Missing boy JJ Vallow’s remains found on Chad Daybell’s property: report
A set of human remains found in Idaho was identified Wednesday as Doomsday-obsessed mom Lori Vallow’s missing son — as prosecutors confirmed a second set also belongs to a child.
Authorities appear to be one step closer to solving the mysterious disappearance of Vallow’s children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, who were last seen in September.
The two sets of human remains were found Tuesday at Vallow’s husband Chad Daybell’s home in Rexburg, prompting his arrest on two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.
Joshua’s grandmother Kay Woodcock confirmed that the remains were the boy’s, Fox 10 Phoenix reporter Justin Lum tweeted.
The news came as Daybell appeared via Zoom video in court, where Fremont County prosecutor Rob Wood confirmed the remains were of children and hinted that upgraded charges could be forthcoming.
One of the bodies, he said, was concealed in a “particularly egregious” manner.
“The evidence that has been concealed in this case is not simply a document, or drugs or a gun,” said Wood in asking for bail to be set at $1 million. “These are human remains.”
Judge Faren Eddins sided with Wood and set Daybell’s bail at $1 million.
Daybell, who sat stonefaced in a gray and white striped jail outfit, faces up to five years in prison on each count.
His attorney John Prior asked for $100,000 bail, insisting his client wasn’t a flight risk.
“When police showed up at his house last night, Mr. Daybell didn’t flee, Mr. Daybell didn’t abscond, Mr. Daybell didn’t run,” Prior told the judge. “He has every intention to address these issues.”
Daybell and Vallow, who is already in custody on child desertion charges, have been under investigation in connection with the disappearance of Joshua and Tylee.
A criminal complaint alleges Daybell “willfully conceal[ed] and/or did aid and abet another to willfully conceal human remains, knowing that said human remains were about to be produced, used and/or discovered as evidence in a felony proceeding.” It says he hid the remains sometime between Sept. 8, 2019, and June 9.
The couple — who fled to Hawaii in November after law enforcement showed up to do a welfare check on the children — were involved with Preparing a People, a doomsday group that says its mission is to “prepare the people of this earth for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.”
Vallow is also being held on $1 million bond following her arrest in February. She is accused of lying to police about her children’s whereabouts.
A friend has said Vallow and Daybell were obsessed with zombies, with the mother believing Joshua was one.
The couple is also under investigation by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for “conspiracy, attempted murder and/or murder” in the death of Daybell’s former wife, Tammy Daybell.
Daybell and Vallow married shortly after Tammy was found dead in her home in October.