Chad Daybell

Chad Guy Daybell (born August 11, 1968, Provo, Utah) married Tamara "Tammy" Douglas (May 4, 1970 – October 19, 2019) in Manti, Utah, on March 9, 1990.

He graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1992 with a B.A. in journalism and worked for a time as a copy editor for a daily newspaper.

At various times during and after his studies, he supported himself by working as a cemetery sexton, or gravedigger.

His first religious-themed fiction book, An Errand for Emma, was published in 1999.

Chad eventually left his job at the cemetery to focus on his writing.

By the end of the 2000s, the Daybells faced financial problems.

At that time, Chad's publishing business guaranteed an annual income of approximately $2,000.

Both spouses had to work part-time to supplement that income, with Chad being employed again as a cemetery sexton.

Eventually, Chad salvaged his company and found an audience among people concerned by the Second Coming of Christ.

He published several other authors, notably end-of-days clairvoyant Julie Rowe.

In 2001, he published One foot in the grave, a non-fiction book which chronicled his experiences working in cemeteries.

Tylee Ashlyn Ryan (September 24, 2002 – c. September 9, 2019) and Joshua Jaxon "J. J." Vallow (May 25, 2012 – c. September 23, 2019) were two American children from Chandler, Arizona, who disappeared in September 2019, later being found buried in shallow graves in Rexburg, Idaho, on June 9, 2020.

Their remains were located in the backyard of Chad Daybell, who was their mother's lover at the time of their death and had become her husband by the time their bodies were found.

In 2004, Chad founded Spring Creek Book Company, which he used to self-publish his beliefs regarding end times and other religious books.

His partner in this venture was a man identified in media only by the name Douglas, a graphic artist and manager.

Chad published dozens of fiction and non-fiction books, aimed at a Latter Day Saint audience.

His novels often depicted apocalyptic situations and dystopian futures, and featured characters based on his own family.

Chad claimed that he had had two near-death experiences, which allowed him to receive supernatural visions.

He commented: "I don't fictionalize any of the events portrayed [in my books]. I'm really not that creative… My torn veil allows information to be downloaded into my brain from the other side. The scenes I am shown are real events that will happen."

Chad and Tammy had five children: Garth, Emma, Seth, Leah, and Mark.

Suzanne Freeman, another author published by Chad Daybell, later said that his religious views had radicalized during the 2010s, that his books had become less focused on Latter Day Saint teachings, and that she had stopped working with him after becoming convinced that his beliefs about the coming Apocalypse were dangerous.

In 2015, Chad claimed he heard a voice telling him to relocate to Rexburg, Idaho.

Tylee was last seen alive at Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019, while her younger adopted brother J.J. was last seen alive on September 22, 2019.

In November 2019, police questioned the children's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, about the children's whereabouts and welfare.

Lori and her husband, Chad Guy Daybell, claimed that J.J. was staying with family friend Melanie Gibb in Arizona, their previous residence before moving to Idaho in early September 2019.

However, Gibb later denied this claim.

As police searched for J.J., they discovered that Tylee was also missing.

Amid the disappearances was a string of suspicious deaths.

Lori's estranged fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed in July 2019 by Lori's brother, Alexander Cox, who claimed self-defense; Cox later died in December 2019 due to a blood clot.

In October 2019, Brandon Boudreaux, the then-estranged husband of Lori's niece, was shot at from a vehicle registered to Charles Vallow.

That same month, Tammy Daybell, Chad's wife, was attacked in her driveway and died 10 days later on October 19 under what was initially recorded as 'natural causes'.

After Chad and Lori's marriage, Tammy's body was exhumed by law enforcement officials, revealing that she had been asphyxiated.

On February 20, 2020, Lori was arrested in Kauai, Hawaii, and charged with desertion and non-support of her children.

She was extradited to Idaho and transported there on March 5, 2020.

On June 9, 2020, police discovered the remains of Tylee and J.J. during a search at Chad's home.

Chad was arrested later that day on charges of destruction or concealment of evidence.

On May 25, 2021, Lori and Chad were charged with the first-degree murders of Tylee, J.J., and Tammy.

On May 12, 2023, Lori was found guilty of all charges related to the killing of her children.

On July 31, 2023, Lori was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

She has also been charged in Arizona related to the death of Charles Vallow and the shooting of Brandon Boudreaux.