'They destroyed families': Chad Daybell found guilty on all charges

BOISE — The verdict is in.

The Daybell/Vallow story is one that has garnered national attention, with all eyes on Rexburg and now, Ada County. 

One of the final chapters began with cheers echoing in the courtroom around 1 p.m. on Thursday when Larry Woodcock, J.J. Vallow's grandfather, announced that a verdict had been reached. An electric anticipation was palpable in the Ada County Courthouse room 404 at 1:30 p.m., when law enforcement, reporters and locals awaited the verdict of Chad Daybell. By 2 p.m. the courtroom grew quiet, as about a hundred people sat in the courtroom awaiting the verdict. 

Daybell was  found guilty on all charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder and insurance fraud in connection to the deaths of Lori Vallow’s children — 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old J.J. Vallow — and Daybell’s late wife, Tammy Daybell. 

The jury began deliberating Wednesday evening.

"What did they accomplish? What did they do? They destroyed families," Larry Woodcock said outside the courthouse on Thursday. 

Daybell now faces the death penalty. That decision is separate from the guilty conviction, to be decided by the jury after several more witnesses testify beginning Friday morning. Daybell’s current wife, Lori Vallow, was charged with the same crimes last year and was found guilty on all counts; she was sentenced to life in prison without parole. 

Daybell showed little to no reaction when his verdict was read aloud by Judge Steven Boyce. Defense Attorney John Prior was stoic, lips pressed firmly together as the word guilty was repeated nine times. 

Larry Woodcock and his wife, Kay, held each other while the verdicts were being read. When Daybell was found guilty of the murder of J.J., Larry let out an audible sigh of relief and leaned back.

"I’m happy it’s over and it’s 99.9% over. There’s one stage left and I will say this: whatever verdict, whatever sentence the court and the jurors decide on, I will absolutely live with it," Larry Woodcock said. "I want to thank the jurors. I hope they get help if they need it. They’ve heard and seen things that they can’t  unhear and can’t unsee." 

When the court broke for an hour recess after the verdict was read, some folks who have been attending the trial since it started in April were beaming, others were crying. It's hard to know how many hugs the Woodcocks received. 

"We would’ve never made it without each other," Larry Woodcock said, gesturing to his wife. "I want y’all to know this is the strongest lady I know. One of these days she’s gonna cry."

J.J. would now be 12 years old. He was 7 when he was killed. 

"J.J., papa loves you," Larry Woodcock said, choking up. "J.J., I miss you. But J.J., I will see you one day."

J.J. was last seen alive on Sept. 22, 2019 and his sister Tylee was last seen alive on Sept. 8, 2019. Both were found in Daybell's backyard when it was searched on June 9 and 10, 2020. J.J's body was wrapped in duct-tape. An autopsy found that he died of asphyxiation. Tylee's remains were burned and separated — parts of her remains have yet to be found. Because of the state of her remains, it's unclear how she was killed. 

While both children were dead, Vallow continued collecting Social Security money. 

Tammy Daybell died on Oct. 19, 2019. She was buried quickly but later exhumed from her grave. An autopsy found Tammy's cause of death to be asphyxiation by homicide. Vallow and Daybell were married shortly after Tammy's death, on Nov. 5, 2019. 

A month before her death, Tammy's life insurance was raised from $60,000 to $130,000. Daybell was the beneficiary of that money.

Throughout the two-month trial, evidence of Vallow and Daybell's affair has been displayed to the public, revealing text messages that indicate an intimate relationship between the two — one that was entangled with religious implications. Daybell and Vallow shared sets of unique beliefs and were previously members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Daybell wrote several books loosely based on LDS teachings, his later works focusing on the “last days” or the end of times, which he believed would come before the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Charles, Vallow's husband at the time of her affair, confronted Vallow about her affair with Daybell in June 2019 and emailed Tammy and Daybell on June 29, 2019, confronting both about the affair. Three days later, Charles said he was going to confront Tammy in person. And 10 days after that, Charles was shot and killed by Alex Cox, Lori’s brother, in Arizona. Cox died of natural causes in December 2019 and was never charged in Charles Vallow's death, but through the trial, it became clear that Cox had a role in the crimes of Daybell and Vallow.  

The sentencing phase of the Daybell trial will continue with impact statements on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. The jury could choose to work through the weekend if their deliberations on sentencing last beyond Friday evening.