Lori Vallow trial – live: Chad Daybell’s wife Tammy was restrained before murder, autopsy shows

Oliver O'Connell and Rachel Sharp

Week five of “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow’s trial is underway in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, where the mother-of-three is accused of killing her two youngest children and her new husband Chad Daybell’s first wife.

The 49-year-old is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Mr Daybell’s wife Tammy, 49.

Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019. In June 2020, their remains were found buried on the Daybell property. Tammy died one month after their disappearance in October 2019.

On Monday, jurors heard more details about Tammy’s sudden death – which was first ruled “natural causes” before her body was exhumed and her cause of death was ruled asphyxiation.

Utah’s chief medical examiner Dr Erik Christensen testified that the autopsy found bruises on her body which were consistent with her being restrained before her murder.

Jurors also heard how Ms Vallow’s hair was found on duct tape which was used to wrap a plastic bag around her little boy JJ’s head, suffocating him.

Key points

All the key revelations from Lori Vallow’s murder trial so far

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rachel Sharp has compiled the key revelations from the trial – so far:

Cult beliefs and charred remains: Key revelations from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

Who are the key players in the Lori Vallow trial?

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A who’s who in the saddest and most bizarre trial of the year.

Who are the key players in Lori Vallow’s trial?

JJ had date rape drug in his system as shocking cause of death revealed

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori Vallow’s seven-year-old son JJ Vallow had the date rape drug GHB in his system when he was smothered to death with plastic bags around his head, according to harrowing testimony from a pathologist.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Lori Vallow trial told JJ had date rape drug GHB in system as cause of death revealed

Everything we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell ‘doomsday cult’ murder trial

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rachel Sharp delves into the deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies which surrounds Lori Vallow and her doomsday author husband Chad Daybell.

What we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell ‘doomsday cult’ murder trial

Killer tried to chop up Tylee’s body as her blood found on pickaxe

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori Vallow’s daughter’s killer tried to chop up her body before burying her burned bones and organs on Chad Daybell’s property, according to disturbing courtroom testimony.

FBI Agent Douglas Halepaska, a forensic examiner in the firearms and tool marks division, testified at the doomsday cult mom’s murder trial on Thursday morning about the injuries found on 16-year-old Tylee Ryan’s skeletal remains.

Rachel Sharp reports on his testimony.

Lori Vallow trial hears how killer tried to chop up Tylee’s body ‘with pickaxe’

Did Lori Vallow accidentally make a key confession about her children’s deaths?

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori Vallow’s high-profile trial took an unexpected turn this week when jurors heard a dramatic jailhouse phone call in which the “doomsday cult mom” appeared to make a key confession about her children’s murders.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Did Lori Vallow make a key confession about children’s deaths in a jail call?

Bizarre moments from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

Wednesday 3 May 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Beyond the testimony, there have also been some bizarre happenings taking place inside the courtroom, as Rachel Sharp reports.

Bizarre moments from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

ICYMI: Trial hears devastating call with Vallow’s sister saying she treated children’s bodies ‘like garbage’

Tuesday 2 May 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The trial of “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow has been played a devastating jailhouse call in which her sister accused her of throwing her murdered children “away like garbage.”

An Idaho court heard Summer Shiflet sobbing uncontrollably in audio of a video call she made with her sister as she sat behind bars on 24 June 2020.

Graeme Massie reports.

Vallow trial hears devastating call with sister after discovery of children’s bodies

Court adjourns for the day

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:37 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce adjourns court for the day.

The trial resumes at 8.30am MT tomorrow morning.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:36 , Oliver O'Connell

On redirect, Lindsey Blake asks Mr Gilberty if he is aware of whether any of the children of the other podcasters were found buried on Chad Daybell's property.

He says not that I am aware of.

No further questions.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks Mr Gilbert if where you sit in church has an impact on your spirituality as he mentioned that the Daybells gradually moved from the front of the building to the back.

He responds: “It seems like maybe they were trying to hide a little bit from the way they were before.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutor Lindsey Blake asks Judge Boyce if the court can keep going late today because of travel arrangements.

Defence attorney Jim Archibald continues to question Todd Gilbert, Chad Daybell’s former neighbour.

He asks if what the court heard on the podcast would be considered mainstream LDS beliefs.

“Probably most of it but not all of it,” he replies.

