DAYBELL CHILDREN INTERVIEW: Dr. John's Thoughts
Added 2021-09-03 00:51:49 +0000 UTCJohn and I watched the Daybell children's interview on 48 Hours, and wanted to share our initial thoughts with our supporters.
On Friday night, 7 PM Pacific, we'll have Dr. John join us for TGIF to discuss the intevriew further. Please add your thoughts and comments here so we can share some of them on our live tomorrow.
We loved the insightful conversation around Eric Smith's interview that our supporters brought to the [dinner] table. We plan to discuss that interview soon as well! But first: The Daybell Children.
Comments
I wonder if Chad wanted to believe everything he was saying, as any logically knew with evidence that it wasn't so but he chose to believe and convince himself that it was true. Kind of like if you're investigating the church, you don't know anything about it you have no testimony you're going and you kind of fake it till you make it and along the way as you get your promptings and answers you come to really understand that it's true, but in contrast what Chad is doing is taking something that there is no evidence or Reason to even believe that what he's saying is true but he chooses to believe that it's true, even though logically it isn't and he knows that. Wow that's confusing lol
Crystal Swannack
2022-11-26 07:45:23 +0000 UTCRelistening to this gave me an epiphany. You talked about how it is going to be hard for Chad to claim he was framed when Lori, in jail, isn't trying to throw Chad under the bus or continue this "framed" narrative as one would. This may be why Prior is so dang persistent on trying to get the trials severed. How is he going to claim that Lori was framing Chad if Lori is up there not framing Chad right in front of his jury? Oh I hope they're not separate just for this
Crystal Swannack
2022-11-26 07:04:26 +0000 UTCOne of the flaws in the argument that Chad was framed, is that Alex and Lori did not believe they were doing anything wrong! They believed they were doing the work of the Lord and felt they were earning their angel wings! Religious delusions at their best! So why frame someone when there is no awareness that they are doing anything wrong? Ironically, Chad was the one who identified and labeled who was demon possessed. By the way, I am not convinced that Chad believes his own bullshit. I think he called the shots but worked hard to not get his hands dirty. He even wore gloves as a grave digger. It is possible that he owns none of this! I think Chad’s kids are doing what they can to save their dad from his own destructive path. I think what they are promoting comes from Chad’s lawyer’s idea of a defense and who they thought their father was as a human being. Although I do not agree with the kids, I have compassion for them. Their world has been turned upside down by all of this. This betrayal will have multigenerational implications in this family system, and the kids had nothing to do with creating this mess. Their role in all of this is as “kids”. Chad must be really good at compartmentalization . I do not think the kids understood how kooky he is. Now that they are getting a glimpse of him through the smoke and mirrors they are in total denial. I do wish the kids had more empathy for the deceased children but I believe that this is far beyond their capacity to process at the moment. I am curious —as more information becomes available to them—if their thoughts will become more refined and they become better at reality testing. I am 71 and from my perspective, these kids are still pretty young. I do so hope their reality testing improves so they have access to the underlay of feelings associated with this. If their reality testing does not improve and feelings do not get resolved, things do not bode well. I send prayers for all of the victims of this. Thanks so much for the work you do! I think you are providing a valuable service.
Bridget fennell
2022-06-27 22:11:14 +0000 UTCChad was definitely the one rating people dark and the one who decided who was a zombie. Not that Lori isn't just as much to blame but Chad was the one deciding who would die
Jukie g
2022-06-12 02:40:51 +0000 UTCWell, it’s May of 2022 and I’m just now listening to this - I’m behind on a lot. I’ve kept all the Vallow/Daybell shows from 2020, Dateline and 48 Hours and had just re-watched the one of the Daybell kids a couple of nights ago. Yes, Emma and Garth took the lead, in fact I think they rehearsed the talking points, one reason why they sounded so flat. Leah seemed most sincere. I was pretty irritated that little was expressed about their Mom - there was the constant refrain “we know our dad as a man” and yet not one bit of praise for Tammy. They seem emotionally 10-15 years younger than they are. I tried to put myself in their shoes, at their age, and the thing I kept coming back to was “what is the truth” - not “our religion says”. (I was a point of irritation in my family.). Quite a bit of time has passed since that interview, hopefully some of them have found someone to help them deal with it, but probably not. Chad’s lawyer needs them for the narrative, and I don’t think Chad’s going to come clean.
