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Learn the Four Sentence Types

Are you ready to learn about the four sentence types? Great!

We use different types of sentences for different purposes, and when we categorize sentences based on their purpose, we get four types of sentences (statements, questions, exclamations, and commands).

Let's look more closely at each one!

1. Statements (Declarative Sentences)

Statements are the most common type of sentence, and we use them to...make statements. 

It may be helpful to think of what these kinds of sentences don't do. They don't ask questions, they don't give commands, and they don't express ideas with a strong emotion. Think of them as regular, old, boring sentences that end with a period. 

The fancy name for a statement is a declarative sentence . 

We own a cat.

Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.

This is my favorite movie .

You may have heard that these kinds of sentences "state facts." If it helps you to think of them this way, then great! However, keep in mind that you could have a declarative sentence that states something that isn't true. Consider these statements:

I love going to the DMV.

Those sentences are categorized as statements, but they're obviously not true. A sentence doesn't have to be true to be a statement. 

2. Questions ( Interrogative Sentences)

Questions are another type of sentence, and I'm sure that you already know what they do—they ask questions! These kinds of sentences end with a question mark.

Where is the cat? 

When did the dinosaurs live?

What is your favorite movie?

The fancy name for a question is an interrogative sentence . One thing to note about questions is that they're usually written with a different word order than statements. This might cause you some trouble if you're trying to find the subject and the verb in the sentence. 

Statements often begin with the subject of the sentence. In the statement below, the subject is you .

You own a cat.

Questions, on the other hand, often have an  auxiliary verb  (helping verb) or another word before the subject. In the question below, the subject is you , and the word do is a helping verb.

Do you own a cat?

3. Exclamations ( Exclamatory Sentences)

Exclamations, or exclamatory sentences , are another type of sentence. These guys get to have all the fun. They make statements with emotion, so you can think of them as being declarative sentences that end with an exclamation mark . 

I can't find the cat!

The tyrannosaurus rex  was huge!

I love this movie!

The way that we've defined exclamatory sentences above is usually the way that people think about exclamations. However, you can also define exclamatory sentences in another way. If a sentence start with  what  or  how , is not a question, and has a shift in the typical word order, you can also say it's an exclamatory sentence. When you define exclamatory sentences this way, you're doing it by the sentence's form rather than by its purpose. You can read more about that here .

What big ears you have!

What big eyes you have!

What a terrible, big mouth you have!

4. Commands (Imperative Sentences)

Commands are sentences that—surprise—give commands or make requests. They usually end with a period, but they can also end with an exclamation mark. The fancy name for a command is an imperative sentence .

Feed the cat.

Please get me dinosaur socks.

Play the movie.

One strange thing about imperative sentences has to do with their subjects . Are you ready to hear about it? The subject of an imperative sentence is not stated in the sentence. It's implied.

And it gets even stranger. All imperative sentences have the same subject: (you). We call it understood you because it's not stated; it's simply understood.

When you give a command, you're speaking or writing to someone. That someone is the person that the pronoun  you in understood   you is referring to.

Even when we begin commands with a person's name , the subject is still you understood. (We call that name at the beginning of the sentence a noun of direct address. )

Bob, feed the cat. 

Mom, please get me dinosaur socks. 

Jenny, play the movie.

All of those sentences are commands, and their subject is you understood .

Okay, it's time for a tiny quiz on the sentence types! Do you remember what they are? Close your eyes and see if you can recall all four sentence types and their purposes. If you want a beefier quiz, you can take a quiz on the types of sentences here .

This is original content from  https://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/sentence-types.html

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• Here's a PDF that covers these four sentence types . 

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Statement Sentence

Ai generator.

Elevate your writing skills with this comprehensive guide on statement sentences. Discover what statement sentences are, how to craft them effectively, and get inspired by practical sentence examples . Whether you’re a student or a professional, our actionable tips and examples are designed to provide you clarity and confidence in your writing journey.

What is the Statement Sentence? – Definition

A statement sentence is a type of sentence that provides information or conveys a declaration. It is the most common sentence type and is usually declarative, ending with a period.

What is the best Example of a Statement Sentence? – Detailed Explanation

The best example of a statement sentence is straightforward and conveys a clear message. For example, “The sky is blue.” This sentence is a statement that presents a fact. It is clear, concise, and leaves no room for ambiguity. It serves its purpose by providing information in a direct manner.

