On Thursday, a jury in Boise, Idaho, found doomsday author Chad Daybell guilty of murdering his first wife and two of his current wife’s children. The verdict concludes the five-year saga of “the doomsday couple,” as Daybell and his wife, Lori Vallow, were dubbed by the media because of their apocalyptic beliefs.
Daybell’s conviction comes nearly a year after Vallow was sentenced to life in prison without parole for her part in the murders. Prosecutors argued that in September 2019, Daybell and Vallow killed Vallow ’s 7-year-old son, Joshua “J.J.” Vallow, and her 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan. (The children’s bodies were found buried in Daybell’s yard.) Prosecutors also alleged that Daybell killed his former wife, Tammy, in October 2019, with Vallow helping him plan the murder. The couple reportedly then traveled to Hawaii to get married.
Tammy’s death was initially attributed to natural causes, but while investigating the disappearance of Vallow’s children, a re-examination of her body found that she had died of asphyxiation. During Daybell’s trial, prosecutors argued that he viewed Tammy as “being in the way” of a relationship with Vallow. Per NPR, prosecutors claimed that Vallow made up details about Tammy’s medical history, which led the coroner to believe she died of a heart attack and didn’t need an autopsy. The couple pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Daybell and Vallow met in 2018 at a conference for Preparing a People, a fringe group focused on readying people for the end-time. They were both still married to other people but began an affair. According to CBS, Vallow’s friends said thataround this time, her behavior changed. While she had previously been a loving and doting mother, Vallow began to talk about “demons,” “zombies,” and “dark spirits,” the friends said. In 2019, her then-husband, Charles, told police that she was “unhinged,” thought she was a “god,” and had threatened to kill him. He soon filed for divorce. In July 2019, Charles died in Vallow ’s home after going to pick up J.J. Vallow’s brother, Alex Cox, said he killed Charles in self-defense. Cox reportedly died of natural causes in December 2019.
Daybell was also found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception, one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and two counts of insurance fraud. According to the New York Times, his sentencing hearing began on Friday.
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Tariro Mzezewa , 2024-05-31 19:34:15
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