Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell sentencing for deaths of 2 children and romantic rival

Idaho mother Lori Vallow Daybell faces life in prison without parole for the murders of her two children and a rival, involving claims of zombies and a biblical apocalypse.

Lori Vallow Daybell, a mother from Idaho, is facing a potential life sentence without parole for the murders of her two youngest children and a romantic rival. The case has been marked by bizarre claims, including allegations that her children were zombies and that she was a goddess sent to bring about the end of the world as described in the Bible.

In May, Vallow Daybell was found guilty of killing her 7-year-old son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, and her 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan. She was also convicted of conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, the previous wife of her fifth husband, Chad Daybell. Chad Daybell himself is awaiting trial on the same murder charges.

Vallow Daybell also faces two other cases in Arizona, one for conspiring with her brother to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and another for conspiring to kill her niece's ex-husband. Charles Vallow was shot and killed in 2019, while her niece's ex survived an attempted murder later that year.

During the sentencing hearing at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, Judge Steven W. Boyce heard emotional testimony from representatives of the victims, including Vallow Daybell's surviving son, Colby Ryan. Ryan expressed his grief over the loss of his siblings and father, and emphasized the need for healing for everyone involved.

Samantha Gwilliam, Tammy Daybell's sister, also addressed the court, questioning the motives behind the heinous crimes committed by Vallow Daybell. Gwilliam criticized the religious claims made by the defendants and spoke of the devastating impact the murder scheme and Tammy's death had on their family.

Prosecuting attorney Rob Wood argued that Vallow Daybell should receive a fixed life sentence without parole for each of the murders and the conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell. Wood emphasized the need to protect society from a defendant who was willing to kill her own children, pointing to the three murders in six weeks in Idaho and the two cases in Arizona as evidence of her dangerous nature.

Vallow Daybell has been committed multiple times for mental health treatment, but Wood argued that there is no evidence to suggest that her crimes were influenced by her alleged mental illness. He highlighted testimonies from individuals who claimed that Vallow Daybell had lied to them about the deaths, indicating her awareness of right and wrong.

The case has been marked by a series of tragic events, including the shooting death of Charles Vallow by Vallow Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, in 2019. Cox claimed self-defense and was never charged, but he later died of natural causes. Vallow Daybell then entered into a relationship with Chad Daybell, a writer of doomsday-focused fiction, and the couple moved to Idaho with Vallow Daybell's children and brother.

The children were last seen alive in September 2019, and their disappearance was reported a month later. Their bodies were eventually discovered buried in Chad Daybell's yard the following summer. During the trial, it was revealed that Tylee had been stabbed and her body burned before burial, while JJ's head had been wrapped in tape and plastic, causing asphyxiation.

Tammy Daybell's death, initially attributed to natural causes, was later determined to be the result of asphyxiation. Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow married shortly after Tammy's death.

Defense attorney Jim Archibald argued during the trial that there was no evidence linking Vallow Daybell to the murders, instead suggesting that Chad Daybell and her brother were responsible. Archibald portrayed Vallow Daybell as a loving and protective mother whose life took a drastic turn when she became involved with Chad Daybell and his apocalyptic religious beliefs.

Melanie Gibb, a former friend of Vallow Daybell, testified that Vallow Daybell believed that evil spirits had possessed people in her life and turned them into "zombies," including her own children.

As the sentencing hearing concluded, the fate of Lori Vallow Daybell hangs in the balance. The court will determine whether she will spend the rest of her life in prison without the possibility of parole, a decision that will bring closure to a case marked by tragedy, bizarre claims, and the loss of innocent lives.

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