I Solved the 'Doomsday Mum' Murders - What It Was Like

Summary

Podcast Summary: "I Solved the 'Doomsday Mum' Murders"

Introduction

In the July 13, 2025 episode of What It Was Like, hosted by Julian Morgans from Superreal, listeners are taken through the harrowing true-crime case of Laurie Velo and Chad Daybell, a couple implicated in the brutal murders of their two children. This episode delves deep into the investigation led by Lieutenant Ray Homosillo of the Rexburg Police Department in Idaho, providing an intimate portrayal of the events, the emotional toll on those involved, and the ultimate pursuit of justice.

Background of the Case

Julian Morgans sets the stage by introducing Laurie Velo and Chad Daybell, a couple whose relationship spiraled into darkness amid extremist religious beliefs and financial motives. Chad, a former Mormon with apocalyptic ideologies, authored several books propagating his warped worldview. Laurie, appearing as a typical American woman on the surface, concealed a tumultuous personal history marked by multiple marriages and the tragic deaths of her ex-husbands.

Julian Morgans (02:02): "This is a case that's just finished up in the courts, but it's been unfolding for years. It really kicked off in 2019."

The Disappearances

The narrative focuses primarily on the mysterious disappearances of Laurie’s two children: 16-year-old Tyler Ryan and 7-year-old JJ Velo, both from previous relationships. These disappearances thrust Laurie and Chad into the national spotlight, raising suspicions and igniting a complex investigation involving cults, religious extremism, and potential mental illness.

Julian Morgans (02:21): "Why would anyone hurt their own kids? And really specifically, how could a mother hurt her own children?"

Investigation Begins

Lieutenant Ray Homosillo recounts the initial stages of the investigation in November 2019, starting with a welfare check for 7-year-old JJ. Early interactions with Laurie and Chad raised red flags due to their evasive and deceitful behavior.

Ray Homosillo (09:57): "We knew Chad was an author. We knew those things. But I didn't really know the in-depth belief system at that point."

Escalation and Media Attention

As investigations progressed, the disappearance of Tyler additional intensified the case. The couple's flight to Hawaii to evade authorities and subsequent lack of cooperation with law enforcement heightened concerns about the children's safety.

Ray Homosillo (17:14): "At that point, really, I mean, those questions are going through your head. But at that point, I really wasn't too concerned, like thinking the worst until they didn't produce them."

The media frenzy that ensued brought immense pressure to the investigation, with national attention making every lead and interaction scrutinized.

Ray Homosillo (35:30): "As soon as we released that press release, it did catch. It just made this story so much more interesting."

Breakthrough and Discovery

A pivotal moment occurred during a warrant service in Hawaii, where subtle changes in Chad's behavior signaled a breakthrough. Lieutenant Homosillo observed Chad’s nervousness and frantic actions near a pond, leading the team to uncover the remains of JJ buried under a tree in their backyard.

Ray Homosillo (42:38): "And then as we lifted the topsoil, you could smell the decomposition. So we knew something was there."

The discovery of JJ's body was a somber and emotional moment for the team, underscoring the brutal nature of the crime.

Tylee's Remains and Further Horrors

The investigation didn't end with JJ. The team later uncovered the dismembered and burned remains of Tyler, buried in a pet cemetery. The gruesome discovery highlighted the depths of Laurie and Chad's depravity.

Ray Homosillo (57:37): "Charred flesh and bone. We started digging... we could only dig for a few minutes at a time because the smell was so bad."

Motive and Trial

The primary motive behind the murders was financial gain. Laurie and Chad were receiving substantial Social Security benefits from the deceased fathers of their children. Eliminating the children ensured the continuation of these benefits, facilitating their escape to a more carefree life in Hawaii.

Ray Homosillo (55:32): "It was about money... Lori was getting in these benefits from Social Security. And the kids were just in the way."

The subsequent trials resulted in severe consequences for both Laurie and Chad. Laurie received five life sentences for multiple counts of murder and fraud, while Chad was sentenced to death, awaiting his appeals.

Ray Homosillo (59:53): "In June of 2024, Chad was convicted of five death sentences and an insurance fraud. And so he is currently in Boise on death row awaiting his appeals and death sentence."

Reflections on Humanity and Justice

Lieutenant Homosillo shares his profound reflections on humanity, emphasizing the positive aspects witnessed during the investigation despite the darkness of the crimes. He highlights the community's support, the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies, and the enduring bonds formed through the pursuit of justice.

Ray Homosillo (62:32): "I think I've gained more of a positive perspective of humanity through this experience... there's more good in this world than bad."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Homosillo expressing pride in the law enforcement team's dedication and resilience throughout the investigation. The case of Laurie Velo and Chad Daybell serves as a stark reminder of the extremes of human depravity and the relentless pursuit of justice by those sworn to uphold it.

Ray Homosillo (65:39): "It was a huge team effort."

Key Takeaways

Complex Motivations: The murders were driven primarily by financial gain, with religious extremism used as a veneer to justify horrific actions.
Law Enforcement Dedication: The multi-agency collaboration and unwavering commitment of the police force were pivotal in solving the case.
Humanity Amidst Darkness: Despite encountering profound evil, the community's support and the law enforcement's unity offered a glimmer of hope and reaffirmed faith in humanity.

