Prosecutors in Idaho announced their intention to pursue the death penalty against Chad Daybell in the deaths of Tammy Daybell, JJ Vallow, and Tylee Ryan.
The announcement came on August 5, just days before the deadline to make the decision. Lori Vallow, who is the codefendant in this case and mother to Tylee and JJ, has yet to be charged. Her case is currently on hold as she undergoes psychiatric treatment.
Prosecutors Lindsey Blake and Rob Wood said they came to the decision after much deliberation and discussion, including with the families of the victims. The decision also comes just weeks after thousands of documents have shed even more light into the investigation against the so-called "cult mom" and her spiritual leader beau.
In court documents filed on August 5, Special Prosecutor Rob Wood and Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake say the death penalty can be used in any or all three of the first-degree murder charges filed against Chad Daybell. They outlined several reasons why the case was eligible for the death penalty. The murders were found to be "especially heinous, atrocious, cruel, or manifesting exceptional depravity."
Prosecutors also believe the murders were "committed for remuneration" (financial gain). Daybell was found to have exhibited "an utter disregard for human life" and "a propensity to commit murder and will probably constitute a continuing threat to society."
"Today we filed our Notice of Intention to seek the death penalty against Chad Daybell. Our process in making this determination was lengthy and comprehensive," the prosecutors said in a statement, per East Idaho News.
"We conferred with those immediate family members of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell, who have indicated a willingness to speak with us and allowed them an opportunity to provide their input if they wished to do so.
"The ultimate decision to seek capital punishment rests with the State, and after completing the entire process, we determined that the nature and magnitude of these crimes warrant the possibility of the highest possible punishment. This determination applies only to Chad Daybell."
While Lori Vallow is a codefendant on the case, her case is stayed as she gets mental health treatment to bring her to competency to stand trial. Anticipating these charges, Vallow has gotten new cocounsel with death penalty case experience.
The announcement of prosecutors seeking the death penalty comes weeks after thousands of pages of documents related to the case were released. There were many heartbreaking details among the documents released. Emails between Lori Vallow and her former husband Charles Vallow were shared and show him desperately trying to keep her in his and JJ's lives prior to their split.
The documents also included a photo of 7-year-old JJ in red pajamas playing with a strip and cup telephone. It's believed to be the last photo of the little boy alive, as his body was recovered in those same pajamas.
The documents also showed Lori Vallow leaving Idaho for Arizona the day before Tammy Daybell's car was shot at. She didn't return until the day after Tammy died of what was previously believed to have been natural causes.
Those following the case are eager to see how long it is until Lori is determined competent to stand trial. It's then that the wheels will start turning in the charges against her, which now also include charges in Arizona in the death of Charles Vallow.
Chad Daybell is set for a pretrial conference on September 30. If all continues smoothly, he is to face a jury trial in November.
