Who is Lori Vallow Daybell
Lori Vallow Daybell is an American woman who gained notoriety due to her involvement in a high-profile missing children’s case. She was born as Lori Norene Cox on June 26, 1973, in San Bernardino, California, USA.
Lori Vallow was previously married to Charles Vallow, with whom she had two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. In 2018, Lori’s former husband Charles Vallow was shot and killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in what was claimed to be self-defense.
In 2019, Lori Vallow married Chad Daybell, an author of religious-themed books. Chad Daybell was previously married to Tammy Daybell, who passed away under suspicious circumstances in October 2019, just two weeks before Chad and Lori’s wedding.
The case that brought widespread attention involved the disappearance of Lori’s two children, JJ and Tylee, in September 2019. After the children were reported missing, Lori and Chad fled to Hawaii, where they were later located and questioned by law enforcement.
Throughout the investigation, Lori and Chad faced mounting scrutiny due to their religious beliefs and involvement in a group known as “Preparing a People.” This group had apocalyptic beliefs and claimed to receive revelations and visions about the end of the world.
As the investigation unfolded, human remains were discovered on Chad Daybell’s property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020. The remains were identified as those of JJ and Tylee, and both Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were subsequently arrested.
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were facing multiple charges related to the disappearance and deaths of JJ and Tylee, as well as charges related to financial fraud and conspiracy. The legal proceedings and investigations were ongoing, so it’s essential to check more recent sources for the latest developments in the case.
Who Is Chad Daybell
Chad Daybell is an American author and religious figure who gained significant attention and notoriety due to his involvement in a high-profile missing children’s case. He was born on August 11, 1968, in Provo, Utah, USA.
Chad Daybell was a relatively unknown author before the case, writing and self-publishing several books centered around religious and apocalyptic themes. His writings often revolved around his beliefs in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, visions, and prophecies about the end times.
In 2019, Chad Daybell became the focus of media and law enforcement scrutiny after the disappearance of two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. JJ was the adopted son of his new wife, Lori Vallow, and Tylee was her biological daughter from a previous marriage.
Chad Daybell’s connection to the case became particularly suspicious when it was revealed that his previous wife, Tammy Daybell, died under questionable circumstances in October 2019, just a few weeks before Chad and Lori’s wedding.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement discovered that Chad and Lori had a deep involvement in a religious group called “Preparing a People,” which taught apocalyptic beliefs and the idea of preparing for the end of the world.
In June 2020, human remains were found on Chad Daybell’s property in Rexburg, Idaho. The remains were later identified as those of JJ and Tylee, and Chad Daybell, along with Lori Vallow, were arrested and charged in connection with the children’s deaths and disappearance.
Chad Daybell faced charges related to concealing evidence and destroying human remains, among others. The case received significant media attention and became a subject of public fascination due to the bizarre circumstances, religious beliefs, and the mysterious deaths and disappearance of the children.
How Did Lori And Chad Meet?
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell reportedly met sometime in 2018 through their shared involvement in a religious community and their beliefs in certain doctrines. Chad Daybell was an author of several religious-t
hemed books centered around the idea of preparing for the end times and receiving revelations about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Before meeting Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow was previously married to Charles Vallow, with whom she had two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Charles and Lori were involved in a custody battle over JJ before his tragic death in July 2019.
Chad Daybell was also previously married to Tammy Daybell, and they had several children together. Tammy Daybell passed away under suspicious circumstances in October 2019, which further raised concerns about Lori and Chad’s relationship.
It is believed that Lori and Chad’s shared religious beliefs brought them together and played a significant role in their subsequent actions. They both became involved in a group called “Preparing a People,” which espoused apocalyptic beliefs and the idea of preparing for the end of the world.
Their relationship progressed quickly, and they eventually got married in Hawaii in November 2019, just weeks after Tammy Daybell’s death. The rapid sequence of events, the mysterious deaths of their previous spouses, and the disappearance of Lori’s children led to intense media scrutiny and the unfolding of a high-profile missing children’s case.
As the investigation into the disappearance of JJ and Tylee continued, evidence began to mount against Lori and Chad, and they faced charges related to the deaths of the children, as well as other legal issues. The case garnered widespread attention and became a subject of intense interest in the media and true-crime communities.
Key Trial Points For Lori and Chad Daybell
Lori Vallow Daybell and her husband Chad Daybell are on trial for the murder of Lori’s children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, whose remains were found on Chad’s property. Lori was also convicted of conspiring to murder Chad’s previous wife, Tammy Daybell. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Lori’s extreme religious beliefs, including the concept of people being possessed or “zombies”, were discussed. Lori’s friend, Melanie Gibb, testified that Lori labeled some people, including her children and her fourth husband, as “dark” or possessed by evil spirits.
A phone call between Lori and Chad while investigators were searching Chad’s property was played in court. In the call, Chad asks Lori to pray and tells her he loves her.
