Lori Vallow trial – live: Court hears Colby Ryan confront ‘cult mom’ over sibling deaths in angry prison call

Oliver O'Connell and Rachel Sharp
·39 min read

The high-profile trial of “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow resumed in Boise, Idaho, on Tuesday following a one-day break on Monday.

Ms Vallow, 49, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, seven.

Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019. Their bodies were found buried on Ms Vallow’s new husband Chad Daybell’s property in June 2020.

Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybell’s first wife Tammy in October 2019.

She has pleaded not guilty in a dramatic case spanning multiple murders and unexplained deaths, in which jurors have heard testimony from Ms Vallow’s former friends concerning bizarre ritualist “castings” to rid people of dark spirits.

On Tuesday, Ms Vallow’s surviving son Colby Ryan told the court about text messages he received from his sister’s phone in the weeks after her murder that felt like he was speaking with someone else.

The jury then heard him angrily confront his mother about the deaths of his siblings in a phone call to her in prison.

“You ripped my heart out!” he told her.

Key points

Timeline of ‘doomsday cult mom’s’ mystery case

11:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Rachel Sharp has compiled a timeline of the tragic and bizarre case:

Timeline of the Lori Vallow Daybell case

Chad Daybell warned Lori Vallow of police search when arrested

08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A jailhouse phone call captured the moment Chad Daybell warned “cult mom” Lori Vallow that police were closing in on the day that her children’s remains were discovered buried on his property.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Lori Vallow trial hears jailhouse call with Chad Daybell on day bodies found

Lori Vallow trial hears horror of her children’s murders

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Graphic photos shown at “cult mom” Lori Vallow’s murder trial revealed how her slain son JJ was still wearing his red pyjamas and a nighttime diaper when his remains were found buried in a shallow grave on Chad Daybell’s property in Rexburg, Idaho.

His sister Tylee’s remains were found nearby.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Lori Vallow’s son JJ was found buried in red pyjamas and diaper

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

03:30 , 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

Vallow’s chilling response to question about missing daughter, 16, revealed

01:30 , 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.

Ms Vallow’s trial is in its second week at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, almost three years after she was charged with killing her son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, seven, and daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and conspiring to murder the first wife of her doomsday preacher husband Chad Daybell.

On Friday, Ms Vallow’s former friend and former fellow cult acolyte Zulema Pastenes told the court about the ritualistic “castings” that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell performed to drive out demons from “dark spirits.”

Andrea Blanco reports.

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

Vallow trial hears emotional prison call with surviving son

Tuesday 18 April 2023 23:30 , 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

Tuesday 18 April 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Court adjourns for the day

Tuesday 18 April 2023 22:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce adjourns court for the day.

The trial will continue at 8.30am MT tomorrow.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A further document put into evidence is the rental application for the town home in Rexburg. Lori put her income as $5,000 per month (the total of all the Social Security benefits) and said her reason for moving was so her daughter could attend BYU-Idaho.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 21:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Lori also shared a credit card with her brother Alex Cox.

In a March 2019 statement, there is an airfare for Tylee to go to Hawaii with a friend, and another for Chad Daybell to fly from Idaho Falls to Mesa.

Both Charles Vallow and Tammy Daybell were still alive at this point and married to Lori and Chad respectively.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 21:54 , Oliver O'Connell

The next exhibit is credit card statements for a joint account with Charles Vallow that Lori continued to use after his death.

Two major transactions are highlighted: a $3,000 payment to the local mortuary on 12 July and another on 20 July for an Allegiant Airlines flight from Provo to Arizona for Chad Daybell.

Mr Daybell was still married to Tammy at this point.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 21:43 , Oliver O'Connell

The next account shown to the court is a joint BBVA account for Tylee and Lori. There are statements from 19 August to 2019 through until January 2020.

After 1 September 2019, all transactions were conducted online with the exception of two purchases at Mexican restaurant Costa Vida in Rexburg on 17 September and another at the chain’s branch in Idaho Falls 7 October.