100 Statement Sentence Usage Examples

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Embark on a journey to master statement sentences with these 100 unique examples. These sentences span various topics and contexts, offering a rich, diversified learning experience. Perfect for enhancing your writing, these examples are specially crafted for clarity and effective communication.

• The cat sleeps on the sofa.
• My favorite fruit is mango.
• The movie starts at 7 PM.
• Sarah is a brilliant student.
• The bookshelf is made of oak.
• She has a strong work ethic.
• The coffee is too hot to drink.
• Water boils at 100°C.
• I prefer tea over coffee.
• The bakery opens early in the morning.
• New York is famous for its skyscrapers.
• The soccer match was a tie.
• He failed his driver’s test.
• Emily loves to read mysteries.
• The ice cream shop is closed on Mondays.
• It is raining outside.
• The river flows to the east.
• My sister is a nurse.
• The cake tastes delicious.
• The concert was a hit.
• John is the CEO of the company.
• She has three siblings.
• The sun sets in the west.
• The library is open until 9 PM.
• The painting is an original.
• We have a meeting tomorrow.
• The garden looks beautiful in spring.
• Your answer is incorrect.
• He is an expert in mathematics.
• She plays the piano.
• The shop is closed for renovation.
• The bus arrives in 10 minutes.
• Tom is allergic to peanuts.
• The assignment is due on Friday.
• The apples are ripe.
• The museum houses ancient artifacts.
• She has traveled to Europe.
• He graduated with honors.
• The pizza is too spicy.
• There are twelve months in a year.
• She enjoys hiking on weekends.
• The play was a success.
• The volcano is active.
• He studies economics.
• The Earth revolves around the Sun.
• The moon is full tonight.
• Birds migrate in the winter.
• The test was difficult.
• The baby is crying.
• The cake needs to cool before icing.
• He is late for the meeting.
• The dog is barking.
• The room is dimly lit.
• He is fond of animals.
• The car needs fuel.
• The kids are playing in the yard.
• This chair is broken.
• She is afraid of spiders.
• It’s your turn to play.
• The machine is out of order.
• The rose smells sweet.
• She speaks three languages.
• The window is open.
• My grandmother is 85 years old.
• The new model comes with advanced features.
• She is good at dancing.
• The store offers a discount on weekends.
• The exam is next week.
• Her dress is made of silk.
• The ice is slippery.
• The air feels humid.
• The meeting was productive.
• He is an author of five books.
• The formula is correct.
• The tree is tall.
• She owns a fashion boutique.
• The baby is teething.
• The car is parked in the garage.
• They are getting married next month.
• The food is delicious.
• The earth is round.
• The program starts at 10 AM.
• He is a skilled carpenter.
• The meeting lasted two hours.
• She is a vegan.
• He was late for the flight.
• The soup is cold.
• The bag is heavy.
• He swims every day.
• The match was canceled due to rain.
• The building is under construction.
• The recipe requires three eggs.
• The sky is cloudy.
• The hat fits perfectly.
• She is a teacher.
• The door is locked.
• The zoo is a fun place for kids.
• The paint is still wet.
• The restaurant is fully booked.
• The movie was entertaining.

Examples of statement in a Sentence

• The CEO announced a statement on the company’s growth.
• Her statement swayed the jury’s verdict.
• His statement on social media went viral.
• The teacher’s statement highlighted homework’s value.
• The report included a statement on climate impacts.

Statement Sentence Examples for Class 2

Master the art of statement sentences with this expertly curated list aimed specifically for Class 2 students. Packed with easy-to-understand examples, this list is a great resource for parents and teachers alike to elevate children’s writing skills.

• I have a red ball.
• She is my best friend.
• My cat is fluffy.
• The sky is blue.
• We have a new teacher.
• I like ice cream.
• My house has a garden.
• It is sunny today.
• She can sing well.
• The pizza is yummy.

Statement Sentence Examples for Class 3

Step up your learning curve with statement sentences designed for Class 3 students. These examples are not just sentences; they are building blocks for stronger communication skills in young learners.

• Elephants are big animals.
• The Earth is round.
• I read a book every week.
• She has a pet fish.
• The cake is chocolate flavored.
• My birthday is in June.
• Dad works in an office.
• The movie was funny.
• They are my cousins.
• The car is green.

Statement Sentence Examples for Class 4

Expand your grasp of statement sentences with these specifically crafted examples for Class 4 students. Utilize them to enrich vocabulary and bolster sentence construction skills effectively.

