Lori Vallow trial – live: Court hears devastating call from cult mom’s sister after children’s bodies found

The trial of “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow is under way in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, where the mother-of-three is accused of killing her two youngest children and her new husband Chad Daybell’s first wife.

The 49-year-old is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Mr Daybell’s first wife Tammy Daybell, 49.

Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019.

In June 2020, the remains of the two children were found buried on the Daybell property.

Tammy died one month after their disappearance in October 2019.

The case has captured attention due to its ties to bizarre cult beliefs and a string of mystery deaths and murders.

In court on Monday, Ms Vallow’s chilling internet searches were shown to the jury – revealing that the “cult mom” searched for life insurance policies for her children in July 2019, two months before they were killed.

That same month, she allegedly also conspired to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow. She is facing charges in Arizona for his death in a separate case to the Idaho trial.

Key points

• Chad Daybell’s chilling ‘dream’ about wife’s death

• JJ vanished after ‘knocking over picture of Christ’

• Lori Vallow’s chilling response to question about missing daughter

• Cult mom told friend her husband needed to die to prepare for Second Coming

• Lori Vallow trial hears emotional prison call with surviving son

• Shocked court hears how JJ was found buried in red pyjamas

19:04 , Oliver O'Connell

On 8 January 2020, he received video footage from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office that showed the entrance of Yellowstone National Park on 8 September 2019.

“I was looking for a blue Nissan Rogue, a Silver Ford pickup or a gray Jeep Wrangler.”

He saw a vehicle that looked like the pickup truck. Further video showed Alex, Lori and the children at the park on that day.

New witness: Rick Schmitt, former Rexburg PD detective

18:59 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is retired Rexburg Police detective Rick Schmitt who now works at BYU-Idaho in the public safety department.

He helped in the search for the missing children and joined the surveillance of the grey Jeep Wrangler on 4 November 2019.

On 17 December he and other detectives went to Springville, Utah, to interview Chad and Tammy Daybell’s family. He also investigated the changes made to Tylee’s Venmo account.

18:43 , Oliver O'Connell

The prosecution has a brief redirect in which Summer confirms that Lori lied to her about the children being safe on a phone call with her.

No further questions.

Summer is released from her subpoena.

18:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Asked if she is still in touch with Colby Ryan, Lori’s surviving son, Summer says she is.

Archibald asks if, like Colby, she believes Lori changed after meeting Chad Daybell.

She agrees.

No further questions.

18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Questioning moves on to Alex, her older brother.

Summer describes him as fun and hilarious but sometimes crude. As a teenager, he suffered a brain injury and she believes that affected him

“He seemed stuck in making teenage decisions. He got in his car accident when he was 16 and made decisions like a 16-year-old most of his life.”

18:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Asked about religious beliefs, Summer says they were brought up to believe Jesus was kind and loving. In late 2018 she heard Lori and Alex talk about multiple lives and it was not just new, but it was not consistent with their religious background and teachings.

When Lori told her about previous lives, non of it made sense as much as she wanted to believe it. Lori did not tell her anything about zombies, the light/dark scale, castings, the 144,000, or that she was a leader.

Asked if she was concerned about her sister’s new beliefs, Summer says: “Of course I care about my sister but I don’t really know what to think about it.”

18:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks: “Would you ever imagine her sister wanting to kill her kids?”

Summer replies tearfully: “No.”

Archibald asks: “Would you ever imagine your sister wanting to conspire to kill her kids?”

Summer says: “No.”

18:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Summer says that having seen Lori with her children she believed she would never do anything to hurt them.

Archibald asks if Summer was still involved in her sister’s life after she and Charles separated. She says yes and describes them as compatible and happy until then, hence the adoption of JJ. Summer only heard that Charles had filed for divorce in the media.

She describes Tylee as “beautiful and witty and very talented in a lot of different ways”.

Summer confirms that Tylee had pancreatitis and describes her relationship with Lori.

“Tylee had a little sassy streak in her but I always felt Lori was very patient with her. Lori loved her and Tylee loved her mom.”

18:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Direct examination concludes and defence attorney Jim Archibald begins cross-examination of Summer.

He begins by telling Summer, who is crying, that he is sorry she had to relive that call.

Archibald asks about the family. She is the youngest of five: Stacy (Melani’s mother) who died; Alex; Adam; Lolly (who died at six weeks old); Lori; and Summer.

She and Lori were close growing up being only two years apart.

Summer recalls Lori’s previous marriages and says she got married herself and now has three children.

18:24 , Oliver O'Connell

The call reaches a crescendo: “I am telling you, because I love you with all my heart, please consider that Chad has lied and been deceived and you have been deceived and this is not what you think it is. There is nothing okay about killing children. Nothing.”

Summer is sobbing and barely breathing in the recording: “And even if you dndn’t kill them and Alex didn’t kill them and Chad didn’t kill them, you threw them away like garbage! In a pet cemetery!”

“They were innocent and they were loved,” Summer says. “Come up with an explanation publicly!”

The call ends.

18:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori tries to argue that no one knows what she has been through.

Summer counters: “So I’m deceived? Everyone in the world is deceived?”

Lori tries again but Summer says: “You don’t think your mother and your sister and son deserve to know that your children are gone?! Why didn’t you call to tell us this?”

18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Summer screams at Lori that she never called to tell her that her brother Alex had died or that her children were missing.

