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BOISE — Jurors in the Chad Daybell murder trial heard testimony Tuesday about his Google searches and text messages sent in the months before two suspicious deaths occurred. Prosecutors say the communications show that Chad Daybell's wife, Tammy Daybell, and Lori Vallow Daybell's then-husband, Charles Vallow, would not be around for long.
Chad Daybell is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Lori Daybell's children — 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan — and in the death of Tammy Daybell in late 2019. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of each of the victims, grand theft and two counts of insurance fraud.
Nicole Heideman, an FBI tactical specialist, testified Tuesday about Google searches made by Lori Daybell and Chad Daybell's devices since the beginning of October 2019.
She said Chad Daybell's account contained searches for "Ned Schneider." Heideman testified that the couple believed Charles Vallow was possessed by "Ned Schneider" and later "Hiplos," another name they called her former husband in reference to a dark spirit or demon.
Both Lori Daybell and Chad Daybell searched for malachite jewelry — Lori Daybell specifically for malachite wedding bands — while Tammy Daybell was still alive, and for wedding dresses in Kauai on the day of Tammy Daybell's funeral, Heideman said.
Searches for "ssw wind" and "what is the definition of ssw direction" were made on Chad Daybell's account the day Tylee was last seen alive. Heideman said Tylee was buried on Chad Daybell's property the next day.
The tactical specialist also testified about searches made on Lori Daybell's account for children's life insurance policies about a month before her children were killed, though there is no evidence a policy was obtained. Lori Daybell also made searches about selling a service dog, which JJ had, almost two months before his death.
The same account had a search for removing the back seat of a Jeep Wrangler, which was Tylee's car, days before the attempted shooting of Brandon Boudreaux, Lori Daybell's nephew-in-law, according to Heideman. The attempt led police in Gilbert, Arizona, to begin looking for Tylee's Jeep, which witnesses said was used in the shooting.
Lori Vallow Daybell indicted on another murder conspiracy charge
In May 2023, Lori Vallow Daybell was indicted by a grand jury for conspiracy to commit the murder of Brandon Boudreaux.Lori Daybell's account also contained a search for news in Gilbert, Arizona, on Oct. 2, the day of the shooting, she said.
During Heideman's cross-examination, defense attorney John Prior asked her whether others who were around during the time JJ was killed had their search histories analyzed, listing several other people who were in Lori Daybell's home that night. Heideman said she was not aware of any search warrants for the others.
In response to Prior's questions, Heideman also said she could not verify what device the searches were made on or who made them, just that it was someone with access to the accounts.
Prior asked Heideman whether a better motive for killing the children would be a religious motivation by one of the members of Daybell's religious group, or to cover up the murder of Charles Vallow — implying that Lori Daybell and her brother Alex Cox had better motivations than Chad Daybell.
This question was not answered due to an objection from prosecutors, which was granted by the judge.
'The truth needs to be shown'
Nathan Duncan, a detective with the Chandler Police Department in Arizona, testified about documenting the crime scene in then-Lori Vallow's home after Charles Vallow was shot and killed, as well as communications surrounding Charles Vallow's death.
He said Cox reported he had shot his brother-in-law in self-defense.
Duncan said there was not a lot of blood near the body, which did not match with Cox's reports that he had done CPR. He also said the evidence showed Vallow was shot twice, once when he was standing and once when he was on the floor.
Chad Daybell is not charged with being involved in the death of Charles Vallow, which occurred in Arizona in July 2019. Lori Daybell is currently facing charges of conspiracy to murder her former husband and attempting to kill Boudreaux. Cox died of what investigators determined was natural causes before any charges were filed against him.
Duncan also testified about communications found on Charles Vallow's phone showing he knew about his wife's affair with Chad Daybell.
In the messages, Charles Vallow confronts his wife about a letter that appears to be from him and he invites Chad Daybell to come stay with their family a second time to help him write a book. Duncan said the letter appeared to be an excuse for Chad Daybell to visit then-Lori Vallow.
Duncan said Charles Vallow reached out to Tammy Daybell after finding the letter, telling her he has "definitive proof" their spouses were having an affair. Charles Vallow said, "It's devastating I know but the truth needs to be shown."
Charles Vallow also sent an email around the same time to his wife, telling her, "There really is something wrong with you." He told his wife he knew of her infidelity and said he deserved an apology.
"Lying has become second nature to you," he told her. "We have a son to raise but that's all we have in common."
Charles Vallow also confronted Chad Daybell about the email claiming to be from him, telling him it was "preposterous."
Duncan testified about messages between Lori Vallow and Cox speaking about "Ned" and whether he was "gone yet." He said detectives found in their investigation that Charles Vallow may have been killed because they believed he had a dark spirit.
Chad Daybell senses a 'permanent change'
Duncan said he never saw any indications of grief in any messages following Charles Vallow's death, and even showed one message from Chad Daybell calling the death "such a relief."
He spoke about audio where Chad Daybell called an Arizona mortuary to ask about the cost of burying his "uncle" shortly after Charles Vallow's death.
Duncan testified about messages between Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, sent seven days after Charles Vallow was killed, discussing Charles Vallow's life insurance policy. The messages show she thought the money would be coming to her but the beneficiary had been changed.
Duncan showed a text message from Chad Daybell to Lori Vallow saying he feels like Harry Potter living under the Dursleys' stairs, but every few weeks he "can escape and have amazing adventures with (his) goddess lover." In the message he said, "I sense permanent change is coming."
Another message shows Chad Daybell talking about evaluating the "death percentages" for his wife like they used with Charles Vallow. Chad Daybell called Tammy Daybell's death percentage "encouraging" since Charles Vallow's death.
Duncan also testified about a "patriarchal blessing" given by Chad Daybell to Alex Cox on Nov. 24, 2019, through Chad Daybell's "Church of the Firstborn." He said what stood out to him was the comment to Cox that "you have already assisted us in ways that can never be repaid."
In the "blessing," Chad Daybell tells Cox he is a prophet and a hero, and that he chose to come to this earth after already being exalted in a previous world. Chad Daybell also said he will gather children in his arms, "saving them from flood waters."
The blessing was given after the deaths of Tylee, JJ and Tammy Daybell and about two weeks before Cox's death.
Social Security benefits
The final testimony given Tuesday was by Mark Saari, a special agent who investigates fraud for the Social Security Administration. He spoke about Social Security benefits awarded to Tylee and JJ.
He said the FBI asked them to look into the payments in January 2020 as part of the effort to find the missing children and they decided to stop all payments because the children were missing. Tylee received $1,859 each month, and had since her father died in 2013.
JJ also received benefits of $1,951 each month after his father died in July 2019, and Lori Daybell also received benefits for caring for JJ, Saari said.
Prior asked Saari whether Chad Daybell would have had any obligation like Lori Daybell did to report their marriage or that the children had moved or died. Saari said if he knew, there was an obligation to report it.
Rexburg police detective Chuck Kunsaitis is expected to be the first witness on Wednesday morning.
Monday testimony:
