The Unlikely Beginnings of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell
Lori Vallow’s life prior to 2018 was marked by significant personal challenges but gave little indication of the horrifying events that were to unfold. Born in 1973, she had already been married five times and was the mother of three children: Colby, Tylee, and J.J. Despite personal struggles, Lori was described by friends and family as a devoted mother who deeply loved her children. This changed dramatically in 2018 when Lori’s path crossed with Chad Daybell, a self-published author of doomsday-themed books based on radical interpretations of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Chad Daybell, on the other hand, presented himself as a spiritual leader and visionary. He had a fascination with apocalyptic prophecies and had self-published numerous books that focused on end-of-world scenarios. Daybell’s theology, however, went far beyond the mainstream beliefs of the Mormon church. He claimed to have spiritual powers, including the ability to see into the future and communicate with the deceased. He even declared that he could teleport between locations. For Chad, the end times were not just a future event but an imminent reality that would require “preparation” in extreme ways.
Lori’s introduction to Chad’s apocalyptic ideology quickly altered her behavior. Her religious beliefs became more extreme, and she began to see herself as one of the “chosen 144,000” tasked with preparing for the imminent second coming of Christ. Chad introduced Lori to his idea of “dark and light spirits,” ranking individuals on a spiritual scale. If someone was deemed to have a “dark spirit,” they were classified as a “zombie,” a person whose soul had left their body and been replaced by a demon. In this belief system, the only way to “free” a person from their dark spirit was to destroy their body.
By early 2019, Lori’s devotion to Chad’s ideas had intensified, and her family noticed unsettling changes. Her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, became increasingly concerned, especially after Lori claimed that she had a divine mission and would kill anyone who interfered with her path. In February 2019, Charles filed for divorce, fearing for his life. He confided to friends and legal authorities that Lori had threatened to kill him, claiming that she had been chosen to help usher in the apocalypse. However, the seriousness of the situation would only become evident months later.
By the summer of 2019, Lori’s transformation was complete. In July, her brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Charles Vallow, claiming self-defense during a confrontation at Lori’s home. No charges were initially filed against Cox, but many suspected there was more to the incident than what appeared on the surface. Shortly after Charles’s death, Lori moved to Idaho to be closer to Chad, taking her two children, Tylee and J.J., with her. It was in Idaho that the darkness of Chad and Lori’s beliefs would fully manifest, leading to the tragic events that would shock the nation.
This first section sets the stage for understanding the descent into the religious extremism that would eventually culminate in the deaths of Lori’s two children and Chad’s wife, Tammy Daybell. It provides the context of how two seemingly ordinary individuals transformed into the center of one of the most bizarre and tragic criminal cases in recent American history.
The Disappearance of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow
By the time Lori Vallow and her children, Tylee Ryan (16) and J.J. Vallow (7), moved to Idaho in September 2019, her devotion to Chad Daybell’s radical doomsday beliefs had reached its peak. Idaho, where Chad lived, became the location for what would soon evolve into a tragedy of unimaginable horror. Shortly after their relocation, Tylee and J.J. would disappear, their fates unknown for months, leaving a trail of confusion, deceit, and suspicion.
The Vanishing of Tylee Ryan
Tylee Ryan was last seen alive on September 8, 2019, during a family outing to Yellowstone National Park. Lori, her brother Alex Cox, and J.J. had accompanied Tylee for what seemed to be an ordinary family trip, which was later confirmed by a photo taken at the park. However, after this day, Tylee disappeared without a trace. Despite the mounting concerns from family members and authorities, Lori provided no clear answers regarding her daughter’s whereabouts.
Investigations later revealed a disturbing possibility: by this time, Lori had reportedly told close friends that Tylee had become a “zombie.” According to Lori and Chad’s belief system, Tylee’s spirit had been overtaken by a dark entity, meaning her physical body needed to be “destroyed” in order to free her soul. This belief would later emerge as the sinister justification for Tylee’s tragic fate.
J.J. Vallow’s Final Days
While Tylee vanished in early September, J.J., Lori’s adopted son with Charles Vallow, continued to be seen alive for a few more weeks. On September 23, 2019, J.J. was last spotted at Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg, Idaho. The next day, Lori contacted the school to inform them that J.J. would no longer be attending, claiming she would homeschool him. This marked the final time anyone outside of Lori’s inner circle would see or hear from J.J. alive.
During this time, family members, especially J.J.’s biological grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, grew increasingly worried. Their concerns deepened after they struggled to reach Lori and noticed her evasive behavior. After months of unanswered questions, they requested a welfare check from the Rexburg Police Department in November 2019. When officers visited Lori’s residence, she told them that J.J. was staying with a family friend in Arizona. However, upon investigation, the police discovered that J.J. had never been with the friend. This prompted an official missing persons investigation into both Tylee and J.J..
