On April 22, 2025, an Arizona jury found Lori Vallow Daybell guilty of conspiracy to murder in the 2019 death of her estranged husband, Charles Vallow. The verdict follows her previous convictions in Idaho for the murders of her two children and her then-boyfriend’s wife.
Representing herself, Lori, also known as the “Doomsday Mom,” claimed the shooting was a tragic act of self-defense by her brother during a confrontation with Charles. However, jurors were unconvinced, especially after testimony from her brother Adam Cox, who stated that Lori had previously referred to Charles as a “zombie.”
Vallow smiled and laughed in court, a juror said
Speaking with Arizona’s 12 News, three jurors opened up about Vallow, and one said Vallow didn’t do herself any favors in court. “Many days she just was like smiling and laughing and didn’t seem to take anything very seriously,” the juror, Victoria Lewis, told 12 News Reporter, Bianca Bono.
Bono added, “Now all of the jurors also told me that they were surprised that Laurie Vallo Dabell opted not to present a defense. They said they understood that the burden was on the prosecution’s shoulders, but they were surprised by that.”
Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, fatally shot Charles in July 2019. Cox claimed self-defense and was not charged before his death later that year. Prosecutors argued that Lori and Cox conspired to kill Charles to access his life insurance and allow Lori to marry Chad Daybell, a doomsday author.
Vallow is already serving a life sentence
On Tuesday, the jury found Lori Vallow Daybell GUILTY of conspiring to kill her former husband Charles Vallow. Here's a recap on the verdict – and the reaction from Charles Vallow's family after all these years. #LoriVallowDaybell @12News pic.twitter.com/ZRE67kQ75M
— Erica Stapleton (@EricaReportsAll) April 23, 2025
Lori is already serving life sentences in Idaho for the murders of her children, Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and for conspiring to kill Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy. She faces another trial in June for allegedly conspiring to murder her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Sentencing for the Arizona conviction will occur after the upcoming trial.
In September 2019, J.J., 7, and Tylee, 16, vanished after moving with their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, to Rexburg, Idaho. Tylee was last seen on September 8 at Yellowstone National Park, and J.J. was last seen on September 22 that year.
Authorities began investigating the children’s whereabouts in late 2019, but Lori and Chad fled to Hawaii, refusing to cooperate. In June 2020, the children’s remains were discovered buried on Chad’s property: J.J. had been asphyxiated and wrapped in plastic, while Tylee’s remains were dismembered and burned.
Lori chose to represent herself during her Arizona trial for conspiring to murder her fourth husband, Charles, citing her extensive involvement in the case over several years. She stated, “I’m not an attorney, I don’t have training to be an attorney,” but emphasized that her deep familiarity with the case made her feel more prepared than any attorney could be.
Published: Apr 23, 2025 03:51 pm