SALT LAKE CITY — An Idaho judge ruled Wednesday that Lori Vallow Daybell will spend another 180 days in a state mental facility after determining that she is still not competent to stand trial on charges alleging she murdered her two children.
Last month, Idaho 7th District Judge Steven W. Boyce said he would like more information before deciding whether Daybell, 48, will remain in the mental health facility after she was found not competent to face the charges against her in June. The bodies of her two children, 7-year-old "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan were found last year buried on the property of her new husband, Chad Daybell.
If, in the next 180 days, there is still not a progress report indicating that Lori Daybell is competent for a trial, then the judge said another status conference will be held where the court will review the progress and her competency.
Boyce also considered Chad Daybell's case in the same status conference and decided that the trial scheduled in November will be cancelled and rescheduled for later. The judge said that he was led to this decision because there are multiple motions to consider, including a motion to change the location of the trial, one regarding transcripts from the grand jury that are not yet completed, and some discovery that is still in process.
"Given all those considerations, it would appear to me that really it would be impractical to try to commence this case two months from today on Nov. 8," Boyce said. Daybell also recently waived his right to a speedy trial.
A hearing for Chad Daybell will be set following a hearing on Oct. 5 and 6 regarding where the case will be held. The judge said that after that hearing he will also set a deadline for additional motions to be filed. He noted that he would like to set a trial date "that will stick."