“You don’t think that will cause pain throughout our entire family?!” she screams.

Lori says, “You don’t think I’m in pain?”

“No I don’t. You were dancing on the beach having a great time! You got wedding pictures while your kids are in the ground?”

Lori says: “Nobody knows.”

Summer snaps back: “Nobody knows except you and the Lord? There is nothing in the scriptures that is Godly about hurting a child! They deserve a proper burial with family that loves them in the least!”

18:17 , Oliver O'Connell

“You cut me and mom off for four months! Now we find this out and you expect me to just keep going with zero explanation and you expect me to just keep believing without ever having a question?” Summer asks her sister.

Lori tries to deflect, but Summer screams at her that it has nothing to do with what is being said on TV.

18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Summer accuses Lori of dancing on the beach in Hawaii while her children were in the ground and that she had to know they were there.

She screams at Lori that she would have taken the children.

18:13 , Oliver O'Connell

The call is raw and emotional with Summer sobbing that Tylee and JJ were found buried in Chad’s backyard.

Summer says she feels sick to her stomach and that Lori let this happen to them and they were thrown away like garbage.

18:11 , Oliver O'Connell

In June 2020, after authorities found the bodies of Tylee and JJ, her feelings toward Lori changed because she felt lied to and her trust was broken.

She received a request from Lori for a video visit with her in prison which is now played to the court.

Summer wipes away tears.

18:09 , Oliver O'Connell

Having had a close relationship with Lori, she asked her in February 2020 after her arrest about the children’s well-being. Lori told her that they were safe.

“I don’t remember the exact wording but she basically told me she knew where they were and they were safe.”

Summer gets emotional as she continues with her testimony.

New witness: Summer Shiflet, Lori’s sister

18:07 , Oliver O'Connell

After a brief sidebar, Lori’s sister Summer Shiflet takes the stand.

She has been allowed to observe other testimony as she is in court to represent Tylee Ryan, her late niece. Summer has been present throughout yesterday’s and today’s testimony.

Lori smiles at her.

She confirms that Lori is her older sister and that Tylee and JJ were her niece and nephew. She says she played an active role in their lives.

Summer says she first learned they were missing through media reports in December 2019 and was not in contact with Lori at the time and did not know where her sister was.

18:03 , Oliver O'Connell

After confirming that Lori Vallow was in Hawaii on the day of Tammy Daybell’s death, the cross-examination is over.

There is a quick redirect by prosecutor Rob Wood in which he asks if it was possible to turn off GPS. Mr Ballance says yes, Google, for example, has an opt-out option.

Mr Ballance is finished testifying but his subpoena remains in case further questioning is required.

17:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Thomas asks Mr Ballance if he can say with certainty that a particular phone was at an exact location on the Daybell property.

He replies there is no 100 per cent certainty, but they can make estimations within a range.

Thomas asks why some of the texts sent between the parties in the case can be read and others cannot.

Mr Ballance explains that it depends on how records are kept by the cell phone carriers — Verizon is the only carrier to keep text messages and this is only for between three and seven days.

It is possible to do a forensic download of a device to retrieve data stored on it, which could include texts and other records/content.

Court resumes after morning break

17:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Defence attorney Jim Thomas asks FBI special agent Nick Ballance to describe the process of “drive-testing” that he spoke of yesterday.

This is the process of measuring radio frequencies relating to cell towers. It took the FBI’s Cellular Analyst Survey Team (CAST) about a week to map out the area around Rexburg, Idaho.

Watch: Lori Vallow’s sister and family arrive at court this morning

17:35 , Oliver O'Connell

17:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Morning recess is called.

17:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Cross-examination of Special Agent Ballance is conducted by defence attorney Jim Thomas.

He begins by asking Mr Ballance about his training with the FBI at Quantico to become a special agent.

17:03 , Oliver O'Connell

As has previously been heard in court, while Tylee was killed on 9 September, her phone was used by Lori to send her brother Colby Ryan texts and Venmo payments.

He testified that the language used did not sound like his sister and financial records show the transactions coming from accounts linked to Lori.

The last usage of Tylee’s phone was on 15 December 2019 when it received two incoming text messages.

Direct examination ends.

16:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Tammy’s funeral is held in Springville, Utah, on 22 October.

Chad and Lori exchange texts that day and an outgoing call is placed by Chad to an unknown number.

16:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Moving on to the day before Tammy was murdered, there were multiple texts exchanged between Chad, Lori, and Alex between 1.36pm and 8.54pm and calls lasting between 30 minutes and 50 minutes in length.

Between 9.35pm and 10.55pm there are 16 more texts between Alex and Chad.

At 10.05pm Alex’s phone is detected on Salem Road. From 10.07pm to 10.45pm he is in a church parking lot near Chad and Tammy’s home.

Between 11.34pm and 11.36pm Chad texts Lori three times. The content of these messages is not known.

At 11.53pm, Alex calls Lori for 16 minutes. Lori was in Hawaii at the time.

From 11.54pm to 12.09am Alex is traveling southbound on Highway 20, away from the Daybell home.

Tammy was found dead the next morning.

16:43 , Oliver O'Connell

That afternoon, while unloading her car, Tammy Daybell was accosted by a masked man outside her house, who shot at her with what she describes as a paintball gun.

She died 10 days later on 19 October. In opening statements of the trial it was revealed she had died of asphyxiation.

