Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell: Will the pair finally be brought to justice?

It’s been a while since we got any updates on the Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow case, but yesterday, news dropped that the Department of Justice now has enough evidence to charge the couple – whose children Tylee & JJ disappeared in 2019 – for murder. 

Tylee and JJ were both last seen in September 2019. When asked about the whereabouts of her children, Lori Vallow told investigators they were with relatives they weren’t with and refused to produce her kids when social services asked. In June 2020, JJ and Tylee’s bodies were found buried in garbage bags on Chad Daybell’s property according to CNN. 

Initially, prosecutors only had enough evidence to change Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell with charges related to obstruction of justice and evidence tampering. However, thanks to tireless efforts from investigators, they were finally ready to charge Vallor & Daybell with committing this horrific crime. Let’s dive into the new charges here. 

Circumstantial evidence

It was long suspected that Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were behind JJ and Tylee’s disappearance. Vallow reportedly lied about her children’s whereabouts to police after they investigated. Not only that, but when the couple moved from Idaho to Kaui, they told their new neighbors they were a childless couple. 

Also, both Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had reported issues regarding religious fundamentalism, and in Vallow’s case, mental illness. In 2019, Lori Vallow’s husband, Charles, tried to get her screened for mental health issues, but Lori was ruled competent. Reportedly, Lori Vallow believed she was the second coming of Christ and threatened to kill Charles if he tried to stop her. 

Charles Vallow was shot & killed by Lori Vallow’s brother during an altercation in 2019. It was ruled as self-defense. 

Meanwhile, Chad Daybell has written over twenty-five books about doomsday prophecies. His wife before him, Tammy, reportedly died in her sleep a few weeks before Daybell married Lori Vallow, and her death was determined to be from natural causes. However, given the disappearance of JJ & Tylee, police exhumed her body for further investigation, finding enough evidence of foul play to charge Daybell with her murder. 

Chad Daybell reportedly made statements that he believed in demonic possession via his podcast. He also claimed he received visions and would lead a select few through doomsday. Neighbors and family friends have alleged he believed JJ & Tylee were possessed or turned into zombies around the time of their disappearance. Lori Vallow’s friend Melanie Gibb told authorities that Vallow believed this per USA Today. 

Why now? 

The new indictments are charging Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Daybell is also being indicted for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for Tammy’s death. CNN further reported that the details of how they suspect Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow killed JJ & Tylee are being withheld for now. 

“Every person who has worked on this case is to be commended for their diligence and steadfast pursuit of justice for Tammy, Tylee and JJ.” Madison County prosecutor Rob Wood said. 

According to a statement obtained by NBC, Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake further elaborated that the murder charges didn’t come forward until now because of the pandemic. 

“Due to the ongoing safety restrictions imposed by the courts during the pandemic, we just recently were given permission to present information to the Grand Jury for their review. They deliberated and determined there is probable cause to believe that the Daybells willfully and knowingly conspired to commit several crimes that led to the death of three innocent people.” 

Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow’s attorneys haven’t returned for comment yet. Daybell & Vallow have been in jail since being arrested for obstruction of justice and tampering with a murder case in 2020. They pleaded not guilty to those charges.