Dede B
2022-05-06 00:20:50 +0000 UTCLauren I think you could understand this more than anybody. As much as I believe that Chad believed in the church per se, he absolutely 100% did not understand it. I don't believe he ever gained his own testimony but lived off the testimony of everybody else. I don't believe he understood or was taught the scriptures and the correct way and he only saw the scriptures as kind of a storybook and when he read them he thought I could do this or I could be that because I'm part of this religion when that's not how this goes. I hope that makes sense
Crystal Swannack
2021-11-24 00:13:54 +0000 UTCDo They still think it's just an emotional socially unacceptable affair now that they hear their dad lusting over the swimming and saying he finally met the woman of his dreams that he'd been looking for his entire life? Seeing is how this man was married to their own mother, knowing he was looking for somebody else the whole time
Crystal Swannack
2021-11-23 23:17:14 +0000 UTCComing from a Mormon context though in the 80s it was preached that sexual sin was next to murder. The affects of that rhetoric continue to today.
Kristina Westbrook
2021-10-28 19:02:39 +0000 UTCWhen Chad's daughter referenced the emotional affair, I was shocked. IMHO, a sexual affair is an act of biology. An emotional affair includes choices of love and loyalty and respect for your partner which to me is much more important.
Gail Clark
2021-09-18 05:07:30 +0000 UTCI suspect that chad choked Tammy from behind, causing asphyxiation. The thud could have been her falling to the ground upon loosing consciousness. The autopsy would show a broken hyoid bone among other signs, in that case making murder the obvious cause of death. Tammy couldn’t have slid half way out of bed and then just died mid fall. And how did Seth decide she was dead so quickly after the thud? The sensible thing to do would be to call 911 and start CPR. The 911 operator would have walked them through it. Maybe Chad waited for a while to alert Seth, to make sure she couldn’t be revived. Maybe she was cold or in rigor by the time Chad sounded the alarm. There are just so many unanswered questions. I feel like the kids interview brought up more questions than it answered. If we are lucky this may have broken the ice for them and they might agree to more interviews.
Mia Brooks
2021-09-13 06:01:48 +0000 UTCI would like to clarify my question. I meant "what makes Lori and Alex different from other enmeshed family members, that allows them to go to the extent of murder and filicide?" I am guessing that most of Lori's enmeshed family members would not take it to this horrible extreme. By "feeling" I mean empathy.
Sarah Fauth
2021-09-09 15:14:43 +0000 UTCI just had an "Aha" moment. Family enmeshment and cults are similar, especially when the family enmeshment is centered around grandiose religious ideas and features a prophet-like figure at the helm. Chad brought his children up in this vein, and Lori and Alex were raised this way, as well. It seems to me that one unwritten rule, in Lori's family, at least, is that if you deviate from the family line, death may follow. Her brother defending and befriending Charles against Lori and the family line, was enough for him to fear for his life from other family members. I think it is important that Lori's entire family was united against anyone else in the family who deviated from the accepted line of thought, and that some family members (at least two) were okay with killing them for it. My question is, what makes them different in this respect? No feelings; therefore no restraints? They are able to take the family dynamic to it's ultimate conclusion.
Sarah Fauth
2021-09-09 15:06:46 +0000 UTCI really enjoy listening to your discussions. I hear a lot of chatter sort of normalizing enmeshment almost as a noble value and also I feel like there is a lot of blame being put on LDS. But in my nursing training I remember a lot of the acute psychiatric patients had delusional themes: a lot of God and a lot of FBI. I was thinking back on the murder of Lori Soares Hacking and how different her husband’s family approached the circumstances. They were LDS and I seems like they loved their brother, but they still did the right thing. I wonder if it would be interesting and sort of re-balancing to look at a different type of family functioning in similar horrible circumstances. I find family functioning so interesting! Thanks for this great discussion!
Meggie
2021-09-07 22:39:38 +0000 UTCAs I've been reading about schizo affectivec disorder i can't help but wonder why Chad if Chad has something similar. If he were to be diagnosed with a disorder would it have these same tendencies?
