Day 20 of Chad Daybell’s murder trial: DNA evidence links Tylee to burn pit

BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — DNA evidence, pictures of tools allegedly used in the burial of Tylee and J.J, and the day Lori Vallow was arrested in Hawaii were the focus of Thursday’s testimony in Daybell’s on-going first-degree murder trial.

Katherine Dace, a forensic biologist with the Idaho State Police testified that samples taken from the burn pit in Chad Daybell’s back yard, were a partial match with Tylee Ryan, the 16-year-old daughter of Lori Vallow, whose remains were found buried on Daybell’s property in June of 2020.

“This DNA profile also matched Tylee Ryan and, again, it is 604 octillion times more likely to see this DNA profile if Tylee Ryan is the source. Then if an unrelated randomly selected individual from the general population is the source,” Dace told the court.

Next to the stand was Colin Nesbitt, who was a detective with the Kawaii Police Department in 2020; he was working with the Rexburg Police Department and served Lori a document demanding the whereabouts of Tylee, while Lori and Chad were sunbathing.

The detective testifies about his dealings with Chad and Lori while they were in Hawaii and stated that he contacted them in January of 2020, and that Hawaii law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the vehicle they were in.

During the search, officers found a cell phone and debit card belonging to Tylee, a printout of Charles Vallow’s death certificate along with the birth certificates for both Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow. However, he said that there was no sign of the children.

Court will resume Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise.

Chad Daybell is accused of killing his former wife Tammy Daybell, and Lori Vallow’s two children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old J.J. Vallow, along with conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Charles Vallow, and grand theft and insurance fraud. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

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