Hidden True Crime - CHAD DAYBELL TRIAL: Death Penalty Sentencing Phase & Victim Impact Statements

Episode Date: June 6, 2024

Victim Impact Statements were read for the jury before they headed to deliberate on whether or not Chad Daybell would be sentenced to death or given life in prison. The defense presented no mitigating factors, and Chad Daybell waived his right to give an Allocution Statement. Join Hidden True Crime as we follow Chad Daybell's trial from beginning to end. Host Lauren Matthias is in the courtroom daily, doing lunch lives on YouTube and summarizing each day and week right here on Hidden: A True Crime Podcast. Lauren Matthias was a television reporter for a decade and has followed the Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell case since 2019. She and her husband, Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, started Hidden True Crime in 2020 with their Season, 'Beyond the Veil,' a psychological deep dive into the doomsday murders and prophet. What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a forensic psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime Our Sponsors:* Check out Acorns: https://acorns.com/HIDDENTRUECRIME* Check out Acorns: https://acorns.com/HIDDENTRUECRIME* Check out Armoire and use my code HIDDENTRUECRIME for a great deal: https://www.armoire.style* Check out Effecty and use my code HIDDENTRUECRIME for a great deal: https://www.effecty.com* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code HIDDENTRUECRIME for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/hidden-a-true-crime-podcast1836/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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That was a heartbreaking day to day. The jury is deliberating on whether or not to sentence Chad Daybilt to death after hearing multiple, multiple victim impact statements. We go in Tammy Daybell's entire family is there. And for those of you that have been following this case for a long time, you know just how private Tammy's family has been. They haven't made a lot of media appearances. They requested in a statement asking for justice swiftly, you know, after the children's

bodies were found, that they wanted to. be able to be able to mourn and grieve in privacy. All of them were there today. And by them, I do not mean Tammy's children. Chad and Tammy's children were not there. Nobody from Chad's family was there either. And this was a really big day for victim impact statements and for Chad Daybill sentencing. But Chad's family was not there.

But Tammy's siblings, her brothers and her sister Samantha were there as well as their spouses as well as her father, Ron. Her mother, Phyllis, died shortly after Lori Vallow was found guilty of murdering Tammy Debao. And so Ron was there, Ron Douglas. Absolutely the most emotional day in court. Everyone was crying. I cried. Prosecution team was crying. Somebody told me they saw Judge Boyce wiping a tear. Somebody mentioned that Ingrid Beatty, who never cries, shed a tear.

You could hear the entire gallery sort of weeping when you heard how so many lives were affected by Chad Daybell's crimes. And hearing from each one of Tammy's siblings was heartbreaking.

Colby, Colby was Colby brought me to tears that one was very hard for me and I think just because knowing as he stood up there and said it he lost his entire family he's fatherless, he's motherless, he's brotherless,

he's sisterless and Kelsey was with him his wife and she cried there and it broke my heart. Colby, could you state your full name and spell your last name? Colby Ryan, R-Y-A-N. Are you here to talk about Tiley and JJ today? Yes.

How are you related to Tiley and JJ? Tiley is my little sister and J.J. is my little brother. Did you prepare a statement to read today? Yes. Would you like to read that now? Yes. Go ahead. It is very hard for me.

Very hard for me to put into words what it means to have lost my entire family. I lost the ability to watch Tiley and JJ grow up. I lost my relationship with my little brother, which took years to build. It's okay if you need a moment. Take a moment if you need to. It's all right. It took years to build to even have him be able to look us in the eyes. I lost the ability.

Sit with my little sister and talk and share our lives. Swin short, I lost everything I've ever known. I lost the ability. to share my children with them, or have my children have the privilege to know them and be loved by them. My three kids will never know the kindness of Tyler's heart or JJ's silly and goofy personality. But more importantly, Tiley and JJ lost their lives. Piley will never be able to travel like she always wanted to or have a family of our own or find herself in this world. JJ will never be able to spread his love or his light around the world the way he used to.

The only way I could describe the impact of their lives being lost is like a nuclear bomb dropping. I will never be able to share her gifts with the world or have all the people who love her get to hear her incredible laugh. Sorry. JJ will never get to grow up and share his. is one of a kind personality with the world. And everyone who's lost him feels the boy. It's not an overstatement to say that I lost everything. But more importantly, we all lost Tiley and JJ.

I stand here today. Motherless, fatherless, sisterless and brotherless, the only course forward is to trust in Christ, knowing that he has them in his arms and wait for the day that we all meet again. I pray for all of you

who have bleeding hearts. Thank you. Kay Woodcock's heart wrenching. Miss Woodcock, we know you've already testified in this case, but can you remind the jury which victim you were related to? I am related to JJ Valo.

He was my grandson, and Tiley, Ryan, is my step-niece. Today is an incredibly difficult and bittersweet day. I am filled with pride as I remember and speak about what an amazing grandson we had and grief-stricken at speaking about how devastated I am and his loss. I stand here today. Well, I sit here today. try and explain the immense pain that me and everyone in my family continues to endure daily. But how do I do that?

