Who is Lori Vallow Daybell, the woman at the center of Netflix's 'Sins Of Our Mother'
A 2022 Netflix documentary series follows the story of the deaths of two children — Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow — who were found dead in June 2020 after disappearing.
“Sins of Our Mother,” directed by Skye Borgman, is a three-part Netflix series that focuses on the relationship between Lori Vallow Daybell, who is accused of killing her two children, and Colby Ryan, her oldest and only living child.
The murder trial of Lori Vallow began with opening statements on April 10. Vallow has pleaded not guilty to murder conspiracy and grand theft.
If you are a true crime fan, you likely have more questions about who these people are after or even while you are watching the show. The Arizona Republic has done some extensive reporting on this case.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Who is Lori Vallow Daybell?
Lori Vallow Daybell, born in 1973, is originally from San Bernardino, California. She is described as “a devoted mother of three, a loving wife, and a woman of God.” Vallow was married four times and went by a couple of different names. Known initially as Lori Norene Cox, then Lori Ryan Daybell, Lori Norene Lagioia, Lori Vallow Daybell and now Lori Vallow.
She had two kids during her marriages, Colby and Tylee, and would later adopt J.J.
Vallow is now facing criminal charges ranging from murder, conspiracy and grand theft in the deaths of her kids in Idaho. In Arizona she is also charged in connection with Charles Vallow’s death but has yet to enter a plea.
Where is Lori Vallow now?
After months of delays, the Vallow's murder trial is now underway in Idaho. The mom's beliefs about zombies and the apocalypse are partly blamed for the alleged killings of her two kids and her husband's former wife.
If found guilty, Vallow faces life in prison. She and her spouse, 54-year-old Chad Daybell, were indicted nearly two years back. They're now facing separate trials.
What is Vallow Daybell accused of?
In May 2021, Vallow and Chad Daybell faced nine charges, including murder and conspiracy.
Vallow allegedly killed her kids, Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, who were last seen in September 2019. Their bodies were found in June 2020 on Chad's Idaho property.
Before their discovery, Vallow faced felony desertion and obstruction charges.
She's also accused of plotting to kill Chad's then-wife, Tammy, who died in October 2019. The couple married in Hawaii soon after. Chad is Lori's fifth spouse.
In a separate Arizona case, Lori was indicted for allegedly having her brother, Alex Cox, shoot her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019. Alex died in December 2019 from natural causes.
Who is Colby Ryan?
Colby Ryan, 26, is the oldest son of Lori Vallow. He is at the center of the new Netflix docu-series, which follows the disappearance and killings of his younger siblings.
Ryan was arrested in September 2022 by Mesa police after his wife, Kelsee Ryan, accused him of rape. These accusations have been dropped.
Who is Charles Vallow and how did he die?
Charles Vallow was Lori Vallow's fourth husband. They married in 2006. Together they raised Tylee Ryan, Lori’s daughter from her previous marriage. Then in 2011, they adopted J.J. Vallow. Their marriage was described as happy and Lori was perceived as the ideal mother.
That would change in 2018 after Lori Vallow began to associate with Chad Daybell. Investigators learned that Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell began an extramarital affair shortly afterward, records said. Charles Vallow and his wife would become estranged, and Charles contacted Gilbert police, concerned about Lori’s mental health and religious beliefs.
In June 2019 Charles Vallow discovered a “fictitious letter” that Lori sent on behalf of him asking Chad Daybell to come to Arizona to help him write a book. This would start a tumultuous encounter between Lori and Charles.
During an intervention for Lori planned by Charles and Lori’s brother, Adam Cox, a confrontation occurred that would eventually lead to Charles’ death. The intervention was meant to confront Lori about the letter and her "radical beliefs."
Lori learned about the intervention beforehand and sought help from Daybell and one of her brothers, Alexander Cox.
On July 11, 2019, an argument broke out between Charles and Lori, according to police reports. Alexander Cox then shot Charles after he reportedly struck Alexander on the back of the head with a bat.
No criminal charges were filed at the time, but after further investigation, police said Vallow and Cox conspired to kill Charles Vallow.
Who is Chad Daybell?
Lori Vallow met Chad Daybell, an author of doomsday books, in 2018. The pair began planning for the apocalypse, based on Daybell's extreme doomsday ideologies.
After the events that would lead to the death of Charles Vallow, Lori’s youngest children, J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan, went missing in September 2019. During that time, Chad Daybell’s wife, Tammy Daybell, reportedly died in her sleep in October 2019.
Lori and Chad got married in Hawaii, two weeks later, in November 2019.
After a search for J.J. and Tylee, their bodies were found buried in Daybell’s family garden in Idaho.
In May 2021, Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow were charged with first-degree murder for the deaths of J.J. and Tylee. Daybell would also be charged for the death of Tammy, and he has pleaded not guilty.
Where did Lori Vallow live in Arizona?
Vallow lived in Gilbert with her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and their children. After experiencing marital problems, Charles Vallow contacted the Gilbert Police Department to get a mental health order for Lori Vallow in 2019. She was evaluated and later released, disappearing shortly afterward.
She returned to Arizona and rented a home near Chandler Heights and Gilbert Roads later that summer in 2019.
Have a question you need answered? Reach the reporter at rromeroruiz@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @raphaeldelag.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is Lori Vallow Daybell from Netflix doc, when does her trial begin
