A jury in Idaho has unanimously agreed that Chad Daybell deserves the death penalty for the gruesome murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children. The 55-year-old Daybell showed no emotion upon learning his fate, facing the death penalty for the murders of Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow. The jury's decision came after deliberating for just over a day following Daybell's guilty verdict.
The case began in 2019 when a family member reported the children missing, leading to a multistate search. Nearly a year later, their remains were discovered buried on Chad Daybell's property. Prosecutors presented evidence linking Daybell to the killings, citing his promotion of unusual spiritual beliefs to justify the murders.
Relatives of the victims expressed relief at the jury's decision, calling it a form of closure. Daybell's defense attorney argued for a life sentence, suggesting another individual as the culprit, but the jury found aggravating factors that warranted the death penalty.
Idaho law allows for execution by lethal injection or firing squad, though firing squad executions have never been used in the state. The sentencing marks the end of a tragic case that has gripped the community for years.
