The Zombie Murders - "WHEN THE DEAD SPEAK: Bodies Break the Perfect Murder Plot"

0:03 Caalarogus Shark Media. Good morning, I'm read Carter, and welcome to the final episode of our Valor day Bell series on celebrity trials. For nine months, Chad day Bell and Lauri Valo believed they had committed the perfect crimes. They had murdered five people, buried two children, and convinced themselves they would never face consequences for their actions. They were wrong. Today were exploring how the dead spoke from their graves to destroy their killer's delusions and bring justice to two families torn apart by evil disguised as divine mission. What happened on June ninth, twenty twenty changed everything. It was the day investigators finally found JJ and Tyley's bodies, the day physical evidence replaced speculation, and the day Chad and Laurie's lies collapsed under the weight of horrific truth. But this story isn't just about discovery and justice. It's about what happens when the victims refuse to stay buried and silent.

1:08 Because sometimes the most powerful testimony doesn't come from witnesses or experts. Sometimes it comes from the dead themselves, speaking through evidence that no amount of spiritual delusion can explain away. The search for JJ and Tyley Vallo had captured national attention for months. True crime podcasters analyzed every development, Amateur investigators scoured social media for clues, Concerned citizens organized search parties and distributed missing persons flyers. But while the public focused on finding living children, investigators had already shifted to a much darker mission, recovering bodies. By spring twenty twenty, authorities were convinced that JJ and Tyleye were dead. The timeline of their disappearance, combined with Chad and Laurie's behavior and financial motives, painted a clear picture of family annihilation.

2:01 The question wasn't whether the children had been murdered, It was where their bodies were hidden and what evidence they might provide. Phone records became the key to solving that puzzle. Investigators had discovered that Chad's phone had pinged at specific locations on his Fremont County property on the exact dates when JJ and Tyley disappeared. The electronic trail led directly to Chad's backyard, where ground penetrating radar detected suspicious soil disturbances. June ninth, twenty twenty, Armed with search warrants and cadaver dogs, investigators descended on Chad day Bell's property in Salem, Idaho. Chad watched from his house as law enforcement began systematically searching his land, but he still believed his secrets were safe.

2:49 After all, he had buried the bodies months earlier, and decomposition should have eliminated much of the physical evidence. Chad day Bell was about to learn that the dead don't always cooperate with their killer's plans. The first discovery came around nine thirty that morning. Cadaver dogs alerted to an area near Chad's fire pit, where investigators found human remains that had been partially burned. Dental records would later confirm these were the remains of sixteen year old Tylee Ryan, but the condition of Tilee's body told a story more horrific than anyone had imagined. The teenager hadn't just been killed, She had been dismembered and burned in an attempt to destroy all evidence of her existence. Someone had taken extraordinary measures to erase Tiley Ryan from the world, using tools and techniques that suggested both planning and rage. The discovery of Tiley's remains was devastating enough, but investigators weren't finished.

3:49 Cadaver dogs led them to a second location on the property, where they found something that would haunt even experienced law enforcement officers for years to come. Buried in a shallow grave, wrapped in multiple layers of plastic bags and duct tape, was the body of seven year old JJ Valow. The little boy's body was so carefully packaged that investigators initially thought they had found evidence, not human remains, But when they opened the packages, they discovered JJ's small body, preserved in a way that told its own horrific story. JJ had been suffocated. The plastic bags and duct tape that covered his face made the cause of death unmistakable, But what made the discovery even more chilling was the level of planning. It revealed. Someone had carefully wrapped this child's body for burial, taking time to ensure that decomposition would be slowed and evidence preserved. Chad Dabell was arrested at his home within hours of the body's discovery. As investigators led him away in handcuffs. Neighbors reported that he showed no emotion, no shock, no grief at the discovery of two children's bodies on his property. He looked like a man who had been expecting this moment for months. The discovery of the bodies transformed the valodbl case from a missing person's investigation into a death penalty murder case. Physical evidence now supported every theory investigators had developed about the couple's crimes. The timeline, the motives, the methods. Everything fell

5:20 into place with the discovery of JJ and Tyley's remains. But the bodies provided more than just proof of murder. They provided evidence of the systematic, calculated nature of Chad and Laurie's crimes. The different methods used to dispose of Tyley and JJ suggested that their murders had been planned separately, carried out at different times, and covered up with careful attention to detail. Most importantly, the condition of the bodies proved that these weren't crimes of passion or sudden violence. These were executions carried out by people who had convinced themselves that murdering children was not just acceptable, but necessary for their spiritual mission. Lauri Valo was already in custody in Idaho, having been extradited from Hawaii on the original charges of desertion and non support, but with the discovery of the bodies, both she and Chad now faced first degree murder charges that could result in the death penalty.

