Episode Details

Day 22 of Chad Daybell’s trial focused heavily on the physical evidence surrounding the death and disposal of Tylee Ryan. FBI forensic anthropologist Dr. Angi Christensen testified that she examined more than 100 of Tylee’s bones and found fractures and sharp-force injuries inflicted while the bones were still “biomechanically fresh,” meaning around the time of death, although she could not say whether the injuries occurred immediately before or after Tylee died. FBI tool-mark examiner Douglas Halepaska told jurors that marks on the remains were consistent with stabbing and chopping motions potentially made by instruments such as a knife, hatchet, cleaver or pick, though investigators could not match the damage to a specific recovered tool. Prosecutors also presented satellite imagery showing changes in the area of Chad’s property where Tylee was later found, while Tylee’s friend Ashlyn Rynd described losing contact with her after Tylee moved to Idaho and portrayed her as deeply protective of JJ. Jurors additionally heard more of Chad and Lori Vallow’s sexually explicit “James and Elena” communications, along with FBI testimony about burner phones connected to Chad and Lori and cellphone information showing Tylee’s and Lori’s phones together around the period prosecutors considered Tylee’s final proof of life.

Day 23 shifted the prosecution’s attention toward Tammy Daybell’s death and Alex Cox’s movements around the times Tylee and JJ disappeared. Dr. Lily Marsden, who participated in Tammy’s autopsy after her body was exhumed, testified that Tammy died from asphyxia and that the manner of death was homicide, explaining that smothering, chest compression or another form of airway restriction could kill someone without leaving dramatic external injuries. She also described bruising on Tammy’s arms and chest as acute, meaning it occurred shortly before or around the time of death. FBI investigator Ricky Wright then used cellphone-location evidence to trace Alex Cox’s movements, placing Cox at Chad Daybell’s property during critical periods connected to both children’s deaths and burials. That evidence reinforced one of the prosecution’s central theories: Cox acted as the physical participant while Chad and Lori supplied the motive, direction and religious justification. By the end of Day 23, prosecutors had connected Tammy’s death to homicide through medical testimony while continuing to build the digital trail linking Cox to the locations where Tylee and JJ were ultimately found buried on Chad’s property.


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