Tommy Stuart
2021-09-07 07:43:39 +0000 UTCJulie that word “immature” really struck me too. Just so inadequate a word in responding to such a dangerous activity. Melani Gibb did the same thing when Nate would ask her what she thought when Chad or Lori talked about Multiple Probations, snd Dark/Light and Zombies. She simply said she found it “Different”. Different? And yes, Emma used a word to describe her father that parents usually use with their children when they do something dumb. Really truly odd and woefully inadequate to the situation
Lynette Butler
2021-09-06 23:03:30 +0000 UTCDr John and Lauren: I was so sorry to miss the live. One thing I’d like to he’s Dr John’s perspective on is the strange, I would say very inadequate word choices we’ve heard in this case. When asked about the dark/light valuations Emma called them “immature.” Not frightening or dangerous, just immature. Ditto with the word choices of both Melanies. When Melanie Gibb was asked by Nate about what she thought about the rating system, and about Zombies, and multiple probations, she repeatedly said “well I thought that was different”. Different? I’m wondering what if anything Dr. John sees in the word choices. Are they part of the “flat affect” that’s been mentioned? It’s just so strange.
Lynette Butler
2021-09-06 22:13:50 +0000 UTCAs someone who was raised in a dysfunctional family, nuclear and extended, I can understand Chad's kids thinking. I also remember growing up not knowing what I didn't know about polite society. If I was one of his kids, I would have thought about what would happen if he gets off and comes home. They are adults but they may be worried about lack of loyalty. They were probably raised in that bubble where they were used to a silent mom and a dad who was all that...Maybe, I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. :) Your podcast has taught me so much.
Janet1Pirate
2021-09-04 22:22:05 +0000 UTCFantastic education on family dynamics and the road to how they can reason that Daddy dearest Didn’t harm his wife Tammy and step kids. Thank you so much I had to watch it twice so I could remember all the details.
Emily Stoffel
2021-09-04 20:24:56 +0000 UTCGreat observation, Maraley! This makes a lot of sense to me! I've read some ex-mormon folks saying Chad's speaking voice is a cultivated testimonial voice in the church, and lots of mormon men cultivate that kind of faux-humble voice modulation technique. It would make sense if she would be subconsciously using that kind of speaking technique to act as her dad's "voice".
Lauri Bolland
2021-09-04 13:17:42 +0000 UTCJust brainstorming possibilities here - could the thud be Chad trying to get Tammy into the bed but unable to do so, accidentally dropping her partially? I guess we don't really know what position her body was in at death, or even her location at her final breath?Presumably, did he sleep at all that night? Did he dose her all night with something? Or give her something and then keep watch until she died? So many unknowns still.
Lauri Bolland
2021-09-04 13:10:19 +0000 UTCI'm actually thinking that Chad was poisoning Tammy after watching this 48hrs special. I just don't see the children lying about anything and it would explain why Chad had habitually said over and over that Tammy was going to die. He was priming everyone for his 2nd part in life. The daybell children's defense about any cult his father led was quashed by them saying they would of been the first recruits and to know about it yet I'm positive none knew of Chad's supposes vision of Tammy dying. They say their dad thought he only had a emotional affair yet evidence shows a slap on bum, Melanie saying they kissed at BYU which they never opposed and who can forget they got sealed to each other in the temple. If they think their dad's so innocent, why not search the entire pet cemetery for Chad and find the big raccoon? I think deep down, they know but its just too hard to go there
Meg
2021-09-04 08:21:12 +0000 UTCMaybe I’m super over thinking it, but could Emma’s flat delivery just an emulation of her dads personality? Perhaps being the favorite of that family involves being as Chad like as possible. If he’s a narcissist he would favor the one that he thinks is most like him. And perhaps, as doctor John suggested, Emma had usurped that other leader role in that family and what she is struggling with is her power within her family. If Chad is guilty and isn’t as great and good as they all think and is deeply flawed, then everything that Emma also stood for is deeply flawed. And her taking such a leadership role in that interview is her struggling to retain her “power” and image in that family. And the others are just towing the line because they’ve always had to defer to Emma, Chad and probably Garth as well. And any dissent from them would completely dissolve the family dynamic and those two ( Garth and Emma) cannot fathom that thought. The others probably want to disagree but don’t know how.
Maraley Santos
2021-09-04 00:18:45 +0000 UTCWHAT personality??😆
Stephanie Malmstrom
2021-09-03 23:59:44 +0000 UTCAnd the fact that she was “going to bed early” and playing FarmVille could be interpreted as “escape” mechanisms—getting away from the Dud she married.
