Chad Daybell, a former religious author and self-proclaimed visionary, was sentenced to death in June 2024 for the murders of his wife, Tammy Daybell, and two children belonging to his second wife, Lori Daybell. The killings occurred between 2019 and 2020 in Idaho, and the case gained nationwide attention due to the pair's extremist doomsday beliefs and cult-like behaviour. Lori Daybell, already serving life without parole in Idaho, was later handed additional life sentences in Arizona.
Chad Daybell: From LDS Publisher to Death Row
Before his arrest, Chad Daybell was known in certain religious circles as a publisher of Latter-day Saint (LDS)-inspired apocalyptic fiction. He claimed to have had near-death experiences that gave him visions of the end times, which he published through his own imprint, Spring Creek Books. These writings, along with public speaking engagements, helped him cultivate a small but devoted following among Christian preppers and fringe spiritualists.
Daybell's transition from obscure author to convicted murderer began when his doomsday rhetoric escalated after meeting Lori Vallow, a woman equally immersed in ideas of spiritual warfare and imminent apocalypse. He became convinced that certain people were 'dark spirits' inhabiting human bodies, including members of Lori's own family.
What Did Chad Daybell Do?
In October 2019, Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell, died unexpectedly in their home in Idaho. Her death was initially ruled natural, but authorities later exhumed her body and determined she had been asphyxiated. Weeks later, Chad married Lori Vallow, prompting suspicion from law enforcement and the public alike.
At the time, Lori's two children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old JJ Vallow, had already gone missing. After months of investigation, their remains were discovered in shallow graves on Chad Daybell's property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020. Tylee's body had been dismembered and burned, while JJ had been wrapped in plastic and duct tape.
Chad was charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and insurance fraud. During his trial, prosecutors argued that the murders were motivated by a combination of extremist beliefs and financial greed, including attempts to collect life insurance and Social Security benefits. Daybell refused to present mitigating evidence during the sentencing phase. The jury unanimously agreed on the death penalty.
Lori Daybell's Role in the Killings
Lori Daybell, formerly Lori Vallow, was a key figure in the crimes. She was previously married to Charles Vallow, who was shot and killed in 2019 by Lori's brother, Alex Cox. Prosecutors later revealed that Lori had conspired to murder Charles and stood to gain financially from his life insurance policy. She then quickly relocated to Idaho with her children and deepened her relationship with Chad.
Lori actively participated in the planning and concealment of Tylee and JJ's murders. Text messages and witness testimonies revealed that she referred to her children as 'zombies,' aligning with Chad's belief that the possessed needed to be cast out. She was convicted in Idaho in 2023 for conspiracy and murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In 2025, she was tried in Arizona for conspiring in Charles Vallow's death and the attempted murder of her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Both trials resulted in additional life sentences, effectively ensuring she will never be released. Despite representing herself in court and claiming to act out of love, the evidence painted a chilling picture of calculated, ideologically driven murder.
Doomsday Beliefs and Cult Influence
The core of the Daybells' crimes stemmed from an extremist belief system that combined LDS doctrine with their own interpretations of spiritual warfare and the end times. Chad and Lori claimed to be 'gatherers' sent to prepare for the second coming of Christ, identifying others as either 'light' or 'dark' spirits. Those deemed 'dark' were often marked for spiritual removal, a concept that prosecutors argued was a veiled justification for murder.
Though rooted in Latter-day Saint terminology, their beliefs were widely rejected by mainstream LDS members. Investigators and media outlets later described the couple's influence as cult-like, manipulating religious language to control and ultimately destroy the lives of those closest to them.