There are deposits from Lori’s account into this one which are then immediately Venmoed to Colby Ryan, her son. There are 29 such deposits of around $60. The Venmo transactions would occur on the same day as the deposit is made.

Prior to September 2019, almost all of Tylee’s purchases were in-person.

Court resumes after afternoon break

Tuesday 18 April 2023 21:33 , Oliver O'Connell

The jury is brought back in following the afternoon recess.

Det Kunsaitis is still on the stand for direct examination. As another account is brought up, the defence team asks for a sidebar with Judge Boyce.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 21:16 , Oliver O'Connell

The next account looked at is the BBVA Compass Bank account for Lori which was opened on 20 October 2018. All of the Social Security payments were redirected to it.

From August 2019 through January 2020 this is where payments to Tylee were deposited after her death.

From 18 September the payments for JJ began to be deposited in the same account. Det Kunsaitis says: “Based on our investigation, JJ was killed five days later.”

After a summary document is submitted as evidence court goes on its afternoon break.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The focus of the evidence presented to the jury is Tylee’s bank statements from January 2019 to October 2019. It is a heavily used account and each month she received her $1,859 from Social Security and made payments on her Jeep Wrangler.

In addition, much of her spending is at shopping malls, fast food restaurants, and convenience stores. Her final in-person purchase was on 1 September at a McDonald’s in St George, Utah.

Her Social Security deposits ceased in July as they had been diverted to a different account.

The final transaction was on 20 September. She had $10.04 in the account and it was transferred to Lori, who had access to the account. Profile numbers assigned to account users show that it was Lori who made this transfer.

Last proof of life for Tylee was 8/9 September 2019.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 20:22 , Oliver O'Connell

A large number of exhibits are entered into evidence ahead of Det Kunsaitis’s testimony he is asked to only refer to them if referenced during questioning.

Det Kunsaitis has worked as a police officer in Rexburg for 23 years. He has been a detective since 2011.

On 27 November 2019, he was aware Det Hermosillo was issuing search warrants for three different townhomes in Rexburg to locate JJ Vallow. He arrived in the afternoon to help with the warrants.

At Lori’s home, he found an invoice for Self Storage Plus sitting on a printer and so a further warrant was issued for the unit.

In addition, a PO Box belonging to Lori was located in Sugar City, Idaho. Inside was approximately 100 pieces of mail addressed to Lori, Chad, Alex, and the children, including letters from the Social Security Administration.

The manager of the apartment complex also said he had mail for them.

Much of it was bills and financial documents, so a list of financial institutions was drawn up associated with the family.

New witness: Det Chuck Kunsaitis, Rexburg PD

Tuesday 18 April 2023 20:01 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is Detective Chuck Kunsaitis of Rexburg Police Department.

Before he is brought in there is a brief sidebar after which a large folder of documents is placed on the witness stand by the prosecution.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 19:51 , Oliver O'Connell

In addition to the payments to the children, Lori also received “Mother, child and care benefits”.

Lori was eligible because she and Charles were married for 10 years.

She was paid $1,951 per month. These payments were also stopped in January 2020. Social security recipients have a duty to report any change in circumstances such as a child no longer being in their care or that the child has died.

Lori never reported the deaths of her children, her new marriage, or her change of address.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 19:48 , Oliver O'Connell

JJ also got benefits following the death of Charles Vallow, his adopted father.

He was paid $1,951 per month beginning on 18 September 2019 (Charles died on 11 July 2019).

These payments were also suspended in January 2020.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 19:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Tylee was receiving $1859.00 a month in 2019 into a JP Morgan account. That was then switched to a BBVA account on 20 August 2019.

Any change would have been flagged to Lori as her mother in an automated notice.

It reads: “As you requested on August 20, 2019, we changed Tylee's direct deposit. We will send her payment to the new account you selected.”

Social security payments for Tylee were suspended on 3 January 2020 due to the children’s whereabouts being unknown.