What words carry the strength and impact to really ensure you feel the joy and love that JJ created and the impact of his death? There aren't any. No words can truly describe and fully demonstrate the depth of pain his death has created in our hearts and our lives. The loss of a grandchild is immensely painful under normal circumstances for any grandparent. The death of a grandchild at the hands of another brings pain that is indescribable. If you remember, JJ was born with the name Canaan Todd Trahan. He was born May 25, 2012.

He would have celebrated his 12th birthday just a few short days ago. I will call him Canaan while I talk about his first year of life because that is who he was then. He was born a fighter, 10 weeks premature, weighing in at a tiny but mighty 2 pounds and 14 ounces. For minutes of being born, he was transferred to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit where he spent weeks fighting to grow. He was about two hours old when I saw him for the first time. Seeing him, I knew he was my grandson. He was the mirror image of my son, Todd, his biological father. Todd has always loved him and always will. Canaan's death has changed his life forever. While he was in the NICU, I was only able to see him for a few minutes at a time until I was

notified he would be released to us within days. 25 years since I had a new baby at home and never a preemie with all their special needs. Larry and I didn't hesitate immediately. We said yes. The only place we wanted him to be was home with us. The night before he was discharged, I spent the night in a little room next to the NICU talking to nurses and learning things that our little preemie grandbaby would need. The next day, it was time to leave. The nurse brought a wheelchair in and said, have a seat. We'll get you out of here. I looked at her, perplexed. I said, I don't need a wheelchair. I can walk. She let me know that it was hospital policy. I sat in the wheelchair, took Canaan in my arms, and was wheeled out of the hospital like a new

mama. I felt so much pride for this little baby who had not only overcome being born 10 weeks early, but also being born with illicit substance in his tiny little body. He was ready to come home well before he was expecting. before he was expected and my pride in him knew no bounds. We knew then that he was a champion and so special. That day began an amazing experience of raising our cherished little man.

While Canaan had been in the NICU, he spent much time hooked up to machines and monitors that he didn't get to get snuggled all day every day like a typical newborn. The noises and routines of the NICU were gone and it was such a huge change for him. him. His first night home, I bathed him. He cried so hard, and I cried along with him. My heart was so heavy with the disadvantages he was experiencing through no choice of his own. My husband Larry,

who is Pawpaw, asked me to give Canaan to him. He placed Canaan on his bare chest and wrapped his robe around him, gently breathing on his head until he stopped crying and fell asleep. It became a daily occurrence, part of our routine. He would hold him for hours so Canaan would feel loved, comforted, and secure. I saw my husband in a new light, seeing what type of daddy he was to a newborn. It was like Canaan made it, made us young newlyweds. Larry jumped in feet first and did all the things a new father should and more. It made our relationship grow and gave us new strength.

Canaan was our strength, and we were his. his comfort. His first six months, we went to countless doctor appointments for his host of medical problems. We went to appointments with doctors for his heart, kidney, urology problems, speech, occupational therapists, and regular pediatricians for the things that every baby does. We were always on the move, going from one doctor to another, constantly working to ensure he thrived and grew. That along with loving him was our number one priority. At each appointment, it was pretty much guaranteed I would cry. It hurts so badly to see everything he was experiencing,

not only from being born prematurely with drugs in his system, the decision was made to place Canaan with Charles and Lori after they approached us with their desire to have a child of their own. We agonized over the decision but knew from our past interaction with them that it was the right one. Charles and Lori were granted custody. A few short months later, it was then Canaan became JJ.

It was happy and devastating at the same time. We loved raising him. We gave all our love and energy, ensuring he grew, thrived, and knew what unconditional love. That time was priceless and as growth in milestones were evidence of our love for him.

But we knew this was the best decision for his future, to have siblings and access to the type of schools and services we didn't have available in Lake Charles. When he left, I felt a grief that can only be compared to the grief of losing someone to death, which is now a feeling we all know too well. We barely made it 30 days before we were standing on Charles' steps ready to love on our baby. When the door opened, there he was, and his little baby walker, I saw tears in the his eyes at seeing us right along with the huge toothless grin, it was clear that he missed us too. Before I could take a step, Larry swooped him up in his arms and at 11 months old, he wrapped

his tiny arms around Larry, laying his head on him. The connection was still so strong. We never lost that special connection with our sweet little man, and we were always his love, comfort, and safety. It is so crushing that his energy and adventures. Oh, goodness. Wait, hang on. I made it a few months before I had to get to my JJ. So in November of 2014, I made my first trip to Hawaii, quickly returning once again in December with Larry. We would visit about every four to five months

because it was such a long trip to Hawaii from Louisiana. One, we were happy to make, and we stayed for as long as possible, normally 10 to 14 days. We needed to soak up as much JJ time as we could. I remember one trip in the winter of 2015. J.J. stayed home with me while Charles and Lori went to church. I was making a big pot of gumbo. I had to bring a little bit of Louisiana to Charles, and J.J. was excited to help me.

We pulled up a stool, and he poured in ingredient after ingredient. I can still see him standing next to me intently pouring chicken broth in the pot. Afterwards, he climbed on the counter and just watched, taking it all in. It is a memory that I will always cherish and dearly hold on to. During our visits, Charles or Lori would comment on how JJ would do things with us that were a stark contrast for them. He always awoke at the crack of dawn, never sleeping any later. When visiting, we would have JJ sleep with us. He would sleep until 9 or 10 o'clock, which astonished them.

