Alex J. Ryan

Chad Daybell, an author and publisher, developed a following for his apocalyptic religious beliefs, which included claims of prophetic visions and past lives. His teachings deviated significantly from mainstream Mormonism, attracting individuals like Lori Vallow Daybell, who embraced his fringe ideology. Together, they formed a small religious group and became lovers, believing themselves to be divinely appointed figures destined to play roles in an impending apocalypse.

Their radical beliefs, coupled with financial motives, became intertwined with a series of violent crimes. These included the murders of Lori's children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, Lori's ex-husband Charles Vallow, and Chad's wife Tammy Daybell, as well as an attempted murder on Brandon Boudreaux. The investigation and subsequent trials revealed a complex web of spiritual extremism, financial gain, and personal relationships that culminated in multiple convictions for both Chad and Lori Daybell.

Chad Daybell was an author and publisher known for his apocalyptic themes and radical religious views, which diverged sharply from mainstream Mormonism. He claimed to experience supernatural visions and to have lived multiple past lives, asserting that his writings were factual accounts of future events rather than fiction. Daybell's beliefs included prophecies of global destruction and the end of the world, which gained traction among a segment of Mormon preppers. He also developed a system for categorizing people as 'light' or 'dark' and claimed to have received divine instruction to relocate to Rexburg, Idaho.

Lori Vallow Daybell became deeply interested in Chad Daybell's writings and radical religious concepts, including reincarnation and near-death experiences, which are not part of traditional LDS doctrine. She adopted his fringe beliefs, coming to see herself as a deity with a mission related to the apocalypse, believing her family members were obstacles. Their shared beliefs led them to form a religious group, the "Church of the Firstborn," with Chad as its leader. They communicated privately after meeting at a "Preparing a People" event, and their relationship evolved into a romantic affair, despite both being married.

The relationship between Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell became central to a series of murders, including child murder, filicide, and spousal murder. The crimes were attributed to the couple and Lori's brother, Alex Cox, who authorities believed participated in all the killings. The motives were described as a combination of their apocalyptic beliefs, the desire to facilitate their affair, and financial gain through life insurance and children's benefits. The investigation into the disappearances of Lori's children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, led to the discovery of their remains and the subsequent arrests and convictions of Chad and Lori.