New witness: Mark Saari

Tuesday 18 April 2023 19:44 , Oliver O'Connell

The next new witness is Mark Saari, a special agent with the Social Security Administration who investigates fraud.

He became involved in the case in January 2020 when his office was contacted by the FBI in Arizona as part of the search for Tylee and JJ.

Mr Saari was asked to investigate whether the children’s benefits were being misused by Lori.

Court back in session

Tuesday 18 April 2023 19:42 , Oliver O'Connell

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

Lori has been chatting with her attorneys though at times has looked a little more stoic than earlier having listened to the call before lunch.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:36 , Oliver O'Connell

Colby’s testimony concludes and he is released from his subpoena.

He looks over at Lori for two seconds on his way out of the courtroom.

Judge Boyce calls lunch.

The trial will resume at 12.30pm MT with a new witness.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:34 , Oliver O'Connell

The highly emotional call ends abruptly: “I pray every day no matter how mad I am at you, no matter how bad I want to hit your husband in the face with a shovel, I pray for you, I pray for him. You ripped my heart out, you ripped everyone’s heart out. I want to be in Idaho this week. You need to look me in my eye, Mom. Look me in my eye.”

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Colby tells his mother that Jesus will judge her for what she has done and she laughs.

She says that no one understands what happened but Tylee and JJ do.

“They love me and they are fine and they know the truth and we are the only people that do.”

Colby yells at his mother for saying that Jesus told her to do these things.

“The kids are found buried in your new husband’s backyard?”

He confronts her about running away to Hawaii after the murders.

“They were murdered and you walked away,” Colby says.

Lori replies: “That is not what happened.”

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:26 , Oliver O'Connell

The call is playing again.

Colby: “I have prayed for you in my worst moments, I have prayed for my siblings who you swore to me were ok. I thought I could trust you. I thought that you were a completely different person.”

Lori: “You’ve known me your whole life.”

Colby: “I don’t know a murderous mother.”

Later Colby confronts Lori about the text messages from Tylee’s phone:

“You lied to me more times than I can count about this. To know they're gone and you knew and my phone being texted by my little sister who wasn't even alive. My brother was the sweetest kid and you say this is God's will for my whole family including my stepfather to be dead after everything that you’d tried to tell me you can tell me right now that Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World is on your side? You tell me that with all the conviction of your heart that Jesus Christ is on your side right now. Please.”

Lori: “I can tell you that.”

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Colby is brought back into the courtroom because Judge Boyce wants him on the stand while the call is played to the jury.

Judge Boyce says that on hearing the beginning of the call he wants Colby on the witness stand.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:19 , Oliver O'Connell

For context, the call was made after the bodies of Tylee and JJ had been found on Chad Daybell’s property.

Before Judge Boyce called a sidebar, Colby said he had prayed for Lori and she said she didn’t do anything.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:17 , Oliver O'Connell

The call is played but interrupted when Judge Boyce calls for a sidebar with attorneys.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Wood now asks to admit and play a jailhouse phonecall between Colby and Lori.

Colby has left the room but he remains under subpoena so could be called back in if the defence has questions.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Colby only found out Lori was in Rexburg on 19 December 2019 when it was one the news.

He only found out his sister and brother were missing when the Gilbert PD showed up to talk to him.

When he was a teenager, he and Lori had a conversation about her life insurance and he was the only beneficiary, not Tylee or JJ.

Lori never asked him for money. but did ask Tylee.

There are no further questions and Colby is released from the stand but not from his subpoena meaning he might be called back.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Redirect from prosecutor Rob Wood begins.

Colby says his mother never asked him for money, just to help them move, and she has no control over his bank account.

She once gave him Tylee’s debit card to buy himself a birthday gift.

He was never invited to join any of her special church meetings or castings.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:03 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks Colby if he loved his mother. He says yes. Archibald asks if his mom loved him. Colby responds: “I think so.”

He reads quotes from Colby’s book back to him.

“Who taught you God is good?” asks Archibald.

