Daybell jurors speak publicly about death penalty decision
Jun 5, 2024, 5:00 AM | Updated: 6:56 am
(KSL TV)
(KSL TV)
BOISE, IDAHO — Two days after a jury sentenced Chad Daybell to death for three murders, jurors spoke publicly for the first time about their death penalty decision.
“Yes, I was one of 12 people that said somebody should die,” juror Daynna Skiver said during an interview Monday with KSL 5. “I don’t think I’d be a very empathetic person if I said that didn’t weigh very heavily on me—it does—but I think it was the right decision for the heinous crimes that he committed and orchestrated.”
Daybell was convicted in the murders of former wife Tammy Daybell as well as wife Lori Vallow’s children, J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan.
Lori Vallow was also found guilty in 2023 of the murders of J.J. and Tylee as well as conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Tammy Daybell.
She was also indicted in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.
Skiver, however, said she left the trial convinced Daybell orchestrated the killings.
“You knew that he was the planner, the puppet master,” Skiver said. “He was leading everybody.”
Skiver said she saw photos and heard testimony that she will never forget. She struggles to contemplate what happened to the victims, including J.J.
“I think about those poor children and that poor J.J.,” Skiver said as she turned emotional. “His mind trusting a human being more than anybody in the world and here they are doing this to you.”
Alternate juror Lori Horne was present for the entirety of the two-month trial. She said the roughest day was the day jurors heard impact statements from family before sentencing.
