The jury deliberated on the case until 1 p.m. local time Thursday and ultimately found Daybell guilty of first-degree murder. The charges were related to the deaths of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, as well as 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, who were the children of his current wife, Lori Vallow Daybell.
In addition to being convicted of insurance fraud, he was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in his wife’s death, as well as conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft by deception in the deaths of JJ and Tylee.
Related posts
Daybell, who is 55 years old, maintains his innocence and pleads not guilty to all charges. In the event of a conviction, he may potentially face the death penalty.
During the trial, which began in early April, the jurors were presented with testimony from over 75 witnesses. The prosecutors put forth the argument that Daybell and Vallow Daybell, who were involved in an affair, conspired together in the three murders. Prosecutor Lindsey Blake emphasized that their motive for the crimes was driven by “money, power, and sex.” Additionally, the prosecutors highlighted their belief in a doomsday-focused religious ideology that categorized individuals as either “dark” or “light.” This belief system also propagated the idea of evil spirits possessing people and viewing the possessed as “zombies.”
Defense attorney John Prior contended that the late uncle of the children, Alex Cox, was responsible for their tragic murders. In support of this claim, two of Daybell’s adult children testified, highlighting their mother’s health issues. Throughout the ordeal, the Daybell children have consistently maintained their father’s innocence, as expressed in a 2021 interview with “48 Hours.”
Lori Vallow Daybell was convicted of murder in 2023, with the jury reaching a verdict within hours. As a result, she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Following her conviction, she was extradited to Arizona to face charges related to the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot in 2019 by Cox.