“Church and my mom,” he said.

No further questions from the defence team.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 18:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Colby was not at home when Charles filed for divorce from Lori nor when they reconciled.

He says his relationship with Alex Cox was “minimal”.

“He was crude and kind of funny and odd.”

Colby saw Alex more after he got married and moved out of his mother’s house in 2018.

Archibald asks Colby about the book he wrote: God Over Odds — and about how God got him through his life.

He is also asked about his appearance in the Netflix docuseries Sins Of Our Mother. Colby says he was not paid for that. In the show Colby says his mother changed after she met Chad Daybell and that prior to that she had spent her whole life protecting her kids.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 17:56 , Oliver O'Connell

At 17 Colby went to live with his uncle Uncle Adam in Kansas. He then moved back in with Lori and Charles and got his GED and went to a community college.

At 18 he went on an LDS mission for six weeks to Nampa, Idaho, and Lori was supportive.

He is asked if his mother taught him about Jesus and he says yes and confirms they would attend church.

Lori never taught him about multiple lives or creations, nor anything about him being anyone else in another life, castings, or zombies.

Colby says she did talk about vibrations and that they had the same vibration.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 17:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Colby describes his relationship with Charles as good and that he also had a good relationship with Tylee and JJ.

He tells the court that Tylee had pancreatitis and frequently needed hospital treatment.

JJ was diagnosed with autism and Colby says Lori cared for all of their needs growing up.

Colby says both he and Tylee struggled with a lack of self-worth and Lori encouraged him to do good things with his life.

Court resumes after morning break

Tuesday 18 April 2023 17:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Defence attorney Jim Archibald begins the cross-examination of Colby Ryan.

Questioning begins by establishing some biographical details — Colby is 27, has no relationship with his biological father, was raised by Lori and first stepfather Joe Ryan and second stepfather Charles Vallow — and then his relationship with his mother. We learn that she has only met one of Colby’s children.

Colby is asked about his relationship with his first stepfather Joe and whether his childhood at that point was good or bad. He replies that it was bad.

He is asked if he was abused by his stepfather immediately sparking an objection from prosecutors.

The objection is sustained.

Colby is asked if Lori protected him and Tylee from Joe. He says yes, she moved them away.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 17:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Colby is reportedly refusing to look at his mother as he sits in the witness box and awaits cross-examination by her defence team.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 17:11 , Oliver O'Connell

On 27 November, Gilbert Police Department contacted Colby looking for Tylee and JJ.

He told them he too was concerned as texts between him and his sister had changed. Different language was being used and it didn’t sound like how she would type — he felt he wasn’t speaking with Tylee.

Colby says he had received money after September 2019 from two different accounts registered to his mother.

He was not aware of her location but knew she had moved from the Phoenix area. She had also told him that she was getting married again.

“She just told me she was moving somewhere cold and it was dangerous for her to tell anybody where she had gone.”

When he called at Thanksgiving the phone had been disconnected.

No further questions from the prosecution.

Judge Boyce calls the morning break.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 17:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Colby spoke to Lori that day, which was also the last day that Tylee was seen. They were in the Yellowstone National Park gift store and he could hear her over the phone in the background.

After Charles’s death, Lori had said she was taking control of Tylee’s money to cover bills while she looked for a new job.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 17:04 , Oliver O'Connell

A few weeks after Charles’s death, Lori told Colby she was not going to receive any money from his life insurance. They would speak about once a month about her finances and she said often told him that they were out of money.

Tylee got social security benefits from her deceased father, Joe Ryan. Occasionally, she would send him money by Venmo. He says Lori would send money to Tylee who would then send some on to Colby.

This changed on 8 September 2019 when he asked Tylee for money and she told him that she wasn’t in control of her money and that Lori now was.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Shown photos of Tylee and JJ, he identifies them as his sister and little brother and appears emotional.

Asked who Charles Vallow was, he says that he was his stepfather for 13 years.