There was never a doubt. He had an innate and unbroken attachment to us. Each visit, no matter where they live, Lori, always. always expressed her deep appreciation that we gave them the greatest gift ever. That is just one part of why this causes so much pain. It is a betrayal that can't be explained. JJ was incredibly smart. He was reading on a middle school level by the time he was four.

I remember being in a store with him on the aisle with eyedrops. And there he was reading off the labels, vizine, sustain, antihistamine, one long word after another, I hadn't seen him do that before and I was blown away. He was brilliant. He would occasionally stumble on a syllable, but we took the time to go through and help him figure it out. But wow, the amount of awe I was in still makes me smile and feel the same pride I did that day. As he got a little older, he was enrolled in a private academy in Arizona, which focused on every aspect of educating and empowering children like JJ. He loved his school and they loved him.

It was there where it was discovered another level of brilliance JJ possessed. I remember when Charles told us he was a math savant. He could calculate anything. I continually wonder what he would have become, what type of man would he have become? Not only was JJ smart, but he was also. so fun, a very contented child, healthy, compassionate, and empathetic. JJ didn't show his empathy and compassion with hugs and kisses.

In fact, you had to chase him down for those kisses. Instead, he showed his empathy and compassion with general touches and soft tones when he spoke. He would constantly stop to ask people if they were okay, if he could see they were hurt. His world was fascinating and exciting due to his. his huge imagination. He would put on concerts for his stuffed animals under our enormous tree, playing the drums on buckets, pots, and pans. The joy he exuded and shared can't be measured. I loved watching him, taking him in, and seeing how he approached the world. I never got enough of him. Now I've had all of will for the rest of my life and only have memories. When Charles and Lori

married, Tiley was three years old. She was the most precious blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl. Tiley was an absolute mama's girl, which there was never a doubt. I was thrilled to have a new niece, especially one as sweet as her. Larry and I were driving to Austin, Texas, to visit them on one of many visits, and we passed a roadside stand selling swings made from old tires. I saw one that was a horse complete with a saddle and stirrups. I grabbed Larry's arm and said, stop.

We have to get that for Tiley. Her brother Colby and stepbrothers, Cole, and Zach were always around her. She needed something just for her, and she loved it. Tyler was nine years old when JJ became her little brother. She loved him so incredibly much, and he loved her right back. She doted on him, and he loved every minute of attention he got from his big sister. That love is displayed in the last photo taken of them together at Yellowstone, both grinning and hugging each other.

As a big sister, Kylie would put notes on her bedroom door, one being, do not enter, as you can assume, even though JJ could read and interpret words and their meanings,

it didn't mean he listened. After all, isn't that what little brothers do? He would burst into her room. She would laugh, tease, and tell him to get out. I think she did it on purpose just to joke and play with them. It was hilarious to see them interact

and warmed our hearts, seeing them together. JJ adored our niece Maddie. On her eighth birthday in October of 2020, we were celebrating and singing, happy birthday to her. The glow of the candles shining on her face, the huge grin that kids get during the singing

hit me like a truck. I took the keys from Larry and went to the car and just bawled until I could compose myself enough to rejoin the party. It was the moment I knew that JJ didn't get his eighth birthday song and it broke me. It was just so wrong. He didn't get to have that joy and feeling of love and celebration of his birthday.

It is now a grief that we are confronted with yearly. A stark and blaring reminder that we are never going to be able to celebrate that joy with him again. We never know when one of those moments will hit, but I can tell you there have been too many situations in the past few years where we were slammed with the fact that JJ won't hit another milestone. JJ loved school, loved his family's friends and cousins, especially his cousin, Braxie, Brandon Boudreau's oldest son. Those two had such a special bond and love for each other.

There were so many lives he touched that filled the immense pain and loss of him being gone. Four of our grandchildren near JJ's age often tell us how they love and miss. him. It is heartbreaking to have a conversation with an 11 or 12 year old. How do you make them feel okay about it or safe? So yes, this is our life now, trying to comfort our other grandchildren while they try to comfort us. The constant question remains, who would he have become? What kind of man would he have been? Would he be a famous scientist with incredible mass skills? Would he be, what would his amazing imagination have bloomed into? Would he have been the next Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs,

Tim Burton, Elon Musk? We will never know. But we do know how incredibly special he was to us and now to countless others just by looking around this room. I can't express just how much I wish I could have more time to create memories with him and with charts. there is a hole in my heart and the hearts

of every member of my family that can never be filled and will remain for the rest of my life. Thank you. Ron Douglas, Tammy DeBell's father, his was short. It was very short, but it was profound.

And he said that he was so glad that Tammy DeBell was buried alone in Utah. In other words, Chad made sure to, you know, bury his wife, a state away and not put his name on the gravestone. And he never will have his name on the gravestone. And to say that he was grateful that she would be buried alone certainly implied his message and got it across. Would you please state your name for the record? Ron Douglas, that's D-O-U-G-L-A-S.

Mr. Douglas, which victim in this matter are you related to? I am Tammy's father. Before moving to Idaho, she lived one block away. It was difficult for us when she moved. We'd had daily interactions with her and the children. After they moved, we drove to see them. for all of the children's weddings and graduations. Our last visit in Idaho with them was in March of 2020.

