Vallow–Daybell doomsday murders
Vallow–Daybell doomsday murders | |
---|---|
In chronological order : killing of Charles Vallow (pending trial), disappearances and murders of Tylee Ryan and J. J. Vallow (judged), shooting of Brandon Boudreaux (pending trial), murder of Tammy Daybell (judged) | |
Date | July through October 2019 |
Location | |
Caused by | Unknown (Tylee), asphyxiation (J. J. and Tammy) and shooting (Charles) |
Lead figures | |
Casualties | |
Death(s) | Tylee Ryan, J. J. Vallow, Tammy Daybell, Charles Vallow |
Arrested | Lori Vallow Daybell (February 20, 2020) and Chad Daybell (June 9, 2020) |
Charged |
|
The Vallow–Daybell doomsday murders are a series of killings—including child murder, filicide and spousal murder—committed by an American couple, Lori Vallow Daybell from Chandler, Arizona and Chad Daybell from Rexburg, Idaho, who led a Mormon religious group described by the media as a "doomsday cult". The case was set in motion when Lori Vallow's daughter, Tylee Ryan (aged 16), and younger adopted son, Joshua Jaxon "J. J." Vallow (aged 7), disappeared respectively on September 9 and September 23, 2019. The children were found buried in shallow graves in Rexburg, on June 9, 2020. Tylee and J.J.'s remains were located in the backyard of Chad Daybell, who was Lori Vallow's lover at the time of their deaths and had become her husband by the time their bodies were found. The case also involved the killings of Lori's previous husband Charles Vallow and of Chad's wife Tammy Daybell, as well as the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux, one of Lori's relatives. Lori's brother Alex Cox,[a] who is believed by authorities to have participated in the crimes, died before he could be brought to justice.
At the time of the children's disappearances, Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), though their beliefs had significantly deviated from mainstream Mormonism.[2][3] Chad Daybell was an apocalyptic author and publisher who claimed to have visions from the future and to have lived through multiple past lives, and prophesied the world would end in July 2020. Lori Vallow had come to share her lover's fringe religious beliefs: she became convinced that she was a deity destined to play a role in the coming apocalypse and that her family was getting in the way of her mission.[4]
Tylee was last seen alive at Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019, while J.J. was last seen alive on September 22, 2019. In November 2019, police questioned Lori about J.J.'s whereabouts and welfare. Lori claimed that J.J. was staying with her friend Melanie Gibb in Arizona, Lori's previous residence before moving to Idaho in late August 2019. However, Gibb denied this claim. Lori and Chad then vacated their homes in Idaho and left for Hawaii. As police searched for J.J., they discovered that Tylee was also missing.[5] The children's case soon attracted media attention, as the Daybells refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
Even before the children's remains were found, investigations revealed that their disappearances had been preceded and followed by a string of suspicious deaths and events. Lori's estranged fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed in July 2019 by her brother, Alex Cox, who claimed self-defense; Cox later died in December 2019 due to a blood clot. In October 2019, Brandon Boudreaux, the then-estranged husband of Lori's niece, was shot at from a vehicle registered to Charles Vallow. That same month, Tammy Daybell, Chad's wife, was attacked in her driveway. She died 10 days later on October 19 under what was initially recorded as 'natural causes'. Chad and Lori married two weeks after Tammy's death. After Tylee and J.J.'s disappearance became known, Tammy's body was exhumed by law enforcement officials,[6][7][8] revealing that she had been asphyxiated.[9]
On February 20, 2020, Lori was arrested in Kauai, Hawaii, and charged with desertion and non-support of her children. She was extradited to Idaho two weeks later. On June 9, 2020, police discovered the remains of Tylee and J.J. during a search at Chad's home.[10][11] Chad was immediately arrested on charges of destruction or concealment of evidence.[12][13] On May 25, 2021, Lori and Chad were charged with the first-degree murders of Tylee, J.J., and Tammy, the indictment accusing them of using religious beliefs to justify their crimes.[14] Prosecutors said that Lori and Chad had conspired with Alex Cox to murder Tylee, J.J. and Tammy, as part of their apocalyptic beliefs but also to collect life insurance money and the children's Social Security benefits.[15]
Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were tried separately. On May 12, 2023, Lori was found guilty of all charges related to the killings of her children and Tammy Daybell:[16] on July 31, 2023, she was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. She has also been charged in Arizona related to the death of Charles Vallow and the shooting of Brandon Boudreaux. On May 30, 2024, Chad was also found guilty of all charges.[17] On June 1, 2024, he was sentenced to death.[18]
Background
Chad Daybell
Chad Daybell | |
---|---|
![]() Daybell's 2020 mugshot | |
Born | Chad Guy Daybell August 11, 1968 |
Other names | "Doomsday Dad"[3][19] "Doomsday Prophet"[20] |
Citizenship | American |
Alma mater | Brigham Young University (BA) |
Occupation(s) | author, publisher |
Organization(s) | owner and co-founder of Spring Creek Book Company |
Spouses | Tamara Douglas
(m. 1990; died 2019)Lori Vallow (m. 2019) |
Children | 5 |
Conviction(s) | First degree murder Conspiracy to commit murder Grand theft Insurance fraud |
Criminal penalty | Death |
Date apprehended | June 9, 2020 |
Chad Guy Daybell was born on August 11, 1968, Provo, Utah,[21] to a Mormon family; he grew up in Springville.[3]
Chad was accepted at Brigham Young University (BYU). One year into college, he applied to be a missionary, for which he spent two years in New Jersey.[3] He then resumed his studies and graduated from BYU with a B.A. in journalism.[21] While in college, he met Tamara "Tammy" Douglas (May 4, 1970 – October 19, 2019)[3] whom he married Manti, Utah, on March 9, 1990. They had five children: Garth, Emma, Seth, Leah and Mark.[21]
Chad worked for a time as a copy editor for the Standard-Examiner in Ogden.[3][22] At various times during and after his studies, he supported himself by working as a gravedigger,[23] then as the cemetery sexton for Springville.[24]
Writing and publishing career
Chad's first religion-themed novel, An Errand for Emma, was published in 1999 by Springville-based Cedar Fort, Inc.,[25] and he eventually left his job at the cemetery to focus on his writing. In 2001, he published One Foot in the Grave, a non-fiction book that chronicled his experiences working in cemeteries.[22]
In 2004, Chad founded with his wife Spring Creek Book Company,[26] which he used to self-publish his beliefs regarding the end times as well as other religion-themed books aimed at a Latter Day Saint audience.[27] In 2007, local newspaper The Springville Herald described the company as being "one of the leading LDS publishers."[26]
By the end of the 2000s, the Daybells faced financial problems. At that time, Chad's publishing business provided an annual income of approximately $2,000. Both spouses had to work part-time to supplement that income,[28] with Chad being employed again as a cemetery sexton.[23] Eventually, Chad salvaged his company and found an audience among people concerned by the Second Coming of Jesus,[29] becoming a popular author and speaker in some radical Mormon circles.[2]
Chad's novels often depicted apocalyptic situations and dystopian futures, and featured characters based on his own family.[30][31] A recurring theme in his memoirs and novels was a supernatural voice giving instructions and advice to him or to his characters.[3] He claimed that he had had two near-death experiences that allowed him to receive supernatural visions from "beyond the veil".[3] He commented: "I don't fictionalize any of the events portrayed [in my books]. I'm really not that creative… My torn veil allows information to be downloaded into my brain from the other side. The scenes I am shown are real events that will happen."[31]
Chad published dozens of fiction and non-fiction books, by himself or other authors,[29] notably end-of-days clairvoyant Julie Rowe.[32] Chad helped disseminate Rowe's doomsday prophecies which caused in 2015 some Mormons to prepare for the end of the world,[2] prompting the LDS Church to issue a call for calm and to stress that it did not endorse Rowe's views.[33]
Chad was also a regular contributor to "Another Voice of Warning" (AVOW), a Latter Day Saints paid forum where he would discuss his near-death experiences and thoughts on the future.[2]
Religious radicalization
Over time, Chad's religious beliefs became increasingly extreme and focused on "visions" and "end-time" events.[34] Jason Gwilliam, the husband of Tammy's sister, said that Chad's religious views had started changing around 2006–2007, as he became "hyper-focused on preparing for end of times". Around 2010–2011, Chad started claiming he had visions about how the end of the world would occur. In 2013-2014, he began prophesying there would be earthquakes, war and destruction in the Americas.[35]
During Chad's association with Julie Rowe, both claimed to have a close connection to the "spirit world" due to their near-death experiences: they prophesied a foreign invasion of the United States, plagues and an economic collapse. In the course of the 2010s, Rowe, and Chad as her publisher, were particularly popular among Mormon "preppers" who believed the end of the world to be imminent and considered regrouping in tent cities to await doomsday.[2]
Suzanne Freeman, another author published by Chad, later said that she had stopped working with him in the 2010s over concerns about his radicalization and his deviation from Latter Day Saint teachings, and after becoming convinced that his beliefs about the coming apocalypse were dangerous.[29]
In 2015, Chad claimed he heard the "voice" telling him to relocate to Rexburg, Idaho. He and Tammy moved there from Springville that June.[36] Chad said that he had had a vision that Utah would be devastated by an earthquake in 2015.[37] He tried to convince the Gwilliams to go to Idaho too. In 2016, he sent Jason a letter telling him again to move to Idaho because the earthquake would occur in Utah within three years.[35]
Lori Vallow Daybell
Lori Vallow Daybell | |
---|---|
![]() Vallow Daybell's 2020 mugshot | |
Born | Lori Norene Cox June 26, 1973 Loma Linda, California, U.S. |
Other names | Lori Norene Lagioia Lori Norene Ryan Lori Norene Vallow Lori Ryan Vallow Lori Ryan Daybell "Doomsday Mom"[38][39] "Cult Mom"[12][15] |
Citizenship | American |
Spouses | Nelson Yanes
(m. 1992, divorced)William Lagioia
(m. 1995; div. 1998)Joseph Anthony Ryan Jr.
