The deaths of Joshua “JJ” Vallow and his sister, Tylee Ryan, whose bodies were discovered on the grounds of a house in rural Idaho, is an unspeakable tragedy.
All loss of life is tragic, but when children are taken the sense of loss is heightened and the demands of justice seem justifiably intensified. Their deaths become a communal loss felt far and wide by people who understand the societal need to protect little ones. Joshua was 7, and Tylee, his sister, was 17.
For months now, people in the several Western states, including Utah, have been hoping and praying for a happy resolution to a sordid tale involving the whereabouts of the children, whose mother, Lori Vallow, and new husband, Chad Daybell, seemed strangely unconcerned and vague whenever asked about it. Photos of the children’s smiling faces have haunted news reports in juxtaposition to this seeming indifference.
The couple remained silent several weeks ago when confronted by a reporter in Hawaii. “Are your children still alive?” the reporter asked. No response.
“I’ve got three kids of my own,” the reporter continued. “I can tell you every minute where my kids are at.”
We trust the justice system will sort out the many strange twists and turns of this story, including what authorities have said are possibly suspicious circumstances surrounding the separate deaths of Lori Vallow and Daybell’s previous spouses. But the justice system can never adequately compensate for the loss of two children who, by nature, have little choice but to submit, with full trust, to the care of the adults in their life.
People everywhere at least now know the answer to that reporter’s question, even if they don’t yet know many details. And yet the reporter’s declaration concerning his own children could be echoed by parents far and wide who fret over the safety of their kids, and over the enormous responsibilities of parenthood.
One more thing should be said about the discovery of the children. It was made possible by a neighbor who was willing to report unusual activity at Daybell’s home. The Deseret News reported the neighbor saw several large bonfires on the property, which seemed unusual and suspicious.
The success of police work often depends on the careful observations of witnesses who feel a sense of civic duty, and a respect for law and order, that compels them to come forward. The neighbor said he felt the things he told police were insignificant, but they were significant enough to help police know where to look.
Unfortunately, police said other neighbors saw similar things but have been unhelpful, even when asked questions.
Civic duty entails an understanding that while crimes target specific victims, they also victimize all of society while mocking the rule of law. That is never more so than when children, the most vulnerable among us, are involved.