Victims’ families react to Chad Daybell’s death sentence

BOISE, Idaho — After learning that Chad Daybell had been formally sentenced to death, family members of the victims in the case addressed the media, sharing their appreciation for law enforcement, the media and the jury more than four years later after JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell were killed in eastern Idaho.

“Part of me feels a lot more healed,” Colby Ryan said. “Spending time with everyone here feels like a healing I couldn’t have imagined.”

Ryan is the son of Chad Daybell’s wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, and the brother of victims JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan. He said he was not surprised the jury found there was enough evidence to meet the criteria for the death penalty.

“I can’t say I feel good about it, but it feels good to know that it’s over, if that makes any sense,” Ryan said.

Relatives of Tammy Daybell have expressed their gratitude to the 12 men and women who determined her killer should face the maximum sentence.

“Thank you for your time and selfless sacrifice,” Tammy’s brother Matthew Douglas said in a message to jurors. “I hope you all know how much it means to someone in our position.”

“Our family lost a brother, but in her process we almost gained a whole family,” said Tammy’s brother-in-law, Jason Gwilliam.

Most family members traveled from out of state to attend the trial, including Kay and Larry Woodcock, JJ Vallow’s outspoken grandparents, who prompted police to begin searching for the missing children in 2019.

“Idaho is a magnificent state, they don’t deserve this stain,” said Larry Woodcock.

Tammy Daybell’s aunt, Vicki Hoban, also addressed the crowd after the final verdict.

“All of you who have been here from the beginning and prayed for our families, we feel it,” Hoban said.

And while Chad Daybell’s trial is over, his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, is awaiting another trial in Arizona.

“I’ll see you in Arizona,” said Kay Woodcock. “That’s where we’ll be next.”

The pending charges in Maricopa County for Lori Vallow Daybell are related to her alleged involvement in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux.

We’ll keep Idaho News 6 updated as that trial moves forward.