Stephanie Malmstrom
2021-09-03 23:58:35 +0000 UTCI love listening to you both. My question is just I see myself as a pretty normal high functioning person. Why are my “normal” friends and I so obsessed with this case? It’s tragic, disturbing but just so interesting. What does that say about us that we can’t get enough of it? Just wondering. Thank you so much for all you do!
Rachel Bingham
2021-09-03 23:58:03 +0000 UTCIt’s a normal survival mechanism when dealing with trauma. How long it takes before it “burns off” and they are able to see actual reality is another question... I also wonder how “peer pressure” between siblings will play out. If any of them are starting to consider dad may be guilty, do they voice that to the others? If they do, how is that received? Are they ostracized? Does a rift begin between the siblings? It’s all so horrific. 😖
Stephanie Malmstrom
2021-09-03 23:46:01 +0000 UTCIs it possible that this is a set up for Chad flipping on Lori? I think that Lori having this time in the mental health clinic is in hopes that being on medication and therapy will give her clarity enough to flip. And if she does flip, then the kids set up Chad’s line to flip.
Maraley Santos
2021-09-03 23:07:18 +0000 UTCThe immature comment was really interesting, I also don't know what to make of that, unless it's the closest Emma can come to critiquing her dad. -Listening to Emma and watching her speak I think she had some type of speech impediment as a child, maybe due to underbite. But it was how she held her jaw.
Amber Ferdig
2021-09-03 22:19:05 +0000 UTCThere is a man on Reddit who claims to be the older brother of Garth’s wife. He said that Garth met his sister when she was underage and he was working in her high school. She is quite young and it may have been a grooming situation. The man says he is somewhat estranged from his family since he left the LDS church and he is very upset about the marriage/entire situation but most of his family is supportive of the marriage and believe in Chad’s innocence.
Shannon Farrey
2021-09-03 20:46:46 +0000 UTCI found it curious that the Chad’s kids were not questioned about about the text he sent to Lori saying that Tammy specifically was possessed by a spirit named Viola. I wonder how they would have responded to this and if it was deemed out of bounds by the family/lawyers for some reason.
Shannon Farrey
2021-09-03 20:37:39 +0000 UTCAlthough I believe they wanted to present a United front for the interview, I don’t believe all of them are on board! Emma definitely believes, and Garth, but I am not sold on the rest of them. But, it is their Dad, and they want to believe the best. I believe I read somewhere that Chad is anti government & you can sort of tell that Emma, Garth and maybe others lean in that direction with their comment about Law Enforcement. Chad’s “acting” job when Garth entered the room after hearing a thump made me sick. Before this fiasco, the family seemed to be close knit, or, maybe Chad just pretended. I just can’t imagine what it is like for them to process all this. I do believe Tammy knew about Lori & Chad, but wondered if she confided in anyone. I would imagine a guilty verdict will rip the family apart.
Sue Komernicky
2021-09-03 20:10:55 +0000 UTCMy guess is the alleged thud was Chad getting out bed, not Tammy.
Lee Howell
2021-09-03 19:35:54 +0000 UTCDitto. To me, Chad’s question was not the evidence of his innocence as Emma interpreted it, but more “Do you, my favorite child, my sweet daddy’s girl, do you know what horrible thing I did? Will you still love me?”
Lee Howell
2021-09-03 19:26:51 +0000 UTCThe text to Tammy said Chad was burning some limbs. That hit me so wrong. Tree limbs or human limbs Chatty Chad? They seized some stuff from Chad’s garage didn’t they? Like stuff to chop up tree or human limbs? Speculation on my part but DNA is difficult to totally clean up.
Kat Willhite
2021-09-03 18:40:48 +0000 UTCIt almost seems like the younger two boys don’t necessarily agree with Garth and Emma but didn’t want to chime in. It was interesting watching their body language in response to some of the questions.s
Carly Fontana
2021-09-03 18:31:30 +0000 UTCA couple of thoughts- -It was interesting to see the children all together, I definitely saw that enmeshment that Dr. John talks about. -It was interesting watching the body language of the kids. They seemed to be a pretty good baseline for each other. So I found it interesting when their body language didn't match up. When asked about did you guys ever hear about Zombies? Emma and Garth enthusiasticly shook their heads no. But the 3 in back did not. (I don't know if they said no or not). Contrast this to do you think your dad had a part in the murders? They ALL enthusiasticly shake their head no. - I don't think all the children are the same level of convinced about the their dad's innocence. But they are all willing right now to be a family together, probably because they don't trust anyone right now, not even extended family. I think Leah? and the boy on the right( sry don't know if that is mark or Seth), are the ones less convinced. -Leah was careful with her words, she said what the thought process was at the time, but not what her current thought process is. -The boy on the right very rarely talked or even nodded in agreement. His body language was kind of facing away from the rest. -My mom mentioned and I thought it was a good thought- she said it sounded like the kids kept trying to go back and remember the family dynamics of when they were young. Kind of that time in your life when parents are still heros, and not real people still. -Gaths version of Tammy's death bizzare, that Chad kept pointing to pics and not looking at Tammy seems significant. -Also with Emma the way she held her jaw, makes me wonder if she had speech impediment as a child, and so why her accent is little different than rest of kids.