• The museum has ancient artifacts.
• She plays the piano very well.
• Our school library is big.
• The test was quite easy.
• He is allergic to nuts.
• The conference starts at 9 AM.
• My mom bakes delicious cookies.
• Solar energy is renewable.
• They visited the zoo last weekend.

Statement Sentence Examples for Class 5

Intensify your understanding of statement sentences through these finely tuned examples for Class 5 students. Ideal for in-depth learning, these examples are invaluable for those looking to master the art of effective communication.

• The experiment was successful.
• She is a native of California.
• The soccer team won the championship.
• The painting is an abstract.
• He completed the marathon in three hours.
• The village has no electricity.
• The castle was built in the 15th century.
• Hurricanes are natural disasters.
• The chocolate is dairy-free.
• She received an award for her poem.

What is the Structure of Statement Sentence?

Understanding the structure of a statement sentence is crucial for effective communication. A standard statement sentence in English usually follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure. However, variations can occur based on emphasis, style, and additional elements like adverbs or adjectives. In its simplest form, a statement sentence can include just a subject and a verb, e.g., “She sings.” For more complexity, additional information can be added, like “She sings beautifully in the choir.”

• Subject : The person, place, thing, or idea that the statement is about.
• Verb : The action or state of the subject.
• Object : What or whom the action is affecting (not always required).
• Subject + Verb: He runs.
• Subject + Verb + Object: She loves chocolate.
• Subject + Verb + Adjective: The cake is delicious.

How do you write Statement Sentences? – Step by Step Guide

Writing statement sentences is an essential skill in English that can be mastered with practice. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you write effective statement sentences.

• Identify the Subject : Determine what or who your sentence is going to be about.
• Choose the Verb : Decide on the action or state the subject will be in.
• Consider the Object : If applicable, figure out what or whom the action is affecting.
• Add Modifiers : Incorporate adjectives, adverbs, or phrases to give more detail.
• Check for Clarity : Make sure your sentence conveys its message clearly.
• Review Grammar : Ensure proper tense and subject-verb agreement.
• Finalize : Read the sentence out loud to make sure it sounds correct.
• Step 1: Subject = “John”
• Step 2: Verb = “ate”
• Step 3: Object = “an apple”
• Step 4: Modifiers = “quickly”
• Step 5, 6 & 7: Final Sentence = “John quickly ate an apple.”

Tips for Using Statement Sentences

Statement sentences are the backbone of clear and effective communication. Here are some tips to make your statement sentences even better.

• Be Concise : Stick to the point and avoid unnecessary words.
• Use Strong Verbs : Choose verbs that are specific and vivid to make your sentence impactful.
• Maintain Consistency : Keep your tense and point of view consistent throughout your writing.
• Add Variety : Don’t start every sentence the same way; vary your sentence structures.
• Proofread : Always review your sentences to check for errors or areas for improvement.
• Context Matters : Tailor your sentences to suit the tone and purpose of your writing, be it formal or informal.
• Practice Makes Perfect : The more you write, the more natural it will become to create effective statement sentences.

Apply these tips and guidelines in your daily writing to create statement sentences that are not only grammatically correct but also engaging and effective.

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Course: Grammar   >   Unit 8

• What is a sentence?

Three types of sentences

• Declarative, interrogative, and imperative sentences
• Exclamations

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Definition of statement

Examples of statement in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'statement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing statement

• counter - statement
• make a fashion statement
• mission statement
• sworn statement

Dictionary Entries Near statement

stately home

statement form

Cite this Entry

“Statement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statement. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of statement, legal definition, legal definition of statement, more from merriam-webster on statement.

Nglish: Translation of statement for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of statement for Arabic Speakers

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What Is a Sentence?

• The cat sat on the mat.

A More Formal Definition of Sentence

Oxford Dictionary

Table of Contents

The Four Types of Sentence

The four sentence structures, (1) simple sentence, (2) complex sentence, (3) compound sentence, (4) compound-complex sentence, why understanding sentences is important, video lesson.

(1) Declarative Sentence

• He has every attribute of a dog except loyalty. (Politician Thomas P Gore)
• I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. (Comedian Rita Rudner)

(2) Imperative Sentence

• When a dog runs at you, whistle for him. (Philosopher Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862)

(3) Interrogative Sentence

• Who knew that dog saliva can mend a broken heart? (Author Jennifer Neal)

(4) Exclamatory Sentence

• In Washington, it's dog eat dog. In academia, it's exactly the opposite! (Politician Robert Reich)

The Subject Could Be Implied.