Mr Gilbert says Chad was starting to stray in his beliefs and told him that he mentioned more than once that Tammy visited him and the kids in spirit form.

Archibald asks if he believes Chad. He said he wasn’t sure because it hadn’t happened to him before.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:28 , Oliver O'Connell

The recording of the podcast is stopped.

That is all of it that will be played for the jury.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori says that Jason Mow was sent to her in the celestial room because he writes books about Moroni.

She says that the Lord sent her Melani Gibb.

“The minute I saw her I knew she would be one of the women I was supposed to be involved with.”

“The Lord is building his army. He is calling people to do missions and they are to go forward in faith and this is what he tells you,” Lori says.

She adds that every day, God sends her women who need to be taught.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori continues by asking do I want to go back and say I can’t do that?

She goes on to say that angels on high have ministered to her, the war has started, and these things will start happening in the next two years and we have to be ready. Turn our lives over to Christ and he will build the warrior within.

On the recording, Melanie Gibb asks if anyone has any questions.

Where would you even begin?

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:22 , Oliver O'Connell

The portion of the recording of the podcast featuring Lori is played.

She says: “I am a witness of Jason Mow - to everything he says about what the prophet says and what the Lord is telling us ... My job, according to Jesus Christ, is to wake up the women warriors. I too have gone to the bottom edge ... I too have seen the resurrected Jesus Christ and he has told me my mission and he has sent me to help people and lift them in their mission.”

Lori says he life “turned really bad” and then the Lord showed "me myself as a warrior. A WARRIOR. I fought with Satan in the pre-existence. He showed this to me so I will quit crying in the temple. He showed me so I could be the warrior he sent me here to do.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce concludes that he has no issue with admitting the recording as it is relevant evidence, so the portion with Lori will be played for the jury to consider.

Court resumes

Tuesday 2 May 2023 22:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce returns to the bench and says that having listened to Lori’s portion of the podcast he’s not sure if what he listened to talks about her ex-husband Joe Ryan (Tylee’s father).

He says she talks about religious beliefs and where things are headed and he agrees case law is clear about introducing self-serving statements but the recording does not appear to be self-serving as there is no specific mention of Ryan in the part he listened to.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce calls for the afternoon break so they can review the next portion of the podcast.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutor Lindsey Blake interjects before Lori can be heard to speak on the podcast.

“Your honour, I’d like to renew our objection and ask to approach.”

Attorneys are now holding a sidebar meeting as white noise plays. The prosecution objection is that the recorded podcast may be construed as the defendant being able to address the court without testifying under oath.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Mow concludes by saying it is time to wake up.

“When you feel the burning inside of you, that is the captain's call. That is the warrior. Accept who you are and move forward with faith.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Mow tells listeners they need to be prepared to receive revelation from God and need to teach their children how to defend themselves again Satan.

He laments that children aren’t being taught to fight and the they are distracted by school, government, and cell phones.

“Everything in this world has been designed to distract them from preparing the earth for the Second Coming. Everything is designed to distract and destroy them. Satan has been preparing this battle space for 6,000 years.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Mow says he went to God and was upset because he lost everything.

“I went from being a SWAT guy to an invalid just like that.”

Mow said God answered his prayers and said: “I allowed you to survive all of that so you could do this now. My job now is to help us become who we are destined to become.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Continuing, he says that he has travelled a hard road.

He says he grew up in the LDS church but was not a good Mormon.

He joined the Army and then became a police officer but was wounded and his wife left him.

“I was wounded, crippled, unemployed, broke and divorced.”

Mow says he clawed his way out of his situation because he refused to give up.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Next up on the podcast is Jason Mow, a former police officer for Chandler PD in Arizona.

He talks about the Israelites and the gigantic wall at Jericho.

“Joshua gathered the warriors of Israel together and said sanctify yourselves.”

He says we have been given a timeline by the prophet of God to sanctify ourselves.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Thor cries on the podcast.

"When the heavens are speaking to you, they are very clear, confident and loving," he says.

He adds that when Satan is in the room he can feel the energy and there is chaos, fear, destruction, and negative energy.

God’s plan is perfect — your spirit is a lot stronger than you know, Thor says.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Thor speaks next and describes growing up on a reservation and becoming an alcoholic.

He says Satan is real and his minions are here and that he reached a point where he didn’t care if he lived or died.

