Tylee Ryan's burnt body parts were found in green bucket at pet cemetery on stepdad Chad Daybell's property
Testifying at a hearing for Chad Daybell, an Idaho man whose supposed involvement in the disappearance and death of his wife's two children has hit national headlines, a detective described the moment investigators uncovered their bodies at his Salem home. Fremont County Sheriff's deputies, Rexburg Police officers, and FBI agents raided Daybell's Salem home on the 200 Block of 1900 East around 7 am on Tuesday, June 9, over an investigation into the disappearance of seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, who is autistic, and his 17-year-old sister, Tylee Ryan.
The children had last been seen in September 2019, and when their disappearance was brought to the attention of authorities by concerned family members two months later, Daybell and his wife, 'cult mom' Lori Vallow, went on the run. Their remains were found at Daybell's Salem home this past June, leading to his arrest on charges of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. He had previously been charged with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.
Daybell appeared on Monday, August 3, for an in-person hearing at the Fremont County courthouse, where Rexburg Police Detective Ray Hermosillo recalled the moment they discovered the bodies. He told the court that investigators made the gruesome finding after digging below three white rocks found in his backyard, reported CrimeOnline. After removing the wood paneling underneath the rocks, Hermosillo said he detected the distinct smell of decomposition. Investigators then uncovered what appeared to be a small human body wrapped tightly in multiple layers of plastic and duct tape.
That body was later identified as belonging to JJ. Hermosillo said he attended the seven-year-old's autopsy and noted the excessive amounts of duct tape that had been used to wrap his body, including his mouth and his head. He said the young boy was wearing red pajamas and socks, and that his hands had been bound in front of his body, wrapped in multiple layers of duct tape. The detective went on to reveal that Tylee's remains were discovered in a pet cemetery at Daybell's residence. He said a melted green bucket was found with the body parts, which reportedly contained burned flesh. He also said investigators found a partial human skull under the body parts.
MEA WorldWide previously reported how the teen's body was so badly burned and decomposed, investigators had to call upon the expertise of an orthodontist. "It was not possible to identify those remains by simply looking at them as they were too damaged by fire and dismemberment and no longer had any recognizable features," a report read. "However, Dr. Glen Smith, an orthodontist and Deputy Coroner in the Ada County Coroner's Office was able to identify these remains as belonging to Tylee Ryan by matching an irregular jawline with an X-ray of Tylee when she was alive."
Monday was the first day of the hearing, with the judge expected to rule whether there is enough evidence against Daybell to proceed to a trial. Vallow has been charged with two felony counts of desertion and non-support of dependent children, resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime, contempt of court, and two counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. She is facing trial in the neighboring Madison County.