Preemptive Strikes

We have a jury! I sat in the courtroom and watched 18 people go through what I had to go through exactly one year ago. I feel for those people. I don’t want to speak for them, but I know some of them at least are in shock right now. That feeling won’t leave them for a long time. I only hope that in the end they have the same feelings I have now. Of course, I can’t talk to them right now, but as soon as the trial is over I will do my best to let them know I am available if they want to know what to expect in terms of moving on with their lives.

Listening to Judge Boyce today, I can’t understand how I didn’t know that I was on the jury when the preemptive strikes were over. I know I listened carefully to everything he said. It’s all kind of a blur though so maybe I was catching on and maybe it’s my memory that’s foggy. The way I remember it, I thought I was just in another group of several groups when I walked out of the courtroom and into the jury room. It was in the jury room where I remember realizing that I had been selected as a juror.

I could not be more appreciative of the people I have gotten to know. Fellow jurors during the trial and many others after. Larry says we’re all family and I feel it. It’s way more than words.

Opening Statements will happen Wednesday, April 10 beginning at 8:30am mountain time and the first witness will be called right after.

I will tell you that one potential juror failed to show up today. Of course, that could be for any number of reasons. I hope that juror has a good one. I also hope that it’s nothing too drastic.

I’m not getting any work done in terms of writing my second book, but that’s okay. As soon as the trial is over I will get right back to it. I am gathering a ton of information. I spend a lot of time when court is on recess just listening to people talk. People like Kay and Larry and Tammy’s Aunt Vicki. I do three of four interviews everyday and in return, I get to interview people involved in the case.

Stay tuned!

50 Jurors in the Pool

Another day of jury selection. They reached their goal of 50 today. They will do preemptive strikes tomorrow. Preemptive strikes is where each side gets to release 16 jurors without cause. Once that is completed we have an 18 person jury! It’s looking like opening statements could happen Monday.

It’s been fun hanging out with Nate Eaton from EastIdahoNews.com. Every evening at around 6:30 MT he does Courtroom insider on YouTube. He recaps the events of the day. Great way to keep up.

At the lunch break Lauren Matthias of Hidden True Crime does her lunchtime live on YouTube. I promise you that if you watch both Lauren and Nate, you will have all the news of the day about the trial.

Also, check out the interview I did with Elizabeth Vargas on News Nation last night. It was an honer to be on her show.

Chad’s attorney, John Prior was on his game today. One potential juror called him on his ability to go on and on until you have forgotten what it was he was asking you. He talked a lot about “everything that glitters is not gold”, I think giving us a clue what his strategy will be. He told us he has a beautiful girlfriend that is too good for him. There’s more, but you get the idea.

Pre orders for my book are going well. It means the world to me that you all are helping me out supporting Hope House. If you would like a signed copy, let me know and I’ll do whatever I need to do to make that happen.

Jeanine Harrop Hansen sent me a bag full of wrist bands in honor of Tylee, JJ and Tammy. If you see me, make sure to ask me for one.

I’m looking forward to catching up with all of the people coming into Boise for the trial Monday.

I’ll keep you up to date when I can.

Beginning of Jury Selection

Two days of jury selection in the Chad Daybell trial and 20 potential jurors have not been released. They need to get to fifty before they can select the final 18. Looks like it’s possible that it could happen by the end of this week which would likely mean opening arguments would start the following Monday. Still a long way to go though so we’ll see.

The big news is that my book is finally available for pre-order. Just hit the Purchase Book button. Don’t forget that all of the profits from the book go directly to Hope House to help children in need. Believe me, Hope House appreciates your support.

Remember that the book can’t be released until there is a verdict in the Chad Daybell trial hopefully around the end of May.

I have had the opportunity to reconnect with some people while attending the trial and that has been awesome for me. I have spent time with Detectives Ray Hermosillo, Chuck Kunsaitis, fellow juror Laura, Lauren Matthias from Hidden True Crime, Tammy Daybell’s Aunt Vicky to name a few.

If you haven’t already checked out Hidden True Crime podcast you are missing out on a lot of good information. Lauren and her husband Dr. John Matthias are so full of good information and are super interesting.

I will continue to go to Chad Daybell’s trial and keep you updated here.

I am well into my book two about this case and hope to wrap it up and have it available within a few months after the trial is over.

Seat In The Courtroom

Chad Daybell is in Boise and jurors are in the process of being selected for his upcoming trial.  Judge Boyce has given me a seat in the courtroom and I plan to attend at least most of the trial.  No one is sure when opening arguments will start.  It depends on how long it takes to select a jury.  My guess is April 8.

Justin Lum has put out a trailer for his documentary about the Lori Vallow Daybell trial and it looks awesome.  It’s called:  No Remorse, the Trial of Lori Vallow.  He interviewed me for it last fall.  We’ll see if I made the cut.

Nate Eaton, News Director at EastIdahoNews.com is interviewing me today.

My book:  Chad Daybell, the One Mighty and Strong is coming along.  Just like my first book, new information keeps coming to light, so it’s evolving as I write it.

I’ve been thinking about the jurors for Chad Daybell’s trial.  I am concerned about them and will reach out to them when the trial is over to talk about my experience over the past year.  Hopefully that will help them know what to expect, although I’m sure it’s different for everyone.

Hidden:  A True Crime Podcast has a great interview with Larry Woodcock.  You should check it out.  I’m looking forward to reconnecting with Kay, Larry and Lauren at the trial.

Chad Daybell Trial About to Begin

The long anticipated Chad Daybell trial is set to start in Boise on April 1, just a few weeks from now. I will be attending at least most of that trial and talking to whoever will talk to me during breaks, before and after the daily trial.

My first book, Money, Power and Sex, the Lori Vallow Daybell Trial by Juror Number 18, is in the hands of my publisher and will be released as soon as there is a verdict in the Chad Daybell trial. Hopefully around the end of May. I will be sure to post on here and all over social media when it comes out. It will be available on Amazon and anywhere else books are sold I guess.

Crimecon, a huge crime nerd convention, is happening in Nashville the weekend of May 31. I plan to be there and hopefully will be able to release my book there.

My second book, Chad Daybell, the One Mighty and Strong, about Chad Daybell and his trial is already in progress. I expect to release it not long after his trial is over. The prosecution promises there will be new information and new evidence so I’m super excited to see what they present in trial.

Chad Daybell is scheduled to be transferred to Boise on March 20.

Check back here for updates. I will try to blog at least weekly, about the trial as it progresses, and I will post important dates or events as they come up.