Chad Daybell jurors speak about ‘heart-wrenching’ 2-month murder trial

Collin Leonard, KSL.com, and Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

BOISE (KSL.com) — Nick, juror No. 9, described a infinitesimal of silence, a unusual activity pursuing nan jury’s sentencing determination — decease — for Chad Daybell, which came aft a seven-week trial.

“It was nan loudest soundlessness I’ve ever heard,” he said. “The verdict insubstantial was marked. This is it, we’re ready.”

The finality, nan waves of worry and anticipation aft 18 normal group were torn from their regular lives to beryllium successful a courtroom for 2 months. All nan while, galore kept their time jobs, moving nights and weekends, while taking successful grounds astir a slew of convulsive crimes and 3 murders presented successful excruciating detail.

Seven retired of 18 erstwhile jurors successful nan Daybell proceedings — that led to a blameworthy condemnation connected each counts and a condemnation of nan decease punishment — said to Nate Eaton from KSL news partner East Idaho News, telling behind-the-scenes stories and reactions that led to nan historical decision.

“We were dealing pinch nan worst of humanity,” said Blake, juror No. 14. He grew affectional remembering nan autopsy photos of nan 2 murdered children and nan unfortunate effect statements publication by family members. “The things that we saw and heard were perfectly horrific.”

On nan time family members said astir nan nonaccomplishment of Tammy Daybell, 49, JJ Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, half of nan assemblage was weeping successful their seats. When they were dismissed for a break, Blake said they could beryllium heard crying each nan measurement down nan hall.

“It was heartwrenching, and I couldn’t not cry,” said Daynna, juror No. 12. “I near nan tribunal and I virtually collapsed down.”

Each juror was convinced of Daybell’s guilt, but nan grounds that pushed them complete nan apical was different for each person. Some said it was nan matter messages sent betwixt Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell, outlining a “perfectly orchestrated plan” to get free of whom prosecutors called “obstacles” truthful nan 2 could beryllium together. For others, it was nan unusual and vulnerable belief beliefs nan duo espoused.

Everyone was holding their activity to spot what nan defense would be, what benignant of alternate mentation Daybell would offer.

“Where is it, wherever is it?” Blake asked. “I conscionable kept waiting and waiting for immoderate different portion of accusation that would astatine slightest origin you region aliases make you deliberation a small differently. They ne'er showed that.”

The defense’s case, by astir accounts, worked against them. Jurors said Chad Daybell’s children sounded “coached” and “robotic,” their grounds contradicted by rebuttal witnesses. Nick said he felt defense lawyer John Prior was “trying to confuse us, get america disconnected track.”

“I felt for illustration location was anger and arrogance,” Blake said. “The defense did not ever overgarment a image of immoderate good, positive, civilized behaviour that went connected from October 2018 done June 2020. None, astatine all. I was frustrated.”

Just months earlier nan trial, Prior requested to retreat arsenic Daybell’s counsel, saying he was not qualified to correspond a customer successful a superior case. The “extraordinarily complex” case, he said, was excessively overmuch activity and complexity for him arsenic a solo practitioner to undertake, and Daybell was incapable to salary him for his services. That mobility was denied.

In a superior trial, nan defense is capable to coming mitigating factors during nan sentencing shape to reason why nan accused should not person nan decease penalty. Daybell declined to coming immoderate mitigating grounds aliases to make immoderate statements to nan jury.

Jurors said they went astir nan room racking their brains to find thing affirmative that would warrant them not recommending nan decease penalty. They came up quiet handed.

Daybell, arsenic is his right, besides declined to attest connected his ain behalf during nan proceedings earlier he was convicted connected each counts, including first-degree execution for nan decease of his wife, Tammy Daybell, and nan deaths of his caller woman Lori Daybell’s children, JJ and Tylee. He was besides recovered blameworthy of conspiracy to perpetrate first-degree execution of each of nan 3 victims, expansive theft and 2 counts of security fraud.

“The defense had a difficult job,” Nick said. “He did what he could pinch what he had.”

But it was an uphill conflict from nan start. The prosecution squad was “phenomenal,” according to Blake, pinch nary little praise fixed by others.

After nan May 30 blameworthy verdict, nan assemblage was past asked to find whether Daybell should beryllium sentenced to death.

That determination was handed to nan bailiff June 1, and nan aforesaid 12 who recovered nan suspect blameworthy revenge into nan courtroom for nan past time, successful beforehand of nan packed pews of family and property — successful position of nan man who only they knew was astir to person nan harshest reward nan authorities tribunal allows.

“Throughout nan trial, you could consciousness nan eyes connected you from nan gallery,” Nick said. “But astatine that moment, it felt for illustration cipher wasn’t looking astatine you.”

Steve, juror No. 10, locked eyes pinch Daybell, but said, “You were conscionable looking astatine a shell.”

The determination was read, and each eyes turned to nan accused.

“There was nothing,” Steve recalled. “There was nary remorse.”

“It really deed maine difficult … to recognize conscionable really vile mankind is,” said Roy, juror No. 5. “It’s scary.”

But Blake said his biggest takeaway from nan acquisition was “the goodness successful people,” building a patchwork family pinch bailiffs and chap jurors.

“Through nan midst of these evil and horrific things that we were seeing and hearing,” he said, “there was a batch of good, too, that I’m only now capable to process.”

Watch nan afloat interviews connected nan East Idaho News YouTube channel.