My wife made me promise to return and visit the kids after she passed away. My wife passed away last June. The tragedy of the case has harmed our family's relationship with the kids. I will remain open to rebuilding a relationship with them. It makes me angry, and it destroys me to know Tammy was treated how she was. I find it comforting to know that Tammy is resting peacefully in Utah, buried alone, and near her beloved mother. Thank you, Mr. Douglas. Matt and Mike Douglas, Tammy's brothers, both gave heart-wrenching accounts. Can you please state your full name and then spell your last name? It's Matthew

Ronald Douglas, DOU, G-L-A-S. Would you tell the jury who you're here to talk about today? I'm here to talk about my sister, Tammy. Larry and Kay and all of your family, for me and my and our hearts have hurt with you. As I've seen yours hurt with ours over Tammy, we've been grateful to the fact without your tireless love for those children. Would we even be here now? And you've been a voice for my sister when often others wouldn't have. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Douglas, can you state your name and spell it for the record? Benjamin Douglas, I am Tammy Daybell's youngest brother. October 10th, 2019, I became a father of twins after years of my wife, Kelsey and I struggling to have children.

We started the current chapter of our life. Just nine days later, on Saturday, October 19th, 2019, exhausted as a parent to newborn twins is, I received a phone call from my sister Samantha informing that our sister Tammy had passed away overnight. I was in shock and physically unable to move out of that bed for hours after, sobbing and one wondering why this had. I had seen her just a few weeks previous when she stopped by our home alongside my parents, bringing gifts for the twins and excitedly saying that she had been hoping they'd show up in time for her visit. My children only know their Aunt Tammy from pictures, stories, and grave marker that they frequently request to visit.

They only know their dad as someone dealing with great amounts of grief and anxiety, and I only know how to parent as someone fighting through tidal waves of loss, media coverage, text, phone calls, and at-home visits from reporters. The amount of sleepless nights I've had from raising twins pales in comparison to the nights I've been kept awake by nightmares of someone close to me hurting my children. The amount of damage, having trust that was built over decades of family time, completely broken, does to an individual as unmeasurable. The pain of not just losing your sibling, but to have their children, my nieces and nephews,

completely alter their relationships with me as excruciating and a lasting hurt. Instead of there being a collective healing and grieving process, there is still ongoing damage and pain. Where there should be love and comfort from close family bonds, there are now major fractures that I can only hope will one day mend and be made whole. I miss sharing our birthday month, which now feels hollow and empty. I miss my sister. Thank you. You can inquire, Ms. Flig. Thank you.

Would you please state your name for the record? Michael, Douglas. And are you related to a victim in this matter? I am. And who is that? Tammy. How are you related to Tammy? I am Tammy's sibling.

I am Tammy's older brother and the oldest of the Douglas siblings. My experience and the impact this has had on me has been profound. The day Tammy was killed, I received a phone call, and I looked down to see Samantha's name, and I answered the phone. Good morning. Samantha said, it's not going to be. It turns out she was right. I was in shock, and after the funeral, I drove to Idaho the next morning to be at her Idaho Memorial. When I left, I called my wife and told her something. thing was off. I tried to keep everyone from jumping to conclusions, mostly myself. I probably should have done more jumping. When we heard about the marriage, we were given a false date to lead us to

believe that it had not been only two weeks. Then we found out the real date. I had received a call for my Aunt Vicky and my cousin, Julie, encouraging me to pursue an autopsy. I told them I couldn't because I was doing everything I could to keep my mom and dad alive. When we found out about the exhumation, I hoped that there was nothing to be found and never wanted someone to be more wrong than I wanted Aunt Vicky to be wrong, but it was me that was wrong again.

All of us were devastated by the exhumation, but especially my mother, she saw the exhumation as a desecration of Tammy's grave site. Once Tammy was reinterred, my mom asked that we would meet again at the gravesite, and we did so, and held a family service, and then received a phone call from my mother indicating that there were two missing children. I remember where I was, what I was doing, and the exact feeling of, oh, please no, please don't let this be so. My heart sank, and I said to my mom, Mom had told us they were empty nesters.

Surely this is a mistake. Not anything to worry about. Maybe they haven't been hiding. Maybe there's something else going on. Oh, I was wrong again. People would come up and ask if the kids had been found yet when they would see me in public. The stress and anxiety grew. And then the day came that the children were found.

I broke. into more pieces than I can help. I was at work. He began crying hysterically and had to be rushed into an office. I was surrounded by people that had figured out that this was coming long before I did. Hope was lost. I went into therapy, both talk and medicinal. My blood pressure went so high that my doctor prescribed something he'd only done

three times previous in his long career. He was afraid I was having a stroke right there in the office and had an ambulance on standby in case I did so. When I learned of the results of the autopsy, I did not sleep for six weeks. The nightmare fodder that I had been provided will last me a lifetime. My insurance rates have skyrocketed due to the medications I started on right after the children were found,

and I'm now ineligible for certain. coverages. As the Big Brother, I felt and I feel like a failure. I failed to protect Tammy. I looked for a silver lining as we do as big brothers

trying to set up some kind of win and none to be found. For the first time in my life, I was unable to function at the level I always had. Work, family, God, all of my relationships suffered. I had to be told by my therapist that I had already lost, that I would not find a win.