Notable Quotes

Julian Morgans (02:02): "This is a case that's just finished up in the courts, but it's been unfolding for years."
Ray Homosillo (35:30): "As soon as we released that press release, it did catch... it just made this story so much more interesting."
Ray Homosillo (62:32): "I think I've gained more of a positive perspective of humanity through this experience."

Final Thoughts

"I Solved the 'Doomsday Mum' Murders" offers a gripping and emotionally charged exploration of one of America's most disturbing true-crime cases. Through the lens of Lieutenant Homosillo, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in unraveling such heinous crimes, the psychological toll on those involved, and the triumph of justice over unimaginable evil.

Transcript

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Ad Host (1:45)

Superu.

Julian Morgans (1:49)

Hey, just a heads up. This episode involves the murder of children. And if that's not something you need to hear right now, that's totally understandable. Maybe just give this one a skip.

Ray Homasillo (2:02)

She just looked normal. I mean, when you think of monsters that can kill their kids, you picture like maybe Charles Manson. She didn't. She looked like a normal soccer mom. A normal mom you would see picking up kids at school. So I don't. Yeah, we didn't go to that thought right at first.

Julian Morgans (2:21)

Hey, I'm Julian Morgans, and you're listening to what It Was like, the show that asks people who have lived through big dramatic events what it was like. So we do a lot of dark, dark stories on this show, and particularly at the moment. I don't know why, but right now I'm going through a real true crime phase. Lots of our stories have been true crime, and as you've noticed, quite a few of them have been pretty dark. But I think the ones that I find hardest to swallow, the ones that I find really the grimmest, the darkest, are the ones where kids are involved and particularly when the parents are responsible for hurting kids. And the case we're talking about today, heads up. It's about parents who killed their own children. And this is a case that's just finished up in the courts, but it's been unfolding for years. It really kicked off in 2019. So it's been around for a couple of years. And you'll probably know the names Laurie Velo and Chad Daybell. So let's establish these characters. Who are these people? Chad was a former Mormon with some pretty fringe ideas about religion, about the apocalypse. He claimed that he could identify anyone who had a dark spirit that is in his worldview, someone who was already spiritually dead and therefore could be killed without any moral consequence. And he wrote these books with titles such as the Great Gathering, Days of Fury, and my personal favorite, Living on the Edge of Heaven. And just as an interesting side note, they're all still available on Amazon or Goodreads. Just looking up, Living on the Edge of Heaven is available on Goodreads now. You can get the kindle version for 9.99. Strange. Anyway, Chad, he attracted this tiny circle of devoted followers. And then one day he met one of his biggest fans at a religious conference. Her name was Lori Velo and she'd also grown up in a Mormon family and, and she had her own pretty complicated personal history. She'd been married a few times, she had kids to a couple of different husbands. Even though on the surface she seemed really upbeat, she seemed like this all American woman. She'd actually competed one time in a, in a Miss Texas beauty pageant. And she also once appeared as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. But underneath all of this, she was pretty unstable. And it seems like hooking up with Chad brought out the worst in both of them. Now, they met in 2018 and pretty quickly people around them started dying. First of all, it was Laurie's husband, her ex husband. Before she met Chad, this guy's name was Charles Velo, from which Lori Velo got her name. And he ended up shot by Laurie's brother, Alex Cox. Now remember that name because he pops up in this story a few times. He's Alex, Laurie's brother, okay? And then the next person to die was, was Chad's wife, like Chad's ex wife before he met Laurie, and her name was Tammy Daybell. And she died suddenly in her sleep just weeks before Chad and Laurie got married in Hawaii. And while these adult deaths, they're all pretty sad, they're pretty suspicious. It was really the disappearance of Laurie's two kids, both from previous relationships, that really horrified people. This was the disappearance of 16 year old Tyler Ryan and 7 year old JJ Velo. And it was these disappearances that landed Lori and Chad in the headlines. Now, for a While back in 2020, this was one of the biggest cases in America. And the whole thing is just this crazy, sprawling soap opera. And it touches on such topics as cults, religious extremism. I think there's probably a bit of mental illness in there, and there's at least four murders. But to keep things focused, and because this is just where my own personal interest is at, we're going to concentrate this episode, this story, on just the disappearance of the kids. And I think that's really an effort to answer my bigger question. Why would anyone hurt their own kids? And really specifically, how could a mother hurt her own children? And to help us answer that is the man who solved this case. His name is Ray Homosilo, and he's a lieutenant with the Rexburg Police Department in Idaho. Keep in mind, this whole case, this all took place in a little town called Rexburg in Idaho. It looks very pretty, it's very picturesque. And it was there back in 2019 that Ray was just a local detective who got a welfare check request about a 7 year old boy named JJ who hadn't been seen in a few weeks. And then what started as a missing persons report quickly became one of the most publicized murder investigations in recent American history. Okay, let's get into it. I bring you Ray Homasillo. Hey, Ray. Welcome to the show.