BOISE, Idaho — In court on Wednesday, May 1, testimony was given from several witnesses, including a married couple that was neighbors of the Daybell's when they lived here in Idaho.
The Gilbert's, Alice and Todd, both testified about Tammy Daybell's health in the weeks leading up to her untimely death. They both thought that Tammy was healthy.
There was also testimony given from the state Medical Examiner of Utah. He has retired since he performed the autopsy on Tammy Daybell, but testified about his findings during that autopsy.
The medical examiner testified that the cause of death of Tammy Daybell was asphyxiation - or lack of oxygen in the lungs. It was unclear what caused this exactly.
An insurance broker from Rexburg also testified on Wednesday, discussing Chad's quick marriage to Lori Vallow and how he never brought up Lori Vallow's children. It was later that we found out that the children were deceased at that time, but were considered missing.
The court had scheduling issues on Tuesday, resulting in taking the day off.
On Monday, the court heard testimony from a witness that was not publicly shown in court, due in part to his job. Agent Nicholas Ballance with the FBI took the stand to testify about cell phone data, as he's an expert in that field.
Other witnesses included Tammy Daybell's first and second cousins. Her first cousin, Patricia Later, became emotional during her testimony, crying at the first question asked. The second cousin, Hanna Munoz, testified about hearing different stories from Chad Daybell about how Tammy passed away.
The trial is expected to last another three to five weeks.
Live Updates:
3:27 p.m.: Court concludes for the day, as retired Det. Stubbs will take the stand again. Court will readjourn at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.
3:22 p.m.: A second bodycam footage reel is shown in court. Lori claims that Melanie, her son, and JJ were going to see Frozen 2. Police ask Lori Vallow to call her friend Melanie, and get JJ in touch with the right people. The video clip is short, and is followed by a question about what further was done that day. According to police, Melanie Gibb did not have JJ Vallow. The next step in the investigation was to get a warrant, to search the Vallow residence, Alex Cox's residence, and Melani Boudreaux's apartment.
3:13 p.m.: After the bodycam footage was shown, the police had concerns. There was no evidence of her brother trying to kill her, no evidence of Kay Woodcock trying to illegally take JJ, and no evidence of Tylee being enrolled at BYU-I. Lori Vallow claimed that JJ was with Melanie Gibb in Arizona, but Gibb was in Utah. Also, in the bodycam footage, Lori states that Chad is just Alex Cox's friend, however they were already married at that point and had been seen holding hands in surveillance footage a month before the welfare check.
3:01 p.m.: Bodycam footage is shown in court of the welfare check Stubbs and his team did for JJ Vallow. Unfortunately the sound is not coming out, minor technical issues ensue. They bring the microphone down to the computer, and hit play. The video shows Lori calmly talking to police, in a cheerful misdemeanor. She asks what's going on, and why there's a lot of police. Lori claims that her brother, not Alex Cox, was trying to kill her, so she had to move around a lot. Lori rants saying that Tylee is enrolled at BYU-I, Stubbs asks if she attends school there, Lori continues to rant about JJ without answering the question.
2:51 p.m.: Stubbs testimony continues, with him testifying about surveillance he did after Arizona police asked his team to. The purpose for the surveillance was to find a Jeep, which belonged to Tylee Ryan. Stubbs then testifies about a welfare check he completed for JJ Vallow. Lori Vallow informed the police that JJ was staying in Arizona, with Melanie Gibb. Alex Cox was in the apartment, but there was no JJ Vallow. Lori claimed at that time that the only way she knew Chad Daybell was because Alex Cox and Chad were friends.
2:37 p.m.: Court is back in session, and the next witness is being called. Detective David Stubbs, retired from the Rexburg Police Department, is taking the stand. Rob Wood is at the podium. He has been trained on cell phone forensics. Prosecutor Rob Wood is asking a great deal about Stubbs qualifications and credentials. He was involved in the JJ Vallow/Tylee Ryan case in 2019 when his office was contacted by Arizona police.
2:12 p.m.: The testimony concludes for Heather Daybell, she will not be recalled. She steps down from the witness stand. Much of her testimony was surrounding the LDS church. At this time, mid-afternoon break takes place and court will readjourn at 2:35 roughly.
2:00 p.m.: Redirect begins before a sidebar takes place. Chad shuffles some papers around and takes a gulp of water. Counsel comes back from the sidebar. The sidebar was about an evidentiary matter. Wixom asks about Chad's role in the church, and if an affair is allowed for that role.
