Idaho Communities Showing Support For JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan
Jun 12, 2020, 5:27 AM
REXBURG, Idaho – From St. Anthony to Idaho Falls and in Rexburg, people were looking Thursday for the simplest of ways to show their love and support for J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan after the unthinkable was unearthed on Chad Daybell’s property this week.
Investigators had still not confirmed as of late Thursday whether the two sets of children’s remains discovered were in fact those of the missing kids, though some family members had said on Wednesday that they were.
Regardless, a memorial of balloons and flowers was continuing to take shape on Daybell’s fence line, and a candlelight vigil was being planned in Idaho Falls on Friday night in honor of J.J. and Tylee.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re like 80 or 8 years old — our hearts are broken,” said Timanee Olsen, one of the event’s organizers. “I just decided I have got to put this heartache and this sadness into something bigger than myself.”
The vigil was planned for 8:30 p.m. Friday in a field near 3460 S. 25th East in Idaho Falls.
“We will do everything we can to try and keep those kids’ memories alive for our town,” Olsen said.
Meanwhile, in a rural neighborhood in Rexburg, a group of friends was questioning Thursday evening what could be done as they processed the latest developments over the previous 48 hours.
“Knowing that they were right here this whole time — it’s just sickening,” said Kirsten Ellsworth. “It’s really heartbreaking.”
Ellsworth said many in the surrounding area had followed the case very closely for months. Her friends were part of a group that texted regularly about it.
“It’s still shocking,” said Raquel Landon. “Especially everyone who has kids can’t understand why they would do that.”
Daybell was charged with two felony counts of concealing evidence. His bail was set at $1 million and was next due in court on July 1.
Lori Vallow (Daybell) was also being held on $1 million bond, charged with two counts of desertion and non-support of a dependent child.
J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan had not been seen since September.
Ellsworth said she believed the case had actually brought the tight-knit communities of Eastern Idaho even closer.
“I feel like there’s been a lot of that feeling of togetherness — maybe more than we’ve ever had,” Ellsworth said.
