Jurors in Boise listened to the 911 call placed by Daybell and his son Garth early one morning after they discovered Tammy had died in her sleep. “I’m Chad, the husband,” Daybell stated in the call. He informed the dispatcher, “She’s clearly dead,” and began to cry. Daybell, often described as unemotional in court, appeared uncomfortable during the call. He leaned forward and then sat back with his arms crossed. Defense attorney John Prior offered comfort by patting Daybell’s arm and providing him with tissues to wipe away tears. The call was introduced during the testimony of state witness Alyssa Greenhalgh, a Fremont County Sheriff’s deputy who responded to the Daybell residence following reports of an unattended death. Tammy, a healthy 49-year-old, was initially believed to have died from a cardiac event, but an autopsy later revealed asphyxiation as the cause of death. Just two weeks after Tammy’s death, Daybell married Lori Vallow in Hawaii. Questions about Tammy’s death arose after the disappearance of the two children and authorities investigated Daybell, Vallow, and their unusual religious beliefs. In opening statements, prosecutors alleged that Daybell’s “desire for sex, power, and money” motivated the murders. However, Prior argued that his client was manipulated by Vallow. Last year, Vallow was found guilty of the three murders and sentenced to life in prison. The trial has shed light on the strange cult beliefs shared by Daybell, Vallow, and her late brother Alex Cox. Daybell’s triple murder trial commenced on April 1 and is anticipated to continue for at least two months. If convicted, he faces the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Chad Daybell Shows Emotion as 911 Call of Wife’s Sudden Death Played in Court