Lori Vallow trial hears how Chad Daybell’s first wife Tammy was killed

16:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The next data set is from 9 October 2019 — the day someone shot at Tammy Daybell, Chad’s wife.

At 9.57am, Chad tells Lori by text he is going to stop by the store to “get that other number working”.

At 10.26am he texts her that he will now call from a 401 number (which has been attributed to him). A minute later he calls her from the new number.

Between 1.11pm and 2.22pm, there is a call from Lori to Chad and multiple texts between Chad and Alex.

Alex is at Lori’s townhome between 12pm and 1.23pm. From 1.23pm to 2.37pm Alex is at his own townhome.

At around 2.42pm he begins to move toward Idaho Falls and is tracked at or near Sportsman’s Warehouse between 3.42pm and 4.12pm. He then moves toward the Daybell home and is in the vicinity between 4.47pm and 4.56pm.

At 5.03pm he is pinged in Sugar City, which is between Rexburg and Chad’s home. At 5.16pm he is back at his own home, where he stays.

There are numerous texts between Chad, Lori, and Alex, between 5.38pm and 10.31pm that night.

16:24 , Oliver O'Connell

At 10.20am — eight minutes after it was last detected on Chad’s property — Alex’s phone is located south in the Rexburg area.

Soon after this, there are three texts sent from Chad to Lori, and a 545-second call between Alex and Lori (based on the FBI’s understanding of whom owned which phone, deduced from account log-ins and communications confirming ownership).

16:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Moving on to 23 September — the last day JJ was seen alive — Mr Ballance walks the court through cell phone activity between 3.59am and 8.35am.

There are numerous texts between Lori and Chad in this period.

Alex is at his townhome between 9.01am and 9.41am and receives a call from Chad at 9.25am.

There were then more texts and calls between Chad and Lori from 9.30am to 9.45am.

At 9.45am, Alex is within range of Lori’s wifi at the townhomes and at 9.49am he is traveling north on Highway 20.

Alex (tracked through the HomerJMaximus account) was on Chad Daybell’s property from 9.55am to 10.12am near a small pond close to where JJ’s body was found bound up in a shallow grave. The phone is detected to various margins of error at his location ranging from 4 metres to 100 metres.

16:01 , Oliver O'Connell

FBI analyst Nick Ballance is being questioned about relevant cell phone activity by prosecution attorney Rob Wood.

A full report of his findings is entered into evidence.

A map is shown to the court of the activity of the account “HomerJMaximus” which is registered to Alex Cox on 9 September 2019.

Between 10.35am and 12.20pm that day there are multiple texts between Chad and Lori and a call at 11.45am.

Alex leaves Chad’s property around 11.46am and heads back toward Rexburg. It was around this time that Chad texted his wife Tammy Daybell that he was having a fire to burn tree limbs and that he had shot and buried a raccoon in the pet cemetery.

Tylee Ryan’s body was found in a shallow grave at the fire pit the following June.

Court resumes

15:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Steven Boyce is back on the bench and the jury is being brought back in.

FBI analyst Nick Ballance returns to the witness stand to continue his testimony about tracking and tracing the various cell phones of Lori, Chad, and Alex.

Before proceedings got underway, both defence and prosecution attorneys met with Judge Boyce, leaving Lori sitting alone, writing on a yellow notepad.

Lori’s sister could take stand today

15:33 , Oliver O'Connell

There is a good turnout from Lori Vallow’s family in court today, including her sister Summer Shiflet. It is believed that Summer could take the stand today as a prosecution witness, though she smiled at her sister upon entering court, Nate Eaton of East Idaho News reports.

Tracing the burner phones

15:14 , Oliver O'Connell

Yesterday, the jury heard testimony about the ridiculous number of burner phones Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and Alex Cox have over an 18-month period.

There were 21 devices (but only nine “of interest” — i.e. used regularly) and yet Lori never reported Tylee and JJ missing and was deliberately elusive when police went looking for her and the children.

When police originally performed a welfare check in search of JJ, Chad was elusive about his close relationship with Lori and even told them he didn’t have her number.

There are many reasons for having multiple phones, though almost none paint a person in a good light in front of a jury.

As yesterday’s proceedings wrapped up, we learned that a device linked to Alex was the only one that could be tracked to the vicinity of the fire pit and pet cemetery on Chad’s property on both the days on which Tylee and JJ are believed to have been murdered — 9 September and 23 September 2019.

The court reconvenes in approximately 20 minutes.

Who is Lori Vallow?

14:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori Vallow is a mother of three, a former game show contestant, a Mrs Texas Beauty Pageant contestant, and a cult follower. But is she also a killer? Rachel Sharp reports.

Lori Vallow: Who is the ‘cult mom’ on trial for her children’s murders?

All the bizarre moments from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Rachel Sharp reports on the bizarre details about the cult beliefs which allegedly led to the murders that have come to light at trial.

In addition, beyond the testimony, there have also been some bizarre happenings taking place inside the courtroom...

Bizarre moments from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

Key revelations from Lori Vallow’s murder trial so far

12:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Here are the key revelations from the trial – so far — as compiled by Rachel Sharp:

Cult beliefs and charred remains: Key revelations from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

Who are the key players in the Lori Vallow trial?

11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

In a courtroom in Idaho, “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow is now on trial for the murders of her two youngest children and her lover’s wife.

