Lori Vallow Daybell — Doomsday Mom

In the summer of 2019, a series of deaths began unfolding around Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, a couple bound together by shared apocalyptic religious beliefs and romantic obsession. By the time investigators uncovered the full scope of what had happened, three people were dead, two children had been buried in a rural Idaho backyard, and a trail of insurance fraud, spiritual manipulation, and conspiracy stretched across two states ^[1].

The first death came on July 11, 2019, when Lori's estranged husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed at Lori's home in Chandler, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. The shooter was Lori's brother, Alex Cox, who claimed self-defense. Charles had filed for divorce months earlier and had expressed fears for his safety, telling police that Lori believed she was a translated being with a divine mission ^[1]. Arizona police initially accepted the self-defense claim, and no charges were filed at the time ^[6].

By mid-2019, Lori and Chad Daybell had grown deeply enmeshed in a fringe belief system. Chad, a self-published author of apocalyptic fiction rooted in Latter-day Saint theology, claimed the world would end on July 22, 2020. The couple classified people in their lives as "light" or "dark," and taught associates that "dark" individuals had been possessed by evil spirits, becoming "zombies" whose souls could only be freed through death ^{[1] [3]}. Both of Lori's children, Tylee Ryan, age 16, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, age 7, were reportedly designated as "dark" or "zombies" by the couple ^[2].

Tylee was last seen alive on September 8, 2019. JJ was last seen on September 23, 2019. Neither child was reported missing by their mother ^[1]. Prosecutors later established that Tylee died on or around September 9, 2019, and JJ was killed on or around September 23, 2019. Their cause of death was asphyxiation in JJ's case, while Tylee's cause was classified as homicide by unspecified means due to the condition of her remains ^[1].

On October 19, 2019, Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy Daybell, was found dead in her Rexburg, Idaho home. Her death was initially attributed to natural causes, but her body was later exhumed, and an autopsy determined she had died of asphyxiation ^{[1] [4]}. Just two weeks later, on November 5, 2019, Lori and Chad were married in Kauai, Hawaii ^[1].

On December 12, 2019, Alex Cox, the man who had shot Charles Vallow and who investigators believed played a central role in the other killings, died at his home in Gilbert, Arizona. His death was attributed to blood clots and high blood pressure. He was never arrested or charged ^[1].

The case became a national story in late 2019 when JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, contacted police after being unable to reach the boy. Rexburg police conducted a welfare check in November 2019 and discovered both children were missing. Lori and Chad had already left Idaho. In January 2020, police issued an ultimatum for Lori to produce the children within five days. She did not comply ^{[1] [3]}.

Lori was arrested in Kauai, Hawaii, in February 2020 on charges of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. The critical break came on June 9, 2020, when law enforcement executed a search warrant on Chad Daybell's property in Salem, Idaho, and discovered the remains of both JJ and Tylee buried in the backyard. Chad was arrested on the spot ^{[1] [2]}.

Lori Vallow Daybell stood trial in Idaho in the spring of 2023. On May 12, 2023, a jury found her guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of JJ and Tylee, conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of the children and Tammy Daybell, and grand theft for continuing to collect Social Security benefits on behalf of her dead children ^{[2] [3]}. On July 31, 2023, Judge Steven Boyce sentenced her to three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, plus ten years for grand theft and over $60,000 in fines and restitution. The death penalty had been removed as a sentencing option due to prosecution discovery violations ^{[2] [3]}.

Chad Daybell was tried separately in 2024. On May 30, 2024, an Idaho jury found him guilty on all counts, including three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Tylee, JJ, and Tammy Daybell, along with conspiracy and insurance fraud charges ^{[4] [5]}. On June 1, 2024, the jury recommended the death penalty, and Judge Steven Boyce imposed the sentence ^{[4] [5]}.

In Arizona, Lori faced additional charges for the death of Charles Vallow. On April 22, 2025, an Arizona jury found her guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in his death ^[6]. She was also convicted in a separate trial on June 12, 2025, of conspiracy to murder Brandon Boudreaux, her niece's ex-husband, who survived a shooting attempt ^[7]. On July 25, 2025, she was sentenced to two additional consecutive life terms in Arizona ^{[7] [8]}.

Idaho Charges and Trial: Lori Vallow Daybell

Lori Vallow Daybell was indicted by a grand jury in Idaho on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of her children, Tylee Ryan (16) and Joshua "JJ" Vallow (7), as well as conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Tammy Daybell. She was also charged with grand theft for collecting Social Security benefits on behalf of her deceased children ^[1].

In March 2023, Judge Steven Boyce removed the death penalty as a sentencing option due to prosecution discovery violations, ruling that thousands of documents had been submitted past court-imposed deadlines. The judge determined that failing to address the issue would likely result in a reversal on appeal ^[3].

On May 12, 2023, a jury found Vallow Daybell guilty on all counts: two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, and one count of grand theft ^{[2] [3]}. On July 31, 2023, Judge Boyce sentenced her to three consecutive terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus ten years for grand theft and over $60,000 in fines, civil penalties, and restitution ^[2].

Idaho Charges and Trial: Chad Daybell

Chad Daybell was charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow, and his first wife, Tammy Daybell. He also faced conspiracy and insurance fraud charges ^{[4] [5]}.

On May 30, 2024, an Idaho jury found Daybell guilty on all counts after a trial before Judge Steven Boyce ^{[4] [5]}. On June 1, 2024, the jury recommended the death penalty, deliberating approximately 14.5 hours across two days. Judge Boyce formally imposed the death sentence, along with a 15-year prison sentence for insurance fraud ^{[4] [5]}. The case is subject to Idaho's mandatory post-conviction review process for capital cases ^[4].

Arizona Charges and Trials: Lori Vallow Daybell

Lori Vallow Daybell was charged in Arizona with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the July 11, 2019, shooting death of her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, which was carried out by her brother Alex Cox in Chandler, Arizona. Prosecutors alleged she conspired with Cox to kill Charles Vallow in order to collect his $1 million life insurance policy and to be free to marry Chad Daybell ^[6].

On April 22, 2025, an Arizona jury found Vallow Daybell guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Charles Vallow. Vallow Daybell represented herself at trial and argued her brother had acted in self-defense. The jury deliberated approximately three hours over two days ^[6].

In a separate Arizona trial, Vallow Daybell was convicted on June 12, 2025, of conspiracy to commit the murder of Brandon Boudreaux, her niece's ex-husband, who survived a shooting attempt in which someone fired at his vehicle in October 2019. Prosecutors tied the weapon and vehicle used in the attack to Vallow and Cox ^[7].

On July 25, 2025, Judge Justin Beresky sentenced Vallow Daybell to two consecutive life sentences for the Arizona conspiracy convictions. The judge stated she had "shown blatant disregard for humanity" and declared, "It will take an act of God for you to ever go free" ^{[7] [8]}.

Status of Alex Cox

Alex Cox, Lori Vallow's brother, was identified by prosecutors as the direct participant in the killing of Charles Vallow and was believed by investigators to have been involved in the murders of the children and Tammy Daybell. Cox died on December 12, 2019, in Gilbert, Arizona, with his death attributed to blood clots and high blood pressure. He was never arrested or charged ^[1].