On the day Charles died, he tells the court that Lori called him at work in the afternoon and said he had had a heart attack and said nothing about him being shot.

He went to the house and was greeted at the door by Tylee. Alex was inside watching TV and had a bandage on from where he said Charles had hit him with the bat and that he had then shot Charles.

Lori’s demeanour that night was calm.

New witness: Colby Ryan

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:54 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is Colby Ryan, Lori Vallow’s son from a previous marriage.

He is being questioned by prosecution attorney Rob Wood who asks how he knows the defendant.

Colby responds that she is his mother and does not look at her.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:52 , Oliver O'Connell

After some further questions about the castings, redirect concludes and Zulema is released from her subpoena and steps down from the witness stand.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Their influence over Alex was strong.

Zulema says: “They told Alex he was the angel who had come to Saul before he became Paul and he was the one who spoke to him and made him blind so he would mend his ways and become a follower of Jesus Christ. They also told him he had been an angel before and he was an angel that had appeared to Joseph Smith. They told him he had been exalted in other creations with his wife Holly and he had been a very powerful warrior. He had unmasked Satan in another creation and that is the reason why Satan had so much animosity toward him.”

Zulema says Alex quit his job and moved to Rexburg after Chad and Lori told him to do so. He left behind his belongings in Arizona.

“Chad and Lori told him the only reason he came to earth at this time — his sole purpose was to protect Lori.”

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Prosecution attorney Rachel Smith begins redirect examination of Zulema after asking if she needs a minute.

Zulema says she is OK to proceed and is asked whether she tries to look for the good in people and to clarify some of the text conversations she had with Lori.

Lori often called Zulema a goddess and praised her ability to influence the elements.

“She said that I was very special and my mission was the most important one. They were always looking out for me because my mission was the most important one.”

Chad also told her and said she was a goddess of the earth with a special mission. Zulema says that repeatedly being told how special she was made her feel good and she really started to believe it.

She saw them do the same to Alex.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:40 , Oliver O'Connell

On the day Charles was murdered by Alex Cox — 11 July 2019 — Zulema says she was at the temple.

In a text from the day she says she was working on Hiplos, the evil demon inside of Charles.

While there she texted Lori saying she was told he will be taken as he is and that she does not know what that means, adding that she hopes this will end.

Lori was supposed to be with her but did not come.

Thomas asks about a spiritual experience she had in the temple at which she saw Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, Jesus, and her eternal husband.

Zulema says she doesn’t recall that day.

Thomas says: “You saw Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, and Jesus and you don’t remember what happened?”

After she thinks for a while, Thomas withdraws the question and concludes his cross-examination.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Thomas asks about the castings, specifically the one in which they were trying to get the demon Garrett out of Charles Vallow.

She explains she is unsure if the demon ever left Charles as Lori always had to ask Chad for confirmation of whether the demon was gone or not.

Zulema says she had faith that they were telling her the truth.

“I personally did not have confirmation whether those evil spirits or demons were cast out. I trusted and believed what Lori and Chad were saying.”

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:29 , Oliver O'Connell

Zulema is asked about her “weapon” of “light fire” which she says she used to help heal others in castings.

She is then asked whether she had a “portal” in her home. She says she did not and never has. In a text message to Chad she asked him to help her make one so she can get answers.

Zulema does not recall this conversation.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Zulema tells the court that she was never asked to hurt anyone or do anything evil and thought that she was helping Chad and Lori to work toward something good to help get darkness out of the world and get rid of evil spirits.

She says she now realises that Chad and Lori were “manipulative” and “evil”, and their intentions were “very evil”.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:22 , Oliver O'Connell

In another text with Chad, she says she is feeling better about things. She asks him whether she has a calling and how she will know when to go to the temple when the callout happens.

A different text has Zulema saying that she has a yearning to go to the temple and leave the world behind and that God is telling her there is no time for anything else.

Chad says he knows she has a close relationship with the Saviour and that she will know when to gather and will be one of the first. Zulema says she got chills all over her body.

