BREAKING: Human remains found on the property of 'cult' mom Lori Vallow's husband ARE those of her two children Tylee Ryan, 17, and JJ Vallow, seven, police confirm
- The Rexburg Police Department announced in a Saturday press release that it was with 'heavy hearts' that they confirmed the identities the two children
- 'It is not the outcome we had hoped; to be able to find the children safe. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of JJ and Tylee,' police said
- A search warrant led to authorities finding the bodies at Chad Daybell's Fremont County home
- The bodies were taken to the medical examiner's office where an autopsy was performed
- Bodies of JJ and Tylee were discovered Tuesday following a neighbor's tip about large bonfires on Chad's property
- They had been missing since September
Local Idaho authorities have confirmed that the remains found on the property of Lori Vallow's husband belong to her missing children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua 'JJ' Vallow.
The Rexburg Police Department announced in a Saturday press release that it was with 'heavy hearts' that they confirmed the identities of the 17-year-old and her seven-year-old brother.
'It is not the outcome we had hoped; to be able to find the children safe. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of JJ and Tylee,' police said in the release.
A search warrant led to authorities finding the bodies at Chad Daybell's Fremont County home. The bodies were taken to the medical examiner's office where an autopsy was performed.
Chad Daybell was taken into custody Tuesday after the bodies of seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow (left) and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan (right) were discovered at his property in Salem, Idaho. Police confirmed their identities on Saturday
Investigators found the remains of JJ and Tylee after excavating the backyard of Chad Daybell's property earlier this week (pictured)
The bodies of JJ and Tylee were discovered Tuesday following a neighbor's tip about large bonfires on Chad's property. The children had been missing since September.
JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, confirmed the children's identity on Wednesday, hours after the remains were discovered buried in the backyard of the home in Salem, Idaho, the day before.
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In a statement after the remains were identified, JJ and Tylee's families wrote: 'The Woodcock's and The Ryan's are confirming that the human remains found by Law enforcement on Chad Daybell's property are indeed our beloved JJ and Tylee.
Family members on Wednesday confirmed that the remains found buried outside Chad's home had been identified as seven-year-old JJ and 17-year-old Tylee, who disappeared in September
'We are filled with unfathomable sadness that these two bright stars were stolen from us, and only hope that they died without pain or suffering.
Neighbor Matt Price, who has lived next door for about five years, said he recently informed detectives about having seen several bonfires at the property over the past nine months since the children were last seen.
Chad remains behind bars on a $1 million bond
'This year they had two really big fires that we noticed,' Price told the Deseret News. 'Probably less than a month ago.'
Price claimed that the detectives told him his information, among other details, was used to secure the search warrant that eventually led to this week's discovery of the bodies.
Chad was arrested after the bodies were uncovered. He remains behind bars on a $1 million bond.
His wife, Lori Vallow, has spent the past four months behind bars at the neighboring Madison County Jail on five charges related to the children's disappearance: two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children and one misdemeanor count each for obstructing an investigation, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court.
Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to add additional charges in light of the body discovery.
Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to add additional charges in light of the body discovery. Daybell's arrest
Authorities began searching for the children in late November after performing a welfare check ordered by concerned relatives who said they hadn't spoken to seven-year-old JJ, who is autistic, in months.
When officers first went to Lori's home in Idaho on November 26, she told them that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona - which investigators say was a lie.
Officers returned the following day and found that Lori and the man she married weeks earlier, Chad Daybell, had fled from the home.
Lori and Chad were named persons of interest in the children's disappearance after investigators said they believe the mother knew where her children were or what happened to them.
His wife, Lori Vallow, has spent the past four months behind bars at the neighboring Madison County Jail on five charges related to the children's disappearance: two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children and one misdemeanor count each for obstructing an investigation, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court
The case captured nationwide attention with the revelations that police are also investigating three mysterious deaths linked to Lori and Chad, as well as family members' claims that the couple are members of a dangerous doomsday cult.
Police tracked Lori and Chad down in Princeville, Hawaii, in late January and served the mother with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho by January 30.
Lori failed to meet the deadline, prompting her arrest and extradition to Idaho, where she is currently being held at Madison County Jail in lieu of $1million bond.
