More messages between Chad, Lori read during trial

More sexual text messages between triple murder defendant Chad Daybell and convicted killer Lori Vallow-Daybell were displayed Thursday during Chad Daybell’s triple murder trial at the Ada County Courthouse.

There were text messages referencing Chad Daybell’s genitalia the couple referred to as the “storm.” They both spoke of their love for each other and how impatient they both were to be together, “cheek to cheek” and “loin to loin.”

The case revolves around the death of Chad Daybell’s first wife Tammy Daybell. It also involves the disappearance and deaths of Vallow-Daybell's two children Tylee Ryan, 16, and J.J. Vallow, 7. The state also accuses Chad Daybell of insurance fraud after pocketing $430,000 in life insurance payouts following Tammy’s death on Oct. 29, 2019.

FBI Agent Doug Hart went over the messages in his testimony. Hart told the court he had been an FBI agent for 27 years and had assisted on the murder case since its inception on Sept. 19, 2019.

“There were a tremendous number of leads in the course of this investigation,” Hart said. “Leads outside of Idaho are handled by FBI. Those inside were handled by the Fremont Sheriff or Rexburg Police Department.”

Hart told the court that in a missing children’s case, the FBI looks everywhere and at everyone.

“You cannot have blinders on,” he said. “You’re following all of the investigative leads, measures. That’s the process.”

Hart said the FBI has “certain skill sets” that can’t be replicated such as forensic accountants, analysts and a response team.

It’s not unusual for police departments to ask the FBI for help in finding missing children, he said.

“There could be elements of those cases that, at a later date, could involve federal investigation,” Hart said. “Assistance continues through the entire investigation.”

Hart was on the scene on June 9, 2020, when J.J. and Tylee’s remains were found in shallow graves on Chad Daybell’s Salem property.

“What we were searching for was a clandestine grave site,” Hart said. “One of the tell-tale signs is a change in the plant growth that’s fairly distinguishable.”

The “consistency” around the grave site involves different colors of plants as well as “some lack of growth,” Hart said.

Investigators also noticed where some sod had been dug up.

“It was an indication of an area where digging had taken place,” he said.

Hart recalled walking the Daybell property with probing sticks. Where different growth was visible, Hart couldn’t penetrate with a probing rod.

“We found a board and rocks,” Hart said.

Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake asked Hart what was found underneath the board and rocks.

“J.J.’s body,” Hart testified.

Later that day, FBI agents attempted to speak with Chad Daybell’s children, he said.

“Myself and another agent went over on the evening of June 9 and spoke with them at length,” Hart said. “We explained we had some things we wanted to tell them, and talk to them about.”

Initially, the Daybell children agreed to talk with the FBI, but changed their minds after speaking with Chad Daybell.

Hart reported he had spent more than 100 hours reviewing Lori Daybell‘s emails. She had two such accounts.

"There was a tremendous amount — tens of thousands of data, thousands and thousands of videos, emails," Hart said. ”Everything you would find on a modern smart phone. iCloud is simply a cloud storage device for all of that.”

Hart also discussed texts between Lori and Chad showing how each manipulated the other. In one missive Lori tells Chad he should show "all your love and your attention to your wife and family.

"I’m just a distraction. Go have fun with your family. I really do want you to," Lori said. I just can’t be in the way anymore. If things change then we can talk. But we have nothing until things change anyway.”

Chad then apologized and said “I’m just so frustrated. I’m sorry, honey.”