ST. ANTHONY, Idaho — Chad Daybell appeared in court in Idaho Monday on charges related to the deaths of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan.
The preliminary hearing started at 9 a.m. at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony.
Daybell is charged with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, after their bodies were foundon his property June 9.
They are the children of Lori Vallow Daybell, who faces the same charges as her husband, Chad.
The hearing began with prosecutor Rob Wood questioning Rexburg Police Detective Ray Hermosillo, who originally tried to conduct a welfare check on JJ after his grandmother called police to report she had not heard from her grandson for weeks.
The detective detailed his very first interaction with Chad Daybell and said despite the fact he had recently married Lori Vallow, Daybell said he only met her a few times and didn't even have her phone number.
“Again asked Mr. Daybell if he has Lori Vallow phone number, and he gave it.” Hermosillo testified before Wood cut in with a question. “Did you ask why he didn't give it the first time,” Wood asked. “He said he felt like I was accusing him of something,” Hermosillo answered.
New details about the deaths of JJ and Tylee came out in Monday’s hearing.
Hermosillo described how JJ was found buried in his pajamas, his body bound by duct tape with a trash bag over his head.
“Did you recognize the child,” Wood asked. “Yes I did…from hundreds of photographs over 8 months,” Hermosillo testified. “I recognized the same little boy as laying on the table.” Wood asked, “Who was that,” and the detective answered, “Joshua Vallow.”
JJ’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock are attending the hearing and got emotional when they heard the new details.
The hearing is expected to last Monday and Tuesday.
FOX 13 is live streaming both days of the preliminary hearing.
