Chad Daybell, the man whose missing adoptive children were found dead on his property last year, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in connection with their death.
Daybell pleaded not guilty to the murder of 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan during a court appearance in Fremont County, Idaho on Wednesday.
Daybell also pleaded not guilty to several other charges, including insurance fraud. The judge in the case said a scheduling conference for the upcoming trial would take place in two weeks.
If convicted, Daybell could face the death penalty or life in prison.
Earlier on Wednesday, a judge ordered Daybell's wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, be sent to a health and welfare facility for up to 90 days to restore her competency to stand trial. That ruling comes about a week after a psychologist ruled that Lori Vallow Daybell was unfit to stand trial.
Daybell also faces murder charges in connection with JJ and Tylee's death.
#BREAKING A judge has signed an order to commit Lori Vallow #Daybell following the evaluation by a phycologist wich said she is not fit for trial. Her husband is expected to enter a plea this morning at 10:30 a.m. pic.twitter.com/pMnc5ZeBv1
— Eric Grossarth (@ericgrossarth) June 9, 2021
JJ and Tylee were reported missing in Idaho in the fall of 2019, shortly after Daybell married Lori Vallow Daybell. The children were reported missing by JJ's grandparents.
While authorities searched for the children, the Daybells traveled to Hawaii. Vallow Daybell was arrested there in February 2020 and charged with the desertion of her children.
In June 2020, police executed a search warrant at Daybell's home, where they discovered the remains of JJ and Tylee buried on the property. Daybell was arrested and charged with destruction of evidence.
It wasn't until last month that the Daybells were charged with murder in connection with the deaths of their children.