• You can't surprise a man with a dog . (Screenwriter Cindy Chupack)
• Diplomacy is the art of saying "nice doggie" until you can find a rock. (Actor Will Rogers)
• When you're on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog . (Cartoonist Peter Steiner)
• Cry "Havoc ," and let slip the dogs of war . (Playwright William Shakespeare)
• When a dog bites a man, that is not news because it happens so often, but if a man bites a dog, that is news . (Editor John B Bogart)

(Reason 1) Avoid the run-on sentence.

• Don't play hide and seek; no one would look for you.
• I like a woman with a head on her shoulders – I hate necks. (Actor Steve Martin)
• My friend is a procrastinator...he's afraid of Saturday the 14th.

(Reason 2) Punctuate your sentences correctly.

(1) deciding whether to use a comma with the subordinate clause in a complex sentence..

• When I was six , I had a wind-up Evil Knievel motorbike.
• I had a wind-up Evil Knievel motorbike when I was six .
• When you're on the internet , nobody knows you're a dog . (Cartoonist Peter Steiner)
• Nobody knows you're a dog when you're on the internet .

(2) Deciding whether to put a comma before a conjunction.

• Lee likes pies and cakes .
• Lee likes pies , and he likes cakes .
• Go , and never darken my towels again . (Comedian Groucho Marx)

• Non-rabid wolves have attacked and killed people (mainly children) , but this is rare . They live away from people and have developed a fear of humans from hunters and shepherds .
• They live away from people, and they have developed a fear of humans from hunters and shepherds .
• Some men are born mediocre , some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them . (Playwright Joseph Heller)
• "Veni, vidi, vici" [ I came , I saw , I conquered .] (Roman emperor Julius Caesar)

(Reason 3) As the subject of an imperative sentence is "you," you can't use "myself."

(reason 4) don't use a question mark with a declarative sentence that includes an indirect question..

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

• You can't write a sentence, put a comma, and then write another sentence. That's an error called a run-on sentence or comma splice.
• If you have a fronted adverbial, use a comma.
• Don't use a comma if your adverbial is at the back.
• Use a comma before a conjunction (e.g., and , or , but ) that joins two independent clauses.
• I like tea but hate coffee .
• I like tea , but I hate coffee .
• Be careful when using myself in an imperative sentence.
• Don't be tempted to put a question mark at the end of a declarative sentence that contains an indirect question.

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of statement in English

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• comment The MP could not be reached for comment.
• remark His controversial remarks about race were widely reported.
• statement In a statement released earlier today, the team denied allegations of cheating.
• declaration The sovereign made a formal declaration of war.
• observation She makes some interesting observations about human nature in her book.
• commentary I love that sports announcer's commentary - it's always so funny!
• account The company's accounts show a loss in the first quarter.
• the books I let our accountant do the books.
• bank statement I receive a monthly bank statement.
• statement The bank sends me a statement every month.
• My original statement has been completely distorted by the media .
• The statement said there would be no end to the violence until the terrorists ' demands were met .
• The statement excited new speculation that a senior minister may be about to resign .
• The Palace has issued a statement criticizing the newspaper report .
• The Vatican released a statement condemning the recent terrorist attacks .
• acquaint someone / yourself with something
• annunciation
• apprise someone of something
• awaken someone to something
• breathe/say a word idiom
• disseminate
• on the record idiom
• put something before someone
• put something out
• put something out of its misery idiom

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

• floor-length
• form-fitting
• French tuck
• ready-to-wear
• voluminously

statement | American Dictionary

Statement | business english, examples of statement, translations of statement.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

a large amount of ice, snow, and rock falling quickly down the side of a mountain

Keeping up appearances (Talking about how things seem)

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Watch CBS News

Chad Daybell sentenced to death in triple murder by Idaho jury

By Allison Elyse Gualtieri

Updated on: June 1, 2024 / 9:20 PM EDT / CBS News

Chad Daybell was sentenced to death on Saturday in a triple murder case, nearly a year after his second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Daybell was convicted of first-degree murder of his first wife , Tammy Daybell, and two of his then-girlfriend Lori Vallow's children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as for conspiracy in the murders and of insurance fraud. 

