I'm sorry, but I'm going to disagree with you here.
I don't know the culture of the family, but we have one of Chad's brothers who says he's gone off the deep end. We have Tammy's family who don't support him. We have other extended family and friends, including a verified insider on these boards, who have actively supported the investigation against Chad in searching for the missing children. Other family members can clearly see that something is very wrong here. So why do his children seem different?
As far as religious beliefs go, I was born and raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I know a lot about it. And sure, there are teachings about honoring and obeying your parents, loving one another, forgiveness and repentance, faith, hope, and charity, etc. But there are also teachings about NOT murdering people, obeying, honoring, and sustaining the laws of the land, honesty and integrity, personal responsibility and accountability, chastity and fidelity to one's spouse, avoiding even the appearance of evil, keeping sacred covenants, taking care of and protecting one's family and children, loving one another, following the prophet and teachings of the Church, and on and on. Clearly Chad made some choices which are diametrically opposed to the teachings of the Church, and in fact has established his own peculiar brand of religion which has nothing to do with the Church he was raised in. Zombies, multiple mortal probations, extreme prepping for the end of the world, extra-dimensional portals, classifying different levels of light and dark spirits, etc., etc., are all as foreign to the teachings of the Church as anything I've ever heard and sound like they've come straight out of D&D manual or something (no offense to D&D or anything - I can enjoy and appreciate fantasy as much as the next person). No, anybody who has been raised in the Church, including Chad and Tammy's children, should be able to see that something is very seriously wrong here. Even Charles, who converted to the Church, clearly saw that something was really wrong with Lori's beliefs (which she picked up from Chad) and tried to get help. So why do Chad's children appear to be different?
Another thing that bothers me is the fact that Lori did have children, and Chad knew it. How can Chad's children not look at this and ask questions? Sure, Lori may be a seducer, but did she seduce Chad enough to participate in the murder and/or burial of the children? If so, where's Chad's personal accountability in all of this? Thus far he hasn't ever shown or accepted any personal responsibility or accountability, and has only lawyered up and remained mum on the issue. But let's assume for a moment though that Chad is completely innocent of any direct involvement in the children's horrific deaths and burial (I know, a very difficult thing to do), then how did he not ask any questions about the children, and where they were, before they got married? I mean he did help move their belongings into a storage unit after all. And especially afterwards when the police came looking for the children? Why did he pretend to the police that he didn't know Lori very well, when they were husband and wife at that point? How about when it becomes national headlines that her children are missing - is that a good time to start asking, "hey honey, where exactly are your children and why are the police looking for them?" if he was completely innocent? Or how about when Lori is collecting social security and other payments on her children, when her children are clearly not in her care and custody? You'd think maybe then he'd have a sit down with her and maybe discuss the illegalities of that? Or how about when the police detain you while they serve a search warrant on your vehicle and property while you're on vacation in Hawaii, followed by Nate Eaton and a camera crew following you around asking where the children are? Might that be a good time to have a heart to heart with your significant other about where her children are? And when and how do you share the fact that you just got married to a new woman with children to your own family and children? Would Knott's Berry Farm at a family vacation be a good time? "Guess what children, you have a new mom and step brothers and a step sister! I don't know where they're at at the moment, but hey, congratulations!" Or do you conveniently leave those details out of it? Would a good time to talk to your new wife about her missing children be when she is arrested? "Hey honey, I've got us a lawyer, we're going to help you, but you need to let us know what is going so that we can get this taken care of." How about when you are back home living in Idaho with your children and grandchildren under the same roof, with anybody and everybody asking questions about the new wife and missing children? Maybe then would be a good time to find out once and for all what happened to her children so that you can live peaceably with your own family in the same household? Or perhaps after your own arrest and being charged with several felonies would be a good time to start asking questions of your new wife about why and how her children ended up dead and buried in your own backyard without your knowledge? I mean up to this point you've had a good 10+ months to be having these hard discussions with this woman. These are some of the questions I'd be asking my father if I were his children.
I'm sorry, but no matter how you look at it there is no way Chad is innocent in any of this. Even if he didn't commit any of the acts directly he's had plenty of time and opportunity to find out what was going on and do the right things to bring resolution to the case. The fact that he hasn't speaks volumes as to his culpability in the children's murders and trying to cover up the crimes. And the fact that he's been so loyal to Lori also speaks volumes of Tammy's situation as well... which would be deeply troubling to me if I were one of their children.
All MOO.