(m. 2001; div. 2005)Leland Charles Anthony Vallow
(m. 2006; died 2019)Chad Daybell (m. 2019) |
Children |
|
Conviction(s) | First degree murder Conspiracy to commit murder Grand theft |
Criminal penalty | 3 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole |
Date apprehended | February 20, 2020 |
Lori Ryan Daybell,[b] also referred to as Lori Vallow Daybell, was born Lori Norene Cox on June 26, 1973, in Loma Linda, California[47] and grew up in a Mormon family.[48] She worked for some time as a hairdresser.[28] In 2004, she was a contestant in the Miss Texas beauty pageant.[49]
First marriages
In 1992, at the age of 19, Lori married her high school boyfriend Nelson Yanes, but the marriage ended in divorce shortly afterwards.[50]
In October 1995, Lori married William Lagioia when she was 22 years old.[51] They had a son named Colby in 1996, before divorcing in 1998.[36]
In 2001, Lori married Joseph Anthony Ryan Jr., who legally adopted Colby.[36] The couple's biological daughter, Tylee, was born in 2002. They divorced in 2005.[36] Lori and Ryan had a bitter custody battle, during which Lori accused Ryan of sexually assaulting Tylee and Colby. Ryan eventually lost equal custody.[52] In 2007, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, attacked Ryan, claiming he had been abusive to Lori and the children. Cox served 90 days in jail for the incident.[1] In 2022, Colby claimed during an interview that as a child, he had been sexually assaulted by Ryan.[53]
In 2018, Ryan was found dead in his apartment. The cause of death was determined to be arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Lori was notified as his next of kin.[54]
After Lori was arrested in 2020, and after a recording surfaced in which Lori mentioned wanting to kill Ryan "like the scripture says. Like Nephi killed", police reviewed Ryan's death. Nothing was found to suspect foul play.[55]
Marriage with Charles Vallow
In February 2006, Lori married Leland Charles Anthony Vallow, commonly going by the name Charles, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[36] Charles, who was a lifelong Catholic, converted to the LDS Church for Lori. Charles had two sons from a previous marriage.[56]
In 2013, Lori and Charles adopted Charles' grandnephew, Joshua Jaxon "J.J." Vallow,[57] as the boy's birth parents were unable to care for him. Because of his biological parents' substance abuse, J.J. was born with drugs in his system and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit.[58][59] As a baby, he was taken care of by his grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock for nearly a year before being adopted by Charles.[60] He was eventually diagnosed with autism.[61]
In late 2014, the couple moved from Arizona to Kauai, Hawaii. They returned to Arizona about two years later.[36]
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell meet
Around 2015, Lori became interested in Chad Daybell's Standing in Holy Places series of books.[62] In 2017–2018, she became increasingly invested in radical religious beliefs, reading books about near-death experiences and listening to podcasts by excommunicated Mormons.[63]
In October 2018, together with Melanie Gibb and Zulema Pastenes whom she had recently befriended, Lori attended a "Preparing a People"[c] event. There, she met Chad Daybell for the first time.[62][65][66] Gibb and Pastenes both said that Lori had behaved in a very flirtatious manner with Chad at the conference.[67][68] Chad claimed to Lori that they had been married in multiple previous lifetimes. They started communicating privately afterwards.[65]
After their initial meeting, Lori's husband went on a business trip, giving her the opportunity to hold a small overnight gathering at her home. Chad and Gibb were among the attendees, with Chad captivating Lori and the group by sharing his Mormon-influenced,[69] but unique beliefs. Lori developed a strong attachment to Chad and his teachings.[65]
On December 5, 2018, Chad and Lori appeared together on the Preparing a People[70] podcast episode "Time to Warrior Up". The two were featured in several other episodes.[36]
A religious group formed around Chad and his teachings:[71] Chad and Lori told their followers that they belonged to the "Church of the Firstborn"[d] of which Chad was the leader.[66][72] The group included Lori's niece, Melani Boudreaux,[e][39] Melanie Gibb,[77] Lori's brother, Alex Cox,[78] and Zulema Pastenes, who eventually became Alex's girlfriend and then wife.[66] Gibb also co-hosted a radical religious podcast with Lori.[36]
Lori and Chad's beliefs
Reincarnation - which is not accepted by the LDS Church - played a key part in Chad's religious views.[2] He claimed to have lived 31 previous lives[65] on different planets[2] and that Lori had lived 21 separate lives, five of which coincided with his own experiences on Earth. Lori eventually told Melanie Gibb that she and Chad were sealed due to their previous marriages in their past lives, despite their respective spouses being still alive. When Gibb suggested that Chad and Lori should divorce their spouses, Lori told her they were "not allowed to" because of information they were receiving "from the other side of the veil".[65]
Chad also claimed to be a reincarnation of James the Less, that Lori had been James' wife under the name "Elena", and that in other past lives Lori had been Mary French the great-grandmother of Joseph Smith, as well as the wife of the prophet Moroni.[2][66][79] According to Chad, past lives were "multiple probations" on Earth. This belief is shared by some Mormon fundamentalist groups who consider that such "probations" are necessary for one to reach exaltation.[79]
Chad categorized people as "light" or "dark," based on his assigning them an affiliation with Jesus Christ or Satan.[65][80] Chad and Lori employed a unique "scoring system" for good and evil, assigning every person a rating from "light" to "dark".[81] According to their belief system, "dark" people were possessed by evil spirits.[82] The group often joined in "castings", ceremonies where they would try to cast away evil spirits through prayers and scripture readings.[77] They claimed that in some cases "possessed" people could become "zombies", and that the only way to banish a zombie was to kill the person.[78] Seven women within the group, including Lori and Zulema Pastenes, called themselves the "seven gatherers" and would do "castings" together, sometimes via Zoom.[83]
Chad and Lori also scored people on a "vibration" scale, and deemed those having enough "vibrations" to possess special powers, or to be translated.[81] Their beliefs also included teleportation[84] and "dark and light portals".[85] Chad claimed that he could create such supernatural "portals", which he used to "interact spiritually" with Lori,[65] receive revelations and travel to other realms.[81]
Chad predicted that the world would come to an end on July 22, 2020.[86] He told his followers that he was guided by angels and could see hidden truths, while Lori claimed to have direct communications with God and Jesus.[87] Lori came to believe that she was an "exalted goddess" with visionary powers, and that she and Chad were destined to lead the 144,000 people who would survive when the world ended.[63] Zulema Pastenes later told investigators that Lori believed that, as an exalted being, she couldn't be held responsible for her actions on Earth.[81]
Lindsay Park, executive director of the Sunstone education foundation, commented that these beliefs could be categorized as Mormon fundamentalism (though without the polygamy aspects) or "Mormon fanfic", as they took the fundamental tenets of the LDS Church and rewrote them to the extreme.[88] Journalist Leah Sottile, who wrote When the Moon Turns to Blood about the case, said that Chad and Lori had been active "at the fringes, the far right fringes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", and were able to meet due to an "ecosystem of extremism" that exists in those circles.[89]
Killing of Charles Vallow
Charles Vallow | |
---|---|
Born | Leland Charles Anthony Vallow August 17, 1956 |
Died | July 11, 2019 | (aged 62)
Cause of death | Shooting |
Citizenship | American |
Education | McNeese State University |
Occupation(s) | Semi-professional baseball player, Financial consultant |
Spouse(s) |
[90] Cheryl Wheeler
(m. 1992; div. 2003)Lori Ryan (m. 2006) |
Children | Nicholas Charles (Cole), Zachary Chase (Zach), and Joshua Jaxon Vallow (J. J.) |
Parent(s) | El and Tilda June Vallow |
Notes | |
By February 2019, Lori reportedly informed Charles that "she no longer cared about him or J.J.". She then vanished for 58 days.[57] The same month, Charles filed for divorce, citing threats to his life, as well as the theft of his truck and US$35,000 from their joint bank accounts.[93] According to Charles' filing, Lori had told him that he was possessed by a "dark spirit" called "Ned Schneider",[94] that she was "a God assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ's Second Coming" which would happen in July 2020, and that she would murder him if he got in the way of her mission.[86]
Charles sought a protective order against Lori at the advice of his attorney.[93] He withdrew the petition one month later, saying he "wanted to try to make the marriage work."[36] Nevertheless, Charles had become so worried by Lori's actions that in February 2019, he changed his $1 million life insurance policy so the beneficiary would be his sister Kay rather than his wife. Lori was unaware of this until after Charles' death.[95]
Arizona police detectives later retrieved text messages between Chad, Lori and her brother Alex Cox which referred to Charles as "Ned" or "Hiplos", the names of the "spirit" said to possess him.[96] Lori told members of her religious group that her husband had become a "zombie". Several followers repeatedly joined to pray for Charles' demise.[81]
Having discovered his wife's affair with Chad Daybell, Charles Vallow confronted Lori about it. Eleven days before his death, he sent an email to Tammy Daybell to inform her that their spouses were cheating.[81] Evidence later showed that Tammy had opened and deleted the message, and blocked Charles' email address.[97] On July 1, 2019, Charles told Lori that he planned to meet Tammy in person. At that point, Lori and Chad were communicating constantly with burner phones.[98]
On July 11, 2019, Charles went to pick up J.J. at Lori's home in Chandler, Arizona. Alex Cox was present. An altercation occurred and Cox shot and killed Charles,[1][99] later claiming self-defense. Cox alleged that he had confronted Charles about abusing his sister and retrieved his gun in response to being struck with a bat.[84][100] Tylee told the police that she had witnessed part of the incident, but had run away from the house with J.J. before the shooting.[101] No charges were pressed.[84][102] Neighbors reported that later that day, they heard a pool party with "loud music" at Lori's home.[36] Cox told Zulema Pastenes that he did not feel bad because he had killed a "zombie".[66]
Before Charles' death, his attorneys stated he had been primarily concerned for J.J.'s safety and well-being, as the boy needed a consistent routine due to his special needs.[93] Charles was also concerned for Tylee, but he was unable to include her in the filings as she was not his biological daughter, nor had he filed to legally adopt her, and thus he had no legal standing.[36]
Days after Charles' death, Chad sent Lori a love story in the form of a series of text messages. The story, which investigators called a "romance novel", told the meeting of "James" and "Elena" – the names Chad substituted for himself and Lori – and gave a detailed description of their sexual relationship.[103][104]
Disappearances of Tylee and J.J.
