Lori Vallow's first appearance in court in nearly two years was a pretty eventful one.
Vallow, whose legal team requested that the court address her as Lori Daybell or Mrs. Daybell, appeared in a blue blouse and green reading glasses. Her arraignment comes after a stay on her case since May 2021 while she was receiving mental health treatment to restore her to competency to stand trial. Though now considered competent, Vallow wasn't too vocal during her day in court.
The 48-year-old remained silent when asked how she pleaded to the charges against her. She faces two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of her children, 7-year-old Joshua Jaxon "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. She also faces three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, one for each child and an additional one for Tammy Daybell, the first wife of her current husband and codefendant, Chad Daybell. She also faces a count of grand theft related to fraud.
Vallow's legal team asked that the court enter not guilty pleas to all charges on her behalf. They also decided not to waive her right to a speedy trial. Vallow is now scheduled to stand trial no later than October 19, 2022, exactly three years to the day that Tammy Daybell was murdered.
If convicted, Vallow faces a mandatory life sentence or the death penalty. Prosecutors are currently in the 60-day window when they have to decide whether or not to pursue the death penalty. It's unclear if the case will stay tied to that of Chad Daybell, who did waive his right to a speedy trial and isn't scheduled for trial until January 2023.
Members of the Vallow family were in court to see the arraignment unfold. JJ's biological grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, spoke to reporters afterward.
"I just pray for the day when we can end this circle and that JJ and Tylee and Tammy and Charles have some peace too," Larry told reporters.
"I want justice for JJ, I want justice for everybody."
"Her day will come," he said of his former sister-in-law, Lori. "I will accept however it comes."
