The stepfather of two missing Idaho children spent his college years working as a gravedigger, and publicly spoke of how rewarding he found the unusual job.

KSL-TV dug up Daybell’s former job history as a cemetary sexton (the official job title) for a video segment about Daybell’s connection to the missing children and the sudden death of his former wife. Daybell is now married to Lori Vallow, who is in custody on child desertion charges. Her children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, have not been seen since September.

In a 2001 interview with Deseret News, Daybell spoke about his enthusiasm for his job, which he reportedly performed while he was a student at Brigham Young University. According to an earlier article in the Deseret News, at least two of Daybell’s siblings also worked their way through school as gravediggers. The more recent report indicates that Daybell worked as a gravedigger for several years, even after he would have finished college.

“Taking care of the graves is rewarding, as well as helping widows and grieving family members deal with the trauma,” Daybell said.

The article also notes that Daybell wrote a book about his experiences, which is still for sale.

Daybell has not been charged in relation to the disappearance of his stepchildren. Authorities are continuing to investigate the deaths of he and Vallow’s previous spouses.

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