Lori Vallow.Photo: Dennis Fujimoto/AP/Shutterstock
Lori Vallow Daybell’s long-awaited murder trial begins Monday inside an Idaho courtroom with the first day of jury selection.
The Idaho mother and her husband, Chad Daybell, are charged in connection with the deaths of Lori’s two children, Joshua Jaxon “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as Chad’s ex-wife, Tammy Daybell. Prosecutors say the alleged murders stemmed from the couple’s religious beliefs, which involved doomsday prophecies.
Lori and Chad — a self-published author of doomsday scenarios — face multiple charges including murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the cases. Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges, and Chad will go on trial separately.
J.J. and Tylee were reported missing after J.J.’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, called authorities in Rexburg, Idaho, in November of 2019 and asked them to conduct a welfare check on the children. Once they did, they realized that J.J. and Tylee hadn’t been seen since September of that year.
In June 2020, the remains of the children were foundburied on a property belonging to Chad.
After the children disappeared, Lori and Chad faced police scrutiny when their pasts revealed a trail of mysterious deaths, including those of Chad’s former wife, Tammy Daybell, and Lori’s fourth husband, Charles Vallow.
Subsequently, Lori and Chad were both charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection with the death of Tammy Daybell, who died in October 2019 — weeks after Lori’s children went missing and weeks before Chad and Lori got married.
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Lori has also been indicted in Arizona on one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder in connection with the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.
In March, a judge ruled that Loriwill not face the death penaltyin her current murder trial. She faces life in prison if convicted.
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source: people.com