I have mostly come to terms with that, but the loss is still so very raw. I now have an angry part that has become hopefully not a permanent part of me. People that have known me most of my life don't know who I am. They don't know what I'm going. through because they are not the big brother whose sister was killed. I cannot tell you what my dad or siblings have suffered because I did not lose a child or an older sibling. The grief and suffering is unique to each of us, but has driven wedges of misunderstanding. If this were radioactivity we were dealing with, I would look to the half-life to see when the pain and

suffering might stop. The half-life of this experience will cover generations and many lifetimes. The scarring continues and the painful things keep happening. I have likened it to being in a slow-motion train crash these past four and a half years. Watching loved ones and myself, as well as total strangers, caught up into disaster, continuing to be pummeled with no end in sight. Today, hopefully, that train wreck loses momentum and finally comes to a screeching halt. I helped to found a charity to honor Tammy's legacy and to keep her memory alive.

We named it after her, and I have had many suggest that the name Daybill should not be there. That was her name. That was and is her children's names and her grandchildren's names. and will continue to be. We have strived to stay out of the public eye, to not do media requests, to not speak publicly about this, because we have attempted

to continue our relationships with Tammy's children, to be able to have relationships with her grandchildren, all of their families. We love them and care for them, but there has been an alien, nation that is as painful as losing Tammy. We have relatives, children that have joined the family, that we have not been allowed to meet due to this train wreck that you're all part of.

I have been robbed of the opportunity of growing old with my little sister. Being grandparents together and teasing each other into old age, I have had my peace stolen. and I have to fight every day to be patient and kind with others and myself. I have had some that have seen my wounds and have attempted to exploit this time of anguish for their personal gain. This train wreck has brought out much good in many, but has fostered much evil in others. I have lost a large portion of my income, my creative energy. and my ability to be of service to others due to the general loss of energy and health that this is caused. I am wounded, broken, sad, angry, disgusted, betrayed,

and looking for answers on the constant pain of grief and loss. We hope that after this is over, we can attain closure and healing and take the next steps to finding ways to heal and grow stronger from these wounds afflicted upon us. Tammy, JJ, and Tiley have all been robbed of that choice and that chance. And then Samantha Gwiliam, that's Tammy's only sister, who said she was her best friend, shared her statement, and at one point even saying, you know, how cruel it was,

how Tammy was portrayed in this trial as someone that was fat, lazy, unhealthy, middle-aged, and overweight. And she was anything but she was middle-aged, but nothing else. And she reminded everyone that, Samantha reminded everyone that she was the same, she's the same age now that Tammy was when she died. Ma'am, will you please state and spell your name for the record? Samantha G-W-I-L-L-I-A-M. Could you remind the jury how you're related to the victims?

Tammy is my sister. I speak out for my sister, Tammy Daybell, because she cannot speak for herself. She is dead. And others who were supposed to stand up for her, protect her, and love her did not. From the moment I found out that she was gone, I've never felt peace. In the first few weeks, I had a gut feeling that something wasn't right and that someone had done something to her, but I didn't know why. So many questions come up as a quick funeral is arranged,

no autopsy and no answers. As we find out about a quick marriage, I smell a rat. As any woman does, I search out answers and dig through whatever evidence I could find. None of it was reassuring or good. There's still no peace. to be found. We are questioned by police about missing children. And this uneasiness I had felt about Tammy's death only intensifies. We are notified that Tammy has been exhumed. And this is my first

moment of maybe now I can get the answers I seek. But with the pandemic and exhaustive testing, I don't see results for a long time. My family sits in a limbo of not knowing why or what happened. In the meantime, there's a large investigation, many more questions. We are hounded by news reporters through phone calls, text, emails, social media, and even with surprise visits at our front door. Still, no peace. I am asked about a pet cemetery. And a few days later, I watch with the world.

As the bodies of two precious missing children are found on the same property where my sister died. I wretched and sobbed over learning about JJ and Tiley two more victims and no peace to be found for anyone when we finally get the long awaited autopsy results our worst fears are confirmed

and we know that she was murdered we have spent almost five years waiting for there to be peace my sister Tammy was my best friend before she was moved to Idaho, we talked to each other almost every day or saw each other almost every day. Her first year there was a hard adjustment, but she made a place for herself there and was a great

member of her community. Tammy was a force for good at her school, influencing children, making friendship with others and being a person you could count on. She loved being a mom, and especially a grandma. She was so excited to be part of their lives. She was content and happy. Her and I had made plans that when we were old that we would live next door to each other, we helped raise each other's children.

We were excited for the future. My last visit I had with Tammy is the last time I have felt any peace. I would not be a good sister if I did not defend Tammy as well. She was made out by some in this court as if she was lazy and fat and dying from an illness. Look at me right now. I am the same age as Tammy was when she died.

She was in better health than I am right now. Do I look like I am dying? It is not a crime to be a middle-aged woman trying to be healthy and still play a video game or eat fast food occasionally. My sister was ripped from our lives. Because of her murder, we lost a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and daughter. She is irreplaceable.