Thor says he put a 12-gauge shotgun to his head but the Heavenly Mother entered the room and Satan ran away.

He says he wants to be part of the Lord’s team and Satan is the opposition.

“I will have pure joy and no more Satan.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 21:12 , Oliver O'Connell

The podcast picks up from what was heard earlier in court with Melanie reading something she wrote about being a witness of God and choosing Jesus.

“This is what came to me as I was writing and the spirit filled my soul. I knew that I was his and he has changed me forever.”

She then asks listeners to hear her friends who have had “powerful” spiritual experiences.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Blake argues that the prosecution believes this may open the door for more evidence that wasn't allowed in previously — specifically regarding Lori’s ex-husband Joe Ryan.

Judge Boyce says one door opens another.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:56 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce rules the first 40 minutes can be played.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:54 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald counters that sufficient foundation has been laid to play the first 40 minutes.

"I believe the state opened the door when Mr Gilbert indicated he had listened to a podcast."

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Blake renews her objection based on relevance.

She also says the defendant is attempting to introduce a self-serving statement, which is prohibited.

Blake further says it is hearsay because the three other voices on the recording are not in the courtroom.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Blake now questions Mr Gilbert for the prosecution and asks him if he has ever met Melanie Gibb.

He says they have spoken on the phone once and met once.

Mr Gilbert says he has never met Thor but has met Jason Mow.

“Have you listened to more than one podcast?” Blake asks to which Mr Gilbert says yes.

She asks if he knows when the podcast was made.

“The later part of 2018,” he answers but doesn't know where he heard the podcast other than a website but identifies it as one of three or four he listened to.

Blake asks if this is a complete copy of what he has listened to before, to which he replies: “Yeah, I would think so.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

He also recognises Lori’s voice as she says she has gone to the bottom and seen the resurrected Jesus and he has told me my mission.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:49 , Oliver O'Connell

The prosecution objects to the continuous playing of the podcast but Judge Boyce overrules and asks Archibald to lay more foundation.

Mr Gilbert identifies Thor and Jason Mow when two men begin to speak.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Gilbert says he recognises everyone’s voices on the podcast in which Melanie Gibb talks about having a breakdown and praying in her closet for a year before feeling the love of God.

For those that can hear it, there is apparently a bird and a dog making noise in the background and the sound quality is not great.

Archibald asks Gilbert if he recognises the podcast.

He responds: “I can't remember for sure but it's been a while.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:39 , Oliver O'Connell

In summary, the witness — Mr Gilbert — is being brought back into the courtroom and will be asked foundational questions.

Mr Gilbert will then authenticate that this is indeed the podcast he heard with Lori, Melanie Gibb and others discussing their religious beliefs.

Once he authenticates it, the first 40 minutes will be played for the jury.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce will allow the start of the podcast to be played to see if the witness can lay foundation then the first 40 minutes can come in.

He wants to be able to stop it at any point to see if the state needs to review the exhibit.

He says the podcast is relevant because, in the indictment, the prosecution referenced Lori's religious beliefs and this podcast talks about her religious beliefs.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald for the defence says the podcast was disclosed in discovery but was not on the exhibit list as they did not know Mr Gilbert was going to bring it up.

Judge Boyce says: “If Mr Gilbert recognises this as a podcast he has listened to and can confirm it was the podcast he listened to before, it would allow enough of a foundation for the court to potentially admit the podcast.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutor Lindsey Blake argue that it wasn't on the exhibit list given in discovery.

She adds that there's a lack of foundation and the witness just mentioned it and can't authenticate it.

“He has not indicated a date or time when the podcast was made. He has not indicated the date and time he heard it. He had not indicated which media where he heard it.”

She further says that the podcast contains hearsay and none of the speakers on the podcast are here other than Lori.

“This appears to be an attempt by the defendant to try and get statements in without taking the stand.”

Blakes says: "We would request if the court admits this exhibit, we take a recess to give the state a chance to review it."

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald argues that admitting the podcast as an exhibit will help educate the jury on the religious beliefs of the group.

“Mr. Gilbert testified through questions from the state that Chad Daybell told him about dreams and vision. He was teaching gospel topics and religious subjects.”

He adds that playing the podcast will provide foundation in the case.

