The remains of two children who have not been seen since September have been discovered at an Idaho home.
The story of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell is puzzling. The two married in November 2019, after both of their spouses “coincidentally,” died. Lori’s two children Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, were last seen shortly before.
The investigation into the children’s whereabouts began in Fremont, Idaho last year, and spread across Arizona and Hawaii. Rexburg police went to the couple’s home to do a welfare check on JJ, who had special needs but were unable to make contact. This launched a seven-month investigation into the children’s whereabouts. Vallow and Daybell refused to cooperate in the investigation and left the state to travel to Hawaii. Authorities were able to arrest Vallow on the island in February and brought her back to Idaho, where she’s being detained.
Apparently, the married couple was involved in a deep religious ideology called “Preparing People.” Friends and family of Vallow say she was an attentive mother before becoming part of Daybell’s religious group. Authorities are still trying to piece the tragedy together, and many questions surround the deaths of other family members.
Authorities were able to get a search warrant for Daybell’s Fremont County home on Tuesday; it was there they found the remains of the missing children, the medical examiner confirmed.
“It is not the outcome we had hoped; to be able to find the children safe. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of JJ and Tylee,” the Rexburg Police Department said in a news release.
“The remains were taken to the medical examiner’s office where an autopsy and positive identification was performed,” the Rexburg Police Department reported.
According to CNN, a criminal complaint has been filed against Vallow in an Idaho court. She’s been charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, Daybell has been charged with destroying evidence and remains in jail on a $1 million bond.