6:18 The evidence against them was overwhelming. Phone records placed both suspects at the burial locations during the times of the murders. Financial records showed they were benefiting from the victim's deaths. Witness testimony revealed their beliefs about eliminating zombies and preparing for the apocalypse, But perhaps most damning of all were their own words. Text messages between Chad and Laurie discussing death percentages and divine plans for the children's elimination. Recorded conversations where they casually discussed rating people's spiritual darkness. Their own communications had created a documentary record of their planning and motivation. The trials that followed would captivate a Marriae and reveal the full scope of Chad and Laurie's evil, But even facing overwhelming evidence and potential execution, both defendants maintained their innocence and their belief in their divine mission.

7:13 Laurie Valodabell's trial began in April twenty twenty three, nearly three years after the discovery of her children's bodies. Prosecutors presented a case that was both legally complex and emotionally devastating. They had to prove not just that Laurie had murdered JJ and Tyly, but that she had done so with premeditation and specific intent. The evidence was overwhelming. Investigators had recovered the children's DNA from tools in Chad's garage. They had documented Laurie's lies about the children's whereabouts. They had traced the financial benefits she continued to collect after their deaths. But the most powerful evidence came from the victims themselves.

7:53 JJ's body, preserved by the plastic wrapping, provided clear evidence of suffocation. Tyleye's de gental records recovered from the fire pit proved her identity and the violent nature of her death. In May twenty twenty three, after deliberating for just seven hours, the jury found Laurie Valo da Bell guilty on all counts, two counts of first degree murder for JJ and Tyly, and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Tammy day Bell. Judge Stephen Boyce sentenced her to multiple life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. During the sentencing hearing, victim impacts statements revealed the ongoing devastation caused by Laurie's crimes. Kay Woodcock, JJ's grandmother spoke about the daily pain of losing her grandson. Tammy Day Bell's sister described how Chad and Laurie's actions had destroyed their family's ability to trust and heal. But perhaps most telling was Laurie's own statement to the court. Even facing life in prison, she maintained her innocence and her belief that she had been chosen by God for a special mission. She showed no remorse for her actions and no acknowledgment of the pain she had caused. Chad Dabell's trial followed in twenty twenty four, and if anything, the evidence against him was even stronger. As the alleged spiritual leader of their cult of two, Chad was portrayed as the mastermind who had

9:23 convinced Laurie to murder her own children. Prosecutors argued that Chad had used religious manipulation to convince Laurie that killing was not just acceptable, but necessary. The jury heard evidence about Chad's failed career as an author, his financial desperation, and his use of apocalyptic beliefs to justify murder. They learned about his systematic rating of family members and his claims of divine revelation about who needed to die. Back in a moment, welcome back to celebrity Trials, I'm Red Carter and were concluding our series on the Valoda Bell murders with the trials that brought justice for five victims.

10:13 Chad Dabell's trial in twenty twenty four revealed new details about the couple's crimes and their twisted relationship. Unlike Laurie, who had been spared the death penalty due to prosecutorial discovery violations, Chad faced execution if convicted. The evidence against Chad was devastating. Investigators had found the murder weapon, a pickaxe, and shovel with Tyley's DNA in his garage. They had documented his presence at the burial sites through phone records. They had recorded his lies about Tammy's death and his immediate attempts to collect insurance money. But Chad made a crucial mistake during his trial. He chose not to present any mitigating evidence during the penalty phase. When given the opportunity to explain his actions or ask for Mr. Percy, Chad remained silent. He seemed to believe that his divine mission justified his crimes and that earthly courts had no authority over him. The jury disagreed. In June twenty twenty four, Chad Dabell was sentenced to death for the murders of JJ Tyley and Tammy. Judge Stephen Boyce formally imposed the death sentence, calling Chad's crimes especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel.

