Chad Daybell, convicted of murder, was sentenced to death in Idaho on Saturday, following his guilty verdict in the killings of his first wife and two stepchildren. The case was marked by unusual “doomsday” religious beliefs.

Prosecutors pursued the death penalty due to the “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel” nature of the murders of Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Tammy Daybell, 49. The jury agreed, citing Chad Daybell’s “utter disregard for human life” and potential threat to society.

Judge Steven Boyce declared that Daybell would be sentenced to death on those counts. Daybell showed no emotion and declined to speak in court. Additionally, he received 15 years in prison for two counts of insurance fraud.

Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that justice had been served for the victims.

JJ’s grandmother, Kay Woodcock, mourned his loss in a victim impact statement, noting that he would have turned 12 this week. Woodcock, who had custody of JJ before his adoption, lamented the absence of his presence and the pain felt by all who knew him.

The children went missing in September 2019, sparking a nationwide search. Their bodies were later discovered on Daybell’s property, leading to his arrest. He was also charged in connection with the death of his first wife under “suspicious circumstances” in 2019.

Lori Vallow Daybell, the children’s mother, had previously been sentenced to life in prison without parole for their murders and other charges related to the death of Tammy Daybell. Unlike Chad, she was not eligible for the death penalty.

Testimony revealed the couple’s belief that the children were “zombies” and their mission to eliminate them as part of their religious convictions. Their swift marriage after Tammy’s death raised suspicions about its circumstances.

Lori’s previous husband, Charles Vallow, was killed in 2019 by her brother Alex Cox, who claimed self-defense and was never charged before his death in 2020.