Idaho Man Accused of Murder in “Doomsday Plot” Involving Sex, Money, and Power
In a chilling tale of sex, money, and power, prosecutors allege that an Idaho man orchestrated a “doomsday plot” that resulted in the murders of his first wife and two of his second wife’s children.
Chad Daybell stands accused of killing his ex-wife Tammy Daybell, as well as Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16.
Last year, Lori Vallow Daybell, the children’s mother, was sentenced to life in prison for their murders.
If convicted, 55-year-old Daybell could face the death penalty. He has maintained his innocence.
During the opening of Daybell’s trial, prosecutors painted a picture of a twisted belief that the children were “dark spirits” or “zombies” that led to their deaths in 2019, a year after Daybell and Ms. Vallow met at a religious event.
Allegedly, the two were involved in an affair and saw Mrs. Daybell as an obstacle to their ambitions.
Prosecutor Rob Wood stated, “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.”
The remains of the children were discovered buried on Daybell’s property in June 2020, with one child dismembered and burned, and the other bound.
Ms. Daybell died of asphyxiation in October 2019, just 17 days before Daybell married Ms. Vallow in Hawaii.
According to Wood, the trial will feature “extended text messages to reveal his mindset and motivations.”
Daybell’s defense attorney, John Prior, plans to present expert witnesses who will testify that Daybell’s DNA was not found on the children’s remains, shifting blame to Ms. Vallow’s deceased brother, Alex Cox.
Prior claimed Cox’s DNA was found on a piece of plastic near the children’s remains and argued there was no evidence of foul play in Mrs. Daybell’s death.
Daybell faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder and insurance fraud related to life insurance policies he had taken out.
Ms. Vallow was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without parole in July 2023 by Judge Steve Boyce.
The trial is anticipated to span nine weeks. — BBC