The 49-year-old mother-of-three is charged with the murders of daughter Tylee Ryan, 16; and son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7; both of whom vanished without a trace in September 2019.

Almost one year later – in June 2020 – their bodies were found buried on the grounds of her new husband Chad Daybell’s property in Idaho.

Ms Vallow is also charged with the first-degree murder of Mr Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, who died suddenly in October 2019.

One month after her death, Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell married on a beach in Hawaii.

Here are the key players in the sprawling case:

Who are the key players in Lori Vallow’s trial?

Vallow’s chilling response to question about missing daughter

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A former friend of Lori Vallow has revealed the “cult mom’s” chilling response after being confronted about her missing teen daughter.

Read more...

Lori Vallow’s chilling response to question about missing Tylee revealed

Who is Lori Vallow?

08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori Vallow is a mother of three, a former game show contestant, a Mrs Texas Beauty Pageant contestant, and a cult follower. But is she also a killer? Rachel Sharp reports

Lori Vallow: Who is the ‘cult mom’ on trial for her children’s murders?

Lori Vallow confronted by best friend in secret recording

06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A phone call between “cult mom” Lori Vallow and her former best friend was played in court during her ongoing trial for the murders of two of her children.

Lori Vallow confronted by best friend about JJ lies in secret recording

Everything we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell ‘doomsday cult’ murder trial

04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rachel Sharp delves into the deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies which surrounds Lori Vallow and her doomsday author husband Chad Daybell.

What we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell ‘doomsday cult’ murder trial

ICYMI: Vallow trial hears emotional prison call with surviving son Colby Ryan

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

On day six of testimony in the trial of “cult mom” Lori Vallow, the jury heard a recording of a phone call between the defendant and her eldest son from the early months of her incarceration.

Colby Ryan, Ms Vallow’s son from her second marriage, was called a witness for the prosecution. He is her only surviving child following the murders of daughter Tylee, 16, and adopted son JJ, 7, in September 2019.

In the emotional call between mother and son, Ms Vallow refused to switch on her camera, while Mr Ryan demanded to know whether Jesus had really told her to murder his siblings.

Read more...

Lori Vallow trial hears gut-wrenching prison call with surviving son Colby Ryan

Lori Vallow’s cousin reveals haunting fear about children’s murders

Tuesday 25 April 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori Vallow’s estranged cousin has revealed one of her most haunting fears about the murders for which the so-called “cult mom” is currently on trial.

Megan Eyden, whose father is Ms Vallow’s uncle, spoke out about the bombshell case in an interview with NewsNation’s Ashleigh Banfield aired Friday night.

Megan Sheets reports.

Lori Vallow’s cousin reveals haunting fear about children’s murders

Court adjourns for the day

Monday 24 April 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Court has adjourned for the day.

The trial resumes at 830am MT tomorrow.

Monday 24 April 2023 22:26 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex’s movements — based on the location of his device — place him with a 6m margin of error at the fire pit on Chad Daybell’s property from 9.21am through until 10.57am on 9 September 2019.

Tylee’s remains were discovered there in early June 2020.

Monday 24 April 2023 22:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Agent Ballance underscores the point that he is tracking devices and not individuals. He can see the location of a phone, but cannot say definitively whose pocket it is in.

However, he shows that an account linked to Alex Cox was in the vicinity of Lori Vallow’s apartment between midnight and 5am on 9 September before multiple communications between Alex and Chad between 7.20am and 8.04am.

The implication here appears to be that Tylee was murdered and then taken to Chad’s property to be burned and buried.

There was a lot of text communication between Chad and Lori on the same morning between 8.15am and 9.06am.

Monday 24 April 2023 21:54 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Ballance reviewed 30 cellphone records and numerous Google accounts associated with Lori Vallow and prepared a report.

In lieu of an afternoon break, Mr Ballance’s testimony will continue and court will end a little early.

Monday 24 April 2023 21:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Ballance conducted a “drive test” to measure how far cellphone towers in the Rexburg area can reach. He drove the area in June 2020.

A cellphone will always defer to the strongest and clearest cellphone tower — which may not necessarily be the nearest if there are obstructions in the way.

This allows you to get a general idea of where an individual device is, but does not allow you to pinpoint an exact location.

However, this data can be combined with other data such as Google location tracking to build up a clearer picture.

New witness: Nick Ballance, FBI

Monday 24 April 2023 21:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Next up on the witness stand is FBI special agent Nick Ballance. He is assigned to the Boise resident agency out of the Salt Lake City Division.

He is part of the FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST). They take cell phone data, put it on a map, and help track where phones have been. There are between 70 and 80 CAST agents nationwide.

Mr Ballance begins by explaining how networks route calls through their cell phone towers and how a denser population will mean more towers.

Monday 24 April 2023 21:23 , Oliver O'Connell

On redirect, Blake asks a few clarifying questions before being released from the stand but not form her subpoena, so she may be recalled later.

Monday 24 April 2023 21:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Thomas asks about some of the searches conducted — specifically Gerber life insurance and life insurance for children, and if these were all one search or multiple searches.

Agent Heideman replies that they were both multiple searches and a visit to a website.

Monday 24 April 2023 21:17 , Oliver O'Connell

Thomas asks Agent Heideman to clarify some of the information she presented and explained.

He asks her about the seven temple trips Chad and Lori took together and if they went as part of a group. Ms Heideman says she does not know and tht she only checked on Chad and Lori’s attendance.

