Lori Vallow Daybell — Doomsday Mom
Lori Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, were convicted for the murders of Vallow's two children, 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, in 2019, driven by their beliefs in an apocalyptic religious group. In 2023, Lori was sentenced in Idaho for her role in the killings, while Chad received the death penalty in 2024. Their shocking acts and subsequent convictions highlight the tragic intersection of fanaticism and violence.
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Case overview
JJ Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, children of Lori Vallow, were last seen alive in September 2019. In November 2019 — three weeks after the death of Chad Daybell's first wife Tammy, initially ruled a natural death — Lori married Chad Daybell, a self-published author who espoused apocalyptic religious beliefs. When Rexburg, Idaho, police conducted a welfare check in December 2019, Lori claimed the children were with family; she and Chad then traveled to Hawaii.
Tammy Daybell's body was exhumed in December 2019. Toxicological analysis revealed evidence of asphyxiation, prompting authorities to reclassify her death as homicide. In June 2020, [investigators excavating the Daybell property in Salem, Idaho, found the remains of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bodies-found-chad-daybell-property-idaho-confirmed-children-lori-vallow-n1227376). JJ had been smothered; Tylee's dismembered remains showed evidence of fire.
Prosecutors alleged Lori and Chad had developed a belief framework classifying people as zombies — spiritually dark individuals who could be eliminated — and had applied that classification to both children and to Tammy Daybell before her death. The case drew wide attention for its intersection of religious extremism, familicide, and the murders of two young children.
Lori's first trial was delayed approximately two years after judges found her not competent to stand trial. She was treated and found competent in 2022. On May 12, 2023, Lori was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced on July 31, 2023 to consecutive life terms without parole. Both defendants were tried separately; [Chad Daybell was convicted on all six counts in May 2024 and sentenced to death](https://abcnews.go.com/US/chad-daybell-husband-lori-vallow-murder-trial/story?id=108683350).
Lori Vallow Daybell — Idaho Trial & Conviction
Lori Vallow Daybell's trial began April 3, 2023, in Ada County, Idaho. On May 12, 2023, the jury convicted her of two counts of first-degree murder (for the deaths of her children JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan), conspiracy to commit murder (of her late husband Chad Daybell's wife, Tammy Daybell), and related charges. On July 31, 2023, Judge Steven Boyce sentenced her to multiple consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole.
Chad Daybell — Idaho Trial & Conviction
Chad Daybell's trial began April 9, 2024, in Ada County. On May 30, 2024, the jury convicted him on all six counts: three counts of first-degree murder (JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan, and Tammy Daybell), three conspiracy counts, and insurance fraud. On June 1, 2024, he was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Chad Daybell has appealed his death sentence; no appellate ruling has been issued as of March 2026.
Lori Vallow Daybell — Arizona Proceedings
Arizona charged Vallow Daybell in connection with the 2019 death of her estranged fourth husband, Charles Vallow (shot by Lori's brother, Alex Cox), and the 2019 attempted murder of her niece's then-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. On April 22, 2025, a Phoenix jury convicted her of conspiring to murder Charles Vallow. On June 12, 2025, a second Arizona jury convicted her of conspiring to murder Brandon Boudreaux. On July 25, 2025, Judge Justin Beresky sentenced her to two life sentences with the possibility of parole after 25 years for each conviction, to be served consecutively and in addition to her Idaho sentences.
Current Status
Both Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell have been convicted across multiple proceedings. [Vallow Daybell is serving multiple consecutive life sentences](https://apnews.com/article/34476875bdcbda3b4dc3a4c59539e134) in Idaho and Arizona without a realistic prospect of release. Daybell is on death row in Idaho; his appeal is pending.
June 1, 2024
Chad Daybell Sentenced to Death
Judge Steven Boyce sentenced Chad Daybell to death for the murders of Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow, and Tammy Daybell, making him eligible for Idaho's capital punishment.
Source →May 30, 2024
Chad Daybell Convicted of All Charges Including Three Counts of Murder
Chad Daybell was found guilty on all charges including three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow, and his first wife Tammy Daybell.
Source →July 31, 2023
Lori Vallow Daybell Sentenced to Consecutive Life Terms Without Parole
Judge Steven Boyce sentenced Lori Vallow Daybell to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow, and Tammy Daybell.