Tylee Ryan | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Tylee Ashlyn Ryan September 24, 2002 |
Disappeared | September 9, 2019[f] | (aged 16)
Cause of death | Murder (method undetermined due to state of remains) |
Body discovered | June 9, 2020 Rexburg, Idaho, U.S. |
Citizenship | American |
Parents |
|
Joshua Jaxon "J. J." Vallow | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Canaan Todd Trahan[106] May 25, 2012 |
Disappeared | September 23, 2019[g] | (aged 7)
Cause of death | Murder by asphyxiation |
Body discovered | June 9, 2020 Rexburg, Idaho, U.S. |
Citizenship | American |
Parents |
|
By the end of August, Lori relocated to Rexburg, Idaho with her children. Alex Cox also moved there.[103] Just before moving to Idaho, Lori sold J.J.'s service dog.[107]
While Lori and her children resided in Rexburg, neighbors noticed J.J.'s erratic behavior as Lori often left him outside without adult supervision for long periods of time. When confronted about this, Lori did not mention that J.J. was autistic but told neighbors that he was "her niece's drug baby".[59]
Tylee was last seen on September 8, 2019, at Yellowstone National Park with her brother J.J., her mother Lori, and her uncle Alex Cox.[36] She was never enrolled at any school in Idaho, even though her mother had claimed she was attending BYU-Idaho.[103]
On September 17, 2019, a doorbell video captured J.J. playing with a friend, the last known footage of him.[108] He last attended Rexburg's Kennedy Elementary School on September 20. On September 22, Melanie Gibb and her boyfriend, David Warwick, were staying at Lori's home. Around 10:30 p.m, Warwick saw Alex Cox take J.J., who was sleeping, upstairs to his bedroom. This was J.J.'s last confirmed sighting. On the next morning, J.J. was absent: Lori told Gibb and Warwick that J.J. had been misbehaving so Alex Cox had picked him up.[109]
On September 23, J.J. had an unexcused absence from school.[110] The next day, Lori informed Rexburg Elementary School that she would now be homeschooling J.J.[111] In the months that followed her children's disappearances, Lori kept collecting the Social Security Survivor benefits that each received after the death of their respective father.[112]
In October 2019, two Venmo payments were made from Tylee's account to her older half-brother, Colby Ryan, with love-expressing messages attached, which was the last time Colby had heard from Tylee. When he expressed concern towards Tylee via text, he received responses from her cell phone indicating she was safe but too busy to talk.[36] After repeated calls to Tylee went unanswered, Colby became more worried.[113]
Brandon Boudreaux[85] and Melanie Gibb[80][114] later said that Lori and Chad were convinced Tylee and J.J. were "possessed" and had become "zombies".[115] Zulema Pastenes testified that Chad had told his followers that J.J. would die soon, only to come back as Colby's son.[66]
The FBI uncovered text messages in which Lori and Chad discussed Tylee and J.J.'s "possession" and mentioned "a perfectly orchestrated plan to take the children". A text exchange between Lori and Alex Cox mentioned "working on Z's", referring to zombies.[116]
Shooting of Brandon Boudreaux
On October 2, 2019, Brandon Boudreaux, the estranged husband of Lori's niece Melani, was shot at from a Jeep while driving home in Gilbert, Arizona. The bullet missed Boudreaux's head by inches. Boudreaux, who had been close to Charles and Lori Vallow's family, recognized the Jeep as a vehicle used by Tylee Ryan. The Jeep drove away, but Boudreaux could give its license plate number to the police who identified it as being registered to Charles Vallow.[61][117]
Melani had become very involved in her aunt's religious activities during 2018 and had insisted that she and her husband buy food stockpiles for the end of the world.[61] During the summer of 2019, she had demanded a divorce, which was not yet finalized when Boudreaux was shot at.[118] Boudreaux said he had been blindsided by the divorce request,[39] which he blamed on Melani's involvement in her aunt's "cult".[36]
After it became known that Tylee and J.J. were missing, Boudreaux was convinced that Charles' death, the children's disappearance and the attempt on his life were all connected to Lori's religious group.[118]
In February 2020, Boudreaux filed a court document claiming that the attempt on his life was motivated by insurance money, that the gunman was probably Lori's recently deceased brother Alex Cox, and that Melani was likely aware of Tylee and J.J.'s whereabouts.[39]
By tracking Alex Cox's cell phone data, investigators later found that Cox had searched on the Internet for directions to Boudreaux's address and had been present near Boudreaux's home during the hours before the shooting. On that day, Cox and Lori had communicated several times. Lori had later made Internet searches about a shooting in Gilbert, Arizona.[119]
Murder of Tammy Daybell
Tammy Daybell | |
---|---|
Born | Tamara Douglas May 4, 1970 |
Died | October 19, 2019 | (aged 49)
Cause of death | Murder by asphyxiation |
Resting place | Springville, Utah |
Citizenship | American |
Education | Brigham Young University |
Occupation(s) | Computer teacher, school librarian, financial manager and graphic designer for Spring Creek Book Company |
Organization(s) | Tammy Douglas Daybell Foundation, established after her death, for library and literacy programs in Utah and Idaho |
Spouse |
Chad Daybell (m. 1990) |
Children | 5 |
Parent(s) | Ronald Douglas Phyllis Cooper |
Notes | |
In February 2019, Chad had told his neighbors, Todd and Alice Gilbert, that he had had a vision that Tammy would pass away before her 50th birthday.[123]
On October 9, 2019, Tammy reported being shot at in her driveway by a masked man with what she thought was a paintball gun. The man pulled the trigger several times, but the gun was apparently unloaded. Police believed this to be a prank and could not identify the man.[36]
Ten days later, Tammy was found dead in her home, apparently from natural causes. Chad claimed that she had retired the previous night "with a terrible cough" and died in her sleep.[124] He said that Tammy had been experiencing low blood pressure, seizures, and negative reactions with homeopathic medicines, though nothing in her medical records supported this.[98]
Tammy's funeral was organised in Utah three days after her death. Alice Gilbert later said she had been surprised that the funeral came so soon, and felt like it had been "planned". The Gilberts also testified that, unlike his children, Chad did not seem devastated and had acted in a "businesslike" manner.[123] Chad's sister-in-law, Heather Daybell, said that Chad's behavior at Tammy's funeral did not ring true and that he "just didn't seem upset".[125] Jason Gwilliam said that he felt Chad was "not crying but trying to cry."[35] During the service, Chad mentioned in his talk that Tammy suffered from depression, commented that she was not easy to live with[98] and called her "lazy".[126]
According to police reports, Chad Daybell received life insurance payouts after Tammy's death totaling US$430,000 (equivalent to about $512,000 in 2023).[28]
Tammy's body was not autopsied initially due to Chad's refusal and the coroner's acceptance of his decision. However, after Tammy's body was exhumed and autopsied, it was determined that she had been asphyxiated by someone else. The autopsy results, completed by February 2021, were not publicly revealed until April 2023 during Lori Vallow Daybell's trial.[9][36]
Investigators later uncovered text messages between Chad and Lori, claiming that Tammy was in "limbo" and possessed by a spirit named "Viola".[127] At some point, Chad and Lori told their followers that Tammy had become a "zombie".[66]
Alex Cox's phone was located near the Daybells' residence on October 9, four hours before Tammy was shot at.[128] It pinged again in the same area ten days later, on the night Tammy died.[129] Police found at Cox's home an AR-15 that resembled the description Tammy had made of the supposed paintball gun. Cox had made several Internet searches about the use of an AR-15 and on how a Grendel round would impact a Dodge Dakota, which was the car the Daybells owned.[130] Prosecutors later said the "paintball gun" spotted by Tammy on October 9 was a real gun,[131] that may have jammed or misfired,[130] and that the shooter was probably Alex Cox.[131] Zulema Pastenes testified that she had been with Lori and her niece Melani to do a "casting" on the night Tammy was attacked in her driveway. At some point during that night, Lori talked with someone on the phone and became very angry, calling the other person "idiot, moron, stupid". After hanging up, she commented: "idiot can't do anything by himself".[66]
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow's marriage and flight
Chad introduced Lori to his children the day after Tammy's funeral.[132] One week after Tammy's death, he also told Todd and Alice Gilbert that he had found the woman he would marry. Days later, Chad brought Lori to meet the Gilberts. Alice Gilbert described the situation as "awkward", with Chad and Lori laughing and giggling, and being very affectionate to each other, more than Gilbert had seen Chad be with Tammy. Chad also mentioned that Lori "recently had a daughter who had passed away".[123] Chad later told Tammy's sister that he and Lori had bonded over their recently dead spouses and that Lori had no children, so they would be "empty nesters".[133]
Chad and Lori were married in Hawaii on November 5, 2019, two weeks after the death (not yet known by others to be a killing) of Tammy,[134] and two months after Tylee and J.J. were murdered (a fact also not yet known by others, who did not even know that the children were missing).[36] Apart from his children, Chad did not inform his family beforehand. Chad's mother discovered that he and Lori were married upon meeting Lori.[34][125]
Investigators later found in Lori's Web history that she had ordered a pair of wedding rings in August 2019, several months before Tammy's death, and that she had searched for wedding dresses on the day of Tammy's burial.[135]
On November 26, police visited Lori's townhouse in Rexburg for a welfare check on J.J. at the request of his grandmother – Charles Vallow's sister, Kay Vallow Woodcock. A police detective initially found Chad and Alex Cox at Lori's home. Both men acted suspiciously, with Alex Cox (not knowing that it was Kay who had requested the welfare check) claiming that J.J. was with his grandmother and Chad (whom the detective knew was married to Lori) saying that he was a friend of Alex and that he "hardly knew" Lori.[136] Police later reached Lori, who claimed that J.J. was in Arizona with her friend Melanie Gibb.[36] However, when contacted by police, Gibb stated that J.J. had not been with her for several months.[137] That night, a neighbor observed Lori and Alex Cox packing a truck outside her home.[138] The following day, when the police and FBI arrived to search the house, it was abandoned. Chad's home was also searched by investigators.[138]
Lori and Chad returned to Hawaii, where they resided in a gated community in Princeville, Kauai,[139] living off the money Chad had received from his wife's life insurance.[28] While searching for a home in Hawaii, Chad had written in an application that the couple had no children.[140]
Investigations
