Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two sets of unidentified human remains found on Chad Daybell's property in Salem, Idaho, are those of children, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Daybell, the stepfather of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, who have been missing for months, was charged Wednesday in Fremont County (Idaho) Magistrate Court with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, court records show. The charges are dated Sept. 8 and 22 of 2019.
Later Wednesday, family members said the remains belonged to JJ and Tylee. As of Wednesday afternoon, authorities had not yet confirmed the identity of the remains.
In the court hearing Wednesday morning, Chad Daybell appeared remotely before Fremont County Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins. He wore a grey striped jail jumpsuit and had no expression on his face. He answered Eddins's questions with simple, single-word responses.
Daybell's attorney, John Prior, argued that his client’s bail should be set at $100,000 — $50,000 for each felony charge he faced. Prosecutor Rob Wood argued for $1 million, saying that although the charges relating to evidence tampering, the evidence involved was children's remains, not simply a gun or drugs.
Eddins agreed with Wood and set the bail for the higher amount. If Daybell posts bail and is released from jail, he will be required not to leave the area for any reason, wear an ankle monitor constantly, and refrain from contacting any witnesses or families involved in the case, among other restrictions, Eddins ordered Wednesday.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled in the case for July 1-2.
A search warrant was served on Daybell’s home on Tuesday morning in Salem, Idaho. Rexburg police later confirmed that human remains were found on Daybell’s property.
Rexburg police haven't yet said who the remains found Tuesday belong to. Autopsy results are pending, police said.
Shortly after Daybell's court hearing, EastIdahoNews.com reported that Kay Woodcock, the grandmother of JJ Vallow, confirmed to the news outlet that authorities have told her one set of the remains belongs to JJ. Authorities have not released a positive identification to the public.
JJ and Tylee Ryan, the children of Chad's wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, have been missing from Rexburg since September 2019.
The dates listed on Chad Daybell's charges correspond to when the children went missing. Tylee Ryan was last seen in Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 8, 2019, and JJ Vallow was last seen at school on Sept. 23, 2019.
#Breaking: @RexburgPolice confirm 2 sets of unidentified human remains were discovered at #ChadDaybell’s home. Court Docs show #Daybell is facing 2 felony charges. @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/7xA5BbAS71
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) June 10, 2020
Lori Daybell, 46, who is listed as Lori Norene Vallow in Idaho court records, was arrested in Hawaii in February.
She was charged Feb. 18 with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of a dependent child, which are dated Sept. 8 and 23 of 2019. She has also been charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing an officer, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court.
Lori Daybell's next court appearance is a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 9, according to Idaho court records.
Tuesday, JJ Vallow's grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock said in an emailed statement that they had been in touch with law enforcement officials throughout the day after being notified that the warrant was being served at Chad Daybell's property.
"We were notified that law enforcement had discovered human remains on the property. This is obviously a very difficult time for our family, and we ask that you respect our privacy as we wait further news with heavy hearts," the Woodcocks said.