Amber Ferdig
2021-09-03 18:29:15 +0000 UTCI am stuck on Garth's statement that he heard a loud thud and Tammy was half in and half out of bed. If she was standing and fell partially on the bed, it would not make a thud. If Tammy was in bed and was sliding out of bed, it would not make a thud. His two statements are conflicting to me. I also believe Emma is trying to hold the family together with direction of Chad and/or Prior. They all need therapy if they ever hope to have a healthy happy life (my opinion only).
Jean Georgitso
2021-09-03 18:15:57 +0000 UTCDr. John- what are your thoughts on a Chad Daybell’s personality? Is he delusional? He doesn’t seem bright or calculating enough to design a master plan to usher in the Millennium, with the aid of his “fan club”.
Dardenne Creek
2021-09-03 17:25:04 +0000 UTCAfterthought: Members of the LDS faith regard themselves as a “record-keeping people”. They are encouraged to trace their family tree and keep a personal journal. I would love to take peek at Chad’s diary! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the investigators found some of Tammy’s journals, during a search of the Daybell home?
Dardenne Creek
2021-09-03 17:20:19 +0000 UTCEmma was also on some of Julie Rowes podcasts back when Julie and Eric did their podcasts together. I listened to them and Emma talked about her fears of her future with the end times being near. I wonder what Tammy knew or believed in regards to all of this, or was she a supportive wife who let that part of Chad’s life be ‘his thing’.
Tamara Wakeman Sukohl
2021-09-03 16:57:32 +0000 UTCIf Emma was involved with Chad's conferences-she must have heard his visions about Tammy dying. Was she brainwashed into thinking that her mom was some kind of a martyr? What would she have thought about that prophecy being repeated over the years?
Jennifer Priebe
2021-09-03 16:44:30 +0000 UTCI really appreciate the thought provoking insights John and Lauren have shared on this episode. I often wonder what Tammy was thinking and feeling abt Chad’s shenanigans. She edited his books (Emma and Seth narrated his audio book versions) so Tammy was aware of her husband’s beliefs. He proclaimed to his family at the dinner table that they MUST pick up and move from Springville, UT to Rexberg, ID, out of the blue and they complied. Tammy knew of his near death experiences, however, she rarely attended him on his prepper speaking circuit events. Tammy HAD to have been suspicious of his actions! The public doesn’t know abt the marital discussions or arguments Tammy and Chad had, however, if any of the adult children were living in the same house, they certainly were privy to the dynamics between them. Tammy was acting out of sorts at her job, days before her death and her sudden and unusual short visit to see her folks in UT are signs of distress. I find it difficult to believe that Tammy didn’t have an inkling that Chaddy Boy was fooling around with Lori and planning to gather the 144,000. Sadly, she didn’t realize what kind of danger her life was in☹️
Dardenne Creek
2021-09-03 16:16:50 +0000 UTC@Toni, I had the same thought! It absolutely could read that way, IMO.
Julie Holden
2021-09-03 14:45:40 +0000 UTCOne more thought is that the children said that Chad never went outside. Of course that contradicts the racoon story. Chad also texted Tammy that he was going to burn some branches which means he knows there was a fire on the property. Even if Alex was responsible for the fire, how is it possible that Chad wouldn't have smell or see the fire. Do you know how hot a fire has to be to consume a body (or body parts in this case). It doesn't happen quickly either. Too many contradictions.
