated.

The Idaho State Journal reports Vallow and Chad Daybell were part of a religious extremist group that believed the end of the world was coming.

KTVB reports Vallow’s trial is expected to last about 10 weeks.

MORE:

• How Ada County is preparing for Lori Vallow Daybell's murder trial - KTVB
• Lori Vallow will no longer face the death penalty if convicted, judge rules, 3/21/2-23 - KTVB
• Prosecutors will seek death penalty for Lori Vallow if she is convicted, 5/4/2022 - TCD
• Prosecution to seek death penalty against Vallow, 5/2/2022 - Idaho State Journal
• Lori Vallow murder trial begins Monday in Ada County - Idaho State Journal
• Missing, 12/20/2019 - Rexburg Police Department
• Press Release, 6/13/2020 - Rexburg Police Department