Archibald adds that the first 40 minutes are distinct in that all four of the speakers identify themselves and their history — "and then it repeats itself” — and so he would be fine playing just that section.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:26 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s summary via Nate Eaton of the East Idaho News.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks to play one of the podcasts featuring the three and a man named Thor.

There is a sidebar and the jury is sent out while it is argued as to whether the defence can play an almost two-hour podcast in court.

The prosecution does not want it admitted.

Judge Boyce wants a description of what is in the podcast.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks about the Preparing a People conferences and the podcasts that the Gilberts listened to.

“I know Lori was involved in a podcast with Melanie Gibb and Jason Mow,” he says.

He says he doesn’t know much about Jason Mow other than he lives in Arizona and that he knows Melanie is Lori’s friend.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks Mr Gilbert about books that Chad wrote that featured a character based on him — Brother Gilbert in The Times of Turmoil.

“When you read these books with your name in it as Brother Gilbert, was that flattery or an insult?”

“I think it was flattery. He told me beforehand he was going to have me in one of the books so I knew it was coming,” Mr Gilbert replies.

"I feel that he thought a lot of that stuff was going to happen that way and that's why he wrote it that way. I think he thought it was going to be real life," he adds.

Chad’s books were about how the world would end and then Jesus would return.

Asked who the target audience was, Mr Gilbert says it is people who are into preparation and being prepared so they will be able to handle the bad things that are coming when they happen.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:13 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks Mr Gilbert which church he attends and whether he knew of Chad Daybell before the became neighbours.

He replies that he attends the LDS Church Salem 3rd Ward and had read some oft Chad’s books before he met him, describing them as “kind of interesting. They were based on fiction mixed with some of the visions he had seen.”

Asking about Chad’s visions, Archibald cuts to the chase: “Did you believe he was telling you the truth or that he was full of crap?”

He says he was open to listening but wasn’t sure what to think.

Trial resumes

Tuesday 2 May 2023 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Court is back in session following lunch with Judge Boyce back on the bench and the jury back in the room.

Todd Gilbert remains in the witness box and will no be cross-examined by defence attorney Jim Archibald.

Tammy Daybell was likely restrained during her murder, jury hears

Tuesday 2 May 2023 19:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Tammy Daybell, the late wife of doomsday author Chad Daybell, was likely restrained while she was asphyxiated, the Utah state medical examiner told the jury in the trial of Lori Vallow on Monday.

Read more:

Lori Vallow trial hears Tammy Daybell was likely restrained during her murder

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Court breaks for lunch.

Cross-examination of Mr Gilbert will take place in one hour.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:54 , Oliver O'Connell

After Lori was arrested and brought back to Rexburg from Hawaii, Chad visited the Gilberts again.

“Without going into the details about why he was there, do you recall a conversation taking place about his prior statement about Lori having a daughter who had passed away?” Blake asks.

Mr Gilbert recalls his wife asking about Tylee. “He said she (Tylee) didn’t really like him too much and she kind of stayed away.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Gilbert testifies that Chad said his kids felt good about his marriage to Lori. They missed their mother but felt OK about Chad and Lori being together.

Chad said Tammy visited him in spirit and was fine with everything. Her mission on earth was done and she could move on.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Gilbert concurs on his wife’s recollection of when Lori and Chad came over to their house two or three days later — that they were acting like teenagers in love, holding hands, rubbing their legs.

“I thought that was odd as his spouse had just passed a week and a half ago.”

He says he had never seen him act like that with Tammy.

This was the night Chad said he was moving to Hawaii and would marry Lori when Christ told them to do it.

He remembers Lori saying she had a previous husband who had died of a heart attack, and Chad saying Lori had a daughter that had died. There was no mention of JJ or Colby.

Around Thanksgiving, Chad and Lori visited again and said they just got married. They showed the Gilberts all of their wedding photos. Chad told the Gilberts he and Lori were taking his kids to Disneyland.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Recalling when Chad came to visit them, Mr Gilbert says he said he was good and had a girlfriend but seemed hesitant to tell them who it was, before eventually saying it was Lori Vallow.

He was familiar with the name because of the podcasts with Melanie Gibb.

They met her at Temple a few days later.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:42 , Oliver O'Connell

At the funeral,, Mr Gilbert said he expected more emotion from Chad given it had only been three days since his wife’s death. He didn’t seem sad.