Chad Daybell’s Wife Dies Under Suspicious Circumstances
Around the same time that J.J. disappeared, another shocking development occurred—Chad Daybell’s wife, Tammy Daybell, died suddenly in October 2019. Initially, her death was deemed natural, as she appeared to have passed away peacefully in her sleep. However, her family and friends found this sudden death strange, as Tammy had been in good health. Just two weeks after Tammy’s passing, Chad and Lori were married in Hawaii, raising even more suspicion.
Authorities would later exhume Tammy’s body in December 2019, and autopsy results revealed signs of asphyxiation, ruling her death as a homicide. This revelation fueled speculation that Chad and Lori, alongside Alex Cox, had conspired to murder Tammy to clear the way for Lori and Chad’s union.
The Search Intensifies
As investigators dug deeper into the mystery of the missing children, Lori and Chad remained evasive. They initially fled to Hawaii, where they were tracked down by law enforcement in January 2020. However, neither Lori nor Chad could provide a coherent explanation for the children’s disappearance, sparking nationwide media coverage and public outrage. Despite the mounting pressure, the couple maintained their silence.
In February 2020, Lori was arrested and charged with desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. She refused to cooperate with the investigation, and questions about the children’s safety loomed. The desperate search for Tylee and J.J. reached a critical point as authorities turned their attention to Chad Daybell’s property in Rexburg, Idaho.
This section paints a picture of escalating fear and suspicion surrounding the vanishing of two innocent children. As the community and law enforcement raced against time, Lori and Chad’s eerie silence hinted at something far more sinister unfolding beneath the surface.
The Chilling Discovery of Tylee and J.J.’s Remains
By June 2020, the search for Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow had reached a critical point. Months of evasion by Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had fueled public outrage, and the investigation intensified. With mounting evidence and growing suspicions surrounding Chad’s property in Rexburg, Idaho, authorities executed a search warrant in June. What they uncovered was nothing short of a horror beyond imagination.
The Discovery on Chad Daybell’s Property
On June 9, 2020, law enforcement officials began searching the Daybell property after receiving credible leads that suggested Tylee and J.J. might be buried there. Using ground-penetrating radar, they identified several areas of disturbed earth. In one of these areas, a shallow grave, they uncovered human remains. The search quickly shifted from a missing persons case to a grim recovery operation.
The first set of remains discovered were those of J.J. Vallow. He had been found wrapped tightly in plastic and bound with duct tape. The discovery of his body confirmed the worst fears of his family and investigators, but the horrors did not end there. In another section of the property, authorities found the dismembered and burned remains of Tylee Ryan. Her remains had been desecrated to the point where identifying her body required advanced forensic analysis.
These findings painted a clear picture of the violence and brutality that had befallen the two children. Tylee, in particular, appeared to have suffered greatly, with her body being dismembered and incinerated. The manner in which the children were killed and disposed of was shocking, revealing the depths of the couple’s cold and calculated actions. These gruesome discoveries brought the investigation to a devastating conclusion—what had once been hope for the safe return of Tylee and J.J. now turned into mourning for their loss.
Chad Daybell’s Arrest
The discovery of the children’s remains marked a turning point in the case. Chad Daybell, who had been present during the search, was arrested on the same day that J.J. and Tylee’s bodies were unearthed. He was charged with destruction, alteration, and concealment of evidence. Lori Vallow, already in custody since February 2020 on charges of child abandonment, faced additional charges related to the concealment and destruction of evidence.
As Chad was taken into custody, his stoic demeanor during the search and his previous evasiveness drew significant public attention. Investigators, journalists, and the public were left grappling with one central question: how could these two individuals, who once seemed like a loving mother and spiritual leader, be involved in such an unthinkable crime? The answer, as investigators believed, lay within the couple’s twisted religious beliefs and their shared apocalyptic vision.
Public and Family Reactions
The discovery of the children’s remains devastated their extended family, particularly Kay and Larry Woodcock, J.J.’s biological grandparents, who had led the public fight for answers. They expressed their deep sorrow upon learning the truth but also vowed to continue seeking justice for J.J. and Tylee. Kay Woodcock remarked that the couple’s doomsday beliefs had “gone way too far,” and their extreme ideology had cost the lives of two innocent children.
The broader public, too, was horrified by the details of the case, which had garnered widespread media attention by this point. The shocking combination of religious fanaticism, conspiracy theories, and murder brought the couple’s sinister beliefs into the spotlight. Their apocalyptic vision, which justified violence in the name of salvation, now stood in stark contrast to the reality of the harm they had caused. Public outrage mounted, with calls for swift and severe justice for both Lori and Chad.