Prosecutors in Idaho became involved in the case when police requested a warrant for locating the Jeep from which Brandon Broudeaux had been shot at in Arizona.[141] On December 6, 2019, Melanie Gibb contacted the police, revealing that both Lori and Chad had called her separately on November 26 and had asked her to tell police that J.J. was with her.[137] Police efforts to locate J.J. led to the discovery that Tylee was also missing.[142] A connection was made between the investigations in Idaho and those in Arizona.[141] Law enforcement agencies intensified their inquiries about the children's whereabouts, as well as Chad and Lori's departure from Idaho. It was also decided to further investigate Tammy's death: her body was exhumed for an autopsy on December 11.[9][36]
On December 20, the Rexburg Police Department announced that the children were officially missing and asked the public's assistance in locating them. Investigators expressed concern for the children's safety, asserting that they were not with Chad and Lori and that Lori had refused to cooperate with the investigation, opting to leave the state with Chad instead. The police also announced that the children's disappearance could be linked to Tammy Daybell's "suspicious death". The next day, police announced Lori and Chad as "persons of interest".[36]
The case soon received national coverage, with family and friends describing Chad and Lori's "cult-like" beliefs in interviews and on social media posts.[118] On December 23, 2019, the Daybells released statements through a Rexburg attorney, who said that "Chad Daybell was a loving husband and he has the support of his children in this matter”, adding that Lori was a “devoted mother” who “resents assertions to the contrary” and that the "allegations" would be addressed "once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor".[36]
Colby Ryan, J.J.'s grandparents Larry and Kay Woodcock, and Chad Daybell's brother Matt, issued messages asking the Daybells to return the children. On January 7, 2020, the Woodcocks held a press conference in Rexburg offering a $20,000 reward for the children's return or for any information leading to them.[36][103]
On January 25, 2020, after Lori and Chad were located in Kauai, law enforcement agents served them with a court order requiring Lori to "physically produce" within five days Tylee and J.J. to the Idaho Department of Welfare or to the Rexburg Police Department.[36] The next day, police seized the couple's rental car and searched their rental townhome in Princeville,[103] where they found Tylee's debit card and J.J.'s iPad.[143] Also on January 26, the Daybells were confronted over the children's disappearance by East Idaho News journalist Nate Eaton: they refused to answer questions.[103]
In February 2020, authorities focused on a storage locker in Rexburg that had been rented by Lori in October 2019. They discovered belongings linked to Tylee and J.J., including clothing, bikes, and photographs. These items had been left behind when Lori abruptly left Rexburg in late November 2019. Video footage captured Lori and Alex Cox moving items to and from the locker before her departure.[144]
Death of Alex Cox
On November 24, 2019, Chad Daybell gave Alex Cox a "patriarchal blessing", which he had no standing to give in the LDS Church,[145] saying that Alex had assisted him and Lori "in ways that can never be repaid". Chad called Alex a prophet and a hero[146] and predicted he would have a future as a "messenger of the Lord". The recording of this "blessing" was later found by investigators on Lori's iCloud account.[145]
Alex Cox died on December 12, 2019.[147] His death was attributed to blood clots and high blood pressure.[148][149]
The day before his death, Cox had been informed by Lori and Chad that Tammy Daybell's body was going to be exhumed. Zulema Pastenes later testified that Cox had told her he was worried about being Lori and Chad's "fall guy".[150]
Arrests and criminal charges
Lori's arrest
On February 20, 2020, Lori was arrested in Hawaii by the Kauai Police Department.[151] On March 5, 2020, she was extradited back to Idaho.[152]
Lori faced charges in Madison County, Idaho, including two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children, as well as three misdemeanors. Her bail was initially set at $5 million,[151] but was later lowered to $1 million after her extradition to Idaho. In May, Lori appeared in court in Rexburg to request a further reduction of her bail, which was denied.[153] Multiple local bond companies were reportedly unwilling to work with her.[154]
After Lori's arrest, Chad returned to Idaho. He tried to convince the Gilberts to put their home up for bond to get Lori out of prison, claiming that Jesus had given him this idea. When Alice Gilbert asked him about the children and confronted him on what he had said about Lori's daughter being dead, Chad answered that it was a custody issue. He added at some point that Tylee "didn't like people" and didn't like him, using the past tense.[123]
Discovery of the children's remains and Chad's arrest
On June 9, police found human remains buried in the backyard of Chad's home during a search of the premises.[155] The bodies were found in an area the Daybell family called the pet cemetery, as it had been used to bury their cats and dogs.[156] As the property was being searched, Chad phoned Lori in jail to warn her about the situation. After police found and began to unearth the bodies, he tried to drive off from the scene, but was chased down and apprehended.[157] He was arrested for obstruction or concealment of evidence. The next day, his bail was set at $1 million.[12][13]
Authorities had decided to search Daybell's property after tracking Alex Cox's cell phone. On September 9, 2019, the day after Tylee's last verifiable sighting, Cox's phone had pinged in the middle of the night at Lori's home, then in the morning at Daybell's home. In the morning of September 23, the day after J.J.'s was last seen, Cox's phone had again pinged at Daybell's property.[158] The FBI also intercepted a September 9 text conversation between Chad Daybell and his wife: Chad told Tammy he had shot a large raccoon after finding it in their backyard that morning, and buried it in their "pet cemetery". Investigators found that suspicious, as raccoons are normally nocturnal animals.[159]
On June 10, the Woodcock and Ryan families confirmed that the human remains found on Chad's property were those of Tylee and J.J.[160] This finding was officially confirmed by Rexburg police on June 13.[11][161][162] Tylee's body was burned and her hands had been cut off; J.J.'s body was wrapped in plastic.[163][164] Unlike Tylee, J.J. had been buried with great care, under rocks and wooden planks.[165]
It was determined that J.J. had been asphyxiated with a plastic bag and duct tape over his mouth.[166] Due to the state of her remains, Tylee's cause of death could not be determined and was ruled a "homicide by unspecified means".[163][167] Tylee's bones were fractured in several places, from which forensic examiners deduced that someone had attempted to dismember her. Her DNA was found on a pickaxe and a shovel seized at Daybell's home.[163][168] Alex Cox's fingerprints and Lori's hair were found on the plastic and duct tape on J.J.'s remains.[166]
In August, Chad Daybell was excommunicated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the basis of his religious teachings,[169] which the media has later described as a "doomsday cult".[170]
Charges
On July 2, 2020, prosecutors dropped two charges against Lori related to desertion and nonsupport of dependent children, and instead charged her with obstruction or concealment of evidence regarding her children's remains.[171]
On July 17, in light of the two felony counts against Lori having been dropped, her bond was lowered by Madison County judge Michelle Mallard. The bond was set at $50,000 for each charge, totaling $150,000. It was further noted that Chad would still need to post $1 million in Fremont County to be released from jail.[171]
On May 25, 2021, Chad and Lori were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the deaths of Tylee, J.J. and Tammy, as well as grand theft by deception regarding the children. Lori was also charged with grand theft related to her children's Social Security Survivor benefits. Chad faced an insurance fraud charge related to Tammy's life insurance policy.[172]
In June 2021, Lori was indicted by a grand jury in Maricopa County, Arizona on one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for the death of Charles Vallow.[173][174] Police documents read that "the evidence shows that Charles' death was a planned event and necessary to prevent Charles and others from confronting Lori about her extreme religious beliefs when he came to town. (...) The death of Charles Vallow was also necessary in order for Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow to marry and fulfill their religious prophecy".[96]
In July 2021, prosecutors in Maricopa County decided not to prosecute Chad Daybell in connection with the death of Charles Vallow, citing "no reasonable likelihood of conviction".[175]
In September 2021, Chad Daybell's children issued a statement defending their father's innocence and claiming he had been "fooled in the worst, most deadly way possible" by Lori Vallow.[176]
In 2022, Lori was indicted by a grand jury on one count of first-degree premeditated murder related to claims that she conspired with her brother to kill Brandon Boudreaux.[174] Prosecutors believe that Lori hoped to access Boudreaux's money through her niece.[61]
Trials
A jury trial for the Madison County charges against Lori was initially set for January 25–29, 2021.[171] On May 27, 2021, Lori was found incompetent and unfit to stand trial, and her case was stayed.[177] On April 11, 2022, she was deemed competent to stand trial after mental health treatment.[178] On October 6, 2022, after Lori's attorney filed several motions, Judge Steven W. Boyce issued an order indicating the case was suspended until her competency to stand trial could be determined.[179] On November 16, she was once again found competent.[180]
Lori and Chad both pleaded not guilty to all charges in Idaho.[181] Their cases were split in March 2023,[182] at Chad's request.[183] The reasons were that Chad had waived his right to a speedy trial and his attorneys said they needed more time to review DNA evidence.[182] Chad's attorneys also cited the "mutually antagonistic nature of the defendants' positions".[183] Since Lori had not waived her right to a swift trial, the court ruled that her case would proceed as planned.[182]
Lori
On March 21, 2023, the judge removed the death penalty from Lori Vallow Daybell due to newly uncovered DNA evidence, discovered too close to the trial to be tested and admitted into court.[184]
Lori Vallow Daybell's trial began on April 3, 2023, in Boise, Idaho.[181] She did not testify in her own defense. Her lawyers did not call any witnesses, while the prosecution called about 60 people to testify.[185][186]
In the light of the evidence that pointed to Alex Cox's direct involvement in the murders, prosecutors stated that Lori Vallow Daybell had "groomed" and "manipulated" her brother to participate in her crimes.[129] Lori's sister Summer Shiflet testified that Alex had suffered brain damage in a car accident and that his decision-making was "stuck at a teenage level".[187] Zulema Pastenes said that Alex was entirely under the influence of Chad and Lori, who had convinced him that he was a reincarnated warrior of God and that "the only reason he had come to Earth was to protect Lori".[87] In his closing argument, Lori's attorney Jim Archibald depicted her as being under Chad Daybell's psychological control.[188]
On May 12, 2023, Lori Vallow Daybell was found guilty of all criminal charges.[189] On July 31, 2023, she was sentenced to consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for, respectively, the murder of Tylee, the murder of J.J., and the conspiracy to commit murder charge of Tammy, in addition to fines and restitution for the grand theft charges.[190]