Thomas says these seven visits are only a “fraction” of the time Chad and Lori went to the temple. Agent Heideman agrees.

She is asked how the temple visits relate to the days of the deaths and what the significance is.

Ms Heideman says that while she put together the timeline, she “can’t say what the purpose of their visits were”.

Monday 24 April 2023 21:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Defence attorney John Thomas is cross-examining Agent Heideman.

He asks why she thought “Ned Schneider” was an important term to flag while she was doing the search. He asks if she did any further research to find out the significance of the terms.

She says it was a cursory search to aid in the investigation and things of which we were aware of appeared in the search history.

Thomas asks about other terms that were flagged — e.g. the malachite rings, the significance of Tuesday, given that the children died on Mondays and Tammy died on a Saturday.

Monday 24 April 2023 20:53 , Oliver O'Connell

The exhibit concerns Chad and Lori’s visits to LDS temples and how those visits straddle the dates of the murders with the final visit coming 10 days after Tammy’s death.

Monday 24 April 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The objection relates to the dates on which Tammy, JJ, and Tylee died as presented by the prosecution. They have not proven the dates and so the jury has been instructed that the presentation is demonstrative and not evidence.

Monday 24 April 2023 20:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Court resumes but almost immediately goes into a sidebar over an objection by the defence relating to another Powerpoint presentation being submitted as evidence.

Monday 24 April 2023 20:29 , Oliver O'Connell

The state requires additional records, so the court has gone on a 10-15 minute recess.

Monday 24 April 2023 20:21 , Oliver O'Connell

A series of loving texts between Chad and Lori are shown to the court, dating from immediately after the killing of Charles Vallow by Alex Cox.

There are references to Kauai and “the plan” and an intention to get married on 5 November (which they eventually did).

Monday 24 April 2023 20:13 , Oliver O'Connell

Evidence of wedding planning by Chad and Lori dates back to when both of their spouses were still alive — specifically, a search for malachite rings, and later attempts at purchases.

There was a successful purchase on 2 October 2019, before the attempted shooting of Tammy and her murder. When the FBI put the description into Amazon it pulled up the same rings CHad and Lori can be seen wearing in their wedding day photos.

They were bought on Charles’s Amazon account after he was deceased, with the larger ring being exchanged twice for different sizes.

Court resumes after lunch

Monday 24 April 2023 19:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce is back on the bench and prosecution attorney Lindsey Blake continued direct examination of FBI agent Nicole Heideman.

Another Powerpoint is being introduced as evidence — this one regarding Lori and Chad’s wedding plans.

Court breaks for lunch

Monday 24 April 2023 18:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce calls lunch.

The trial will resume at 12.45pm MT.

Monday 24 April 2023 18:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Despite numerous aliases on each other’s contact lists — “Bubby”, “Boyd Dial”, “Melani 2”, “Bishop Shumway”, “Bishop Miller”, etc — each user could be identified by phone usage.

This includes the content of messages sent and received, calls made, and confirmation texts from services including one from Allegiant Air relating to a named user.

Monday 24 April 2023 18:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Heideman was asked to attribute the phone numbers uncovered in the investigation to individual users. Another Powerpoint is entered into evidence, summarising the findings.

She says investigators determined Chad had nine phone numbers between October 2018 and January 2020. Lori Vallow had six phone numbers. Alex Cox had six phone numbers. For each, individual, three numbers were of interest due to the communications with each other during relevant time frames and the most frequently used.

Monday 24 April 2023 18:21 , Oliver O'Connell

And the relevant searches from Lori Vallow’s account, including searches for life insurance for children months before their murders, and how to sell a service dog (JJ’s dog was got rid of by Lori).

Monday 24 April 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Here are the relevant searches from Chad Daybell’s account,

One of the burner phones had a Rhode Island area code and was activated on the same day.

New witness: Nicole Heideman, FBI

Monday 24 April 2023 18:07 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is Nicole Heideman of the FBI who was asked to review some of the Google searches on Chad and Lori’s accounts.

Prosecutor Lindsey Blake is questioning her. A Powerpoint is submitted into evidence showing relevant searches from the accounts.

Monday 24 April 2023 18:01 , Oliver O'Connell

In a final follow-up question from Thomas, Det Stubbs is asked: “Did you ever see anything from Lori saying I’m going to kill the kids? Let’s kill the kids? Kill the kids?”

Mr Stubbs responds “no” to all the questions.

“Based on anything you’ve seen, is there anything in there where Lori had texted or emailed - any type of data that says anything about wanting to kill her children?” Thomas asks.

“No.”

Monday 24 April 2023 17:59 , Oliver O'Connell

In redirect, Det Stubbs is asked about the general use of burner phones.

Monday 24 April 2023 17:58 , Oliver O'Connell

After detailing various courses he has taken over the years relating to the gathering of data from cell phones and computers, Thomas asks Det Stubbs about the burner phones, and specifically their use by drug dealers.

He asked whether the detective believes Lori or Chad were involved in drugs to which he replies “not to my knowledge”.

Thomas notes there are many reasons for having a burner phone.

Asked about Chad’s search regarding wind direction, Det Stubbs says it was off because of the specificity of the search and that he never looked it up again.

He is then asked about the ring sizes and says he does not know what the ring sizes of Chad, Lori, Alex, or Zulena are.

