The trial is underway for Lori Vallow Daybell, who is accused of killing her two children and her husband’s ex-wife. Prosecutors say the murders stemmed from the couple’s religious beliefs involving doomsday prophecies.
Murder trial for doomsday prophetess begins
The trial for Lori Vallow Daybell, an Idaho mother who, along with her husband Chad, is accused of murdering her two children Joshua Jaxon “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and her husband’s ex-wife, Tammy Daybell.
Prosecutors say the couple, who self-published doomsday scenarios, killed the children based on their religious beliefs. In addition to murder, the pair also face multiple charges, including conspiracy and grand theft.
Lori and Chad Daybell have both pleaded not guilty to all charges and are being tried separately, People reported.
Jury selection began on Monday in Idaho. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty against Vallow, but last month, 7th District Judge Steven Boyce ruled against it. However, Lori still faces life in prison if she is convicted, NBC News reported.
What to know about the murders
Joshua Jaxon “J. J.” Vallow, 7, was reported missing by his grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock, who called authorities in Rexburg, Idaho, in November of 2019, requesting a welfare check on the children.
When authorities conducted a welfare check, they were met with a string of conflicting stories. Lori and her new fifth husband, Chad, told police JJ was staying with family friend Melanie Gibb in Arizona, where they had lived before moving to Idaho in early September. Gibb denied the child was staying with her.
Through the efforts to locate JJ, authorities discovered that Tylee Ashlyn Ryan, 16, was also missing and had been last seen alive at Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019.
In October 2019, Tammy Daybell, Chad’s wife, was attacked in her driveway and shot by a paintball gun. A few weeks later, she died in her sleep on October 19, at what was initially recorded as “natural causes.” However, after Chad married Lori two weeks after Tammy’s death, law enforcement became suspicious and exhumed her body for an autopsy. Although the results were completed by February 2021, the findings have not been made public.
Lori was arrested in Hawaii on February 20, 2020, and charged with desertion and nonsupport of her dependent children, and extradited to Idaho on March 5.
On June 9, 2020, police executed a search warrant at the home of Chad Daybell, where they discovered the remains of Tylee and JJ. Chad was arrested later that same day on charges of destruction or concealment of evidence.
On May 25, 2021, Chad and Lori were charged with the first-degree murders of Tylee, J.J., as well as Tammy Daybell.
Lori Vallow Daybell is the subject of a Netflix documentary called Sins of Our Mother.