In reference to another text from December 2018, Zulema says Lori and Chad taught that when you have any kind of physical pain or any emotional suffering, it was an attack from the dark side and evil spirits.

She told Chad she was being attacked and he responded: “Hi Zulema. I have captured and removed the evil spirits that were attacking you. I have removed the weapons and am healing the damage.”

Thomas asks her if she thought this actually worked and she says that often she actually felt better afterward. In a subsequent text she reads out she tells Chad her shoulder is better.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Text messages between Zulema and Chad and Lori are entered as evidence.

In one she explains that her daughter is in Arizona and feels she is being abandoned if Zulema leaves. She asks Chad to look at who the daughter was in a past life and says that he understands the difficulty of the decision about moving to Rexburg.

Nevertheless, both Chad and Lori pushed her to move and Chad gives her a blessing telling her to do so.

She prayed and was told by the Lord that she would move there but not yet.

The couple continued to pressure her to move and it came up in every blessing they gave her.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Zulema is asked about a statement she made that Alex would do anything for Lori. Thomas suggests that maybe that wasn’t true and she didn’t know him that well during their four-month relationship.

Zulema disagrees and tells the court that Alex would make decisions but still feel the need to ask Chad and Lori’s permission. She recalls her earlier testimony that Chad had given Alex a blessing telling him to move to Rexburg and that he would be a warrior. The next day Alex and Chad flew up there to check it out.

After they got married, Zulema told Alex she wouldn’t live in Rexburg as her family and worker were in Arizona. As they discussed what to do, he said: “Well, before I make any decisions I need to ask Chad and Lori what I should do.”

She says he was looking for direction.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 16:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Asked about what trauma she has from that time, Zulema says that on 12 December she went to work and Alex was fine. When she came home he was on the bathroom floor and was rushed to the Emergency Room by paramedics, where he died.

Zulema is on the verge of tears as she recalls being asked permission to switch off the machines keeping Alex alive at the hospital.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 15:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Defence attorney John Thomas resumes cross-examination by asking Zulema about her relationship with Alex Cox, Lori Vallow’s brother.

She says they went on a few dates between August and Halloween 2019 when they had their first kiss. They would often speak on the phone about family, the scriptures, and other things as they got to know each other.

Just seven days after Halloween, on 7 November, Alex proposed to her when she came to Rexburg, Idaho, to visit him.

“Alex was very clear that he was looking for a relationship and he wanted to get married.”

He had told her as much during their first dinner and she was not surprised by the proposal.

“He had told me he was looking for a ring and asked for my ring size. I was not completely surprised that it happened on that day.”

A few weeks later at Thanksgiving, he drove down to Arizona with Melani (Lori’s niece) and stayed with Zulema through the weekend, and on 1 December they went to Las Vegas to get married.

Zulema says she can’t remember the specific date on which they got married as there is so much trauma around that time that she would prefer to forget.

Court resumes

Tuesday 18 April 2023 15:44 , Oliver O'Connell

After a brief out-of-court meeting with both the defence and prosecution teams, Judge Steven Boyce is back on the bench.

Lori Vallow is shackled to the floor at the defence table.

Chad Daybell’s lawyer, John Prior, is present in court, as are family members of Charles Vallow and JJ’s biological grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock.

Someone is removed from the courtroom for disrupting proceedings.

The jury is brought in.

Day 6 of testimony to resume shortly

Tuesday 18 April 2023 15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Day six of testimony in the trial of Lori Vallow will resume shortly at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.

Zulema Pastenes, a former cult acolyte and former friend of Vallow’s, is back on the stand as cross-examination of her by defence attorney John Thomas continues.

Here’s a recap of what Zulema told the court on Friday.

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

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

Tuesday 18 April 2023 14:48 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Her two children had not been seen alive in two months.

His wife of three decades – the mother of his five children – had died suddenly just two weeks earlier.

And her husband had been shot dead by her brother (who would also soon be dead) not long before.