She started with one grandchild and missing the next five that would be born. He will never get to know her. But when Tammy died, that is not the only thing that we lost. Her absence created a void that is unmistakable. We used to have a close relationship with Tammy's children, but now our relationship is strained, and some of the kids that I helped raise no longer speak to us.

My mother passed away last June. She had to spend the last of her years separated from the same grandchildren for no fault of her own. My mother declined in health while still not having peace. Her passing was marred by the fact that Tammy's children chose to not participate in her funeral. The lies, deception, and murder have ripped our family apart. We do not feel peace. I am not a dark person or a zombie, and for me and my family to be betrayed this way is unacceptable.

I am tired of being vilified so there is a reason to not listen to me. I stand for truth, and I don't lie. So no, as I say this now. My sister should not be dead right now. She should be here alive and smiling with her family and friends. She should be doting on her grandchildren and taking care of her animals. It is a cruel world that has taken her from us. We need to feel some peace for the first time in five years.

I miss my sister every day. I will grieve for her for the rest of my life. I speak up for her now because she needs a voice. Thank you. Brandon Boudreau was in the room with his wife. Law enforcement was in the room. I really, you know, Annie Cushing also, Tiley's aunt also spoke and said that Tiley loved

facts and analyzing and was witty. Ma'am, will you please state and spell your full name for the record? Annie Cushing, C-U-S-H-I-N-G. Can you please explain for the record? Are you related to one of the victims in this case? I am. I'm Tiley Ryan's aunt, Joseph Ryan's sister. And as you came here today, did you come with a statement that you'd like to share with the jury?

I did. Do you have that with you? I do. Would you like to go ahead and read that now, please? Sure. Thank you. I remember getting a call from my brother Joe in 2002 to tell me he had gotten married,

converted to the LDS faith, and was expecting a baby. Joe had been the perennial bachelor of the family, in his 40s, never married, and no kids. So this was very surprising news. He wanted to fly me out to meet his new wife. They were both so excited to be having a little girl. They had already picked out her name and were well ahead of schedule

of buying the best of everything this little baby would possibly need. A couple years later, we vacationed together as families. Joe was the quintessential first-time father. Every developmental milestone tightly achieved convinced him all the more she was clearly a child prodigy. He was also convinced she looked just like him and would find excuses to refer to her as daddy's soul girl. Truth be told,

Tiley actually looked more like her mom's side of the family, which I never told Joe. But on the inside, she was so her dad. She was always dressed like a princess and had an arsenal of hair styles that she took. chose from each day. But once she learned to talk, she would let you know what she wanted and was prepared to negotiate those desires like she was finalizing a legally binding contract. Even as a little girl, Tiley knew what she wanted and we were all her humble servants. Fast forward to 2018.

I flew out to Phoenix. Sorry. I flew out to Phoenix after my brother's death and was able to reconnect with Tiley. She was intelligent, clever, funny, sarcastic, and had the voice of an angel. She would just walk around the house singing. She would eventually take her love for singing to the karaoke platform, Smule, leaving behind breadcrumbs for those of us who loved her and the thousands who would come to love her. But I could also tell she was depressed, and I desperately wanted to reach her, to let her know I wanted to be in her life as much as she would allow. We just happened to connect on pop culture.

We'd referenced ridiculous memes and viral videos, and her mom had no idea what we were talking about. So, Tyler and I would take turns explaining the references. It was the first spark of connection. our common ground. Our second was over a question she had about what I did for our living. Oddly enough, her dad and I were both analysts, so I think it felt safer for her to ask about my world than her dad's, since any mention of her dad was a trigger for her mom,

and she hadn't seen her dad in a while. I even told her that if nothing else, she definitely had the personality of an analyst. facts were very important to her. Case in point, her mom, who was braggadocious and never let facts get in the way of a good story, was telling me about one of Tiley's academic achievements. And Tiley corrected her on a relatively inconsequential detail her mom had overstated. I teased her afterwards and was like, dude, who does that?

You couldn't have just let that detail slide. and we had a good laugh. But to Tiley, I think if it wasn't accurate, it just wasn't meaningful. She was exacting just like her dad. My last night in Phoenix, we were supposed to have a girl's night out. But her mom changed her mind and said she was going to bed. It turned out to be the best gift she could have given me because it was the first time on that trip.

Kylie and I actually had time alone to connect. We enjoyed some small talk and foraged for food, but then I took a calculated risk and decided to share some things that I thought were really special about her. First, let me say, I've watched a lot of true crime over the years and know the tendency of family members to apply a halo effect to their loved ones after they pass, especially if they were victims. But after I left, one of my adult kids reached out to me to see how I was doing.

We had an extended text message exchange about my time in Phoenix. And I talked about that interaction, which memorialized it. I just happened to find it in the course of the case. And I was like, no one's going to believe this actually happened. Everyone's going to attribute this to the dateline effects. So I've actually published it publicly. For context, I had shared details about some of the conflict in the home leading up to this snippet. I wrote,

Tiley opened up to me the last night after Lolo went to bed. I feel trapped. I connected with Tiley, but don't want anything to do with Lolo ever again. And for this next snippet, I had shared some details about an outburst Tiley had toward her mom after she had said something grossly inappropriate about her dad. I wrote, she was this angry, resentful, sarcastic team the entire week. Then we talked alone and she was putty. She was so sweet and genuinely responsive to the genuine positive feedback I gave her. There's a picture of Tiley floating out there where she has the same sweet smile.