Lori’s son, Colby Ryan, confronted his mother about his siblings’ deaths in an emotional phone call played for the jury. He accused Lori of lying to him and expressed his heartbreak over the loss of his siblings.
Lori’s sister, Summer Shiflet, testified about a jailhouse call with Lori after the children’s remains were found. Shiflet was heard sobbing and screaming on the call.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Garth Warren revealed that a toxicology test on a sample of JJ Vallow’s liver showed low levels of gamma hydroxybutyric acid, a so-called party or date rape drug often called GHB, and alcohol in his system.
DNA evidence linked Lori and her daughter Tylee to the crime scene. Tylee’s DNA was found on a pickax, and a hair matching Lori’s DNA was found on the tape binding JJ.
Former friend Audrey Barattiero testified that Lori threatened to kill her and claimed she could cast out spirits.
Additional Arizona Charges
Police have revealed that the investigation into Lori Vallow’s charges for the murder of her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, was prompted by his expressed fears for their children’s safety. Vallow, who is already facing charges for the deaths of her children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, was extradited from Hawaii to Idaho after being arrested for child desertion, nonsupport, and contempt of court.
The police report details how Lori’s brother, Alexander Cox, called 911 to report that he had shot and killed Charles. However, inconsistencies in Cox’s account led to further investigation. Charles had previously communicated with another of Lori’s brothers about planning an intervention for Lori due to concerns about their children’s safety and her radical beliefs.
The report also mentions that Lori had texted Cox the day before Charles’ murder, hinting at premeditation. Additional correspondence between Lori and her later husband, Chad Daybell, also suggested premeditation. Daybell is currently facing a murder charge for the death of his wife, Tammy Daybell, while Lori is charged with conspiracy in her death.
Police estimate that Charles lay dead or dying for 43 minutes before Cox called 911. During this time, Lori took Charles’ rental vehicle and cell phone, and went to Burger King and Walgreens. When Cox finally called 911, he implied that the shooting had just occurred and pretended to perform CPR.
Lori and Daybell are also facing murder charges for the deaths of her children, whose remains were found on Daybell’s property in Idaho. Lori was recently declared “not competent to proceed” with trial by an Idaho judge, affecting her trial in Fremont County, where she is charged with conspiring to destroy, alter or conceal evidence of her children’s buried bodies. It remains unclear how this will impact her trial on the murder charges involving her children.
The Sentencing
On Monday, Lori Vallow Daybell, an Idaho mother found guilty of the horrific murders of her two youngest children and her husband’s previous wife, was handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole, the harshest sentence available.
The sentencing comes over three years after the remains of her children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, were discovered in the backyard of her husband’s rural Idaho home.
For the first-degree murder charges of JJ and Tylee, and the conspiracy to commit murder of her husband’s former wife, Tammy Daybell, Vallow Daybell received the maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole. The sentences will be served consecutively, as Judge Steven Boyce stated that Vallow Daybell “must be held accountable separately for each of the three murders.
In addition, Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life without parole for two separate conspiracies to commit murder charges related to her children. She also received a total of 10 years for a grand theft charge, which will run concurrently with the three consecutive murder charges.
During the sentencing, Vallow Daybell addressed the court, claiming that Jesus Christ knew her and understood her. She expressed her grief for those mourning her children and Tammy, and insisted that there were no murders in this case, attributing the deaths to accidents, suicides, and fatal medication side effects.
Judge Boyce, however, expressed his disbelief in Vallow Daybell’s remorse for the pain and suffering she caused. He described the murders as the most unimaginable type, with a mother killing her own children.
The trial, which lasted five weeks and ended with a guilty verdict after only seven hours of jury deliberation, was marked by graphic images and emotional testimonies. Colby Ryan, Vallow Daybell’s estranged oldest son, stated that “generations have been affected by these murders.”
The prosecution argued that Vallow Daybell, 50, manipulated her late brother, Alex Cox, to assist her and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, in committing the crimes. The trial focused on the theme of “money, power, and sex,” with the prosecution arguing that the couple’s strange plot was a scheme to steal Social Security and insurance money.
The defense argued that Vallow Daybell was a loving, protective mother whose life took a turn for the worse when she fell for Chad Daybell and his apocalyptic religious beliefs. Chad Daybell, who will be tried separately, could face the death penalty if convicted for his alleged role in the murders.
Vallow Daybell’s sentencing marks the end of a heartbreaking case that gained global attention. The prosecution stated that “society can only be protected from this defendant by a life sentence without the chance of parole.”
Vallow Daybell is also facing additional charges in Arizona related to murders and attempted murders that prosecutors allege she helped plan in 2019.
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Therefore, do not hesitate to call us if you find yourself or someone you know that is facing criminal charges unsure about the court system. We will work with you to give you the best type of defense that can help you solve your case. It is vital to have someone explain the result of the charge to you and guide you in the best possible way.
Here at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, we have professional and knowledgeable criminal law attorneys who are experienced in building a defense case for you that suits your needs for the best possible outcome that can benefit you.
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Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.
Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.
His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.
Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.
