BOISE, Idaho — The jury was sworn in Wednesday morning ahead of opening arguments in Chad Daybell's triple murder trial.
His wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, was convicted in the same case last year for killing her kids, Tylee and JJ, who used to live in the Valley. She was also convicted for her role in the death of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell.
Tylee and JJ disappeared in September 2019 after their mother, Lori Vallow, moved them from Arizona to Idaho to be with Chad.
Tammy Daybell, Chad’s first wife, was murdered in her home in October 2019.
Less than three weeks later in November, Lori Vallow married Chad Daybell in Hawaii. It was later in November that the children were first reported missing.
Lori Vallow was arrested in February 2020 in Hawaii and extradited to Idaho. Chad Daybell was arrested in June 2020 after the kids' bodies were found brutally buried in his backyard. Both Chad and Lori were charged with multiple felonies, including murder in the deaths of Tylee and JJ. Chad was also charged with murder in the death of his first wife, Tammy.
Dark, religious beliefs, according to investigators, were the driving force in the murders.
Lori’s brother Alex Cox is considered to be a third co-conspirator in the case. He was never charged because he died in December 2019 in Arizona, apparently from natural causes.
Opening arguments
The same prosecutors who tried Lori Vallow's case are trying Chad Daybell's case, too.
Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood started his opening arguments for the state talking about the grim details of the case.
"Two dead children buried in the defendant Chad Daybell's backyard," Wood started. "The next month, his wife is found dead in their marital bed."
Wood also uses language from the state's case against Lori Vallow, notably the motivations of sex, money and power.
"His desire for sex, money and power led him to pursue those ambitions and this pursuit led to the deaths of his wife and Lori's two innocent children," Wood added.
Wood noted that Chad Daybell is an author, and lays out the case in chapters. He closes by telling the jury they will be the final chapter of this "tragic saga."
"The chapter that delivers justice for Tammy, justice for JJ and justice for Tylee," Wood said.
After a short break, Chad Daybell's attorney, John Prior, delivered his opening statement to the jury.
He began by talking about Chad Daybell's faith and his relationship with Tammy Daybell. He said in 2018, Chad was at an event trying to sell his books when he met Lori Vallow. Prior said that Vallow pursued Chad Daybell. He calls Lori Vallow "manipulative" and said that she "knows how to get what she wants."
Prior said he also plans to present evidence about Alex Cox and his involvement in the case. He said the jury will hear from four experts, including the DNA expert who was also involved in Amanda Knox's case.
Prior added the jury can expect to hear from some of Daybell's five children, who he said will speak to their mother's health struggles.
He concluded by asking the jury to find Chad Daybell not guilty.
How Chad Daybell's trial compares to Lori Vallow's trial
Chad and Lori were originally going to be tried together in the deaths of Tylee, JJ and Tammy, but the cases were severed.
Lori's trial played out last year. She was found guilty on all charges and the judge sentenced her to three consecutive life sentences in prison.
She spoke out for the first time at her sentencing where the judge said it was clear she was still under a religious delusion.
Both Chad and Lori’s trials were moved to Boise from Eastern Idaho in an effort to find impartial juries.
We’re expecting similar witnesses and evidence in Chad’s case, including witnesses from Arizona.
The first witness called Wednesday in Chad Daybell's trial is Detective Ray Hermosillo with the Rexburg, ID police department. He also testified during Lori's trial. He testified as to how he got involved in the case and how it eventually turned into a missing persons case. It would later become a murder investigation.
Unlike Lori’s trial, where her defense didn’t call any witnesses or present any evidence, Chad Daybell’s attorney says he plans to call his own experts. John Prior, Daybell's attorney, has been active Wednesday morning, challenging the state's testimony from witnesses with multiple objections.
Chad’s trial will also be livestreamed, whereas the judge banned cameras for Lori’s trial. You will be able to watch the trial from Judge Steven Boyce's YouTube channel.
Another difference is that Chad Daybell is facing the death penalty. That decision would be up to a jury if Daybell is convicted in this case.
The trial is set to continue Thursday with more testimony from Detective Hermosillo.
More charges in Arizona
Lori Vallow Daybell was extradited from prison in Idaho to Arizona late last year to face two other charges of conspiracy to commit murder in Maricopa County.
One charge is from a case in Chandler involving the death of her former husband Charles Vallow. The other was out of Gilbert, where her niece’s ex-husband was shot at but ultimately wasn't hit.
She’s pleaded not guilty in those cases and remains at the Estrella jail.
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