Lori Vallow Daybell (Doomsday Mom)

Lori Norene Vallow was born on June 26, 1973, in San Bernardino, California, and later lived in Arizona. She was raised in a large family and developed an interest in beauty pageants, eventually competing in pageants as a young woman. She attended high school in California before moving to Arizona as an adult.

Vallow married multiple times and had children during her earlier relationships. She became particularly focused on religion and apocalyptic ideas during the later years of her life, eventually becoming involved with Chad Daybell, a self-published author whose writings incorporated beliefs about the end times, spirits and multiple levels of spiritual existence.

The events that ultimately led to Vallow Daybell's convictions began in 2019. Her seven-year-old son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, and 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan, were last seen alive in September 2019. Vallow Daybell subsequently gave conflicting explanations about their whereabouts while continuing her relationship with Chad Daybell.

Tylee and JJ were eventually found buried on Chad Daybell's property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020. Investigators determined that both children had been killed before their remains were concealed. Prosecutors argued that Vallow Daybell and Daybell had used their religious beliefs about "dark" spirits and people being transformed into "zombies" to justify eliminating people they considered obstacles.

The case also involved the October 2019 death of Tammy Daybell, Chad's first wife. Tammy had initially been believed to have died from natural causes, but her death was later determined to have been a homicide. Vallow Daybell was convicted of conspiring to murder Tammy, although Chad Daybell was prosecuted separately and convicted of her murder.

In Arizona, Vallow Daybell was later prosecuted for conspiring with her brother, Alex Cox, to murder her estranged fourth husband, Charles Vallow. Charles was shot and killed by Cox in Chandler, Arizona, in July 2019. Vallow Daybell was also prosecuted for conspiring to kill her niece's former husband, Brandon Boudreaux, who survived a shooting in October 2019.

Vallow Daybell's convictions established her involvement in multiple murder conspiracies rather than showing that she personally carried out each killing. Prosecutors portrayed her as a central participant who used relationships, religious beliefs and other people to accomplish the removal of people she regarded as obstacles.

In Idaho, prosecutors argued that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell developed a belief system in which people could become possessed by evil spirits and be classified as "zombies." The prosecution maintained that these beliefs were used to rationalize the deaths of JJ, Tylee and Tammy while Vallow Daybell pursued a new life with Chad.

The Arizona prosecutions established a separate pattern involving conspiracies with her brother, Alex Cox. Charles Vallow was killed by Cox, while Boudreaux survived the attempted shooting. Vallow Daybell was convicted of conspiracy rather than being the person who physically shot either man.

Vallow Daybell's children were reported missing in late 2019 after relatives became increasingly concerned that neither JJ nor Tylee could be located. Investigators questioned Vallow Daybell about the children's whereabouts, but she eventually left Idaho with Chad Daybell and travelled to Hawaii.

In February 2020, Vallow Daybell was arrested in Hawaii after Idaho authorities obtained a warrant charging her with child desertion and related offences. She was returned to Idaho, where the investigation continued while authorities searched for the missing children.

On June 9, 2020, investigators searching Chad Daybell's property discovered human remains. The remains were subsequently identified as those of JJ and Tylee. Chad Daybell was arrested and the investigation expanded into the deaths of the children and Tammy Daybell.

Vallow Daybell was eventually charged with the murders and conspiracies in Idaho. She was later extradited to Arizona to face the separate cases involving Charles Vallow and Brandon Boudreaux.

Vallow Daybell's Idaho trial began in April 2023. Prosecutors presented evidence concerning the children's disappearance, the discovery of their remains and Vallow Daybell's relationship with Chad Daybell. The prosecution argued that the killings were motivated by a combination of religious beliefs, financial interests and the couple's desire to build a new life together.

On May 12, 2023, an Idaho jury convicted Vallow Daybell of first-degree murder in the deaths of JJ and Tylee, conspiracy to commit murder involving both children and conspiracy to commit murder involving Tammy Daybell. She was also convicted of grand theft related to benefits received on behalf of her children.

On July 31, 2023, she was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, together with an additional sentence for grand theft. She was subsequently transferred to Arizona to face the outstanding murder-conspiracy charges there.

In April 2025, an Arizona jury convicted Vallow Daybell of conspiring to murder Charles Vallow. In June 2025, a second Arizona jury convicted her of conspiring to murder Brandon Boudreaux. On July 25, 2025, she received two consecutive life sentences, each carrying the possibility of parole after 25 years. Her Arizona convictions and sentences remain subject to appellate proceedings.

The case attracted international attention because of the combination of missing children, multiple suspicious deaths, relationships between the defendants and unusual religious beliefs. Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell had begun their relationship while both were married to other people, and they married in Hawaii approximately two weeks after Tammy Daybell's death.

Vallow Daybell maintained her innocence during the Idaho proceedings and continued to reject the prosecution's characterization of the deaths. At her 2023 sentencing, she made statements suggesting that she believed JJ, Tylee and Tammy were in a different spiritual state rather than acknowledging that they had been murdered. Her refusal to accept responsibility was noted by the sentencing judge.

The Arizona cases expanded Vallow Daybell's established criminal history beyond the Idaho murders. Although Alex Cox physically shot Charles Vallow and attempted to shoot Brandon Boudreaux, prosecutors successfully established that Vallow Daybell participated in conspiracies concerning both attacks. Cox died in December 2019 before he could be prosecuted.

As of 2026, Vallow Daybell remains incarcerated under her Idaho life-without-parole sentences and the additional Arizona life sentences. Her Arizona convictions are currently being appealed.

Sources:

• Idaho Attorney General's Office
• Fremont County Prosecutor's Office
• Maricopa County Attorney's Office
• Rexburg Police Department
• Chandler Police Department
• Arizona Court of Appeals
• Idaho Supreme Court
• Idaho Department of Correction
• Arizona Department of Corrections
• Associated Press
• CBS News
• ABC News
• NBC News
• The Washington Post
• Los Angeles Times
• Court TV
• Netflix