BOISE, Idaho – Chad Daybell, the man accused of killing his first wife and aiding convicted murderer Lori Vallow in the killing of two of her children, is seeking a new attorney for his case. The request comes as Daybell faces charges of murder and conspiracy in the deaths of his wife Tammy Daybell, as well as Vallow’s seven-year-old son JJ Vallow and 16-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan. Daybell also faces counts of insurance fraud related to Tammy’s murder.
Prosecutors allege that Daybell and Vallow planned the murders of their family members in late 2019 and later married in Hawaii. Authorities believe their shared beliefs in a doomsday cult played a central role in the crimes. Now, Daybell’s attorney John Prior has filed a motion to withdraw from the case, citing the extensive time commitment and lack of compensation.
According to the motion, Daybell is unable to pay for legal representation, and the court previously deemed him indigent, entitling him to court-appointed counsel. Prior has requested that two qualified public defenders be assigned to represent Daybell. Despite reaching out to another attorney interested in taking over the case, Prior’s request for the attorney to be qualified as a public defender in a capital punishment case is still pending approval from the Public Defense Commission.
While the trial is scheduled to begin in April in Ada County, the recent developments surrounding Daybell’s legal representation may potentially cause delays. It remains to be seen how this change in counsel will affect the proceedings.
To recap, Chad Daybell, accused of murder and conspiracy in connection with the deaths of his wife and two of Lori Vallow’s children, has requested a new attorney for his case. Daybell’s previous attorney has asked to withdraw, citing the extensive time commitment and lack of compensation. Daybell is indigent and entitled to court-appointed representation, and his attorney has requested two public defenders to take over the case. The trial is set to begin in April, but any potential delays due to the change in legal counsel are yet to be determined.