Tammy Daybell: Medical examiner says first wife of Chad Daybell may have been restrained before she died
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
BOISE, IDAHO: The medical examiner said that Lori's husband, Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy Daybell, may have also been tied before her death, the prosecutor in the 'Doomsday Mom' Lori Vallow Daybell case revealed during a recent court appearance. This came days after the medical examiner testified that Lori's seven-year-old son, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, died due to asphyxia with bruises on his wrists and neck.
Tammy Daybell's arms and chest were found to have bruises consistent with being restrained. Tammy was married to Chad Daybell when she mysteriously died in October 2019. Dr Erik Christensen, the chief medical examiner for Utah, gave a witness statement on Monday during Lori's murder trial which has entered its fifth week and is underway at Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.
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Tammy died a month after Joshua and Tylee 'disappeared'
The 49-year-old is accused of first-degree murder, conspiring against the government, and grand theft in connection with the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, and Chad Daybell's wife Tammy, 49. It was in September 2019, Tylee and JJ were last seen. Their remains were found buried on the Daybell property in June 2020. JJ’s body was found buried under a tree in Chad Daybell’s backyard, while his sister Tylee’s remains were found in an area used as a “pet cemetery.” Tammy died a month later in October 2019. Her body was exhumed from Springville Cemetery on December 11, 2019.
Tammy's death was attributed to 'natural causes'
Before Tammy's body was exhumed and the asphyxiation as the cause of death was discovered, her sudden death was attributed to "natural causes," the jurors heard on Monday. Christensen who performed Tammy's autopsy said, "These bruises are consistent with someone being restrained, and support the finding that her cause of death was asphyxia," KSL reported. Christensen said Tammy received bruises due to acute injuries that "most likely" occurred hours prior to her death. The jury was shown photographs of the 49-year-old's bruises, and the courtroom was also shown a figure with bruise marks sketched on it.
Jurors were also informed that DNA testing had already discovered Vallow's hair on duct tape, which had been used to suffocate her young son JJ with a garbage bag. Corner testified that his arms and legs were tied and he got bruises on his wrists and stretch marks on his neck as he had tried to break free.
Tammy's cause of death was determined by doctors to be a "diagnosis of exclusion" that necessitates the exclusion of other causes. Seizures and heart arrhythmias are two naturally occurring causes of asphyxia, but Christensen pointed out that neither of these conditions would be typical for a lady's age and state of health.
The coroner was informed by Chad Daybell that she had experienced something akin to a seizure, but Christensen claimed there was no evidence of this in her medical records. She had been coughing and throwing up all through the night, he added, and at 5.40 am, her torso and head had slipped off the bed.
Tammy died hours before Chad Daybell reported her death
Tammy Daybell had been lying on her back after her death, according to the autopsy. She may have been dead for several hours before Chad Daybell phoned the police since by the time they came, her body was cold and rigid. Christensen estimated she died hours before Chad Daybell reported her death.