REXBURG, Idaho – The lawyer representing Chad Daybell, the husband of convicted murderer Lori Vallow, has requested to withdraw from the case, according to court documents.
Daybell, 55, is facing charges for the alleged murders of his ex-wife Tammy and Vallow’s children, JJ, 7, and Tylee, 16, in 2019. The bodies of the children were found buried in Daybell’s Idaho backyard in 2020.
In a petition filed with the court, John Prior, Daybell’s lawyer, cited the complexity of the case and the need to prepare for two trials, as prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Prior stated that working on the case would require an overwhelming amount of time without compensation or necessary assistance. He also mentioned difficulties in finding a death penalty attorney and Daybell’s exhausted payment options.
Daybell and Vallow gained national attention when they went on a honeymoon to Hawaii while Vallow’s children were still missing. They initially met through the Mormon church but parted ways when Daybell began teaching more extremist apocalyptic beliefs. The children were last seen in September 2019, and Tammy Daybell was found dead in October 2019. Her cause of death was initially believed to be a heart attack but was later determined to be asphyxiation.
Daybell’s murder trial has faced several delays, including appeals for a separate trial from his wife and the emergence of DNA evidence. In December, Daybell and Prior appeared in court to discuss the death penalty and trial location. Daybell’s legal team filed a motion in November to remove the death penalty as an option, arguing that Vallow, who allegedly led the conspiracy behind the deaths, did not face the death penalty. However, Daybell waived his right to a speedy trial, while Vallow did not, which led to the death penalty remaining on the table for him.
Meanwhile, Vallow is also facing a separate trial for the murder of her ex-husband Charles Vallow. She was extradited to Arizona in November to face a conspiracy to commit murder charge in his shooting death. The judge recently ruled to release Tylee’s remains to her family, four years after her murder.
In conclusion, Chad Daybell’s lawyer has requested to withdraw from his triple murder trial due to the complexity of the case and the lack of compensation and assistance. The trial has experienced numerous delays and controversies, and Daybell’s wife, Lori Vallow, is facing her own separate murder trial. The case continues to unfold as more details emerge surrounding the deaths of Tammy Daybell and Vallow’s children, JJ and Tylee.