1:37 p.m.: There's a quick standing break, as Prior hands the witness a document. She doesn't have her reading glasses, so she asks if someone can get then. Judge Boyce allows the court to have a small break, where the jury is filed out of the room. Chad stands with his hands crossed in front of him, with his head down most of the time. The break lasts about 10 minutes, coming back just have 1:45 p.m. The witness now has her glasses and has reviewed the document she'll be asked about.
1:21 p.m.: Cross examination begins for Heather Daybell. Prior asks about Heather having a conversation with Det. Mattingly in Feb. 2020. She also spoke about how Chad Daybell was doing a great deal of his writing about the end of times in the church, which made Heather uncomfortable.
1:02 p.m.: The jurors are brought back in, and court begins again. Heather Daybell is already on the stand before the jury comes in. Chad Daybell is looking down at his laptop.
11:57 a.m.: Court is going to lunch, and will be back at 1 p.m. with Heather Daybell remaining on the stand.
11:51 a.m.: After Tammy's service, there was a luncheon for Tammy. Chad was late to the luncheon, which came across as odd to Heather. At a later date, after Chad had married Lori Vallow, Heather heard that the Daybell children were struggling, so she sent a group text to the children. That resulted in Heather getting a call from Chad, where he dynamically reprimanded Heather, saying she has been a pain. During that phone call, Chad said Tammy died due to pulmonary embolism due to a 40 pound weight gain, which was false information.
11:41 a.m.: Prosecution asks a series of questions about Chad Daybell's home. They had an addition that the Daybell children would call the 'Cozy Cone'. You had to pass the master bedroom to get to the addition. Later in the testimony, they discuss the day Tammy Daybell died. Heather and her husband were in Las Vegas for a work conference when they found out. Heather was upset. "It felt very scripted," Heather Daybell said when talking about Chad Daybell informing the family of Tammy's death. Chad also did not wait for family to get home for the funeral. Heather and her husband Matt had to leave Las Vegas early, just to make it to the funeral.
11:29 a.m.: When Chad Daybell got deep into the end of times thoughts, he had approached Heather's oldest son, telling him that the son would play a role in the gathering of people at the end of times. The son was uncomfortable, so he told his mom. Heather told Chad Daybell to leave her son alone, and Chad simply said "okay". When Heather rejected Chad's beliefs, there was very little reaction from Chad, which was typical of him.
11:15 a.m.: Heather and Chad were typical bother and sister-in-laws. They weren't particularly close, but they would chat about his books with her. He started to talk more about the "end of times." The relationship changed when he started to get into the end of times, with Heather being uncomfortable with his teachings. Chad Daybell believed in the end of times pretty strongly, stating that he would be helping with the gathering of people when the end of times come. Rexburg was identified as the safe place, and Chad had a part to play in all of it.
11:06 a.m.: Heather Daybell is the next witness called. She is Chad Daybell's sister-in-law, related to each other through Chad's brother Matt Daybell. Before questioning begins, they take a quick sidebar to iron out some issues with the witness, and court rules. Heather has recently had back surgery that has impacted her ability to talk, so she may require more breaks than a usual witness. Heather has known Chad for over 30 years, as she's been married to Matt for 30 years.
11:00 a.m.: Prior asks if Chad is more of an introvert and soft spoken - his mother agrees, stating he can be. He's not a gregarious personality, states Prior. Prior also brings up that Chad and Tammy got married young, with it being the first long term relationship he was ever in before meeting Lori Vallow. It was a bit of a shock - going from Tammy as a wife to Lori as a wife. Prior asks what kind of emotions Chad Daybell was showing in the days following Tammy's passing. To Sheila, he appeared as normal as someone who just lost their partner can. Her testimony concludes. Sheila Daybell will not be recalled.
10:52 a.m.: Sheila Daybell talks about meeting Lori Vallow, which was shortly after the wedding of Chad and Lori - approximately a month after Tammy's death. Lori had stated that she had a daughter who died, but mentioned nothing of JJ Vallow, her son. Chad is staring intently at his mother while she testifies. Prosecution has no further questions, as defense takes the podium to ask Sheila a series of questions. The first line of questioning is about Sheila's other children, and their respective spouses.
