Bondsman who met with Lori Daybell describes challenges of posting bail
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REXBURG – Danielle Kingston has owned A+ Idaho Bail Bonds since 2018 and has been a bondsman for 12 years. She’s never helped anyone post $1 million bail and is unaware of any cases in Idaho where an inmate has been able to post that high of an amount.
Kingston has met with and remains in contact with Lori Vallow Daybell, who currently sits in the Madison County Jail on two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of her children.
“It’s not about the money. I told her I don’t want to write the bond. I’d rather just have this go away if she would provide where the kids are located. If she could provide that assurance and proof of life, this goes away,” Kingston tells EastIdahoNews.com. “But she has rights – including her right to bail.”
RELATED | Lori Daybell remains in jail and may have problems posting $1 million bail
Other bond companies have been in touch with Daybell and they are all considering the different risk factors with this particular case. Daybell hasn’t lived in Idaho very long, she failed to comply with a court order to produce Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, her missing children, by Jan. 30, and she is one of the most well-known jail inmates in America right now.
“We’ve talked about a number of conditions – having someone from our company with her 24 hours a day, having her cooperate with police, things like that,” Kingston says. “We take this very seriously, and there are a lot of moving pieces involved in this entire thing.”
Bond, also known as bail, is money or collateral paid to the court by a defendant to ensure he or she returns for future court dates. Once a bond is set, a defendant has three payment options to get out of jail: cash, collateral or a bail bonds company.
If Daybell decides to post bond through a bail bonds company, she would be required to pay 10 percent of the bond amount – $100,000 – along with additional jail and state fees.
WATCH: Judge reduces Lori Vallow Daybell’s bail amount to $1 million
Jackie Hamilton and her twin sister, Acacia Fisher, own Double Trouble Bail Bonds in Boise and have been following the case closely.
“If we posted her bond and she did not show up for court, our company could potentially lose the million dollars if we did not find Lori and bring her back within 180 days to Rexburg,” Hamilton says. “Since this case is so high profile, I wouldn’t want to do it is because I’d be afraid to lose potential clients down the road due to the negative publicity.”
Hamilton does not believe Daybell would take off if she gets out of jail because so many people are following the case nationwide.
“People are following her everywhere. Her passports are expired. She has to have an ankle monitor which, if she tried to tamper it, sheriff deputies would be at her door before she could get away, so I just don’t think she would have the ability to take off,” Hamilton says.
Bond companies usually deal with inmates who aren’t in the news but in September 2008, Kingston’s insurance company posted bail for Casey Anthony. One month later, the Florida mother was indicted on first-degree murder and other charges in connection to the death of her daughter. She booked into jail without bond and ultimately found not guilty.
“Her bond was $500,000 – so it wasn’t even this high,” Kingston says. “If you look at how Casey Anthony’s bond was structured, the condition was she would be released in order to help law enforcement.”
Kingston says bond situations can be complex, and it’s possible Daybell finds a company to help her get out of jail. In the meantime, Kingston will keep the communication open.
“It’s crazy that this is happening in our own backyard,” she says. “Everyone is watching it.”