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 on trial for murder.

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

The doomsday cult explained:

Tuesday 18 April 2023 13:38 , Rachel Sharp

At the centre of the string of alleged murders and mystery deaths stands the couple’s bizarre doomsday cult.

Chad Daybell ran a publishing company that put out books about apocalyptic scenarios loosely based on the theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

LorisVallow followed his books for some time, before the pair finally met in person at a religious conference in Utah in October 2018.

At this point, investigators say their relationship became romantic.

And as their relationship grew more intense, so too did their apocalyptic beliefs.

Vallow claimed in divorce documents that Ms Vallow believed she was a god-like figure chosen to carry out the work of 144,000 believers.

Multiple friends cited in police reports say that the couple believed they could drive out evil spirits and seek revelations from “beyond the spiritual veil”.

Ms Vallow even believed she could teleport between Arizona and Hawaii, according to documents.

But – most chillingly – the couple allegedly believed that people, including JJ and Tylee, had become “zombies”.

They allegedly had a scoring system for ranking how far people’s souls had gone from good to evil.

The only way to then rid an individual of the zombies would be for them to die, according to documents.

Prosecutors believe that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell used these beliefs to further their plots to kill JJ, Tylee and Tammy.

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

Tuesday 18 April 2023 12:53 , Rachel Sharp

As “cult mom” Lori Vallow is finally on trial for the murders of her children JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, Rachel Sharpdelves into the deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies which surrounds her and her doomsday author husband Chad Daybell:

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

Lori Vallow trial to resume today

Tuesday 18 April 2023 12:24 , Rachel Sharp

The high-profile trial of cult momn Lori Vallow is set to resume in Boise, Idaho, today.

The court took a scheduled day off on Monday for an administrative day at Ada County Courthouse.

Testimony is now expected to resume at 8.30am local time.

Why are Vallow and Daybell being tried separately?

Tuesday 18 April 2023 11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The decision to separate the cases comes on the heels of new DNA testing, which included all parties allegedly involved with the crime. The test results were returned too close to the 3 April trial date for both the defence attorneys to adequately review. The proximity of the results to the trial date, along with Ms Vallow’s refusal to waive her right to a speedy trial, forced Mr Boyce to separate the cases.

Mr Daybell’s case will be rescheduled, but Ms Vallow’s will continue as planned.

Lori Vallow to be tried separately from husband Chad Daybell over children’s murders

Lori Vallow’s chilling response to question about missing daughter

Tuesday 18 April 2023 08:45 , 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.

Ms Vallow’s trial is in its second week at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, almost three years after she was charged with killing her son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, seven, and daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and conspiring to murder the first wife of her doomsday preacher husband Chad Daybell.

On Friday, Ms Vallow’s former friend and former fellow cult acolyte Zulema Pastenes told the court about the ritualistic “castings” that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell performed to drive out demons from “dark spirits.”

Testifying under oath for the prosecution, Ms Pastenes opened up about Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell’s cult beliefs and their “rating system of light and dark” for how they ranked the spirits of the people around them.

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

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

Tuesday 18 April 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Her two children had not been seen alive in two months.

His wife of three decades – the mother of his five children – had died suddenly just two weeks earlier.

And her husband had been shot dead by her brother (who would also soon be dead) not long before.

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.

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

Vallow confronted by best friend about JJ lies and relationship with Chad Daybell

Tuesday 18 April 2023 02:45 , 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.

On Thursday, prosecutors played a phone conversation between Mr Daybell, Ms Vallow and her then-best friend Melanie Gibb, who was on the stand testifying for the state. In the early December 2019 call, which she recorded secretly, Ms Gibb delved into the couple’s bizarre cult beliefs and later confronted them for asking her to lie to the police about JJ’s whereabouts.

Andrea Blanco has the story.

