During opening statements in the triple-murder trial of Chad Daybell, prosecutors painted a picture of a man driven by a "desire for sex, money and power" who labeled those who stood in the way of his dreams as “zombies” and "dark spirits." Daybell and his current wife, Lori Vallow, were charged in connection with the deaths of Daybell's ex-wife, Tammy Daybell, and Vallow's children, Joshua 'JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. The prosecution described how Daybell and Vallow created a narrative that dehumanized those who opposed them, leading to the deaths of their loved ones.

The trial, expected to last 10 weeks, began with prosecutors detailing the timeline of events that led to the discovery of the remains of Joshua and Tylee on Daybell's property in Idaho. Authorities believe the children were killed between September 2019 and June 2020. The couple initially misled police about the whereabouts of the children, claiming Joshua was with a family friend in Arizona. However, a formal search began after concerned family members contacted authorities.

The case took a dark turn with the deaths of Charles Vallow, Lori Vallow's fourth husband, and Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell's first wife. Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, in what was claimed to be self-defense. Tammy Daybell's death was initially believed to be from natural causes, but an autopsy later revealed it was a homicide. Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow married just two weeks after Tammy's funeral, sparking suspicions about their involvement in the deaths.

Prosecutors have accused Daybell and Vallow of using their apocalyptic religious beliefs to justify the murders, with Daybell being described as a self-published author of doomsday-themed books. The couple believed they were religious figures and had a system of rating people as “light” or "dark." They were indicted on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and grand theft by deception.

As the trial progresses, the prosecution will seek to prove that Daybell and Vallow manipulated others to carry out their plans and that their actions were fueled by a twisted belief system. The defense has urged the jury to focus on the facts of the case and not be swayed by speculation. The trial is expected to shed light on the disturbing events that led to the deaths of three innocent victims and the unraveling of a twisted narrative of power and control.