Prosecution and defense to begin striking jurors for Daybell’s death penalty trial on Monday

BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Jury selection has wrapped up for the death penalty trial of Chad Daybell at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, a total of 57 potential jurors have been pulled from the panel of jurors interviewed this week.

The process of jury selection began on Monday, April 1, with 16 individuals pooled from the first panel, four more were added on Tuesday, 17 on Wednesday and 15 on Thursday, Friday five more were pooled for an overall total of 57 potential jurors.

Originally, Idaho 7th District Judge Steven Boyce noted that 50 jurors would be needed, so it is unknown why the court added an extra seven.

Since this is a capital murder case, it is imperative for the court to find an impartial jury that can judiciously try the case. Media coverage and the length of the trial was a major reason that many of the potential jurors paneled were dismissed.

For the actual trial, 18 jurors will be needed to hear the death penalty trial, 12 jurors with six alternates. During the trial, all 18 will be sequestered for the entire trial, which is expected to last eight to 10 weeks with the goal of wrapping up by June 15.

On Monday, April 8, the prosecution and the defense will begin striking 39 jurors from the pool of 57 potential individuals until 18 jurors are selected.

Judge Boyce instructed the potential jurors during the weeklong selection process that it is up to prosecutors to prove the charges — Daybell does not need to prove his innocence, nor does he have to take the stand in his own defense.

The 55-year-old self-published religious author is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his former wife Tammy Daybell, 7-year-old Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and J.J.’s older sister, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Their bodies were found buried on Chad Daybell’s property outside of Rexburg, Idaho in June of 2020 after a nationwide search.

Chad Daybell is also facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, insurance fraud and grand theft.

The children’s mother, Lori Vallow Daybell — who married Chad Daybell shortly after the death of Tammy and the children — was found guilty in June of 2023 and sentenced to multiple life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. She is currently appealing her conviction. Lori was extradited to Maricopa County, Arizona in February of this year, where she faces additional charges related to the death of her former husband Charles Vallow, and the attempted murder of her niece’s former husband Brandon Boudreaux.

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