Source →May 12, 2023
Lori Vallow Daybell Convicted
Lori was convicted of murdering her two children. Sentenced to three consecutive life terms.
Source →June 9, 2020
Chad Daybell Arrested After Children's Buried Remains Found on Property
Hours after investigators found the buried remains of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow on Chad Daybell's property in Rexburg, Idaho, Chad was arrested and charged with murder.
Source →February 20, 2020
Lori Vallow Arrested in Hawaii on Child Desertion Charges
Lori Vallow was arrested in Kauai, Hawaii on charges of desertion and non-support of her missing children. She was extradited to Idaho to face charges.
Source →December 12, 2019
Alex Cox Dies of Pulmonary Embolism Before Being Charged
Lori's brother Alex Cox, believed by investigators to have participated in multiple killings, died of a pulmonary embolism in Arizona before charges could be filed against him.
Source →November 5, 2019
Lori and Chad Daybell Marry in Hawaii Weeks After Tammy's Death
Just two weeks after Tammy Daybell's death, Lori and Chad quietly married in Kauai, Hawaii. They would later flee to Hawaii when police began questioning them about the missing children.
Source →October 19, 2019
Tammy Daybell Found Dead at Idaho Home — Initially Ruled Natural Causes
Chad Daybell's wife Tammy was found dead at their Rexburg home. Her death was initially ruled natural causes; her body was later exhumed and death reclassified as homicide by asphyxiation.
Source →
JJ Vallow
Victim; Lori's 7-year-old son; remains found on Daybell property
Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, was Lori Vallow Daybell's adopted son. He disappeared from Rexburg, Idaho in September 2019, and his remains were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in June 2020. His mother Lori was convicted of his murder in 2023.
Lori Vallow Daybell
Convicted of murder of 2 children and conspiracy to murder husband; serving life
Lori Vallow Daybell was known for her involvement in a religious sect alongside her husband, Chad Daybell. Her life took a dark turn with her conviction in 2023 for the murder of her two children, resulting in a life sentence without parole.
Tammy Daybell
Tammy Daybell was Chad Daybell's first wife, a 49-year-old elementary school librarian in Fremont County, Idaho, who died suddenly at home on October 19, 2019 — just days after Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell began their relationship. Her death was initially attributed to natural causes, but her body was exhumed in December 2019 and the manner of death was reclassified to homicide.
Charles Vallow
Charles Vallow was Lori Vallow's fourth husband, a successful insurance executive from Arizona, who was shot and killed by Lori's brother Alex Cox on July 11, 2019, in Chandler, Arizona. Cox claimed self-defense, saying Vallow had attacked him with a baseball bat; the shooting was ruled justifiable.
Tylee Ryan
Victim; Lori's 16-year-old daughter; remains found on Daybell property
Tylee Ryan was a vibrant and spirited 16-year-old with a love for adventure and a bright future ahead. She was the daughter of Lori Vallow Daybell and was known for her caring nature and close bond with her family. Her life was tragically cut short when she disappeared in 2019, and her remains were later found on Chad Daybell's property.
Chad Daybell
Convicted of murder of Lori's children and his first wife; sentenced to death
Chad Daybell was an author and publisher known for his writings on religious themes and the end times. He was convicted of murder in June 2024 and sentenced to death.
Remains of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan
The discovery of the remains of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan on Chad Daybell's property provided crucial physical evidence linking Lori Vallow Daybell to the murders of her children.
apnews.comText messages discussing the children
Digital communications between Lori Vallow and others revealed her state of mind and intentions regarding her children, suggesting premeditation in their disappearance.
biography.comWitness testimonies about cult beliefs
Testimonies from friends and family indicated that Lori Vallow was involved in doomsday cult beliefs, which may have influenced her actions regarding her children.
apnews.comSearch history for doomsday topics
Forensic analysis of Lori Vallow's internet search history showed a pattern of researching doomsday and apocalyptic topics, which could provide context for her motivations.
en.wikipedia.orgPolice body cam footage
Body cam footage from police interactions with Lori Vallow showed her evasive behavior and lack of concern for her missing children, raising suspicions about her involvement.
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