Lori Vallow Daybell’s Husband Charged With Hiding Kids’ Remains

Chad Daybell, who married former Phoenix resident Lori Vallow weeks after relatives began questioning the whereabouts of her minor children, has been charged with destroying or concealing two sets of human remains after investigators made a gruesome discovery at his rural Idaho property Tuesday.

The remains found at Daybell’s rural Idaho property haven’t been identified, but a prosecutor said Wednesday at Daybell’s court appearance that they belonged to children. Without elaborating, the prosecutor said the way one set of remains was concealed was “particularly egregious.”

But relatives of the children say they've been told by investigators that the remains are those of 7-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan.

The case of the missing children has attracted global attention because of the doomsday beliefs of Chad Daybell and his new wife, and the mysterious deaths of their former spouses. Lori Vallow was living in a Phoenix suburb last July when her estranged fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed her brother, Alex Cox, who died in December of an apparent blood clot in his lung.

Police in Arizona initially said Cox acted in self-defense when he shot Vallow but are now taking a new look at the case. Vallow had filed for divorce, saying in court documents that his wife believed she was a “translated being” and “a god assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ’s second coming in July 2020.”

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Shortly after Charles Vallow died, his widow and the children moved to Idaho, where Chad Daybell lived and ran a small publishing company, which put out many fiction books on apocalyptic scenarios loosely based on Mormon theology.

Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were well-acquainted by that time. They had appeared together in a Dec. 5, 2018, podcast, “Time to Warrior Up,” according to a timeline put together by the East Idaho News. In multiple books, blog posts and podcasts preparing for biblical end times, Daybell claims to have previously died and had near-death experiences that allowed him to see into the future.

Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell were married in November, two weeks after his wife, Tammy Daybell, died in her sleep. Authorities have exhumed her body and are continuing the investigation, but autopsy and toxicology reports haven’t been released.

The children were last seen in September. Tylee was pictured at a family outing to Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 8, about the same day the first body was hidden or destroyed, Madison County, Idaho, Prosecutor Rob Wood said in court documents. The second body was disposed of on or after Sept. 22, the last known day J.J. was seen, according to the court documents. Investigators believe Daybell either concealed or helped hide the remains knowing they were about to be used as evidence in court.

Larry Woodcock, J.J.'s grandfather, told the Post Register in Idaho Falls that "both children are no longer with us.

Larry and Kay Woodcock, along with Colby Ryan, Lori Vallow Daybell's son, and his wife, Kelsee, issued a media statements Wednesday:

"The Woodcocks and the Ryans are confirming that the human remains found by law enforcement on Chad Daybell’s property are indeed our beloved JJ and Tylee. We are filled with unfathomable sadness that these two bright stars were stolen from us and only hope that they died without pain or suffering.

"Once officially confirmed, statements from the Rexburg Police, the Medical Examiner and the FBI will be released. We ask that you respect our family’s privacy while we grieve — we have only just been told of the loss of our loved ones and need time to process. We are not granting interviews at this time and hope you all understand that this is the worst news we will ever get in our lives and want to be left alone for the time being."

Also in a statement, Tylee Ryan's aunt, Annie Cushing, also asked for privacy:

"Thank you for the overwhelming outpouring of love for Tylee and JJ throughout this crisis. My family and I eagerly await the results of the identification of the remains and autopsies but have hope that there will be resolution and closure in the near future.

"As sad and taxing as this protracted investigation has been, I’ve been deeply touched by the heartfelt expressions of grief, kindness, and support throughout this process. Tylee and JJ won the hearts of people all across the globe. I’ve seen and have been impacted by both the worst and best of humanity. Hopefully, goodness and justice will win out in the end."

Matt Daybell, Chad Daybell's brother, and his wife, Heather, said in their statement:

"The events of the past nine months have weighed heavily on our family – it has been one of the most difficult things we have ever had to go through. Some in our extended family are still struggling to accept the reality that Chad could have been involved in something so terribly wrong.

"On behalf of myself, my wife Heather, and our four children, we express our most sincere sympathies to Larry and Kay and to JJ and Tylee’s entire extended families. We are devastated by today’s news and the apparent role that Chad has played in what has transpired.

"Heather and I have communicated many times in person and by phone with Larry and Kay over the past several months — they have been examples of courage, strength and kindness to us throughout this difficult trial that they have been forced to endure. Throughout this ordeal, we have supported one another in pursuit of the truth, and will continue to do so. They have been praying for our family, as we have prayed for them. Our heartfelt love and prayers continue to go out to them and their family at this very difficult time.

"We also continue to pray for Tammy and Chad’s adult children and their spouses. Because of the difficulty of this situation, our relationship with them has been significantly strained. As a result, we have had no contact with them or Chad for the last many months — we do not know where his children stand at this time. As such, we ask for patience and compassion for them and for all of our extended family as we cope with the horrific events that have come to light."

Daybell’s bail was set at $1 million. His wife is also held on $1 million bail after she was charged with child abandonment and obstructing the investigation. She has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors sealed probable cause documents, saying their release could compromise the criminal investigation and that keeping them secret would preserve Daybell’s right to a fair trial.