The judge overseeing the murder and conspiracy trials of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell this week issued an order permanently sealing 97 exhibits from the public, including media outlets.
In his five-page order, Judge Steven Boyce wrote that he was keenly aware of both the rights of victims and their families to privacy, respect, and dignity and the right of the public to information about the case. Since the convictions of both Daybell and Vallow Daybell, Boyce said the court had received multiple requests for previously sealed exhibits from the trials, “with some expressly requesting the autopsy photos published to the jury in this case.”
The judge said he “was particularly moved by several victim impact statements at sentencing expressly criticizing individuals proclaiming to be ‘media,’ who, in the course of this case, have disrupted the lives of the families of these victims in the past and now continue their efforts to sensationalize and capitalize on this case.”
A footnote attached to the word “media” made a distinction between “established and recognized reporting agencies, such as the Associated Press” and “‘true crime’ bloggers, YouTubers, Crimecon participants, etc.”
Boyce then listed the 97 exhibits he was permanently sealing by exhibit number without descriptions.
061724 Order Notice Permanent Sealing Certain Trial Exhibits by kc wildmoon on Scribd
“The above-referenced exhibits, upon balance, are to remain sealed as the interests of the victims and their family members to be spared the ongoing trauma of such sensitive or gruesome material is not outweighed by the right of the public disclosure of this evidence,” he wrote. “Victims Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow, Tamara Douglas Daybell and their family members’ respect, dignity, and privacy are best protected by the continued sealing of these exhibits.”
The order prohibits the custodian of the evidence from “disseminating them without the express authorization from this Court to do so.”
Daybell and Vallow Daybell are both appealing their convictions, as CrimeOnline has reported. Daybell is also appealing his death sentence; Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison. Additionally, she had been extradited to Arizona, where she will stand trial for conspiracy to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
