The Lori Vallow Daybell trial has concluded, leaving a chilling reminder of the dark side of human nature. Vallow Daybell, the Idaho mother accused of murdering her two young children, 7-year-old J.J. Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, as well as conspiring to kill her husband’s former wife, 49-year-old Tammy Daybell, was found guilty on all counts.
This wasn’t just another murder trial; it was a deep dive into the psyche of a woman who seemingly embraced a dangerous ideology, ultimately leading to unimaginable tragedy. As we await her sentencing, which carries a mandatory life sentence without parole, it’s crucial to examine the key pieces of evidence that led the jury to their verdict.
Chilling Phone Calls: Lori Vallow Daybell’s Own Words Paint a Damning Picture
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence came directly from Vallow Daybell’s own mouth – recorded phone calls. While seemingly mundane, these calls provided a glimpse into her thoughts and reactions during the investigation.
The first set of calls occurred while Vallow Daybell was jailed for failing to produce her children. In conversations with her husband, Chad Daybell, as police searched his property (where the children’s bodies were later found), she showed a chilling lack of concern.
“They’re up on the property,” Chad Daybell said, referring to the police.
“You’re searching for you?” Vallow Daybell responded.
“Yeah,” he confirmed.
“No surprise as to what’s happening. No shock. No ‘why on Earth are they searching your property?'”
The calls to her son, Colby Ryan, and sister, Summer Shiftlet, after the children’s bodies were discovered were even more disturbing. They pleaded for answers, but Vallow Daybell remained evasive, offering justifications rooted in her religious beliefs, further fueling suspicions.
“You don’t know what I’ve been through,” she told her son, her voice cold. “And you don’t even give a crap what they’ve been through. Nobody does except for me.”
These calls, particularly those with her family, painted a picture of a woman seemingly devoid of remorse.
A Web of Lies: Deceit and Manipulation at the Heart of the Case
Adding to the growing mountain of evidence was Vallow Daybell’s consistent dishonesty. Not only did she lie to her family, friends, and police about the children’s whereabouts, but she also enlisted her friend, Melanie Gibb, in her fabrications.
Gibb testified that Vallow Daybell asked her to lie about J.J.’s whereabouts, claiming she had taken him to see the movie “Frozen.” This desperate attempt to create a false alibi for J.J. clearly backfired, further incriminating Vallow Daybell.
“She told me to…take random pictures of kids running around at the movie theater,” Gibb testified.
This pattern of deceit and manipulation was a recurring theme throughout the trial, raising red flags for the jury.
A Gruesome Discovery: Forensic Evidence Links Vallow Daybell to the Crime Scene
In a case largely devoid of direct forensic evidence linking Vallow Daybell to her children’s murders, one chilling discovery proved pivotal – a strand of her hair found on the duct tape used to wrap J.J.’s body.
DNA analyst Keeley Coleman testified that the hair sample matched Vallow Daybell’s DNA.
“The probability of randomly selecting an unrelated individual with that partial DNA profile is one in 71 billion,” Coleman stated, emphasizing the significance of the finding.
While some argue that finding her hair on her son’s body isn’t conclusive proof of murder, it undeniably placed her at the scene and further solidified her involvement in the concealment of his death.
A Conspiracy Unravelled: The Murder of Tammy Daybell
While the deaths of Vallow Daybell’s children were undeniably horrific, the prosecution also presented a compelling case for her involvement in the death of Tammy Daybell. They argued that Vallow Daybell conspired to kill Tammy so she could be with Chad, with whom she was having an affair.
One of the most chilling pieces of evidence was a conversation between Vallow Daybell and Zulema Pastenes, the widow of Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, on the very night someone attempted to shoot Tammy (an act believed to have been carried out by Cox).
Pastenes testified that Vallow Daybell claimed Tammy “had been possessed by a demon” and needed an exorcism. This echoed Vallow Daybell’s claims about others who stood in her way, including her own children.
Further solidifying their case, the prosecution presented evidence that Vallow Daybell had been researching and purchasing malachite wedding rings online in the weeks leading up to Tammy’s death. She ultimately purchased a ring just 17 days before Tammy died, highlighting her eagerness to move forward with Chad.
A Shocking Motive: The Pursuit of Money and a Distorted Ideology
As the trial unfolded, the prosecution presented a possible motive for the murders – money. After the deaths of their respective fathers, both Tylee and J.J. were entitled to Social Security benefits.
Forensic accountant Michael Douglas testified that Vallow Daybell collected approximately $22,545 in Social Security payments intended for her children after their deaths. This cold, calculated pursuit of financial gain, coupled with her radical beliefs, painted a damning picture for the jury.
Disturbing Text Messages: A Window into a Disturbed Mind
Text messages, much like phone calls, offer a raw, unfiltered glimpse into a person’s thoughts. And in Vallow Daybell’s case, those texts were deeply troubling.
Former special agent Douglas Hart read aloud numerous text message exchanges between Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell, revealing a shared belief system that classified her children as “possessed” and “demons.”
“She put a bunch of holes in the walls and doors,” Vallow Daybell texted Chad Daybell about her daughter Tylee. “Definitely had demons helping her. Probably a thousand. We are both so tired of taking care of demons. We are weary. Please ask the Lord to take them.”
These messages, along with others referencing the “death percentages” of her children, provided chilling evidence of their shared desire to be rid of the children.
Perhaps most damning was a text exchange between Vallow Daybell and Cox. After Cox changed the Wi-Fi password to “too many kids,” Vallow Daybell simply replied, “Funny.” This chilling exchange, just weeks before her children disappeared, spoke volumes about her state of mind.
Awaiting Justice: Lori Vallow Daybell’s Fate Sealed
Lori Vallow Daybell’s trial showcased the devastating consequences of unchecked delusion and a chilling disregard for human life. The evidence – her own words, her actions, and her chilling indifference – painted a clear picture for the jury.
As she awaits sentencing, the world reflects on this horrifying case, a stark reminder of the vulnerable nature of children and the urgent need to address the dangers of extremism and fringe ideologies.