Lori Vallow Daybell was convicted of murder in their three deaths last year and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The case initially drew national attention in 2019 after 7-year-old JJ was reported missing by his grandparents and investigators learned Tylee had last been seen around the same time . Police first arrested Daybell and Vallow  during their honeymoon in Hawaii, just weeks after the death of Tammy Daybell.

The children's bodies were discovered buried on Daybell's property months later.

The case shone a spotlight on the couple's fringe religious beliefs, which included that evil spirits could possess a person's body, turning them into a "zombie."

The jury that convicted Chad Daybell also deliberated on his sentence for the capital charges. Judge Steven Boyce, who presided over both Daybell and Vallow Daybell's Idaho trials , said Thursday he will be sentenced on the insurance fraud charges at a later date.

Victims filled the courtroom Friday as nine people, including Tammy Daybell's brother, Tylee and JJ's  older brother, and others offered victim impact statements.

Daybell, who had not testified in his own defense, also elected not to speak during the penalty phase.

Vallow Daybell was extradited to Arizona following her conviction in Idaho, where she is awaiting trial for murder in the 2019 death of her husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot by her brother, Alex Cox. Cox also died Iater that year.

• Lori Vallow Daybell

Allison Elyse Gualtieri is a Senior News Editor for CBSNews.com, working on a wide variety of subjects including crime, longer-form features and feel-good news. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and U.S. News and World Report, among other outlets.

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Even before the trial’s opening statements, the Secret Service was in some measure planning for the extraordinary possibility of a former president’s incarceration. In the days before the trial began in April, prosecutors asked Justice Merchan to remind Mr. Trump that attacks on witnesses and jurors could land him in jail even before a verdict was rendered.

Shortly thereafter, officials with federal, state and city agencies had an impromptu meeting about how to handle the situation, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

That behind-the-scenes conversation — involving officials from the Secret Service and other relevant law enforcement agencies — focused only on how to move and protect Mr. Trump if the judge were to order him briefly jailed for contempt in a courthouse holding cell before or during the trial, the people said.

The far more substantial challenge — how to safely incarcerate a former president if he were to be sentenced to prison — has yet to be addressed directly, according to interviews with some of a dozen current and former city, state and federal officials.

That’s at least in part because a drawn-out and hard-fought series of appeals, possibly all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, would be almost a certainty. That would most likely delay Mr. Trump’s serving any sentence for months, if not longer, said several of the people, who like other experts have suggested that a prison sentence is unlikely.

Justice Merchan, whom Mr. Trump has continually attacked as “biased” and “corrupt,” could well decide to sentence Mr. Trump to probation rather than prison time.

That would raise the bizarre possibility of the former — and possibly future — commander in chief reporting regularly to a civil servant at the city’s Probation Department.

Mr. Trump would have to follow the probation officer’s instructions and answer questions about his work and personal life until the term of probation ended. He would also be barred from associating with disreputable people, and if he committed any additional crimes, he could be jailed immediately.

Incarceration would present a far greater challenge, especially because Mr. Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president. “Obviously, it’s uncharted territory,” Martin F. Horn, who has worked at the highest levels of New York’s and Pennsylvania’s state prison agencies and served as commissioner of New York City’s correction and probation departments, has said. “Certainly no state prison system has had to deal with this before, and no federal prison has had to either.”

Steven Cheung, the communications director for Mr. Trump’s campaign, has said that the case against the former president was “so spurious and so weak” that other prosecutors had refused to bring it, and called it “an unprecedented partisan witch hunt.”

“That the Democrat fever dream of incarcerating the nominee of the Republican Party has reached this level exposes their Stalinist roots and displays their utter contempt for American democracy,” he said.

Protecting Mr. Trump in a prison environment would involve keeping him separate from other inmates, as well as screening his food and other personal items, officials said. If he were to be imprisoned, a detail of agents would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rotating in and out of the facility, several officials said. While firearms are strictly prohibited in prisons, the agents would, most likely, nonetheless be armed.

Former corrections officials said there were several New York state prisons and city jails that have been closed or partly closed, leaving large sections of their facilities empty. One of those buildings could serve to incarcerate the former president and accommodate his Secret Service protective detail.

Anthony Guglielmi, the spokesman for the Secret Service in Washington, declined in a statement to discuss specific “protective operations.” But he has emphasized that federal law requires Secret Service agents to protect former presidents, adding that they use state-of-the-art technology, intelligence and tactics to do so.