“He seemed like he could handle everything ok and then in the funeral when he spoke, which personally I thought was odd too because most people don’t do that when their spouse dies, he did show some emotions and spoke for some time.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Gilbert went with his wife to the Daybell house on the morning Tammy Daybell died.

He recalls Chad seemed “business-like” more than if someone had just lost their companion.

“Things were already planned out and ready to go for the funeral.”

Regarding the vision, he said to Chad: “I guess it happened.”

He turned his back to his family and said: “Yes, it did.”

Chad told him he never told his kids that Tammy would die, and then recounted the story to him about how it happened.

He said he thought she died about 2.30am and when she fell out of bed he called Garth to help him put her back in the bed.

New witness: Todd Gilbert

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:35 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is Todd Gilbert, Alice Gilbert’s husband.

He tells the court that he and his wife met the Daybells when they moved into the area in March 2017 and would see them at church and in their yard.

Mr Gilbert says he knew Chad was an author and he would talk to him about the books as well as the dreams and visions incorporated into them. Chad told him the books were fictional but based on these dreams and visions.

He recalls Chad trying to teach him things that were not LDS doctrine and he would listen but not say anything.

Mr Gilbert corroborates his wife’s story about Chad saying in February 2019 that Tammy would not live to see 50.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:29 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecutor Lindsey Blake has some re-direct questions.

“Did Chad appear enamoured with Lori?”

“Absolutely.”

“And Chad was more enamoured with Lori than he was with Tammy?”

Ms Gilbert responds that he was.

The witness is excused.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks Ms Gilbert if Chad was a “weird guy.”

She says he was but there’s a lot of weird people.

He was odd and she did not look to him for spiritual guidance but says some people were attracted to his spiritual talks. He was convincing and people believed him.

She describes Lori as being enamoured by Chad.

“They were definitely in love,” she says.

No further questions.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Gilbert says you were not a renegade in the church if you attended these events as there was a lot of positive LDS-themed content.

“Did some of the topics focus on the end of the world?” Archibald asks.

Ms Gilbert responds: “I think Chad’s did.”

Archibald asks her if Chad spoke about The Church of the Firstborn.

She says he did not in the seminars but she heard him talk about it in conversations with her husband.

“Sometimes you just nod and listen but again, you have no idea.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Defence attorney Jim Archibald is cross-examining Ms Gilbert.

He begins by asking her how she knows Melanie Gibb. She replies that she doesn’t know her but that she had listened to Melanie and Lori’s podcasts.

“They were upbeat and positive podcasts. Encouragement. A lot of life in the podcasts.”

She tells the court she had read Chad’s books before they had moved to Rexburg and said the beginning of the books said fiction and at the end he said they were visions.

Ms Gilbert says she didn't talk to him about the books but she assumed he thought they were true. She didn't talk to him about his visions but her husband did.

The court hears that the Gilberts lived six houses away from the Daybells and had attended Preparing A People conferences in Rexburg in 2018 and Boise in 2019 at which Chad was both a presenter and was selling his book.

He talked about his near-death experiences. She says they're interesting but she didn't know if they were real or not but they were real to him. His goal was to sell books. These events were not promoted or sanctioned by the LDS church. Those in attendance were not all LDS.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:17 , Oliver O'Connell

There is a brief sidebar before Ms Gilbert’s testimony continues.

During a visit to the Gilbert home, she asked Chad how many daughters Lori had and said that he had told her when they met she had lost a daughter. Chad claimed he had not said that.

She knew that Tylee and JJ were missing and said to Chad, “Didn't Tylee deserve a life? A car? A boyfriend?”

Chad responded: “She didn't like people and she didn't like me.”

Ms Gilvert noted that he used the past tense.

Later, she overheard Chad tell someone “They think I killed my wife.”

The “they” was the Gilberts.

No further questions.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Gilbert says that ater Lori’s arrest Chad came over to ask if he could move in, saying his house was too crowded.

They told him their daughter was coming to live with them and so they did not have room.

He visited again after Lori’s bond hearing and asked if they would put their property up for bond. They told him they would think about it and he left but texted the next day that a bondsman would come and talk to them.

They said they were still talking about it and had questions about Lori’s statement that her daughter had died.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:09 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Gilbert recalls Chad visiting her house by himself in February 2019 when Tammy was still alive. She was in the middle of a project and she walked him to the door.

