Hundreds of people are expected to gather in an Idaho courtroom Monday morning as attorneys begin selecting 18 potential jurors for the trial of a woman accused of wrongdoing. What prosecutors say is a doomsday-focused plot.
Prosecutors have charged Laurie Vallo Debell and her husband Chad Debell with conspiracy, murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallo Debell’s two youngest children: 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallo and older sister Tylee Ryan, the latter of whom had her 17th birthday in 2019. Seen a few days ago. Prosecutors charged him with involvement in the October 2019 death of Chad Debell’s late wife, Tammy Debell.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty, but only Valo Debel’s trial began Monday. The cases have been dismissed and Chad Debell’s trial is still months away. Valo debel face Life imprisonment on conviction.
The investigation attracted worldwide attention and was closely followed in the rural eastern Idaho community where the children’s bodies were found Chad was found buried in Debell’s yard. As a result, Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce moved the trial 200 miles east to the city of Boise.
Dennis Fujimoto/AP, Pool via Garden Island
Prosecutors said Debals was strangely supportive Doomsday-centered belief to collect life insurance money and the children’s Social Security and survivor benefits in furtherance of their alleged plan to kill the children and Tammy Debell.
Police recorded detailed interviews with family members and friends who said the couple led a group who met to pray, believing they could ward off evil spirits and reveal “beyond the spiritual veil”. Melanie Gibb, Valo Debelle’s close friend, told investigators the couple believed people became “zombies” when they were possessed by evil spirits.
The group would spend time praying to get rid of the zombies and believe that, if they succeeded, the possessed person would physically die, freeing their trapped soul from “limbo”. Valo Debell called JJ and Tylee “zombies” several times before they died, Gibb told investigators.
AP / Madison Co. Sheriff
Authorities summoned 1,800 potential jurors to court in late March, requiring each of them to complete a 20-page questionnaire to determine if anyone was unable to properly judge the case. Defense attorneys and prosecutors have spent the past few days reviewing questionnaires and will begin questioning the remaining jury pool members Monday in an effort to select 12 jurors and six alternates to hear the case. The process may take several days.
Idaho law enforcement officials began investigating the couple in November 2019 after extended family members reported the children missing. During that time, police say the couple lied about the children’s whereabouts. The children’s bodies were buried on Chad Debell’s property in rural Idaho.
The couple married two weeks after Chad Debell’s previous wife died unexpectedly. Tammy Debell’s death was initially reported as the result of natural causes, but investigators exhumed her body after suspicions grew after Chad Debell quickly remarried.
Vallo Debell has been charged separately with conspiracy to commit murder in Arizona in connection with the July 2019 death of her ex-husband, Charles Vallo. He was shot and killed by Valo Debell’s brother, Alex Cox, who claimed self-defense.
The Arizona case is on hold during the Idaho proceedings.