Mother Convicted of Killing Children and Conspiring in Wife’s Murder to Be Sentenced

REXBURG, IDAHO – Lori Vallow Daybell, a mother from Idaho, is set to be sentenced on Monday following her conviction earlier this year for the killings of her children and the conspiracy in the murder of her husband’s first wife. The potential sentence for Vallow Daybell could be life in prison, as she was found guilty on all charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of conspiracy in the deaths of her children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, as well as her husband’s previous wife, Tammy Daybell.

The sentencing hearing, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Fremont County Courthouse, will feature victim impact statements, providing the opportunity for loved ones of the deceased to emphasize the long-lasting effects of Vallow Daybell’s actions. Additionally, court records indicate that a presentence investigation, which includes a mental health examination among other evaluations, will also be reviewed during the hearing.

The two children were last seen in September 2019, and Tammy Daybell died the following month. Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, were married a few weeks later. In June 2020, law enforcement discovered the remains of Tylee and JJ in Daybell’s backyard in Fremont County.

Chad Daybell, who is to be tried separately in April 2024, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence, as well as two felony counts of destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence. The couple’s religious beliefs were central to the case, with the indictment stating that they “endorsed and espoused religious beliefs for the purposes of” justifying or encouraging the killings of Tammy Daybell and the children. Prosecutors portrayed the couple as having apocalyptic religious beliefs, viewing themselves as religious figures who categorized people as “light” or “dark.”

Vallow Daybell pleaded not guilty to all charges, and her attorney, Jim Archibald, acknowledged her interest in religion, particularly the concept of the “end of times.” He maintained that she was a “kind and loving mother.” However, Vallow Daybell was also convicted of grand theft. According to the indictment, she collected Social Security benefits on behalf of her children after their deaths and failed to report them missing in order to continue receiving the money.

Following the verdict, Vallow Daybell’s lawyers filed a motion for a new trial, which the court ultimately denied after the state objected. The case gained significant attention and was even featured in a true crime Netflix documentary.

The investigation into the disappearance of Vallow Daybell’s son, JJ, began in November 2019 after relatives expressed concern and asked the police to conduct a welfare check. When authorities initially visited the family’s home, JJ was not found, and Vallow Daybell and her husband stated that he was staying with a family friend in Arizona. However, when police returned the next day with a search warrant, the couple had disappeared. They were eventually located in Hawaii in January 2020.

Family members testified that they were unable to contact JJ after the death of Vallow Daybell’s ex-husband in January 2019. In body camera footage released by Arizona police, the ex-husband can be heard saying that he was unable to reach the children and that Vallow Daybell believed she was a “resurrected being and a god.”

As Vallow Daybell prepares to face her sentencing, the families involved hope to convey the profound impact of her actions. The courtroom proceedings will shed light on the tragedies and the consequences of these horrific crimes.