Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Mega Edition: Chad Daybell Trial (Part 27-28) (10/25/26)
Published 7 hours ago
Description
Day twenty-seven of Chad Daybell’s trial continued the defense effort to challenge both the prosecution’s theory of Tammy Daybell’s death and the investigation itself. Chad’s son-in-law Joseph Murray returned to the stand and was questioned about money Chad distributed to his children on June 9, 2020, the same day investigators discovered JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan buried on Chad’s property; Murray acknowledged receiving $8,000 from Chad, while other children also received money and Emma was given roughly $9,000 in cash. The defense then called forensic pathologist Dr. Kathy Raven, who directly disputed the state medical examiner’s conclusion that Tammy had been murdered by asphyxiation. Raven testified that Tammy’s autopsy showed no anatomical cause of death, no significant injury to her neck or throat and no scientific evidence, in her opinion, proving homicide, leading her to classify the cause of death as undetermined. Prosecutors attacked the scope of Raven’s review, pointing out that she had not examined numerous investigative reports, medical records and other materials considered by the Utah medical examiner. Neighbor Reegan Price, Idaho Attorney General investigator Asmir Kararic and retired Rexburg detective Rick Schmitt also testified as the defense attempted to challenge aspects of the investigation, the religious beliefs attributed to Chad and the way investigators searched his property.
Day twenty-eight turned almost entirely to the prosecution’s electronic and forensic evidence, with the defense calling data-forensics expert Patrick Eller and DNA expert Dr. Greg Hampikian. Eller testified that although Alex Cox’s cellphone was detected on Chad’s property during critical periods on September 9 and September 23, 2019—the dates associated with the burials of Tylee and JJ—he found no electronic location data placing Chad’s devices on the property at the same time. Prosecutors countered that Chad used multiple phones and that the absence of geolocation data did not establish that Chad himself was absent, since location tracking could be disabled or a phone could simply be turned off. Hampikian then testified that his review of the DNA testing found no Chad Daybell DNA on the tested evidence associated with the children and that four hairs he reviewed did not match Chad, Lori or JJ. He nevertheless acknowledged that Tylee’s DNA had been found on the shovel and pickaxe recovered from Chad’s property and that the laboratories had not improperly conducted their testing. By the end of the day, defense attorney John Prior said he was prepared to rest, while prosecutors began preparing rebuttal witnesses to answer the defense claims about Tammy’s health, the investigation and the physical evidence.
to contact me:
bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Day twenty-eight turned almost entirely to the prosecution’s electronic and forensic evidence, with the defense calling data-forensics expert Patrick Eller and DNA expert Dr. Greg Hampikian. Eller testified that although Alex Cox’s cellphone was detected on Chad’s property during critical periods on September 9 and September 23, 2019—the dates associated with the burials of Tylee and JJ—he found no electronic location data placing Chad’s devices on the property at the same time. Prosecutors countered that Chad used multiple phones and that the absence of geolocation data did not establish that Chad himself was absent, since location tracking could be disabled or a phone could simply be turned off. Hampikian then testified that his review of the DNA testing found no Chad Daybell DNA on the tested evidence associated with the children and that four hairs he reviewed did not match Chad, Lori or JJ. He nevertheless acknowledged that Tylee’s DNA had been found on the shovel and pickaxe recovered from Chad’s property and that the laboratories had not improperly conducted their testing. By the end of the day, defense attorney John Prior said he was prepared to rest, while prosecutors began preparing rebuttal witnesses to answer the defense claims about Tammy’s health, the investigation and the physical evidence.
to contact me:
bobbycapucci@protonmail.com