No further questions.

Monday 24 April 2023 17:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Cross-examination of Det Stubbs by defence attorney John Thomas begins.

He starts by asking about Mr Stubbs’s forensic training. He started in the field in 2010, and now about 50 per cent of this work is in examining computers/devices.

Monday 24 April 2023 17:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Chad and Lori’s wedding photos are submitted into evidence.

Det Stubbs says they were on a flash drive seized from the couple in Hawaii. They were married on 5 November 2019, just weeks after the death of Tammy.

Monday 24 April 2023 17:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Verizon records show multiple phone numbers associated with both Lori and Charles Vallow.

Det Stubbs moves on to talking about Lori’s email account. On 25 August 2019, the user searched for malachite wedding rings and wedding rings made of malachite. An order was placed for two rings in sizes 11.5 and 4.25.

At this point, Tammy Daybell was still alive and married to Chad.

Further searches included:

- Definition of possessed searched

- how to remove the rear seat of my Jeep Wrangler (YouTube video watched)

- weddings dresses in Kauai (searched on the day of Tammy Daybell’s funeral)

- various flights to Hawaii on different airlines

- travel to Missouri to visit LDS sites (Lori was in Missouri the day Tammy was shot at)

Monday 24 April 2023 17:13 , Oliver O'Connell

A USB drive containing Chad Daybell’s internet search history is entered into evidence.

On 8 September, the user of the account linked to Chad looked up what the wind direction was going to be for the next day.

Det Stubbs says this was significant because “that is the day Chad Daybell had said he was going to burn limbs and killed a raccoon in his yard.”

The search showed that the wind would be in the south or southwest, as the court heard last week.

Court resumes

Monday 24 April 2023 17:03 , Oliver O'Connell

The jury is back and testimony resumes.

Det Stubbs presents a document attached to a warrant submitted to Google that contains the names and email addresses of people associated with Lori.

He explains that some of the email addresses were connected to “burner” phones.

“It’s a common phone used by people distributing illegal drugs so they can’t have their number tracked.”

Det Stubbs says Google and other tech companies “keep a web” of every device you’re using, from phones, laptops, and email accounts, and are able to connect it all to an individual user.

Monday 24 April 2023 16:31 , Oliver O'Connell

A juror is not feeling well, so Judge Boyce calls a mid-morning break.

Court will resume in approximately 15 minutes.

Monday 24 April 2023 16:24 , Oliver O'Connell

A warrant sent to Google yielded serial numbers and data and not personal information and names relating to 12 devices. After narrowing it down to ten devices, they then asked Google who these devices belonged to.

The device linked to Lori from the last communication they had with her before she and Chad disappeared became a focus in December 2019 to try and find out where they had gone after leaving the townhome property in such haste.

Monday 24 April 2023 16:11 , Oliver O'Connell

A further warrant for cellphone location tracking was issued after the discovery of the children’s bodies on Chad Daybell’s property and was done in conjunction with the FBI

“The goal of this warrant was to get very specific readings of all parts of the property,” Det Stubbs explains.

The warrants focused on both Lori and Chad’s properties on 8-9 September and 22-23 September, when the murders were believed to have taken place.

Only one device was common to both locations on those dates, and it belonged to Alex Cox.

Monday 24 April 2023 16:03 , Oliver O'Connell

The track and trace operation led them to locate Lori in Kaui, Hawaii. When officers found her there, she had 10 devices inside her rental car. There was also a notebook containing a whole page of email addresses and phone numbers.

Warrants were issued for all of the email addresses.

Monday 24 April 2023 15:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Det Stubbs says they requested the phone companies perform a live “tap and trace” search of phone numbers associated with Lori Vallow, Alex Cox, and Tylee Ryan to see if they could find their location.

Monday 24 April 2023 15:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Among the electronic warrants were Lori’s Verizon phone; emails connected to Lori, Chad, and Alex; 18 phone numbers billed to a PO Box in Sugar City, Idaho, in Lori’s name; and additional emails linked to Alex found on a phone abandoned at the unit and turned over to police by the landlord.

Monday 24 April 2023 15:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Det Stubbs explains the process of getting a search warrant for a cellphone or other electronic device and what they would be looking for — communications, photos, transactions, etc.

He says if Google, Amazon, Apple or other types of accounts or apps are present on a suspect’s phone, warrants can be issued to the companies to access any information those companies are storing.

In this case, 21 electronic search warrants were prepared.

Monday 24 April 2023 15:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Steven Boyce is back on the stand and prosecutor Rachel Smith resumes questioning Detective Stubbs.

He explains how police searched three units relating to Lori at the townhome development at which she lived with her brother Alex Cox and niece Melani Boudreaux. They were searching for any sign of JJ, who had been reported missing by his grandmother.

Inside Melani’s apartment, they found multiple things connected to Brandon, her ex-husband, including a binder containing credit cards.

Trial to resume shortly

Monday 24 April 2023 15:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Rexburg Police Detective David Stubbs will resume his testimony in a short time.

Spotted in court today is Summer Shiflet, Lori Vallow’s sister. She appears to be sitting in the section reserved for the prosecution.

Rexburg Detective David Hope was also seen and is expected to testify this week.

Court to resume today

Monday 24 April 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow’s trial took a one-day break on Friday, with testimony set to resume in court today.

Judge Boyce announced on Thursday that the trial will resume at 8.30am MT on Monday.