“He stopped and said he had a vision that Tammy’s time on earth was coming to an end. It was fulfilled. He didn’t know how or when but he didn’t see her living past the age of 50.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:08 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori and Chad came to visit the Gilberts again after they were married when they were taking the Daybell children to Disneyland. They showed them photos from the wedding. It was just two weeks after their first visit.

Chad and Lori also visited other neighbours and even went to the school.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Nothing was said of Lori’s other children, JJ and Colby.

“I had the impression that Lori had no other children. That she was an empty nester. I thought the daughter who had died was like an older daughter who died of cancer or illness or something.”

Tuesday 2 May 2023 18:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Chad brought Lori over to meet the Gilberts at their house.

“They came in and sat on the couch. They were quite affectionate with each other,” Ms Gilbert recalls. “It was abnormal for us to see Chad that way. His arm was around her, he had his arm over her legs. She was giggling and laughing. For my husband and I, we were embarrassed just because we hadn’t seen Chad that way. They looked like teenagers.”

Lori told her that her husband had died of a heart attack and Chad told them that Lori had recently lost a daughter.

Ms Gilbert asked if Lori had other children and she stumbled on the answer.

Chad told the Gilberts he was going to go to Hawaii to write a book and that they were going to get married but they didn’t know when.

They mentioned they were taking Chad’s kids to Disneyland around Thanksgiving.

Court resumes after the morning break

Tuesday 2 May 2023 17:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Court resumes after the morning break. Prosecutor Lindsey Blake continues direct examination of Ms Gilbert.

She tells the court that Chad did come to their house as he said he would.

“He came over to our place and I made cookies. He came in and sat in the kitchen. We asked how he was doing. He said, ‘Actually I’m going very good.’ He said he met the woman he was going to marry.”

They were shocked. He told them how beautiful Lori was and that they had met at a conference. He eventually told them her name.

On another night when they were working at the LDS temple, Chad tapped her on the shoulder and asked her to come into the hall where she met Lori.

“It was awkward,” Ms Gilbert recalls.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 17:25 , Oliver O'Connell

The court breaks for the morning recess.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 17:25 , Oliver O'Connell

The following week Ms Gilbert went to check on the Daybell children, Emma and Garth.

Emma was struggling, crying, and missing her mother. Ms Gilbert and others helped with meals and cleaning the house.

Emma told her that Chad didn’t want anything to do with her or her siblings.

Ms Gilbert called Chad and asked if she could come and visit and was told no, but he would come and see her.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 17:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Gilbert went to Tammy’s funeral in Springvill, Utah, which she describes as nice and recalls all of the children spoke.

“They did really nice talks and tributes to her.”

Chad spoke last, and she remembers: “He gave a good talk too. Maybe more like a church talk than a spouse would speak about their spouse.”

After the funeral, Ms Gilbert didn't go to the memorial service but the bishop took a meal to Chad's house for the family and learned that Chad was moving out as he couldn't be there any more.

Asked where he was going he said Rexburg as a friend had a condo there he could use.

Chad told the children to go through Tammy’s things that afternoon.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 17:16 , Oliver O'Connell

On the day of Tammy’s death, she got a call from the Daybell’s daughter Emma at 7am, sobbing. Chad took the phone from Emma and told her not to tell anyone and to wait for an hour.

Ms Gilbert told him she needed to call the bishop and Chad told her not to, but she did anyway.

At about 8.30am she went to the Daybell’s home and Chad met her at the door and gave her a hug. She says that all of the chidlren and their spouses were there except Mark. They were stunned and could hardly speak.

Chad was not.

He told her that they thought Tammy died of an embolism, her legs were hanging off the bed, and she had gotten up at midnight and vomited.

Ms Gilbert says she was surprised by this as Tammy had not complained of any ill health. She and her husband went to get breakfast for everyone.

As she got up to leave, Chad told her the funeral was going to be on Tuesday and a memorial on Wednesday [Tammy died on Saturday]. Ms Gilbert said this seemed very quick and she asked if Chad planned this — meaning if Tammy and Chad had previously planned their funerals.

Chad responded: “No”, which Ms Gilbert says caught her off guard.

Tuesday 2 May 2023 17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Gilbert noticed a distance grow between Chad and Tammy in 2019.

Tammy never talked about her marriage other than one time mentioning that their finances were strained.

As with other witnesses in this portion of the trial, she said Tammy's activity level increased before her death and she never saw any signs of health problems.

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