Human remains found at Lori Vallow's husband's home during search for her two kids missing since September
SALEM, IDAHO: The husband of doomsday-obsessed 'cult mom' Lori Vallow has been arrested and charged after officials who raided his home uncovered human remains on the property, police said.
Former 'gravedigger' Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow found themselves in national headlines following the disappearance of Vallow's two children, seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, who is autistic, and 17-year-old, Tylee Ryan.
The children were last seen in September 2019 – Tylee was last seen on September 8, during a visit to Yellowstone National Park, while her brother was last seen two weeks later, but only came to the attention of authorities in November after concerned family members reported that they had not seen them for months.
After police opened an investigation into the disappearance, both Vallow and Daybell went on the run. While Vallow was arrested in Hawaii in February and charged with two felony counts of desertion and non-support of dependent children, as well as resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime, and contempt of court, Daybell remained free.
That is, until this past Tuesday, June 9, when Fremont County Sheriff's deputies, Rexburg Police officers, and FBI agents arrived at his Salem home on the 200 Block of 1900 East around 7 am with a search warrant.
Aerial footage captured by East Idaho News showed investigators digging up soil around what appeared to be a well in the backyard. They also used a backhoe to dig up the dirt near a barn and were filmed towing one of his cars away. At around 11.30 am, Rexburg police officers were seen handcuffing Daybell and placing him inside a police vehicle after stopping him on the road near his home.
Rexburg Assistant Police Chief Gary Hagen announced in a brief press conference outside the home that they had found human remains, but it was still too early to say whether they belonged to Joshua and Tylee.
During a second press conference, he said officers were continuing to search the home for any further evidence related to the case and that an autopsy would be carried out on the remains in the coming days.
This is the second time that law enforcement officials have raided Daybell's home after they started their search for Joshua and Tylee in November. They had previously searched the residence on January 3 and recovered 43 items. They had also combed over several sections of the backyard with metal detectors and rakes but found nothing.
Daybell has been charged with one felony count of destruction or concealment of evidence following the latest raid, and is currently being held at the Fremont County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in court at 11 am on Wednesday, June 10.
Daybell and Vallow got married less than two months after Joshua and Tylee disappeared, and are also being investigated for conspiracy, attempted murder, and murder in the death of Daybell's first wife Tammy, who mysteriously died at their Salem home in October.
Both have refused to cooperate with investigators and have repeatedly insisted that the children are safe.