Thomas J. Mailey, a spokesman for New York State’s prison agency, has said that his department could not speculate about how it would treat someone who has not yet been sentenced, but that it has a system “to assess and provide for individuals’ medical, mental health and security needs.” Frank Dwyer, a spokesman for the New York City jails agency, recently said only that “the department would find appropriate housing” for the former president.

While each count carries the possibility of up to four years in prison, Justice Merchan would most likely order any sentence to run concurrently, meaning Mr. Trump would serve prison time on each of the counts simultaneously. Under normal circumstances, any sentence of one year or less would generally be served on New York City’s notorious Rikers Island, home to the Department of Correction’s seven jails. (That’s where Mr. Trump’s former chief financial officer, Allen H. Weisselberg, 76, is serving his second five-month sentence for perjury .)

Any sentence of more than a year would generally be served in one of the 44 prisons run by New York State’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

And what if Mr. Trump is elected president in November? He could not pardon himself because the prosecution was brought by New York State, not the federal government. But it is unclear what would happen if he were sentenced to a prison term and appellate courts upheld his conviction while he was in office.

William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter covering municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement topics in New York. More about William K. Rashbaum

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

Guilty Verdict : Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts  of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened his bid for the White House in 2016, making him the first American president to be declared a felon .

Next Steps: The judge in the case set Trump’s sentencing for July 11, and Trump already indicated that he plans to appeal. Here’s what else may happen .

Reactions: Trump’s conviction reverberated quickly across the country and over the world . Here’s what Trump , voters , New Yorkers , Republicans  and the White House  had to say.

The Presidential Race : The verdict will test America’s traditions, legal institutions and ability to hold an election under historic partisan tension , reshuffling a race that has been locked in stasis and defined by a polarizing former president.

Making the Case: Over six weeks and the testimony of 20 witnesses, the Manhattan district attorney’s office wove a sprawling story  of election interference and falsified business records.

Legal Luck Runs Out: The four criminal cases that threatened Trump’s freedom had been stumbling along, pleasing his advisers. Then his good fortune expired .

Connecting the Dots: As rumors circulated of Trump’s reported infidelity, two accounts of women  being paid to stay silent about their encounters became central to his indictment.

Jury weighs death sentence for doomsday author following family statements

As an Idaho jury weighs whether doomsday author Chad Daybell should get the death penalty after being convicted in the murders of his first wife and his second wife's two children, family members of the three victims gave emotional statements to the court on Friday.

The jury found him guilty on all counts in what prosecutors said was a plot to pursue "money, power and sex."

Thursday's verdict in the capital murder trial comes more than a year after Daybell's second wife, Lori Vallow, was also convicted of murdering her two youngest children -- Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. Their remains were found on a property in Idaho belonging to Daybell in June 2020 after the children had been missing for several months.

Daybell, 55, was charged with murder and conspiracy in the deaths of the two children as well as his former wife of nearly 30 years, Tamara "Tammy" Daybell, 49, with whom he had five children. She died in their home on Oct. 19, 2019, with the cause of death asphyxiation, prosecutors revealed during Vallow's trial. Daybell and Vallow were married in Hawaii two weeks later.

Prosecutors said Daybell, the author of books about the apocalypse, promoted spiritual beliefs to justify the murders and had claimed that all three were possessed and "marked" them for death so that he and Vallow could be together "unencumbered by earthly relatives, earthly obstacles."

Daybell was also found guilty of two counts of insurance fraud related to $430,000 in life insurance policies he had on Tamara Daybell for which he was the beneficiary, prosecutors said.

During victim impact statements delivered ahead of the jury deliberations on the sentencing, several family members recalled their grief over Tamara Daybell's sudden death on Oct. 19, 2019, and the ensuing anguish and anger to learn that, following an exhumation to conduct an autopsy, she was murdered.

"My sister should not be dead right now," Samantha Gwilliam told the court. "She should be here alive, smiling, with her family and friends. She should be doting on her grandchildren and taking care of her animals."

"It is a cruel world that has taken her from us. We need to feel some peace for the first time in five years," she continued. "I miss my sister every day. I will grieve for her for the rest of my life. I speak up for her now because she needs a voice."

Their brother, Matthew Douglas, said Tamara Daybell was the "emotional heart and glue of our siblings' group."

"I still can't wrap my head and heart around the chain of events," he said, saying this has been a "nightmare that you feel never ends."