Judge Boyce said that Vallow Daybell had murdered her children to "remove them as obstacles and to profit financially", by choosing "the most evil and destructive path possible" and going down "a bizarre, religious rabbit hole" to justify their killings.[191]
Before her sentencing, Lori made her first public statement since her arrest. She said that she had been speaking to Jesus, as well as to her children and to Tammy who were "happy and extremely busy" in heaven. She also stated: "Jesus Christ knows that no one was murdered in this case. Accidental deaths happen, suicides happen, fatal side effects from medications happen."[191]
In November 2023, Lori was extradited to Arizona to face her two conspiracy charges there. She pleaded not guilty to both.[174][192] In February 2024, her trial was scheduled to begin on August 1, 2024, though the judge mentioned that it may be moved at a later date due to the amount of evidence to process.[193]
Chad
On November 9, 2023, Chad Daybell's legal team filed three motions to remove the death penalty in his murder trial. The final motion stated that Lori had "manipulated" Chad "through emotional and sexual control" and that Chad had "lesser culpability than his co-defendant, who did not face the death penalty".[194] The motions were denied in December.[195]
Chad Daybell's trial opened on April 10, 2024.[196] In his opening statement, prosecutor Rob Wood depicted him as a man motivated by "sex, money and power" and craving for significance, who saw his spouse and Lori's children as obstacles to his rightful destiny. Chad's attorney John Prior painted him as a religious man who had been "lured" into an inappropriate relationship by Lori Vallow: his statement also focused on Alex Cox's history of violence and his role as "Lori's protector".[14]
On May 16, Chad's defense team filed a motion for acquittal after it appeared that an amended indictment had incorrectly listed J.J. Vallow's death as having occurred between September 8–9, 2019 instead of September 22-23. Judge Boyce ruled that this clerical error was not ground for acquittal.[197][198]
Two of Chad's children, Emma and Garth, testified in their father's defense and said their mother had been experiencing health problems and "was getting tired extremely easily".[199] On the contrary, three former colleagues of Tammy Daybell said that she seemed healthy and energetic up until the day before her death.[143] Tammy's sister also testified that Tammy had seemed fine when she visited her on October 14, 2019.[98]
Chad did not take the stand.[200] During the closing arguments, prosecutor Lindsey Blake summarized the evidence that pointed to Chad's crucial role in coordinating and giving a religious justification to the murders. Prior painted Lori and Alex Cox as the true culprits, stating that Lori had been motivated by greed, that she had manipulated Chad all along and that Chad would likely have been her next victim.[98]
On May 30, 2024, the jury found Chad guilty of first degree murder and conspiracy in the deaths of Tammy, Tylee and J.J. He was also found guilty of grand theft by deception related to the children's killing and of insurance fraud related to Tammy's. The Woodcocks expressed their satisfaction at the verdict. Larry Woodcock commented, about Chad and Lori's crimes: "What did they accomplish? Nothing. What did they do? They destroyed families."[201][202] It was confirmed that the prosecution would seek the death penalty for Chad.[203]
At his sentencing hearing, Chad chose not to present any mitigation evidence.[204] On June 1, 2024, he was sentenced to death.[18][205] For the insurance fraud charges, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, each to run concurrent to death and to the restitution of $130,000 plus $300,000. Since Chad had been deemed indigent, no fines were added to the insurance fraud sentence.[205]
Tammy Daybell's extended family, Matt and Heather Daybell, as well as the Boudreaux, Cox and Shiflet families issued statements expressing their relief at the end of the trials and their thoughts for the victims, and praising the work of law enforcement, prosecution team, judge and jurors.[206]
Depictions in the media
In 2021, Lifetime Movie Network released a dramatization of the Lori Vallow story as a made-for-TV movie titled Doomsday Mom, also marketed as Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story starring Lauren Lee Smith as Lori Vallow, Marc Blucas as Chad Daybell, Linda Purl as Kay Woodcock, and Patrick Duffy as Larry Woodcock.[207][208]
In 2022, Netflix released the three-episode documentary series entitled Sins of Our Mother, mostly centered from the perspective of her surviving child and Tylee's older brother, Colby.[209]
The story of the case was the subject of the 2022 book When the Moon Turns to Blood by investigative journalist Leah Sottile.[210]
See also
- Apocalyptic beliefs among Latter-day Saints
- Predictions and claims for the Second Coming
- List of murdered American children
- List of solved missing person cases: post-2000
- Capital punishment in Idaho
Notes
- ^ In late 2019, two weeks before his death, Cox married Zulema Pastenes in Clark County, Nevada, and according to their marriage certificate changed his legal name upon marriage from Alexander Lamar Cox to Alexander Lamar Pastenes.[1]
- ^ Daybell has been known by a variety of different legal names. She was born Lori Norene Cox in Loma Linda, California. She was known as Lori Norene Lagioia when she was married to her second husband William Lagioia from 1995–1998.[40] She was also known as Lori Norene Ryan when she was married from 2001 to 2005 to her third husband Joseph Ryan, with whom she had Tylee.[41][42] After marrying Charles Vallow, Daybell took the name Lori Norene Vallow and has been known as such since the investigation into the disappearance and deaths of her children. Since marrying Chad Daybell, she has informed a Madison County, Idaho court that she prefers the name Lori Norene Daybell.[43] She is referred to as both Lori Norene Vallow and Lori Norene Daybell in court filings.[44] She has commonly been referred to as Lori Vallow Daybell in the media during the investigation.[45][46] Daybell's attorney submitted a court motion in March 2021 that her legal name is Lori Norene Ryan Vallow Daybell. Included in the motion was Lori and Chad Daybell's marriage certificate from Hawaii, which states her new legal name as Lori Ryan Daybell.[47]
- ^ Preparing a People is a doomsday preparation-focused series of events, the stated goal of which is to "prepare the people of this earth for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ". Chad Daybell, a keynote speaker for the event, gave lectures for the group on several occasions[64]
- ^ The phrase "Church of the Firstborn" is used in the Doctrine and Covenants to refer to the people sealed up in the end times. The phrase has since been used as the name of various Mormon groups, some of them splinters from the LDS Church.[72]
- ^ Melani was born Melani Cope.[73][74] She later changed her name to Melani Boudreaux during her marriage to her first husband, Brandon Boudreaux.[75] After marrying her second husband, she changed her name to Melani Pawlowski.[76]
- ^ Tylee was last seen September 8, 2019, at Yellowstone National Park. Authorities believe Tylee died around September 9, 2019, in Rexburg, based on location data on the cell phone of her uncle Alex Cox.[105]
- ^ J.J. was last seen on the evening of September 22, 2019, at his mother Lori Vallow Daybell's Rexburg home. Lori told friends that J.J.'s uncle Alex Cox would take the boy to his apartment. Authorities believe J.J. died around that time frame based on location data on the cell phone of his uncle.[105]
References
- ^ a b c Lum, Justin (February 20, 2020). "Letters reveal Alex Cox's intense focus on Lori Vallow's ex-husband, even while behind bars". Phoenix, Arizona: KSAZ-TV. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Sunderland, Nate (February 23, 2020). "A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Leah Sottile (July 3, 2022). "Doomsday Dad Chad Daybell Obsessively Killed Bees as a Kid". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ "Murder trial of Chad Daybell, husband of 'doomsday' mom Lori Vallow, set to begin". ABC News. April 1, 2024. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Sylvester, Ron (July 14, 2022) [2022-07-03]. "Northwest Passages Book Review: 'When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End Times' – Leah Sottile (Twelve)". The Spokesman-Review. ISSN 2993-1274. OCLC 11102529. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ "FBI, Kauai police aiding Idaho authorities in case of missing children". Hawaii News Now. WEAU 13 News. January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on February 1, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ Capell, John; Torres, Ella (January 30, 2020). "Mother does not bring 2 missing Idaho children to police by deadline". ABC News. ABC. ABC News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ Truesdell, Jeff (January 30, 2020). "Idaho Mom Had 5 Days to Produce Her 2 Missing, Endangered Kids — and She Missed Deadline". People. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Dunphey, Kyle (April 10, 2023). "Prosecutors say Lori Vallow Daybell was motivated by 'money, power and sex' as murder trial begins". Deseret News. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ Eaton, Nate (June 10, 2020). "JJ and Tylee's families, Chad Daybell's brother issue statements". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Burke, Minyvonne (June 17, 2020). "Human remains confirmed to be missing Idaho kids Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan". NBC News. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ a b c Gearty, Robert (June 9, 2020). "Human remains found at Idaho home of Chad Daybell, husband of 'cult mom' Lori Vallow, police say". Fox News. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Eaton, Nate; Grossarth, Eric (June 9, 2020). "Chad Daybell arrested, booked into jail". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Ray Sanchez (April 10, 2024). "Chad Daybell's 'doomsday' triple-murder fueled by 'sex, money and power,' Idaho prosecutor says". CNN. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Rachelf Sharp (April 10, 2024). "Who are Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow? Key players in the 'doomsday cult' murder case". The Independent. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Almasy, Steve; Williams, Ashley R.; Toropin, Konstantin (May 12, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell found guilty of murdering her children and conspiring to kill her husband's first wife". CNN. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ "Chad Daybell convicted of killing his wife and Lori Vallow's kids as murderer now faces death penalty sentence". The Independent. May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ a b "Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend's 2 children in jury decision". Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Pilar Menendez (April 24, 2024). "Coroner Recalls Emotional Day Doomsday Dad's First Wife Died". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Tiffany Smith (May 3, 2024). "ID v. Chad Daybell: Doomsday Prophet Murder Trial". Court TV. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Chad G. Daybell". Mormon Literature & Creative Arts. Brigham Young University. Archived from the original on February 9, 2020.