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

Timeline of ‘doomsday cult mom’s’ case

Tuesday 18 April 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Timeline of the Lori Vallow Daybell case

Chad Daybell warned Lori Vallow of police searching his property in jailhouse phone call

Monday 17 April 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A jailhouse phone call captured the moment Chad Daybell warned “cult mom” Lori Vallow that police were closing in on the day that her children’s remains were discovered buried on his property.

In the call, made on 9 June 2020 and played in court during Ms Vallow’s high-profile double murder trial on Wednesday, Mr Daybell is heard telling his new wife that law enforcement were on the scene searching his property in Rexburg, Idaho.

Rachel Sharp has the details.

Lori Vallow trial hears jailhouse call with Chad Daybell on day bodies found

Brandon Boudreaux breaks down speaking about children’s remains

Monday 17 April 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

“Cult mom” Lori Vallow’s former nephew-in-law broke down in tears on the witness stand as he testified about the moment he had to identify the remains of her murdered seven-year-old son.

During an emotional first day of testimony in Ms Vallow’s murder trial on Monday, Brandon Boudreaux told jurors about the moment that he learned Joshua “JJ” Vallow, seven, and Tylee Ryan’s remains had been found buried on Chad Daybell’s property.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Lori Vallow’s nephew-in-law Brandon Boudreaux breaks down at murder trial

Lori Vallow trial hears horrifying details of her children’s murders

Monday 17 April 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Graphic photos shown at “cult mom” Lori Vallow’s murder trial revealed how her slain son JJ was still wearing his red pyjamas and a nighttime diaper when his remains were found buried in a shallow grave on Chad Daybell’s property in Rexburg, Idaho.

Joshua “JJ” Vallow was last seen alive on 22 September 2019.

Lori Vallow’s son JJ was found buried in red pyjamas and diaper

Detective reveals alarming items found in Lori Vallow’s home

Monday 17 April 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell

One of the first detectives investigating the disappearance of “cult mom” Lori Vallow’s son and daughter has revealed the alarming items discovered in her home months before the children were found murdered.

Andrea Blanco reports.

Detective reveals alarming items found in Lori Vallow’s home weeks after murders

Last week: Vallow abruptly leaves court after trial hears of discovery of children’s bodies

Monday 17 April 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

“Cult mom” Lori Vallow suddenly left the room where she is standing trial for the murders of her daughter and son after the court heard graphic details on how the children’s remains were recovered in a pet cemetery.

Andrea Blanco has the story.

Lori Vallow abruptly leaves court after trial hears grisly details about crime scene

Tammy Daybell murder revealed as asphyxiation

Monday 17 April 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Rachel Sharp has the details.

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

Listen: Full audio of Friday’s testimony

Monday 17 April 2023 17:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Listen to a full audio recording of Friday’s testimony courtesy of Law & Crime:

Vallow was driven by ‘money, power and sex’ to murder her children, prosecutor says

Monday 17 April 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

“Cult mom” Lori Vallow was driven by “money, power and sex” to murder her two children and her new husband’s then-wife, prosecutors told her murder trial.

Rachel Sharp has the story.

Lori Vallow was driven by ‘money, power and sex’ to murder kids, prosecutor says

Former friend says ‘doomsday cult mom’ saw her children’s murders as ‘mercy'

Monday 17 April 2023 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell

“Cult mom” Lori Vallow allegedly killed her two children in what she believed was an act of “mercy,” her former friend has said.

Ms Vallow and her doomsday preacher husband Chad Daybell are accused of killing her two youngest children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow. Ms Vallow is currently facing trial in Boise, Idaho, while Mr Daybell’s proceedings are scheduled for later this year.

Andrea Blanco reports.

Lori Vallow saw her children’s murders as ‘mercy’, former friend says

Guns, knives and doomsday kits found at Vallow home

Monday 17 April 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

One of the first detectives investigating the disappearance of “cult mom” Lori Vallow’s son and daughter has revealed the alarming items discovered in her home months before the children were found murdered.

Andrea Blanco reports.

Detective reveals alarming items found in Lori Vallow’s home weeks after murders