Ben Douglas said the pain of losing their sister was "immeasurable" and has been compounded by also impacting their relationship with her children -- a sentiment echoed by his family.

"The tragedy of the case has harmed our family's relationship with the kids," her father, Ron Douglas, told the court. "I will remain open to rebuilding a relationship with them. It makes me angry, and it destroys me to know Tammy was treated how she was."

The eldest sibling, Michael Douglas, told the court that he did not sleep for six weeks after learning the results of the autopsy, and that his peace has been "stolen."

"I now have an angry part that has become, hopefully, not a permanent part of me," he said.

Her siblings expressed their shock and horror at learning that two children were also killed.

"I retched and sobbed over learning about JJ and Tylee," Gwilliam said through tears.

Ryan was a child from Vallow's third marriage while JJ was the nephew of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, whom they adopted.

Kay Woodcock, JJ's grandmother, described her "immense pain" over the boy's death, which she called a "betrayal that can't be explained."

"There's a hole in my heart, in the hearts of every member of my family, that can never be filled and will remain for the rest of my life," she said, crying.

She said JJ was incredibly smart and compassionate and cried over the fact that she could not create more memories with him.

"The constant question remains -- who would he have become?" she said. "Would he be a famous scientist with incredible math skills? What would his amazing imagination have bloomed into? Would have been the next Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Tim Burton, Elon Musk? We will never know. But we do know how incredibly special he was to us."

Ryan's aunt, Annie Cushing, said she and her niece bonded over their love of pop culture and she had planned to bring the teen to New York City for her 18th birthday.

"Tylee had her whole life ahead of her. She had dignity, she had dreams, she had goals," Cushing said. "The defendant stole that."

The children's brother, Colby Ryan -- Vallow's eldest child -- expressed his grief at not seeing his siblings grow up.

"It's very hard for me to put into words what it means to have lost my entire family," he told the court. "In short, I've lost everything I've ever known."

He said his three children will never know Ryan's kind heart or JJ's "silly, goofy personality."

"But more importantly, Tylee and JJ lost their lives," he continued.

The jury began deliberations Friday afternoon in the sentencing on whether the circumstances of the case warrant the death penalty, being sought by the state for what they called the "heinous" manner of the deaths.

"The defendant exhibited utter disregard for human life. Tylee was only 16 years old. JJ was only seven years old. Tammy -- a 49-year-old mother of five, the mother of the defendant's kids," prosecutor Lindsey Blake told the jurors Friday prior to the sentencing deliberations. "It didn't matter the age of the victim or who relied on them and loved them. If they were in the way of Chad and his plan and/or if there was money to be gained for Lori and Chad, those individuals were marked for death."

Defense attorney John Prior meanwhile painted Daybell as a quiet, small-town man committed to faith and family before blaming Vallow as a "bomb" dropped in his life, causing chaos.

"She was the trajectory that changed the plan," he told the court Friday. "You don't go back on 29 years of marriage with nothing as far as a speeding ticket, raising five wonderful children."

Daybell did not address the court during the sentencing phase of the trial. He also did not take the stand to testify in his own defense prior to the verdict.

Vallow was sentenced to life in prison without parole in July 2023 for the murders of her two children and for conspiring to kill them and Tamara Daybell. The judge had granted the defense's motion to dismiss the death penalty in her case.

She also faces charges over the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot and killed by her brother in 2019.

Since the death penalty was established in Idaho in 1864, the state has carried out 29 executions, most recently in 2012, according to the Death Penalty Information Center .

There are currently eight residents on death row in Idaho, according to the state Department of Corrections.

ABC News' Jeffrey Cook contributed to this report.

Trump press conference livestream: Watch as former president discusses conviction

One day after he was found guilty on all 34 counts in his New York criminal  hush money trial , former President Donald Trump is expected to give a press conference Friday morning.

USA TODAY is providing live coverage of Trump's press conference, which is scheduled to begin Friday at 11 a.m. ET in Trump Tower. You can watch live at the embedded video live at the top of the page or on USA TODAY's YouTube channel .

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was found guilty by a jury Thursday of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. He is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

Donald Trump's guilty verdict: How will it hit his reelection bid? Is his political fallout here?

“This is just a disgrace,”  Trump told reporters  in the hallway outside the courtroom after he was convicted. “We didn’t do anything wrong. I’m an innocent man.”

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

It was the closure to a more-than six weeks-long trial, the first criminal trial in U.S. history against a former president.