Attorneys for Lori Vallow Daybell asked a judge on Tuesday to enter a not-guilty plea on her behalf after she chose to remain silent, according to numerous media reports.
Vallow Daybell was in a Fremont County courtroom — the first time the public has seen her since 2020, as she’s been under the care of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Earlier this month, a judge found her competent to stand trial.
Lori’s husband, Chad Daybell, also made a court appearance for a hearing on a trial venue.
Chad and his wife Lori have been charged with numerous crimes – including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, 7-year-old JJ Vallow, and Chad’s former wife, Tammy Daybell. They are also charged with other charges including conspiracy to commit murder.
The couple’s previous court hearings and appearances have mostly been live-streamed on various platforms, but a judge did not allow any live-streaming of Tuesday’s appearances.
Lori and Chad are facing the death penalty.
In Chad Daybell’s hearing, the state asked that the trial be held in Fremont County with Ada County jurors kept sequestered in Fremont.
The state presented four witnesses, focusing on the economic impacts of holding a trial in Ada County.
The state’s position is that the defendant picked venue when the bodies were hidden on his property and when he killed Tammy Daybell. And because of that, the case should be tried in that jurisdiction.
Defense attorney John Prior argued that keeping a jury for 8-10 weeks in a different county amounts to sequestering them, which the judge has not yet determined should happen.
“They’re going to be sequestered in a hotel, and at that point, judge you have made a decision in a backhanded way that this jury is going to be sequestered.”
Prior argued that the primary consideration is whether the trial can be fair and impartial, and that cost should not determine the location.
“He is entitled to a fair trial above anything else,” Prior said.
Prior also motioned to end the hearing, stating that the judge had previously ruled the trial would be held in Ada County in order for it to be fair and impartial.
The judge overruled the motion and allowed the prosecution to present witnesses.
Each witness testified about the costs of having the trial in Ada County. Fremont County Clerk Abbie Mace testified that costs would be a total of $307,460 for Ada County and $187,840 for Fremont County.
Prior argued that the state was being “excessive” in assuming how many employees would be needed in Ada County to hold the trial.
