Police Say the Brother and Sister of Slain 8-Year-Old Idaho Girl Were Found Unharmed

In a bizarre case, three siblings disappeared from their Idaho home during different months. One of them was sadly found dead, while the other two were luckily discovered unharmed.

As if something was plucking, the three children from their Emmett, Idaho, home, Tristan Conner Sexton, 17, Taylor Summers, 14, and Taryn Summers, 8, all disappeared one after the other on separate dates.

Sexton went missing on September 2020, while his sister Taylor followed suit on October 19, 2020, according to the East Idaho News. It seemed the children had run away and were not kidnapped.

The Idaho sheriff’s office noted at the time that the pair was “identified as runaways” because they frequently contacted family members. They were also not seen as being in danger at that time.

Then on April 12, 2021, tragedy struck again when little Taryn also disappeared from the same place. Police tried searching for her using drones and asked people to come forward with any information.

She was deemed missing because of her age, but police also suspected that she might have run away like her siblings. Prosecutors later gave an update on Sexton and Taylor stating:

"Taylor Summers and Tristan Sexton have been interviewed face to face by law enforcement and are in no danger at this time."

Taryn’s grandmother, Connie Ann Smith, 54, was the one who reported her missing. Authorities believed that the three children might be together, but unfortunately, this was not the case.

On April 15, 2021, Gem County Sheriff Donnie Wunder held a press conference to give a gruesome and heartbreaking update. A body was found that authorities believed to be that of Taryn.

This was accomplished by a joint venture by Idaho State Police, the FBI, and the US Marshals Service. When Smith’s home was searched, police found that part of Taryn’s bedroom carpet was missing.

The child’s grandmother allegedly said she’d burned it because the little girl had defecated on it. When police returned to the home on April 14, 2021, they discovered some blood on Taryn’s wall.

The second grader’s body was then discovered on the floor of the back seat of a black Lexus in a black plastic garbage bag. Initially, Smith was charged with first-degree murder.

The Vallow’s remains were found at the stepfather, Chad Daybell’s home and he was arrested.

However, she’s now being charged with felony failure to notify a death and felony destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence. More charges were expected after Taryn’s autopsy.

The little girl’s grandmother was being held on an $800,000 bond. She waived her right to have a quick preliminary hearing and was set to appear in court again on May 25, 2021.

In another tragic story, Lori Vallow’s children Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, went missing in September 2020. Their remains were found at the stepfather Chad Daybell’s home, and he was arrested.