JC
2021-09-03 14:15:30 +0000 UTCOne thing that I think needs to be recognized is the how patriarchal the LDS religion is and the power that gives Chad within the family. Here's a religion that believes that men , by virtue of having the priesthood have supernatural powers and can actually heal another human being. Men lead the family and women take care of the children. I love your channel, but I did see a really interesting video on "The L Mom" channel about this interview and the priesthood. The other thing that was so noticeable to me was the flat affect of all the kids and how they have the same lack of facial expressions as Chad did. Do you recall how during the two day preliminary hearing, he sat so still and his face changed almost not at all. It was creepy.
JC
2021-09-03 13:54:32 +0000 UTCGarth relating his dad’s supposed reaction to finding Tammy dead is interesting considering Chad had long been telling his AVOW and PAP friends that she was going to die. So THAT struck me as deliberately deceitful and theatrical on Chad’s part. Audience of one - Garth. It also conflicts with Chad’s previous descriptions of how he found Tammy (woke up at 6, she was dead, looking peaceful with a slight smile…). I think this is version 6 or 7 of how Tammy supposedly died. And now Garth has probably put himself in the position of being a witness. If Prior was trying to set up a putative defense, or taint the jury pool so there can be a change of venue, not sure he’s succeeded on either.
Evelyn Yallen
2021-09-03 13:37:19 +0000 UTCI wondered when Emma said Chad asked her why he was arrested if it were more like he asking her if SHE knew but not asking because he didn't know. Do you know what I mean?
Toni Quilico-Kriebel
2021-09-03 13:10:58 +0000 UTCI bet they will not even look for said raccoon just in case there is none. 🦝
Toni Quilico-Kriebel
2021-09-03 13:08:01 +0000 UTCChad has always had a secret life I believe… it escalated… his fictional books became his true desires which then became his actions… lived out in his secret life!
Melinda Ngawaka
2021-09-03 12:07:54 +0000 UTCDr John used the word “repressed.” That came through big time in their voices, especially Emma and Seth.
Georgia
2021-09-03 11:36:20 +0000 UTCWhew, children are really sick. Guess Lori will be in need of yet another spouse. This will be the first spouse that doesn’t try and repair the marriage.
Emily Stoffel
2021-09-03 10:03:08 +0000 UTCEmeshed as hell. Mark was on his mission, he still lived in the home. Garth lived in the home. Seth , wife and child were living in the home. Emma lived across the street. Leah was the only one who married and moved more than 100 yards from her parents. I remember Emma in a car going by a reporter near the home and sticking her tongue out and acting like a twit. Emma and Garth are teachers. I would not want my kid in their classes for sure with death threats floating around. I think Chad's shock when he said ...why are they arresting me ....is that his guardian angels should have protected him from being arrested. He was not shocked there were bodies, he is shocked his angels fell down on the job. There is a wedding registry for Garth Daybell online. Married 3/20/2021. I wonder how the spouses and their families think of the adult children saying no matter what the evidence shows, Daddy Chaddy is innocent.
Kat Willhite
2021-09-03 09:08:40 +0000 UTCI think Emma showed the reporter around because she either still lives in the home or last lived in the home. Even though Chad deeded the home over to John Prior for legal fees. there would need to be someone there because of all the publicity. I am surprised someone has not vandalized the home. Garth was shown moving out on Tyson Drapers video
Kat Willhite
2021-09-03 08:42:29 +0000 UTCSeth Daybell has a good narrator voice. I have heard parts of Chad's books.
Kat Willhite
2021-09-03 08:29:14 +0000 UTCAnother question… was Chad excommunicated from their church? If so, what do his kids think about that? If they trust and believe everything their dad says, then did they leave the church too?
Tracy Warberg Holliday
2021-09-03 08:00:02 +0000 UTCIf he did shoot and bury a raccoon in a different pet cemetery on his property, why hasn’t his defense team recovered those remains? I would bet that Chad & Prior gave their approval on everything the kids said. Also, he has basically already turned on Lori, hasn’t he?
Tracy Warberg Holliday
2021-09-03 07:38:26 +0000 UTCGreat point. These children know what Chad preaches.
Lauren and John Matthias
2021-09-03 07:24:40 +0000 UTCAbsolutely.