- ^ a b Fattah, Geoffrey (October 29, 2001). "Not all is grave for a sexton". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Scribner, Herb (March 10, 2020). "Chad Daybell worked as a cemetery sexton in Utah cemeteries; dug graves as a BYU student". Deseret News. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ "Sexton explains what is happening at cemeteries". The Springville Herald. September 9, 1998. p. 2. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ Kratz, Gregory P. (October 2, 1999). "One for the books". Church News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Local author's new novel takes readers into the future". The Springville Herald. August 2, 2007. p. 5. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ McBride, Jessica (January 27, 2020). "Chad Daybell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Grossarth, Eric (April 29, 2020). "Chad and Lori Daybell now have the same attorney and documents show history of financial troubles". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c Eaton, Nate (June 17, 2020). "Author warned Chad Daybell 3 years ago his teachings would 'lead to death and sorrow,' according to email". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ Orecchio-Egresitz, Haven (January 31, 2020). "Doomsday writer Chad Daybell based characters in his books on his family. Now people are reading them for clues". Business Insider. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Herbets, Adam (January 31, 2020). "FOX 13 Investigates: Do Chad Daybell's books leave clues about missing Rexburg children?". KSTU. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ^ Lum, Justin (February 29, 2020). "Lori Vallow's husband emailed her in early 2019 about 'seven missions to accomplish together,' source says". KSAZ-TV. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ "Mormon church issues call for calm as 'blood moon' sparks apocalypse fears". The Guardian. September 29, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Pilar Melendez (May 2, 2024). "Doomsday Dad Chad Daybell's Family Describes His Alarming Religious Spiral". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nate Eaton (May 10, 2024). "LIVE UPDATES Sister, brother-in-law, coroner and FBI analyst all take the stand in Daybell trial". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Krutzig, Sally (January 7, 2020). "A timeline of the events surrounding the disappearance of J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan". Post Register. Idaho Falls, Idaho. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020.
- ^ Justin Lum (May 2, 2024). "Chad Daybell trial: Chad's family takes stand, mother 'surprised' at quick marriage to Lori Vallow". KSAZ-TV. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "What did Lori Vallow Daybell do? A full timeline of the "doomsday mom" case". CBS News. December 7, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Crazy Custody Battle With Doomsday Mom's Niece Airs Claims of Cults, Child-Stealing, and Attempted Murder". The Daily Beast. March 1, 2020. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ "LORI NORENE LAGIOIA vs WILLIAM JOHN LAGIOIA". UniCourt. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Where is Lori Vallow Daybell now? Here's how her murder trial concluded". Today, NBC News. May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ Lum, Justin (January 21, 2021). "Austin PD report: Lori Vallow's 3rd husband feared she would kill him, her daughter, or herself". Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Judge agrees to reduce Lori Daybell's bond from $5 Million to $1 Million". KMVT. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ "Criminal Complaint – State of Idaho v. Lori Norene Vallow aka Lori Norene Daybell" (PDF). State of Idaho. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ "Notification of Rights – State of Idaho v. Lori Norene Vallow aka Lori Norene Daybell" (PDF). State of Idaho. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ Knox, Annie (March 13, 2020). "Judge agrees to remove himself from Idaho mom's missing kids case". Deseret News. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Grossarth, Eric (March 8, 2021). "Attorney files motion insisting Lori Vallow Daybell be called by her legal married name". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ Forde, Kaelyn (February 28, 2020). "Exclusive: Lori Vallow Daybell Went from 'Devout' Cheerleader to 'a Mystery,' High School Friend Says". Inside Edition. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Rachel Sharp (July 31, 2023). "Who is Lori Vallow? Mom-of-three, beauty queen – and convicted killer". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Patten, Robert (June 23, 2020). "Who's who in the Daybell case". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ Miller, Ryan W. (February 21, 2020). "Lori Vallow arrested: What to know about deaths, marriages surrounding mom of missing Idaho kids". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020.
- ^ Garna Mejia (March 27, 2021). "Attorney Of Vallow Daybell's third husband Joe Ryan describes bitter custody battle". KSL-TV. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Molli Mitchell (September 22, 2022). "What Happened to Colby Ryan, Lori Vallow's Son and Where Is He Now?". Newsweek. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Justin Lum (February 21, 2020). "Phoenix PD releases details on how third ex-husband of Lori Vallow was found dead". KSAZ-TV. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Pelisek, Christine (February 21, 2020). "Lori Vallow Daybell Is on Trial for Murder. Here Are All the People Connected to Her Who Died Mysteriously". People. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Eaton, Nate (February 3, 2020). "Charles Vallow's ex-wife had concerns about Lori Daybell over 10 years ago and thinks his shooting death was '100% planned'". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ a b Mejia, Garna (January 1, 2020). "Grandparents Of One Of Missing Rexburg Children Speak Out". Salt Lake City: KSL-TV. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Rachel Sharp (July 31, 2023). "'Monster' Lori Vallow is confronted by victims' sobbing families at sentencing: 'Cruel campaign of terror'". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Garna Mejia (February 22, 2020). "Lori Vallow's neighbors share footage showing child behaving erratically before disappearance". KSL-TV. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Nate Eaton (March 31, 2023). "Blindsided and heartbroken Woodcocks hire attorney after learning they may be barred from attending Daybell trial". KSL.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Boone, Rebecca (April 11, 2023). "A look at who's who in the murder trial of slain kids' mom". AP News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Hanna Seariac (August 10, 2023). "A timeline of the Lori Vallow-Chad Daybell murder case". Deseret News. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Michelle Mark (October 15, 2021). "How Lori Vallow became 'doomsday' cult mom: Police documents reveal her descent into a wacky world of zombies, teleportation, and an impending apocalypse". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Cachero, Paulina. "Inside Preparing a People, the doomsday prepper group Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were involved in". Insider. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Eaton, Nate (May 26, 2020). "Part 1: Melanie Gibb describes Chad and Lori Daybells' religious beliefs and her relationship with the couple". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Eaton, Nate (May 7, 2024). "LIVE UPDATES Zulema Pastenes, Alex Cox's widow, testifies about zombies, prayers and other activities in Daybell's inner circle". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Christine Pelisek, Greg Hanlon (April 13, 2023). "'Attraction from the Very Beginning': Inside the Courtship of Lori Vallow & Chad Daybell". People. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Kyle Dunphey (April 13, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell's former friend describes her relationship with Chad Daybell, JJ Vallow's last days". Deseret News. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ "1487-1488: The Mormon Influences on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow". Mormon Stories. October 2021. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ Cachero, Paulina (January 29, 2020). "Inside Preparing a People, the doomsday prepper group Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were involved in". Insider. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ "A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell". East Idaho News. February 23, 2020. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Mejia, Garna (March 26, 2020). "Court Documents Allege Cult Connection For Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell". KSL-TV. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ "Warrants reveal search history before murder and burial of Lori Vallow Daybell's children". ABC4 Utah. May 3, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ "Lori Vallow Daybell's Niece Says She Experienced Tragedy During Childhood That Kept Her From Her Mother". Inside Edition. April 30, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Ratliff, Seth (May 4, 2023). ""Melani was being manipulated in one of the most difficult times of her life" - Melani Pawlowski's husband during Lori Vallow-Daybell trial". Local News 8. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Vandell, Perry. "Idaho mom convicted in deaths of 2 kids and romantic rival faces new Arizona charge". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Beth Hemphill (April 21, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell's spiritual inner circle explains her self-described beliefs". Court TV. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Who's who in the triple-murder trial of Chad Daybell". ABC News. April 10, 2024. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Justin Lum (December 6, 2020). "Documents sent by Chad Daybell reveal so-called 'past lives' of Lori Vallow". KSAZ-TV. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Christine Pelisek (April 13, 2023). "Before J.J. Vallow Vanished, Mom Lori Said He Had 'Evil Spirit' in Him, Was 'Difficult': Friend'". People. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Zoe Strozewski (October 8, 2021). "Accused Killers Chad and Lori Daybell Had Cult-Like Belief System, Documents Reveal". Newsweek. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Friend of slain kids' mom describes 'zombie' claims to jury". AP News. April 14, 2023. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Emily Ashcraft (May 7, 2024). "Widow describes fringe religious teachings from Chad and Lori Daybell surrounding 3 deaths". KSL.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c Frank, BrieAnna J. (October 7, 2021). "Chandler police records reveal details of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell's religious fervor". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ a b Burke, Minyvonne (March 24, 2020). "Lori Vallow saw her now-missing kids Joshua and Tylee as 'zombies', court docs claim". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020.