This section captures the tragic and horrifying moment when the remains of Tylee and J.J. were found, bringing an end to months of uncertainty. It reveals the brutality of their deaths and sets the stage for the final chapter of the investigation, the prosecution, and the legal consequences that Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell would face for their roles in this harrowing crime.
Justice, Legal Battles, and Unraveling a Web of Deception
Following the discovery of Tylee and J.J.’s remains in June 2020, the legal proceedings against Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell rapidly accelerated. The horrifying details of the case, paired with the bizarre religious beliefs that had driven the couple to murder, captivated the public and media alike. As Lori and Chad faced the justice system, the courts unraveled a web of deception, manipulation, and fanaticism that had led to the tragic deaths of two innocent children and Chad’s wife, Tammy Daybell.
Lori Vallow’s Legal Struggles and Mental Competency
Lori Vallow’s mental state became a significant focus of the legal proceedings. Initially, she was charged with desertion and nonsupport of her children, but after the discovery of Tylee and J.J.’s bodies, prosecutors filed more serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder. Lori pleaded not guilty, but as the case moved forward, her legal team raised concerns about her competency to stand trial.
In June 2021, Lori was declared incompetent to face trial due to her mental health condition. She was sent to a psychiatric facility for restoration of competency. This delay in the proceedings frustrated many, particularly J.J. and Tylee’s extended family, who were desperate for closure and justice. However, by April 2022, Lori was deemed fit to stand trial, and the case resumed.
Lori’s defense team attempted to argue that she had been manipulated by Chad Daybell and that her extreme beliefs were the result of undue influence. However, prosecutors countered that Lori was an active participant in the conspiracy, pointing to her role in covering up the children’s disappearances and her ongoing relationship with Chad after the murders.
Chad Daybell’s Defense and Prosecution
Chad Daybell, meanwhile, continued to plead not guilty to all charges. His defense attempted to distance him from the direct involvement in the murders, though the prosecution’s evidence painted a clear picture of his active role in both the ideology and the conspiracy that led to the deaths of Tylee, J.J., and his wife, Tammy Daybell.
In May 2021, Chad was formally charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Tylee, J.J., and Tammy. Prosecutors revealed that Tammy had died by asphyxiation, and the rapid marriage between Chad and Lori just weeks after her death suggested premeditation. Chad’s doomsday beliefs, which included visions of Tammy’s death and his impending role as a spiritual leader in a post-apocalyptic world, were presented as a motive for the killing.
Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Chad Daybell, arguing that the murders were particularly heinous, involving premeditation, concealment, and the exploitation of religious beliefs to manipulate others. Chad’s legal team continued to argue that his beliefs, while extreme, did not directly lead to the murders and that there was no concrete evidence linking him to the actual killings.
Sentencing and Public Outcry
In May 2023, after a long and drawn-out legal battle, Lori Vallow was convicted of the first-degree murders of Tylee and J.J., as well as conspiracy to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell. The jury found that Lori had actively participated in the planning and execution of the killings, driven by her belief that her children were “zombies” and that Tammy’s death was a necessary step for Chad’s prophetic visions to come true. Lori was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole(.
Chad Daybell’s trial is scheduled for 2024, and he continues to face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy in connection with all three deaths. Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty, and Chad’s trial is expected to further expose the extent of his role in the murders, as well as his manipulative control over Lori and others who believed in his apocalyptic visions.
The Legacy of the Case and Its Impact on the Public
The Vallow-Daybell case remains one of the most disturbing and widely discussed criminal cases in recent history, largely due to the combination of religious extremism, familial betrayal, and the tragic deaths of two children. The case has ignited discussions about the dangers of radical religious ideologies and the manipulation of vulnerable individuals by charismatic leaders like Chad Daybell.
Family members, particularly J.J.’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, have continued to be vocal advocates for the children, ensuring that their memories are preserved. They have also called for increased awareness of the signs of manipulation and radicalization, especially when it involves religious or spiritual movements that prey on individuals’ fears and insecurities(People.com).
This final section underscores the lasting legacy of the Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell case, highlighting how religious fanaticism, psychological manipulation, and murder intertwined to create a case that shocked the world. The pursuit of justice for Tylee and J.J. marks the end of a dark chapter, but the impact of their tragic deaths continues to resonate with the public.
Books to refer
“When the Moon Turns to Blood“ by Leah Sottile – This book examines the complex web of religious fanaticism, doomsday beliefs, and the tragic deaths surrounding Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell. It explores the culture of end-times paranoia and the sinister events leading to the murders of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow.
“The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family“ by John Glatt – In this detailed account, Glatt presents a timeline of the lives and crimes of Vallow and Daybell. The book provides a comprehensive look into their apocalyptic beliefs and the tragic series of murders that shocked the nation.