Opening statements given by defense and prosecution in Daybell trial, defense attorney says Daybell children will testify
Apr 11, 2024, 6:30 AM | Updated: 8:03 am
(Post Register/ John Roark, POOL)
SALT LAKE CITY — The prosecution and defense shared opening statements Wednesday in the trial of Chad Daybell, a man who is accused of murdering three people.
Chad Daybell is charged with the first-degree murder of his first wife Tammy Douglas Daybell, and his two stepchildren, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan.
Chad Daybell is married to Lori Vallow Daybell. who was convicted of six felonies last summer involving the deaths of her two children and conspiring to murder Chad Daybell’s late wife, Tammy Daybell.
The prosecution
Rob Wood, Madison County prosecutor presented Chad Daybell as a man seeking “money, power, and sex.”
“Two dead children buried in defendant Chad Daybell’s backyard. Next month, wife found dead in marital bed,” Wood said.
Wood outlined a timeline of events using a powerpoint with photos of the people involved. It began with one of the last known photos of Tylee and JJ, while Wood described the events in “chapters.”
Chapter one he explained was the desire for money, power, and sex. Next, the ordinary existence was not enough so “they created an alternate reality in which they named themselves James and Elena,” Wood said.