Lori Vallow Daybell, the Idaho mother who was accused of killing her two children and conspiring to kill her husband’s first wife, has been found guilty on all charges by a jury in Boise. The verdict was announced on Friday, May 12, 2023, after a weekslong trial that revealed shocking details about her involvement in a doomsday cult and her belief in zombies and evil spirits.
Vallow Daybell was charged with murder, conspiracy and grand theft in the deaths of Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, who disappeared in September 2019 and whose remains were discovered in June 2020 on a property belonging to her fifth and current husband, Chad Daybell. She was also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy Daybell, Chad’s first wife, who died in October 2019 under suspicious circumstances.
Prosecutors argued that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were motivated by their twisted religious beliefs and their desire to be together. They presented evidence that the couple believed they were chosen by God to lead the “144,000” during the end of times and that they had visions of zombies and dark forces possessing people around them. They also showed that Vallow Daybell had collected over $430,000 in life insurance and Social Security benefits from the deaths of her previous husbands and children.
The defense team did not call any witnesses or present any evidence to counter the prosecution’s case. They only argued that Vallow Daybell was a kind and loving mother who had an interest in religion and biblical prophecies. They also questioned the credibility of some of the prosecution’s witnesses, such as Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, who admitted to shooting her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in self-defense in July 2019 and who died of natural causes in December 2019.
The jury deliberated for less than a day before reaching a unanimous verdict. Vallow Daybell showed no emotion as the verdict was read. She faces life in prison without parole. Her sentencing date has not been set yet.
Chad Daybell is also facing murder and conspiracy charges in connection with the deaths of JJ, Tylee and Tammy. His trial has not been scheduled yet. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
