Judge permanently seals exhibits in Daybell case

ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (KIFI) - Judge Steve Boyce has ordered 97 exhibits used in the Chad Daybell trial to remain sealed from the public.

The order says permanently sealing the exhibits will spare family members from ongoing trauma because of the sensitive or gruesome material.

Daybell was sentenced to death on June 1, 2024, for the murders of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and his current wife, Lori Vallow's children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan.

Boyce said the court had received multiple requests from various individuals, including media members and authors intending to publish information about this case.

"Notably, the Court was particularly moved by several victim impact statements at sentencing expressly criticizing individuals proclaiming to be "media" who, in the course of this case, have disrupted the lives of the families of these victims in the past and now continue their efforts to sensationalize and capitalize on this case. Some of those family members described in detail the psychological trauma they have unfairly been subjected to by the "media," simply because they had some familial relationship to the victims in this case," the order said.

A footnote clarifies which "media" it refers to, "The Court is not here referring to established and historically recognized reporting agencies, such as the Associated Press, etc. Rather, the reference "media" pertains to "true crime" bloggers, YouTubers, Crimecon participants, etc."

Chad Daybell is being held in the Maximum Security Institution. He has filed a notice of appeal for his conviction.