Prosecutors are now seeking the death penalty against Chad Daybell in connection to the deaths of “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan.
Chad Daybell is the husband of Lori Vallow Daybell, who used to live in Chandler with her two kids, Tylee and JJ.
Chad and Lori are both accused of various crimes, including first-degree murder for the deaths of Chad's former wife and Lori's two kids.
"JJ" and Tylee went missing under suspicious circumstances in September 2019, shortly after Daybell and Vallow were newly married and following the deaths of their former spouses. The children's bodies were found buried in June 2020 at an Idaho property owned by Chad, officials said.
In court documents filed Thursday, prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty against Chad in the event he is convicted for any of the three counts of first-degree murder and/or any of the counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Prosecutors said the murders of Tammy, JJ and Tylee "was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel."
In a statement, Idaho prosecutors said they consulted with immediate family members of JJ, Tylee and Tammy.
"The ultimate decision to seek capital punishment rests with the State, and after completing the entire process, we determined that the nature and magnitude of these crimes warrants the possibility of the highest possible punishment," prosecutors said in a statement.
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Chad has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. His jury trial is scheduled for November.
Read the full Notice of Intent to Seek Death Penalty below:
Lori's case is on pause after a mental health expert said she wasn't competent to stand trial.
In June, an Idaho judge committed Lori to undergo treatment to restore her mental competency.
JJ, 7, and Tylee, 16, were reported missing in Idaho in the fall of 2019, shortly after Chad married Lori, who now goes by Lori Daybell. The children were reported missing by JJ's grandparents.
While authorities searched for the children, the Daybells traveled to Hawaii. Lori was arrested there in February 2020 and charged with the desertion of her children.
In June 2020, police executed a search warrant at Chad's home, where they discovered the remains of JJ and Tylee buried on the property. The Daybells were arrested and charged with destruction of evidence.
In May 2021, Daybells were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of the children.
In June 2021, a Maricopa County Grand Jury charged Lori with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection to the death of her former husband, Charles Vallow. He was shot to death in Chandler by Lori's brother Alex Cox in July 2019.
Take a look at the timeline below for significant events surrounding Lori Daybell, including the death of Chad Vallow and the disappearance and deaths of "JJ" Valley and Tylee Ryan.