- ^ a b "Date of Chad Daybell's predicted end of the world comes and goes". East Idaho News. July 23, 2020. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Cult member who followed Chad Daybell said he made her feel 'special' and called her 'Goddess of the Earth'". Business Insider. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Alex Brizee (August 15, 2023). "How extremist beliefs played into Lori Daybells' murders". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Bill Chappell (April 10, 2024). "What to know as Chad Daybell's 'zombie' murder trial begins in Idaho". NPR. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ KC Wildmoon (June 13, 2020). "'Cult mom' Lori Vallow's husband Charles Vallow was murdered, says his ex-wife, and discovery of children's bodies proves it". crimeonline.com. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "L. Vallow Obituary (2019)". Legacy.com from Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "Obituary for Leland Charles Anthony Vallow". American Press. July 29, 2019. p. 2. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c Torres, Ella; Capell, John (January 12, 2020). "Inside the mysterious case of 3 deaths, 2 missing children and a terrified husband". KNXV. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ Perry Vandell (July 1, 2021). "Records describe cult-like beliefs related to the fatal shooting of Lori Vallow's ex-husband". Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Nate Eaton (February 12, 2020). "Charles Vallow had $1 million life insurance policy he left to JJ's grandma, rather than Lori Vallow Daybell". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Eric Grossarth (July 1, 2021). "Documents giving more insights into Daybells' bizarre beliefs and death of Charles Vallow". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Eliza Pace (April 25, 2024). "Evidence shows Tammy Daybell read email from Charles Vallow before his death". KSL-TV. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Nate Eaton (May 29, 2024). "LIVE UPDATES Jury begins deliberations in Chad Daybell case". East Idaho News. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Lum, Justin (February 14, 2020). "Marriage license shows Lori Vallow's brother got married 2 weeks before his death". FOX 10 Phoenix. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ Luperon, Alberto (January 15, 2020). "Alex Cox Body Cam Footage in Charles Vallow Death". Law & Crime. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ "Daughter who police say was killed by Idaho 'doomsday' couple talked to investigators about her stepdad's death two months before disappearing". Business Insider. October 9, 2021. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Lum, Justin (January 3, 2020). "Documents: Lori Vallow claims she was 'god preparing for second coming of Christ'". FOX 10 Phoenix. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "The latest timeline in the cases of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell". East Idaho News. January 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "READ: The 'romance novel' Chad Daybell wrote to Lori Vallow Daybell". East Idaho News. October 7, 2021. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Eaton, Nate (June 20, 2020). "Documents detail horrific manner JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found in Chad Daybell's yard". Rexburg, Idaho: EastIdahoNews.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Mehta, Vaidehi (April 14, 2023). "What You Need To Know About the Lori Vallow Case". FindLaw. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Justin Lum (February 7, 2020). "Dog trainer: Lori Vallow gave up JJ's service dog just before Idaho move". KSAZ-TV. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ Eric Gossarth (February 22, 2020). "Rexburg doorbell camera shows last known video of JJ Vallow days before he vanished". East Idaho News. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ Alex Brizee (May 9, 2023). "Day 13: Vallow Daybell told police JJ was at the movies during welfare check, footage show". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ Eliza Pace and Larry Curtis (April 23, 2023). "Wgi are Tylee Ryan and Joshua 'JJ' Vallow ?". KSL-TV. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ Eric Grossarth (May 26, 2021). "Principal offers explanation about why Joshua "JJ" Vallow wasn't reported missing in September". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Mary Ellen Cagnassola (May 26, 2021). "Lori Daybell Collected Children's Social Security Survivor Benefits After They Died, Prosecutors Say". Newsweek. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Stauffer, McKenzie (March 1, 2020). "Lori Vallow's family members speak out about missing children on Dr. Phil". KUTV. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020.
- ^ Boone, Rebecca (June 23, 2020). "Documents: Mom called kids 'zombies' before their deaths". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ "Idaho man Chad Daybell to be tried in 3 deaths, including those of children who were called 'zombies'". NBC News. Associated Press. April 1, 2024. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Christine Pelisek (May 9, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell Texted Husband About 'Perfectly Orchestrated Plan to Take the Children' Before Deaths". People. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "Ex-husband of Lori Daybell's niece testifies about an attempt to kill him, identifying JJ's body". KSL-TV. April 23, 2023. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c Jessica Boehm (December 31, 2019). "How a Gilbert drive-by shooting is tied to the Idaho missing children". Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Eric Grossarth (November 19, 2021). "New details released about attemptd shooting tied to Daybells as police recommend charges". KSL.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Missing Kids". The Idaho Statesman. December 27, 2019. pp. A4. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "Jury finds Idaho mother guilty of murdering her children". The Kansas City Star. May 14, 2023. pp. A20. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "Tamara "Tammy" Daybell Obituary (1970 - 2019)". Legacy.com from Rexburg Standard Journal. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Nate Eaton (May 1, 2023). "LIVE UPDATES Neighbors, insurance broker, teacher, medical examiner testify in Chad Daybell trial". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ Sottile, Leah (December 20, 2021). When the Moon Turns to Blood. Grand Central. ISBN 978-1-5387-2134-6.
- ^ a b Larry D. Curtis and Garna Mejia (May 2, 2023). "Chad Daybell's family testifies about his demeanor after wife's death". KSL-TV. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ Justin Lum (April 29, 2023). "Chad Daybell trial: FBI special agent and Tammy Daybell's relatives testify". KSAZ-TV. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ Ray Sanchez (April 10, 2024). "Chad Daybell's 'doomsday' triple-murder fueled by 'sex, money and power,' Idaho prosecutor says". CNN. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "Court TV: Tammy Daybell 911 call reports a suspicious person on the Daybell property". kivitv.com. April 25, 2024. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Rachel Sharp (July 31, 2023). "Lori Vallow had two alleged accomplices in her children's murders. One will never face justice". kivitv.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Testimony concludes in Lori Daybell murder trial; closing arguments Thursday". KSL.com. May 9, 2023. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Aja Romano (July 31, 2023). "Lori Vallow's unthinkable series of murders leads to life without parole". Vox. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ Andrea Cavallier (May 24, 2023). "Chad Daybell trial live: New witness casts doubts on cult prophet's son's story about mom's death". The Independent. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ Nate Schweber (April 28, 2023). "Chad Daybell told his sister-in-law that Lori Vallow had no kids and a lot of money". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ VanHoose, Benjamin; Truesdell, Jeff (March 2, 2020). "Husband of Idaho Mom Lori Vallow Claims Her 2 Children Are 'Safe' as They Remain Missing". People. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
Vallow and Daybell got married on Nov. 5, 2019, four months after the shooting death of Vallow's estranged husband Charles, and two weeks after the mysterious death of Daybell's wife Tammy.
- ^ Corin Cesaric (January 30, 2023). "Inside Lori Vallow's Internet History: Wedding Dresses on Day Tammy Daybell Was Buried & Kids' Life Insurance". People. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ Christine Pelisek and Greg Hanlon (April 11, 2023). "Chad Daybell Told Cops He 'Hardly Knew' Lori Vallow Daybell, Even Though They Were Married: Detective". People. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Janelle Griffith (June 22, 2020). "'Like gasoline and fire': Former friend speaks out about Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell". NBC News. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ a b Steinbrecher, Lauren (January 4, 2020). "Missing Idaho children's mom fled the night before FBI raided home, neighbor says". Rexburg, Idaho: KSTU. Archived from the original on January 5, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Nate Eaton (January 20, 2020). "Chad and Lori Daybell have been in Hawaii for at least month in gate million-dollar community". East Idaho news. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Rebecca Cohen, Nate Schweber (April 19, 2023). "Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell described themselves as a 'clean couple, no pets, no kids' in a rental application submitted while her children were missing: FBI". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Nate Eaton (June 2, 2024). "READ: Statements of Fremont and Madison County prosecutors following Chad Daybell sentencing". East Idaho News. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ Allison Elyse Gualtieri (May 29, 2024). "Jury starts deliberations in case of Chad Daybell, accused of murder in 3 deaths". CBS News. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ a b Emily Ashcraft (May 9, 2024). "Police found missing children's debit card, iPad with Daybells in Hawaii, sergeant says". KSL News Radio. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Eaton, Nate (February 4, 2020). "Lori Daybell abandoned a storage unit in Rexburg full of children's items". East Idaho News. Idaho Falls, Idaho. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020.