The recess was called due to the case moving faster than expected.

Here are the key revelations from the trial – so far:

Monday 24 April 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp

“Cult mom” Lori Vallow is currently on trial in a case that has shocked the nation with its bizarre doomsday cult ties and the tragic deaths of almost everyone close to the mother-of-three and her new husband Chad Daybell.

The 49-year-old is charged with the murders of her children Joshua “JJ” Vallow, seven, and Tylee Ryan, 16, and conspiracy to murder Mr Daybell’s first wife Tammy Daybell.

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to authorities for many months.

One month after they were last seen alive, Tammy – an otherwise healthy 49-year-old – died suddenly and Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell soon jetted off to Hawaii to get married on the beach.

In June 2020, the remains of JJ and Tylee were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybell’s property in Rexburg, Idaho, and the doomsday cult couple were eventually charged with murder.

Prosecutors allege that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Ms Vallow’s brother Alex Cox to murder Tammy, JJ and Tylee as part of their bizarre cult beliefs – but also for financial purposes so that they could collect Tammy’s life insurance money and the children’s social security and survivor benefits.

After lengthy delays – due to the pandemic and Ms Vallow’s admission into a mental health facility – her trial is finally under way in a courtroom in Boise, Idaho.

Here are the key revelations from the trial – so far:

Cult beliefs and charred remains: Key revelations from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

CATCH-UP: What happened last in court? Chad Daybell’s ‘raccoon’ text

Monday 24 April 2023 13:00 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday, jurors heard about a chilling text Chad Daybell sent to his wife Tammy Daybell on the day after Tylee was last seen alive.

Tylee was last seen on 8 September 2019 at Yellowstone National Park.

On 9 September, Mr Daybell sent his wife this text: “Well, I’ve had an interesting morning! I felt I should burn all of the limb debris by the fire pit before it got too soaked by the coming storms.

“While I did so, I spotted a big racoon [sic] along the fence. I hurried and got my gun, and he was still walking along. I got close enough that one shot did the trick. He is now in our pet cemetery. Fun times!”

Months later, in June 2020, Tylee’s remains were found buried in the pet cemetery on the Daybell’s property.

CATCH-UP: What happened last in court? Chad Daybell’s chilling ‘dream’

Monday 24 April 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday, jurors heard about a chilling dream that Chad Daybell claimed he had about his wife Tammy Daybell dying.

Lori Vallow’s former friend David Warwick testified that Mr Daybell told him he dreamt “Tammy was going to pass away by the time she was 50”.

“I asked him how his marriage was with Tammy and if she was a good wife and he said he had no complaints and she was a good wife,” he told the court.

“He said her time was coming up and him and Lori were going to do things they committed to do for God.”

Tammy died sudenly on October 19 2019 aged 49.

She would have turned 50 in about six months’ time.

CATCH-UP: What happened last in court? JJ’s last known sighting

Monday 24 April 2023 12:00 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday, Lori Vallow’s former friend David Warwick testified about the last time he saw JJ alive.

Mr Warwick said he and his wife Melanie Gibb visited Ms Vallow in Rexburg, Idaho, over a weekend in September 2019.

JJ was there for most of the weekend but then, on the morning they left, was nowhere to be seen.

Ms Vallow allegedly told him that JJ had “an episode and knocked over a picture of Christ”.

“We went downstairs to say goodbye and Lori was there and she just said that JJ had an episode,” he said.

“She said he was out of control and she could not control him and so she had Alex come get him… She said that he climbed the cabinets and the fridge and the upper cabinets and pushed over her picture of Christ.”

Who really is doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow?

Monday 24 April 2023 11:30 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow was once seen as a doting mother.

Now, she is on trial for the murders of her two youngest children and the ex-wife of her new husband Chad Daybell in a chilling case with a doomsday cult at its core.

The 49-year-old mother-of-three is charged with the murders of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, who vanished without a trace in September 2019.

Almost one year later, their bodies were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybell’s property in Idaho.

She is also charged with the first-degree murder of Mr Daybell’s first wife Tammy Daybell who died suddenly one month after the children’s disappearance.

But who really is Lori Vallow and how did she end up here? Read more below:

Lori Vallow: Who is the ‘cult mom’ on trial for her children’s murders?

Who is Chad Daybell?

Monday 24 April 2023 11:00 , Rachel Sharp

Chad Daybell, 54, is a self-published author who wrote doomsday books loosely based on the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

He was also a professional cemetery sexton and ran a podcast based on his doomsday teachings.

He married his first wife Tammy in 1990 and they founded Spring Creek Book Company together in Utah – the company which published his doomsday books.

The couple had five children together and moved to Salem, Idaho, in 2015.

Among his teachings, he claimed he could teleport, could see into the future and see dead people, and that he and Lori Vallow were part of the chosen 144,000.

He is also charged over the triple murders and is due to stand trial separately at a later date. He has pleaded not guilty.

He has not been charged over Charles Vallow’s death – but prosecutors in Arizona said this was only because they didn’t think the charges would stick.

Napping in court, three words and typing too loudly: Bizarre moments from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

Monday 24 April 2023 10:30 , Rachel Sharp

New harrowing and bizarre details about the cult beliefs which allegedly drove – or excused – the 49-year-old to kill continue to come to light during her murder trial in Ada County Courthouse.

