An Idaho judge on Saturday sentenced a man to death, two days after he was convicted of first-degree murder and other crimes in the 2019 murder of his first wife and his current wife’s two children, closing a case that drew scrutiny because of the couple’s “apocalyptic” religious beliefs.
The decision came after the jury spent more than a day deliberating during a special sentencing proceeding in the case against Chad Daybell, 55, in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho.
Earlier on Saturday, the jury had recommended the death penalty before the judge ordered a short recess to make a final sentencing decision.
As Judge Steven W. Boyce of the 7th Judicial District read his decision, Mr. Daybell sat expressionless with his hands in his lap at the defense table. The defense attorney did not have any questions when asked by the judge.
“The court will usually deal further with the defendant,” Judge Boyce said. “But in this particular sentencing process, I think the victim impact statements and the evidence that’s been demonstrated in the record, the severity of what happened.”
“I don’t see any reason to go deeper into the court’s rationale, other than what is already listed in the statute,” he added.
Idaho law requires the mandatory appointment of an attorney for a post-conviction review after a death sentence is imposed. An appeal is possible after the death warrant is filed.
The last execution in the state was in 2011, when Paul Rhoades was killed by lethal injection.
In February, there was an execution by lethal injection in Idaho has been stopped after many failed attempts to tap into the veins of the prisoner, Thomas Eugene Creech. His death warrant expired that day and he returned to his cell.
In 2023, Governor Brad Little, signed a bill allowing firing squads in the context of a nationwide shortage of drugs used for lethal injection.
Prosecutors in Mr. Daybell’s case argued that the death penalty was reasonable and pointed to aggravating circumstances. They argued that these crimes were particularly “cruel, sadistic, or heinous”; that Mr. Daybell was motivated by a desire for compensation; and that he continues to be a danger to society.
Lindsey Blake, a prosecutor, described Mr Daybell’s extreme religious claims about having visions in which he could determine whether someone was “dark” or “possessed”, in In that case, “the body must be destroyed or die”.
What he was looking for, she said, was to pursue a new life with his current partner after collecting his life insurance and other payments to be alone on the beach, “unencumbered by earthly obstacles”.
Mr. Daybell’s lawyer, John Prior, asked jurors to consider the rationale behind the original charge and found that his client was accused of espousing religious beliefs and was not motivated by money, he was also not the only suspect linked to the murder.
Even if the jury believes he killed his first wife, Mr. Prior said, “that still does not rise to the level of heinous, heinous conduct” for a death penalty case.
On Friday, relatives of the victims gave statements, often with difficulty expressing themselves. Many relatives talked about the unimaginable loss and stopped to regain composure.
“My sister was torn from our lives,” said Samantha Gwilliam, the sister of Mr. Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell.
Mrs. Gwilliam added that she should not have met a violent end, but should have spoiled her grandchildren, tended her livestock and smiled.
“I will grieve for her for the rest of my life,” she said. “Now I speak for her because she needs a voice.”
On Thursday, Mr. Daybell remained expressionless as he heard the verdict on three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception, one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder first and second degrees insurance fraud.
Prosecutors filed a complaint against Mr. Daybell and his wife in 2021, Lori Vallow Daybell, about the death of 7-year-old Joshua Vallow, known as JJ; and Tylee Ryan, 16 years old. Mr. Daybell is also charged with murder in the death of his previous wife, Tammy Daybell.
Mr. Daybell and Ms. Vallow Daybell, now 50 years old, have pleaded not guilty.
In May last year, Mrs. Vallow Daybell was convicted of murder in the deaths of her two children and conspiracy to murder her husband’s ex-wife. She has been sentenced in July with three consecutive life sentences without parole.
The couple’s religious beliefs have drawn attention from prosecutors and the public for their potential role in the case. According to the indictment, the couple “espoused and taught religious beliefs for the purpose of justifying” the children’s deaths.
One of the prosecutors, Robert H. Wood, said the killings showed “a total disregard for human life.”
Mrs. Vallow Daybell was dubbed the “Doomsday Mother” in headlines and in articles. a Lifetime documentary by that name. Mr. Daybell wrote a novel on the theme of the end of the worldAccording to the organization’s website, both Mr. and Mrs. Vallow Daybell are affiliated with an organization called Prepare a Nation, which aims to prepare its followers for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. -su Christ.
The couple married in 2019, shortly after his wife, Tammy Daybell, was found dead at her home in Idaho. At first, her death was attributed to natural causes, but after Vallow’s children disappeared, authorities began an investigation that expanded to determine her death. An autopsy later ruled that the cause was asphyxiation.
Tammy Daybell’s death occurred about a month after Mr. Daybell increased the amount of coverage on her life insurance policy.
In February 2020, Ms. Vallow Daybell was arrested in Hawaii After authorities said she had not cooperated in finding her missing children, their remains were discovered later that year on Mr. Daybell’s property in Idaho. He was arrested and charged with concealing evidence.
Emmett Lindner Report contributions.