I saw that night, had a vulnerability to it. It's my favorite picture of her because here she was, this walled garden, and in that interaction, she let me in. Even if it was just a step past the threshold, that brief exchange was the highlight of that week for me. Since learning more about her story, even up to that point, I completely understand why Tiley wasn't quick. to let anyone in.

By sharp contrast, according to Alex Gilbert, the defendant's neighbor who testified, he said Tiley didn't like people. That's not true. She wasn't ever angry or disrespectful in any way toward me. And I was there less than a week. We got along swimmingly. Now his reported follow-up statement

about her not liking him, that tracks. She was not one to suffer fools. I also found out in that chat she loved New York City. That was my open door. So I lobbed the idea of flying her out for her 18th birthday over the fence and it was a hit. As I said in that text exchange, I was done with her mom and her extremist beliefs. But I thought there was a chance I'd have the opportunity to develop a relationship with Tiley. was independent on her mom. I plan to show her the best views that tourists don't know about, walk the high line together, get real pizza, take her to the rotating restaurant in Times Square with breathtaking 360 views of the city. I let her reconnect with my daughter who she hadn't seen

since she was little. Her 18th birthday couldn't have been further from the celebratory event. I had a match. as her remains had been recently discovered in the defendant's backyard getting back to our last time together i want to be fair the trip certainly wasn't all bad there were also some very sweet moments between tylee and her mom moments of hilarity and fun outing i also didn't see anything concerning with jay jay

everyone was nurturing and protective of him JJ, like his big sister, didn't let just anyone in. I had no idea if I'd be able to connect with him. I was fascinated by this little boy who had a wild imagination and the closest bond I've ever seen a child have with a dog. Bailey was his constant companion. But with JJ, as more of an outsider, your interactions felt more like moving alongside him

rather than engaging directly. So I was looking for, excuse me, any possibility of our worlds to kind of cross. To that end, one thing I noticed was JJ didn't just watch TV. It was like an immersive experience. He'd be talking to the characters, commenting, imitating sounds,

especially explosions. He loved imitating explosions. So I tried to do the same thing, but kind of tamped down and on the DL. I would just look at the TV and comment as something outrageous, like, what? That's wild. So we were both just kind of yelling at the TV. Whether it was a connection or not, it at least made watching TV a lot more fun. But then this one time shortly after that, his mom and I were talking in the kitchen next to the island. It's germane to the story. As a function of JJ's autism and unbounding energy, he'd run in this,

one circuit, which included the area just on the other side of the island. And their house at that time was palatial. So it was a pretty significant circuit. But on one trip, he broke out of his circuit and without slowing down, ran into the kitchen and into me throwing off my balance a bit because I wasn't expecting it. Without a word, he hugged me and kept on running. I stood there stunned and asked his mom, was that a drive-by hugging?

I was so touched because it was the first discernible indicator that we connected. That night, as she was putting him down for bed, I heard him ask her, will Annie be here when I wake up? Again, we never interacted directly in any way. But he recognized presence. So like Tiley, I didn't know if a world would ever collide in any meaningful way, but I believe that love is a universal language that somehow communicated between sincere hearts. Just a month after that visit, Kylie wrote an Instagram post on her mom's birthday

that she had, quote, won the lottery with this one as my mom. So I believe there was hope for them to one day be able to set up some healthier boundaries and find peace. but just four months after that post to the day that would all change. That was the day her mom met the defendant. It was the spark that eventually would set so many of our lives ablaze. This case has been theft by a thousand cuts. Each detail that would come out over the past four years was just another cut. It's taken a toll on my family, my health, and my overall perspective.

and it felt like the world had become a more dangerous place. Just a little peek behind the curtain. There was one time early in the case. Tiley and JJ were still missing, and the city was in lockdown because of the pandemic, and police were out en masse because of protests and riots in the city. It was like the whole world had gone mad. But I had gone for a run through Times Square,

which looked like a ghost town with a sea of mental health billboards. When I passed a corner newsstand, there was a picture of Tiley and JJ on a magazine cover with a heart-grabbing headline. Seeing that against a backdrop of what looked like a post-apocalyptic landscape made it all the more surreal. But to be clear, it's still surreal. It always will be. if someone had told me in 2002 that in 20 years time Joe and Tiley would both be dead

and I'd be swept up in a criminal case around Tiley's murder I wouldn't have believed it Tiley had her whole life ahead of her she had dignity she had dreams she had goals this defendant stole all of that

to close on a high note a Greek philosopher once said The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine. I believe that has happened in this case. Thank you. Chad Debelle, I talked to John before I came out here, by the way. John gave me a pep talk. John's watching as much as he can. He's watching too. And I asked his thoughts, and he'll share more later.