11:26 But the Valo da Bell story didn't end with the Idaho convictions. Prosecutors in Arizona had been building their own case against Lourie for the murder of Charles Valo and the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreau, her niece's ex husband. In twenty twenty five, Laurie faced two additional trials in Arizona, representing herself as her own attorney. The evidence in these cases was just as damning as what had been presented in Idaho. Prosecutors showed that Laurie had conspired with her brother Alex Cox to murder Charles and had planned Brandon's assassination as well. In April twenty twenty five, Laurie was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in Charles Valow's death.

12:08 In June twenty twenty five, she was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the attempted killing of Brandon Boudreaux. These convictions ensured that, even if her Idaho sentences were somehow overturned, Laurie would spend the rest of her life in prison. The trials revealed the full scope of Chad and Laurie's crimes. Five murders, two attempted murders, multiple insurance fraud schemes, and the systematic destruction of two families. They had used religious delusion to justify evil, convinced themselves that murder was divine work, and shown no remorse even when faced with overwhelming evidence of their guilt. But what does the Valo debl case teach us about family annihilation in America?

12:52 How do ordinary people become capable of murdering their own children and spouses. The answer lies in the dangerous combination of narcissism, financial desperation, and religious extremism that drove Chad and Laurie's crimes. They weren't mentally ill in the traditional sense. They were selfish people who created a belief system that justified eliminating anyone who inconvenienced them. Chad day Bell was a failed author desperate for relevance and financial security. Laurie Valo was a serial bride searching for meaning and validation. Together, they created a twisted theology that made them the heroes of their own apocalyptic story and everyone else expendable characters.

13:34 Their case shows how dangerous it is when people convince themselves they're chosen by God for special missions. Once you believe you're above human law and morality, once you decide that other people aren't really human but spiritual obstacles, murder becomes not just possible but righteous. The Valoda Bell murders also reveal the importance of listening to family members who raise concerns about abuse and strange behavior. Charles Valow went to police months before his death, warning them about Laurie's dangerous beliefs. The Woodcock family persistently demanded contact with JJ when Laurie began making excuses. These weren't isolated concerns, they were warning signs that could have prevented murders if taken more seriously. Most importantly, this case shows that justice while sometimes slow, is often inevitable. Chad and Laurie thought they had committed perfect crimes, but their own arrogance and need for validation led them to create the very evidence that would convict them. Their text messages, their lies, their financial greed, all of it came back to destroy their claims of innocence. Today, Laurie Valoda Bell sits in an Idaho prison, serving multiple life sentences with no possibility of parole. She continues to maintain her innocence and her belief in her divine mission, even as she faces the reality of dying behind bars.

14:58 Chad day Bell sits on dea row, awaiting execution for his crimes. Like most death penalty cases, his appeals will likely take years or even decades to resolve, but barring successful appeals or commutation, Chad will eventually face the same fate he imposed on his victims. The families they destroyed continue to rebuild their lives around the holes left by murdered loved ones. Kay and Larry Woodcock established a foundation in JJ's memory to help other families dealing with missing children. Tammy day Bell's family works to preserve her memory as a loving mother and educator, not just as a murder victim, and somewhere in shallow graves in Idaho, JJ and Tyley's voices finally spoke loud enough to convict their killers. The dead don't always stay silent, and sometimes their testimony is the most powerful of all. This has been our five part series on the Valo day Bell Doomsday murders. It's a story about how love became obsession, religion became justification for murder, and family bonds became death sentences. But it's also a story about justice, persistence, and the truth that emerges even from carefully buried lies. I'm read Carter with celebrity trials. Remember that the most dangerous criminals aren't always the ones who look evil. Sometimes they're the ones who think they're saints. And the most important lesson from cases like this isn't just how people become killers, but how we can recognize the warning signs before it's too late to save the innocent. Justice isn't always fast, but it's

16:32 always riveting, and sometimes it speaks through the voices of the dead.