10:45 a.m.: Court is back in session, after mid-morning break. The next witness is called to the stand, Sheila Daybell. Sheila is Chad Daybell's mother. The witness recalls the last time she saw her daughter-in-law, Tammy. Sheila and her husband had driven to Idaho to see Chad and Tammy, to bless a baby in the family. Sheila and her husband got to witness Tammy's health during that visit.
10:15 a.m.: Cross examination wraps, and redirect begins. Rocky Wixom takes the podium to continue the testimony of Yancey. She remembers this event vividly, due to the death of an employee and the subsequent information that came out afterwards. Her testimony concludes, and she is not going to be recalled. At this time, they will take their mid-morning 20 minute recess.
10:00 a.m.: On Tammy's insurance policy, Chad Daybell was the 100% beneficiary for Tammy Daybell. Cross examination begins, with Prior asking about the number of death certificates Chad Daybell asked for. Usually death certificates are used to prove death for all insurance policies, as well as the funeral home, etc. Prior argues that each person is different when it comes to how many death certificates they need.
9:39 a.m.: The witness testifies further about the group life insurance policy that Tamm Daybell had for her family. In 2017, Tammy began working at the school district, and Tammy opted into a life insurance policy. Prosecution admits evidence to the court that shows the payout of life insurance for Tammy Daybell. They discuss claims on the policy, the morning of October 21, 2019. Chad Daybell came into the district office that day, to ask questions about the life insurance claim. The death certificate wasn't complete yet, and it was needed to make the policy payout. Chad Daybell stated he asked for eight death certificates from the state, which came across as a bit odd to Yancey.
9:34 a.m.: Redirect occurs, and the first question is about life insurance. Kay Woodcock was the beneficiary for Charles Vallow. After a few more questions, Kay Woodcock is excused from the stand. The next witness is called, it is Angela Yancey. She was previously employed at Sugar-Salem School District, where Tammy Daybell worked. Yancey worked in insurance benefits. She worked there for 7 years, including 2017 and 2019, two key dates for Tammy's insurance benefits.
9:26 a.m.: During cross examination, Prior tries to establish a timeline of where the Vallow's lived in the years leading up to them moving to Idaho. Woodcock also talks about the Amazon search history of Charles Vallow, which Lori Vallow had taken over after Charles died. Lori Vallow was searching for wedding attire, swimsuits and other things that would be later used in her Hawaiian wedding to Chad Daybell.
9:20 a.m.: Kay Woodcock continues to testify. She discusses hiring a private investigator to help find JJ Vallow. Woodcock also went to Rexburg in Jan. of 2020, to help look for the children. The children were found six months later, in June of 2019. Prosecution wraps up direct examination, and defense attorney John Prior begins cross examination. Before beginning, Prior asks to admit some evidence to court, the evidence being beneficiary information.
9:06 a.m.: Woodcock testifies further about the last time they talked to JJ Vallow, which was August 10, 2019. Woodcock states that after Charles Vallow died, Lori Vallow became elusive and hard to get ahold of. "Any contact with us, she was limiting it" Woodcock said, referring to Lori Vallow. Lori Vallow also did not allow JJ to attend his father's funeral, making it challenging for Woodcock.
8:53 p.m.: The witness is shown a picture of Tylee Ryan, Lori Vallow's daughter. The witness identifies the picture as Tylee. Prosecution then asks if Woodcock ever had the opportunity to meet Alex Cox. She said yes.
8:45 a.m.: Kay Woodcock, who lives in Louisiana. The court is shown a picture of JJ, and prosecution asks if Woodcock recognizes him. It's her grandson, JJ. JJ was born with a different name, to Woodcock's son and his girlfriend. They were unable to care for him, so Kay took JJ in. JJ spent a great deal of time in the hospital following his birth, due to being a premature baby. He had drugs in his system at birth as well. After he was released from the hospital, he lived with Kay Woodcock and her husband. He lived there for several months. Charles Vallow, Kay Woodcock's older brother, took JJ in with his wife Lori Vallow. When JJ was adopted by the Vallow's, they changed his name. One of the rules of the adoption was that the Woodcock's would remain in JJ's life as grandparents.
8:41 a.m.: Court is called to session and the jurors are brought in for the 15th day of the trial. One of the jurors became ill, and had to excuse themselves from the trial. 17 of the jurors are present and the case will continue without that juror. Kay Woodcock, JJ Vallow's grandmother, is called to the stand.
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