Lauren and John Matthias
2021-09-03 07:23:43 +0000 UTCConsidering y'all's interesting statements about Chad, Tammy, and Emma and the family's social dynamic, I revisited a point in the interview, at 32:40, when Emma is asked about Chad's dark/light rating system. She says, "I don't know what to say. It just seems — immature, but — I don't know." Even the first time through the interview, I remember being struck by how odd it is for a daughter to call her father — and the rating system he invented as justification for murdering people — "immature." Also, Lauren, thank you for bringing up Emma's possible regional accent along with her flat affect. I had almost exactly the same thoughts! I find her to be a very unsettling person to watch and listen to. I kept asking myself throughout the interview (specifically regarding Emma), "Is this a personality / emotional thing I'm seeing here? Or is this just how she talks because of where she's from? Or...is it because the physiology of the Daybell children tends towards having a slight underbite...?" It was a bit of a brain scramble! (And please know, I'm by no means mocking people with underbites!! I was just so distracted by the way Emma speaks that I was looking for just about any explanation for it, because it was really so off-putting, for lack of a better word.) Lastly, I was really struck by Garth's description of Chad — how Chad was pointing at pictures of Tammy as she lay dead on the bed — and found it to be very strange!! Garth says: "I was asleep, and I heard a thump, and heard my dad yell, 'Garth! Garth! Come quick!' I just ran over and picked her up and put her back on the bed. I said to my dad, I said, 'I think she's dead.' My dad was just pacing back and forth, just saying, 'Why? How could this happen?' Pointing at pictures on the wall, saying 'She can't be dead!' Like, 'How could this be? What do we do?'" It's a very weird story, and Garth's way of telling it — especially the way he mimicked his father's gestures when doing so — was all extremely strange to me. I am soooo looking forward to tomorrow night! See y'all then!!
Julie Holden
2021-09-03 06:01:20 +0000 UTCHow interesting. While I've always assumed that Chad presented himself differently as a dutiful husband & father with Tammy & his kids vs as a developing author & leader & prophet outside his home - I never before questioned whether or not he believed his visions/portals/prophecy stuff. It reminds me of children making up stories to try and impress and make friends among their peers and then falling back into place in their boring home life with chores, homework, etc. Chad's mannerisms and life history just read as an awkward guy seeking approval - but also one who is aware that there is a difference between the magnanimous prophet he wants to be and the bashful potato he really knows himself to be.
Samantha Wolf
2021-09-03 04:50:55 +0000 UTCOne more thought: Isn’t it possible that Chad evolved from fictional stories to extreme doctrine in response to the reactions of people like Lori, ultimately becoming convinced by his own lies? I have always doubted his sincerity in regards to his beliefs, unlike Lori, who was clearly convinced.
Katie Marlowe
2021-09-03 04:50:13 +0000 UTCEmma: “My father believes that murder is not what god wants.” But Chad likely thinks he is a God. And God’s get to do whatever the hell they want. I think it is reasonable to assume that Chad believes that he has already achieved godhood. I know I’ve seen it mentioned that he believed he was a Holy Ghost to another planet in one of his former probations (something like that). Holy Ghost is part of the godhood. I was taught that the Holy Ghost is not the main God of this world but is definitively a god. I doubt Chad believes that he somehow reverted from god status to mere mortal after once having had served as Holy the Ghost. The Bible, Book of Mormon, and practically every canonized scripture in every religion speaks of God smiting the wicked. I think Chad might have thought that as a God, it was his place to smite whoever he saw the need to smite. Same with Lori. Those who believe in God(s) typically don’t believe God is capable of doing wrong or sinning. If they believed themselves to be Gods, they probably fo not think there was anything wrong with taking spirits out of there mortal tabernacles in this world so that those spirits could get on with their eternal existence in the spirit world. To Chad and Lori, sending kids and spouses on to the next realm might have been no more serious than putting a family member on a plane to go visit grandparents on the other side of the country. They might miss them, but in the grand scheme of things it’s just a short absence and lil trip…they’ll see them again. 🙄 I would not even be surprised if his kids believe him to be a God, but that is a pearl of information that they are not going to freely disclose to the swine of the world. I think the mainstream church is the garden where these monsters grew. I think there are others walking around who believe they have already achieved godhood, or they have already been translated, or they will not “taste of death” and they will be transfigured in the twinkling of an eye…many believe such things because of what is stated within their patriarchal blessings. I have one family member who’s blessing says he will never taste of death. He is very self-righteous and often behaves recklessly because he is convinced he will never die. I know someone else who shared with me that his patriarchal blessing said that he had learned and accomplished everything there was to do to achieve godhood; with the exception of coming to earth to obtain a mortal body, and going through the temple ordinances. Once those were accomplished he would be exalted. It’s not that difficult to find members who will let down their guard to share that they have received their second anointing and make claims to conversing face to face with Christ himself. Or, that anonymously share bits of the experience on blogs. I don’t think Chad and Lori are oddball exceptions who happen to live with this delusion that they are themselves gods. I think they are merely the most well-known of rotten fruits that fell off the Mormon tree.
