Death row inmate shares bizarre letters from jail after being found guilty of murdering his wife and two stepchildren

Chad Daybell, the man at the center of one of America’s most disturbing murder cases, has begun publishing letters from death row. The 56-year-old was sentenced to death in 2024 after being found guilty of killing his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and his wife Lori Vallow’s two children, 7-year-old Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. The case drew worldwide attention because of Daybell’s so-called doomsday prophecies and the couple’s alleged cult-like beliefs.

Now housed at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, Daybell has launched a website called *Letters from Chad*. There, he shares writings he describes as “uncensored and unfiltered” reflections from his cell. Despite his conviction, he continues to claim innocence, insisting he never caused anyone’s death or conspired to kill. He has said the full truth will emerge during his appeals process.

His daughter, Emma Murray, has taken up his cause. She runs a page on X (formerly Twitter) to circulate his letters, stating she believes her father was framed. Murray told *The U.S. Sun* that she hopes his words will gain wider attention and show a side of him that the public hasn’t seen.

In his first post, Daybell struck a surprisingly warm and upbeat tone. He thanked supporters for sending cards and letters, saying their kindness gave him strength. He also spoke about life on death row, though he avoided giving details about his daily routine or fellow inmates, writing instead that it was “a different world” but one he was adjusting to while focusing on appeals.

Daybell also pushed back against the way he’s been portrayed. He claimed the media has turned him into a monster that doesn’t reflect reality, saying he is not a cult leader or a killer but rather a family man with strong religious faith. He described himself as a father, grandfather, husband, and friend, hoping his letters might foster “healing, reconciliation, and understanding.”

Still, given the horrific crimes he was convicted of, many will likely see these writings as unsettling rather than comforting. As his appeals process moves forward, his unusual and defiant letters will continue appearing online — an attempt to rewrite his story from behind bars, even as he waits on death row.