- ^ a b Nate Eaton (April 16, 2024). "LIVE UPDATES Recording of Chad Daybell giving Alex Cox a blessing before his death played in day 4 of trial". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Tiffany Smith and Court TV staff (April 16, 2024). "ID v. Chad Daybell: Doomsday Prophet Murder Trial". Court TV. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Stapleton, Erica (January 11, 2021). "Arizona police close case into death of Alex Cox, Lori Vallow Daybell's brother". KVTB. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ Eric Grossarth (May 8, 2020). "Medical examiner says Alex Cox had blood clots in his lungs and died of natural causes". East Idaho News. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Luperon, Alberto (February 10, 2020). "Missing Girl's Aunt Claims She Thought Lori Vallow Might Be a "Sociopath"". Law & Crime. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
- ^ Christine Pelisek and Corin Cesaric (April 14, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell's Brother Alex Cox Told Wife, 'I Think I Am Their Fall Guy' the Night Before He Died". People. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Miller, Ryan W; Culver, Jordan (February 20, 2020). "Mom of missing Idaho children arrested in Hawaii; Kauai police don't believe kids are on island". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ Minyvonne Burke and David Paredes (March 5, 2020). "Video shows Lori Vallow in handcuffs as she's extradited to Idaho for missing kids case". NBC News. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ Shannon, Joel; Miller, Ryan W. (May 1, 2022). "Lori Vallow denied reduced bail. What else is happening with the bizarre case, missing kids?". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Eaton, Nate (May 2, 2020). "Lori Daybell remains in jail on and may have problems posting $1 million bail". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ^ Boone, Rebecca (June 9, 2020). "Human remains found at property of man tied to missing kids". AP News. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- ^ Jonathan Vigliotti (May 29, 2021). "Chilling details revealed in death investigation of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan". CBS News. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ Rachel Sharp (April 12, 2023). "Jailhouse phone call reveals Chad Daybell warning Lori Vallow on day children's remains were found". The Independent. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ Jeff Truesdell (June 22, 2020). "Pings from Cell Phone of Lori Vallow's Late Brother Led Authorities to Remains of Her Children". People. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Eaton, Nate (June 19, 2020). "Documents detail horrific manner JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found in Chad Daybell's yard". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Report: Grandmother confirms human remains found on Chad Daybell's property belong to JJ Vallow". KNXV. June 10, 2020. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "'With heavy hearts' police identify remains found on Daybell property". East Idaho News. June 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ "Rexburg PD: Human remains found on Chad Daybell's property belong to JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan". KTVB7. June 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ a b c Audrey Conklin (April 26, 2023). "Lori Vallow trial: Idaho coroner reveals JJ Vallow's and Tylee Ryan's causes of death". Fox News. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Nate Schweber, Haven Orecchio-Egresitz, and Erin Snodgrass (April 10, 2023). "Lori Vallow trial: Courtroom gasps as prosecutors show children's bodies bound and dismembered". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Corin Cesaric (April 26, 2023). "Detective Says Lori Vallow Daybell's Son J.J. Was Buried in Uniquely 'Precise' Manner". People. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "Biggest Bombshells from Lori Vallow Daybell's Murder Trial After Idaho Mom Gets Life in Prison Without Parole". People. July 31, 2023. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "Coroner could not pinpoint manner of Tylee Ryan's killing from destroyed remains". KSL-TV. April 26, 2023. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Rachel Sharp (April 27, 2023). "Lori Vallow trial hears how killer tried to chop up Tylee's body as her blood found on pickaxe". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Bail lowered for Lori Daybell's misdemeanor charges, jury trial scheduled". Court TV. October 29, 2021. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ "What is Chad Daybell charged with? What to know as his trial gets underway in the "doomsday cult" murder case". CBS News. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c Eaton, Nate (July 17, 2020). "Bail lowered for Lori Daybell's misdemeanor charges, jury trial scheduled". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- ^ Eaton, Nate (May 25, 2021). "Chad and Lori Daybell indicted for murders of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
- ^ Vera, Amir; Alsup, Dave; Razek, Raja (June 30, 2021). "Lori Vallow charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in former husband's death, prosecutor says". CNN. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Lori Vallow booked on murder charge in fatal shooting of her 4th husband". ABC News. November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Chad Daybell will not be charged in connection to death of Charles Vallow". kivtv.com. July 7, 2021. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Jonathan Vigliotti (September 1, 2021). "Chad Daybell's children claim he was "fooled in the worst, most deadly way possible" by Lori Vallow". CBS News. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Deliso, Meredith. "Lori Vallow Daybell ruled unfit to stand trial on charges related to deaths of missing children". ABCnews. Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ Eaton, Nate (April 11, 2022). "Lori Vallow Daybell restored to competency; murder trial to proceed". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ Simone Seikaly (October 6, 2022). "Lori Vallow trial is put on hold due to competency issues". KSL News Radio. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Josh Ellis (November 16, 2022). "Lori Vallow Daybell again found competent to stand trial". KSL-TV. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert (April 4, 2023). "Lori Vallow trial: Doomsday prepper who prosecutors allege left behind a trail of bodies — including her kids — is standing trial. Here's what you need to know". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Judge splits trials of couple charged in triple murder case". AP News. March 2, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "What to know as Chad Daybell's 'zombie' murder trial begins in Idaho". NPR. April 10, 2024. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Nelson, Rhett (March 21, 2023). "Judge removes death penalty, addresses evidence motions in Lori Daybell murder case". KSL-TV. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Bianco, Andrea (May 10, 2023). "Lori Vallow will not present any defence witnesses in trial for her children's murders". The Independent. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ McCarthy, Lauren (July 31, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell's Journey From 'Doomsday Mom' to Convicted Murderer". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Alex Brizee (May 9, 2023). "Day 15: Lori Vallow's children 'thrown away like garbage' said sister in recording". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ Pelisek, Christine (May 11, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell Gets 'Evil Glares' from Courtroom Audience, Her Lawyer Claims in Closing Argument". People. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Verdict Form, State of Idaho v. Lori Norene Vallow, a.k.a. Lori Norene Daybell" (PDF). State of Idaho Judicial Branch. Seventh Judicial District, Fremont County, State of Idaho. May 12, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Madani, Doha (July 31, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell gets multiple life sentences in murders of her 2 kids and romantic rival, speaks of 'spirit world' in court". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Dakin Andone (July 31, 2023). "Lori Vallow Daybell sentenced to life in prison for murders of her 2 children and conspiring in the murder of her husband's first wife". CNN. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Extradited from Idaho to Arizona, Lori Vallow Daybell enters not guilty plea on 2 conspiracy charges". Deseret News. December 11, 2023. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ Eaton, Nate (February 21, 2024). "Lori Vallow Daybell appears in Arizona court, asks to skip next hearing". East Idaho News. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ Eric Grossarth (November 9, 2021). "3 motions filed to prevent Chad Daybell from facing death penalty during trial". East Idaho News. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ Larry D. Curtis (December 20, 2023). "Idaho court denies Chad Daybell's motion to strike death penalty". KSL News Radio. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Chad Daybell's "desire for sex, money and power" led to deaths of wife and Lori Vallow Daybell's children, prosecutor says". CBS News. April 10, 2024. Archived from the original on April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Andrea Cavallier (May 17, 2024). "Judge denies motion to acquit 'cult prophet' Chad Daybell on all charges". The Independent. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ Colin Kalmbacher (May 16, 2024). "'Does not comport with the evidence': Judge finds basic mistake by prosecutors on Chad Daybell indictment but declines to dismiss associated murder charge". Law and Crime. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ Eliza Pace (May 20, 2024). "Chad Daybell's daughter and son take the stand, testify of Tammy Daybell's health problems before her death". KSL-TV. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ Sam Herrera (May 23, 2024). "Chad Daybell not called to testify in murder trial, defense rests". KSL News Radio. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ Boone, Rebecca (May 30, 2024). "Doomsday plot: Idaho jury convicts Chad Daybell of killing wife and girlfriend's 2 children". AP News. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ Eaton, Nate (May 30, 2024). "LIVE UPDATES: Chad Daybell found guilty on all counts, penalty phase begins". East Idaho News. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ "Chad Daybell found guilty of killing first wife and second wife's 2 children". CNN. May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Eliza Pace (May 31, 2024). "Chad Daybell will not present evidence as sentencing begins". KSL-TV. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Hart, Kaitlyn (June 1, 2024). "LIVE UPDATES: Chad Daybell sentenced to death by jury". East Idaho News. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Eliza Pace (June 2, 2024). "Families issue statements following Chad Daybell death penalty sentencing". East Idaho News. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Gidlow, Steve (June 24, 2021). "Lifetime's "Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story" Unveils A Shocking Tale of Brainwashing". www.mediavillage.com. Media Village. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "Watch Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story". Lifetime. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Watch Sins of Our Mother | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ Sottile, Leah (May 22, 2023). When the Moon Turns to Blood. Grand Central. ISBN 978-1-5387-2133-9. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
External links
- Eaton, Nate (February 13, 2020). ""Keith Morrison previews Dateline special on Daybell case that is 'nothing like anything else' he's ever seen"". East Idaho News. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- Staff, Eastidahonews.com (January 30, 2023). "The latest timeline in the cases of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell". East Idaho News. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- Kathryne Teurfs, Lauren Turner Dunn, Chelsea Narvaez, Michelle Singer. "What did Lori Vallow Daybell do? A full timeline of the "doomsday mom" case". CBS News. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- 2010s missing person cases
- 2020s missing person cases
- Formerly missing people
- Missing person cases in Idaho
- People murdered in Idaho
- September 2019 crimes in the United States
- October 2019 crimes in the United States
- 2019 in Idaho
- 2019 in Arizona
- 2020 in Idaho
- Child murder in the United States
- Filicides in the United States
- Uxoricides
- Apocalypticism
- 21st-century Mormonism
- Mormonism and violence
- Insurance fraud
- Mormon fundamentalism
- Murder in Idaho
- Crime in Arizona
- Missing person cases in Arizona