The world is both a beautiful place and a terrifying place. On April 10, 2023, the Lori Vallow Daybell trial began in Boise, Idaho. Vallow Daybell stands accused of murdering two of her children and conspiring to kill her husband’s previous wife. She was indicted almost two years ago. It is believed she acted along with her husband, Chad Daybell, but the two are being tried separately.
It is also believed that Vallow Daybell’s extreme religious beliefs about the end of the world and zombies heavily influenced the crimes she is accused of. If convicted, she could spend the rest of her life in prison.
In May 2021, Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were indicted on nine criminal charges involving murder and conspiracy in three deaths. The prosecution believes Vallow Daybell killed her two youngest children. She has one living child remaining, her eldest, Colby Ryan.
Tylee Ryan was almost 17 years old and Joshua Jaxon "JJ" Vallow was just 7 years old when they were last seen alive in September 2019. Their remains were found in June 2020. They had been buried on a property owned by Chad Daybell in Rexburg, Idaho.
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Vallow Daybell is also accused of conspiring to murder Tammy Daybell, who was married to Chad Daybell. She was found deceased in her home in October 2019. After her death, Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were married in Hawaii.
According to Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake, Vallow Daybell “used money, power, and sex to get what she wanted. It didn’t matter what it was. The defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants — and she wanted Chad Daybell.”
Jim Archibald, one of Vallow Daybell’s lawyers, countered Blake’s arguments. “The evidence will show Lori was a kind and loving mother. The evidence will show Lori had an interest in religion – especially the end of times,” he stated.
“Some people could care less about biblical prophecies, some people care a lot about it. Thankfully in this country we get the freedom to choose,” he went on to say.
According to Blake, Vallow Daybell and Daybell believed themselves to be important religious figures named “James and Elaina.” They rated people based on their energy from light to dark. When a person became dark, they tried to save them. When this was not possible, they believed the person needed to be killed.
"The defendant used 'casting' that involved prayer and energy work," Blake explained. "Often this casting didn't work and the beliefs evolved to zombies. A common theme was the body had to be destroyed."
