Data Expert: No Device Data Links Chad Daybell to Tylee’s Burial Site – LocalNews8.com

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Testimony continued Wednesday in Chad Daybell’s trial

Defense lawyer John Prior called two expert witnesses, a data analysis expert and a DNA expert.

Patrick Eller, CEO of Metadata Forensics, testified about cell phones that were located near Daybell’s property when investigators determined that Tylee Ryan’s body had been burned and buried.

Eller said records he reviewed from Sept. 9, 2019, did not show Chad Daybell’s device on his property.

Prior: “So, if I understand your testimony, whether it is 9-9, approximately 9:19 to 12:10, there is no identifying information indicating that any device belonging to Chad Daybell is on his property. Is this correct?

Eller: “Yes, nothing in the evidence indicated that.”

Eller also testified about data from other devices. He said that on October 19, 2019, the day Tammy died, there was no indication that Alex Cox’s device was within 2.3 miles of Chad Daybell’s property.

Next on the stand was DNA evidence expert Dr. Greg Hampikian. He is the director of the Forensic Justice Project at Boise State University and co-director of the Idaho Innocence Project. He also worked to exonerate Christopher Tapp.

Hampikian testified about the large amount of DNA evidence in this case and had no problem with the evidence identifying the remains of Tylee and JJ or the blood and tissue evidence found on the pick and shovel found in Chad Daybell’s shed.

Prior: “If I understand correctly, you have no questions about the procedures they followed. Is this correct?

Hampikian: “Not in this case, no.

Prior: “You’re asking about the scope of what they decided to test.”

Hampikian: “I don’t know who makes these decisions about what gets tested. I just know what will ultimately be tested. And in this case, four hairs were sent to Astria. The very short, dark hair was golden, and the rest had brown hair and three other brown hairs.

Previously: “Then there was blonde hair among the unsent hair.”

Hampikian: “That’s true.”

Prior: “He said there was more evidence that could be examined. Specifically, the hair found on the duct tape around JJ’s body.

Hampikian: “Based on the four hairs and the shallow sequence, they determined that two of them were probably from the same person. So they had three different people. Of four hairs. They compared this to the three references they had and all the reference samples were excluded from each of these four hairs, which represent three people. So neither Chad Daybell nor Lori Vallow nor JJ contributed to this hair.

The judge closed the courtroom to go over the schedule with the jurors, and then they were sent home for a day while the judge talked to lawyers about any opposing witnesses who might return in the case.

So based on what’s left, closing arguments in the case will likely be next week.

You can see a timeline of events and all of our previous stories about Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow-Daybell HERE.