But, beyond the trial testimony, there’s also been some bizarre happenings taking place inside the courtroom.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp reports:

Bizarre moments from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

Timeline of the bizarre and tragic case surrounding Lori Vallow:

Monday 24 April 2023 10:00 , Rachel Sharp

More than three years after her children were last seen alive, “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow is finally on trial for their murders.

Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 8, vanished without a trace in September 2019, sparking a multi-state search while their mother appeared carefree – marrying her new husband Chad Daybell on a beach in Hawaii.

The children’s bodies were finally discovered nine months later buried in a pet cemetery on Mr Daybell’s property in Idaho.

Their disappearances and deaths mark only part of a dramatic case that spans a deeply disturbing pattern of murders, unexplained deaths and bizarre cult beliefs about killing zombies.

Now, Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell are charged in Idaho with JJ and Tylee’s murders, as well as the murder of Mr Daybell’s first wife Tammy Daybell.

Ms Vallow is also separately charged in Arizona with conspiring to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow, with the help of her now-deceased brother Alex Cox – who mysteriously also died three months after the children’s disappearance.

The doomsday couple – who are yet to turn on each other – were due to stand trial together in Idaho but the cases were severed at the 11th hour.

Now, Ms Vallow is on trial separately in Boise, Idaho.

Here’s a timeline of the tragic and bizarre case:

Timeline of the Lori Vallow Daybell case

What was the motive? ‘Money, sex, power'

Monday 24 April 2023 09:30 , Rachel Sharp

During opening statements, prosecutors said that Lori Vallow was driven by “money, power and sex” to murder her two children and her new husband’s then-wife.

“Money, power, and sex – that’s what this case is about,” said Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake.

“Tylee had money. Lori wanted it. Tylee’s gone. JJ took time and he also lost his father. When he lost his father, he became much more difficult to care for. He was entitled to social security benefits. The defendant didn’t want to have to take care of JJ anymore. He had money. JJ’s gone.”

Ms Blake told jurors that the saga first began back in October 2018 when Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell met in person for the first time at a religious conference.

Despite both being married, their romance grew with Ms Blake saying: “The defendant will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wants – and she wanted Chad Daybell.”

The doomsday couple allegedly used their cult beliefs to “justify” their actions, the prosecutor said in opening statements.

“She was here on a religious mission to gather the 144,000, so she needed to spend her time and energy there,” said Ms Blake. “What she did on earth no longer counted for her.”

As part of their cult beliefs, they believed in a “rating system of light and dark” for how they ranked the spirits of the people around them.

Over time, this evolved into the belief that some people – including the children – were “zombies” and the only way to get rid of the zombies was for the human body to be destroyed.

Lori Vallow trial: Who are the key players?

Monday 24 April 2023 09:00 , Rachel Sharp

In a courtroom in Idaho, “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow is now on trial for the murders of her two youngest children and her lover’s wife.

Prosecutors say that she conspired with lover Chad Daybell and brother Alex Cox to kill her children JJ and Tylee and Mr Daybell’s wife Tammy as part of their doomsday cult beliefs – but also so they could collect life insurance money and the kids’ social security and survivor benefits.

It’s a bizarre and tragic case that has shocked the nation over the last few years – and which is now playing out in court for the first time as Ms Vallow stands trial in Boise, Idaho.

Here are the key players in the sprawling case:

Who are the key players in Lori Vallow’s trial?

WATCH: Moment in early 2020 where Chad Daybell confronted by journalist over kids’ disappearance

Monday 24 April 2023 08:30 , Rachel Sharp

What we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell ‘doomsday cult’ murder trial

Monday 24 April 2023 07:30 , Rachel Sharp

It looked every inch the fairytale wedding.

Dressed in white with pink flower garlands around their necks, the bride and groom couldn’t have looked happier as they exchanged vows on a paradise beach in Hawaii.

Photos captured the apparently blissful day as they toasted their nuptials, embraced and she danced to him playing the guitar.

But, behind the photos, something much more disturbing was going on.

In the three years since the November 2019 wedding of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, a deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies has come to light.

Five people close to the couple have wound up dead.

And the couple are now charged with murder.

On 3 April 2023, Ms Vallow’s murder trial began in Idaho.

Here’s what we know so far about the case:

What we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell ‘doomsday cult’ murder trial

ICYMI: Tammy Daybell’s cause of death revealed

Monday 24 April 2023 06:30 , Rachel Sharp

The cause of death of Chad Daybell’s first wife Tammy has finally been revealed as “cult mom” Lori Vallow’s high-profile murder trial gets underway in Idaho.

In opening statements in Ada County Courthouse on Monday morning, Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors that Tammy, 49, died by asphyxiation – and not peacefully in her sleep as was originally claimed.

Tammy died “at the hands of another and died of asphyxiation,” she said, citing the Utah medical examiner.

Read the full story:

Lori Vallow trial hears how Chad Daybell’s first wife Tammy was killed

Last photo of Tylee Ryan

Monday 24 April 2023 05:30 , Rachel Sharp

Tylee Ryan, 16, was last seen alive on 8 September 2019.

That day, Lori Vallow, Alex Cox, JJ and Tylee visited Yellowstone National Park. Photos of the family members there mark the last signs of life for Tylee.

Her remains were found in June 2020 on Mr Daybell’s property. Her remains were so badly burned that an autopsy to determine her cause of death was impossible, jurors heard.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website