Bludani
2021-09-03 04:45:28 +0000 UTCThat was something that really stood out to me as well.
Bludani
2021-09-03 03:58:56 +0000 UTCLauren, Garth said Chad pointed around saying she can’t be dead. It seemed similar to Emma’s story with the human remains to me.
CC
2021-09-03 03:53:40 +0000 UTCI feel so sad for the Daybell adult children. I believe they want so badly for their dad to be innocent; they’ve already lost their mom and their world has been turned upside down and inside out. The first thing I thought about when watching the interview was confirmation bias. They can’t accept the evidence as it is, so they will create any narrative the must to protect their fragile emotional states.
Stacie
2021-09-03 03:51:48 +0000 UTCI agree Colette. Based on what little I know about Tylee, she likely did not fall in line behind Chad and might even have done a little eye rolling. She was a threat to him and his new found power and confidence. She had to go.
Katie Marlowe
2021-09-03 03:47:48 +0000 UTCGood point, I wonder if she had that same flat tone?
CC
2021-09-03 03:37:27 +0000 UTCI don’t think Chad would have cared that Tylee had info on Lori and Alex and she wasn’t privy to Chad’s involvement. IMO it was more likely that she wouldn’t buy into Chad’s BS and follow him.
CC
2021-09-03 03:35:56 +0000 UTCI love these unedited conversations!
CC
2021-09-03 03:28:11 +0000 UTCI have so many questions, too! Mostly rhetorical in nature. I wonder if the autopsy didn’t reveal a specific cause for Tammy’s asphyxiation. Asphyxia is such a broad term. Where did the Daybell kids get that information? Investigators, the prosecution, or Chad himself? I’m dying to know what the prosecution’s theory is about how she was killed. I only caught a portion of the interview, so maybe I’ll find some answers when I watch it in full.
Katie Marlowe
2021-09-03 03:26:33 +0000 UTCOh my word. I can not imagine listening to a book read out loud by either of them! Unless it was to send you into a very deep coma...🤪
Stephanie Malmstrom
2021-09-03 03:13:05 +0000 UTCI can’t imagine being an adult child of 1) mom who died young of “natural causes” and 2) dad who has been charged with multiple murders, one of which is my mom- so I don’t know what the “ normal” TV response would or should be. However, the Daybell kids just seem distant & disconnected; the only description I can come up with. I look forward to Dr. John’s analysis.
Nan38
2021-09-03 02:59:30 +0000 UTCEmma narrated at least one of Julie Rowe’s books and Seth (son on the right in the back) narrated Chad’s books.
Pamela Schiess
2021-09-03 02:43:26 +0000 UTCI think Emma’s speech sounded off because she barely moved her jaw when she spoke. It was like her teeth were clenched.
Pamela Schiess
2021-09-03 02:40:01 +0000 UTCCould Tammy have been sad, depressed and going to bed early because chad was having an affair?!?!? She was not in a happy marriage and chad was not a good husband.
Audra Garrett
2021-09-03 02:18:29 +0000 UTCYou and John’s insights are my #1 go to!! Thank you!!
Addison Shirley
2021-09-03 01:59:18 +0000 UTCThis is exactly why I love you two!! Thank you Dr John and Lauren. This proves how manipulative Chad is. Great quote Dr John “Hell No!” 🤣
Marcella Able
2021-09-03 01:54:56 +0000 UTC“HELL. NO!” —favorite Dr. John quote🤣🤣
Stephanie Malmstrom
2021-09-03 01:26:05 +0000 UTCI did not watch the show but definitely look forward to hearing what you thought about it.
Kristie Laughlin
2021-09-03 01:13:44 +0000 UTCWhew! Thank you Dr. John for not buying the 'Chad was framed' defense!!!!
Toni Quilico-Kriebel
2021-09-03 01:03:00 +0000 UTCI feel compassion for them. Like the circle a pebble dropped in water makes… murderous evil has engulfed them and their children. They are victims.
Alison Umpleby
2021-09-03 01:01:18 +0000 UTC
