After waiting for years, JJ Vallow's family will finally have custody of his body

A judge has ordered the remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow to be turned over to his family members. The body of Tylee Ryan is still in the state's custody.

A judge has ordered the remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow to be turned over to his family members. The body of Tylee Ryan is still in the state's custody. (Family photo)


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ST. ANTHONY, Idaho — A judge has ordered the remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow to be turned over to his family members.

The 7-year-old was found buried on Chad Daybell's Fremont County property on June 9, 2020, nearly nine months after investigators say the boy died of asphyxiation.

The state of Idaho has maintained custody of JJ's body since the gruesome discovery but Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake and Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood filed a stipulation Thursday authorizing JJ's body to be released to his next of kin. John Prior, Daybell's attorney, also signed the stipulation and Judge Steven Boyce issued an order for the release of the body Monday morning.

The remains of Tylee Ryan, JJ's sister, continue to be held in the state's custody. It's unknown when they will be released.

JJ and Tylee's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, was found guilty of first-degree murder in May in relation to their deaths, along with conspiracy to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell's former wife. She was sentenced to life in prison and faces additional conspiracy to commit murder charges in Arizona.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin April 1 for Chad Daybell, who faces similar charges.

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Nate Eaton

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