But he said that, you know, just Chad Daybell is completely unrepentant, completely unrepentant because he's given no statement. Mr. Daybell, let me just outline your rights here for you briefly. In this special sentencing proceeding, you do have the right to both present mitigation and also a right of allocution that can be exercised at the conclusion of the proceeding before the jury deliberates. There are a couple of instructions that would be provided to the jurors. I'll read an instruction called mitigation, and it reads as follows,

a mitigating factor is any fact or circumstance relating to the crime or to the defendant's state of mind or condition at the time of the crime or to his character background or record that tends to suggest that a sentence other than death should be imposed. A mitigating factor does not have to constitute a defense, excuse, or justification for the crime, nor does it even have to reduce the degree of the defendant's for the crime. My instructions given at the end of the trial phase

that you were not to allow sympathy for the defendant to enter your deliberations do not apply at this sentencing phase. Mitigating factors may include any fact or circumstance that inspire sympathy, compassion, or mercy for the defendant. Evidence supporting the existence of a mitigating factor may come from the trial phase or the sentencing phase, whether produced by the defendant or the state. One other instruction that will be given is the defendant

right to allocution, and that reads, the defendant has the right to personally address you. This is called the right of allocution. Allocution is not made under oath and not subject to cross-examination. The law provides that these statements are something that the defendant is allowed to present to you as mitigation. You may consider these statements in your deliberations. So, Mr. Pryor, I've discussed this with you on the record already, but you have explained the right of mitigation and allocution to your client. Is that correct? I have your honor. All right. Mr. Daybell, the purpose of these rights is to potentially present evidence to the jury that could result in them

finding that the death penalty should not be imposed in your case. Do you understand that? I do. All right. And I'm also advised then that you do not intend to, despite the preparation of mitigation from your attorney, you don't intend to present that evidence at this hearing. Is that your choice? That is my choice. Has anyone coerced or pressured you personally to make that choice? No. And do you feel like you're thinking clearly this morning as you make that choice? Yes. Okay. Well, that is your right, Mr. Daybell. So thank you for putting that on the record for the court. No statement. Think about that. Think about no statement before a sentencing. For those that follow hidden true crime, think about what Ruby Frankie did before she was sentenced. The statement that Ruby

Frankie gave before she was sentenced. And she knew what to do. She knew to apologize and act with remorse. Think of Jody Hildebrand. Jody Hildebrand never said sorry. Hers was terrible, but her attorney attempted to get her to say sorry. Right? She couldn't say sorry. She couldn't. And it was horrendous. in her sentencing statement. But she gave one. Chad Daybell, no statement. Nobody here to speak for Chad to give a character witness.

And what did he do during the break, during the break we had when we were all sitting in court waiting? Chad Daybell sat talking to John Pryor and smiling laughing. And what did John Pryor do after Lindsay Blake was done, you'd think that Chad DeVille didn't have a verdict yet.

John Pryor got up and blamed Lori at the sentencing. Springville, Utah, small town was at the time. I understand now it's 50,000 people. Chad growing up in this small town, quiet, shy, reserved, town of faith, town of religion, grew up in that. We heard Jason William talk about that, tight-knit community. Maybe everybody knew each other.

And then Chad goes on his mission. I don't know very much. You've gathered that. I don't know very much about the LDS faith. Goes off on a mission, comes back. This is not a mission where you gain worldly experience. It's not a mission where you gain insight into all of the unusual things or the challenges that people have in society.

society and he meets Tammy, Tammy Douglas, and they get married and they're married for 29 years. And by anybody's definition, anyone's definition, Tammy and Chad raised five wonderful children, five beautiful children, very deep in their faith, very deep in their commitment to family. And we can say maybe Tammy was the driving force in this. Tammy was the glue that created Chad got this trajectory that was changing his trajectory. You can judge someone by their past and predict how they're going to be in the future unless there's an interjecting trajectory that maybe changes the plan. And that trajectory, that bomb that came into his life was a woman who previously had been married

four times and that bomb brought chaos to Jad Debo's life. And this worldly man, no, not a worldly man, no experience, the only girlfriend, the only woman, 29 years, from the mission to marriage to five kids, the trajectory that's flying into this 29 year marriage is a woman who didn't have one, two, three, four marriages. That's worldly experience. That's a lot of things. There's a lot of things going on there. And then it all changes. The amplification of these religious beliefs, these crazy thoughts, this, this crazy trail of things. And you've made your decision and I'm not going to go back on that. But look at where he was. She was the trajectory that changed the plan. You don't go back on 29 years of marriage

with nothing as far as a speeding ticket, raising five wonderful children that takes two parents to do that. And then this trajectory comes in and chaos hits. And all of these things start cascading. And this thing becomes very complicated and difficult, easy. And this small town boy, from Springville, Utah, who's residing on a farm with his wife and his family close by in a wonderful community of Rexburg, has this bomb dropped. Suddenly chaos ensues. We have to look back at that. Because when you start talking about how do you predict the future, you go back looking at what the past was and you examine what Chad Dabell's past was prior to the bomb being dropped, the Lori Valo bomb being dropped on Chad Daybell's life and suddenly all of this stuff changing.

And you evaluate that and you look back and say, is this a person? If it wasn't for that trajectory coming in and changing the path, is this where we would be going? It's not where we'd be going. Remember, we are not in the verdict before the verdict phase or before the conviction phase. There's no reason to blame somebody else now. It's the sentencing. Now is the time to take accountability and apologize if you don't want the death penalty. And John Pryor, just remember that. Can you imagine? What would have happened at Ruby Frankie or Jody Hilderberra in sentencing if they had stood up and blamed somebody else?

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