BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Nate Eaton of East Idaho News is reporting that Judge Boyce has denied a motion to move Chad Daybell's trial back to Fremont County.
Chad Daybell is facing charges of 1st degree murder of his then-wife, Tammy Daybell, and his now current wife's children JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Lori Vallow Daybell, Chad's wife, was tried earlier this year and found guilty on charges of 1st degree murder and conspiracy. She is now facing a new round of charges in Arizona for conspiring to kill her former husband Charles Vallow, and her nieces former husband, Brandon Boudreaux.
Charles Vallow was killed by Lori's brother, Alex Cox. Charges were never brought against Cox, who died later of natural causes.
Chad and Lori's trials were conjoined and they were to be tried together, but they were separated due to the fact that Lori did not waive her right to a speedy trial and Chad did. Lori's lawyers successfully argued that the mountain of evidence, witnesses, and pretrial proceedings were too much for them to adequately prepare for in such a short amount of time and asked the judge to take the death penalty of the table.
Prior to the severing of their two cases, the trial was moved to Ada County. The small number of residents in Fremont County combined with the tightknit community and proximity to the trial made the decision to move the trial to Boise in search of an impartial jury a clear cut decision. But now, ahead of Chad's upcoming trial, prosecutors have argued that it should be returned to Fremont County.
Fremont County is home to roughly 2,000 eligible jurors. Some 1,800 potential jurors were summoned in Lori Vallow Daybell's trial, which was not a capital case. Chad Daybell still faces the death penalty, meaning eligibility questions for potential jurors, and the rigor with which they are selected will be that much more intense, meaning many more could ultimately be summoned in this case.
Ultimately Judge Boyce decided to stick with his initial decision, to keep the trial in Ada County.
ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmpaeTlrlwr8eam2acka6vprjLZquroZGherW7jKucppmZo3qquoyam5plk6TCr8DYZqGunJeaeqO72JycZqqVn7KkwNJmqZ6kn5iutbXOpw%3D%3D