The Lori Vallow Daybell trial has been captivating the nation with its bizarre twists and turns involving religious extremism, accusations of murder, and claims of zombies. For those unfamiliar with the case, here’s a recap of the most shocking moments so far.
Lori Vallow Daybell: A “Doting Mom” Turned Accused Killer
Lori Vallow Daybell stands accused of murdering her two children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, in September 2019. She is also accused of conspiring to murder her current husband’s late wife, Tammy Daybell.
The trial began with chilling testimony from JJ’s grandmother, Kay Woodcock, who painted a picture of Lori as a loving and devoted mother in the early years of JJ’s life. However, Woodcock’s testimony took a dark turn as she revealed the last time she ever spoke to JJ, just a month before his disappearance.
“The last contact that we ever had with them was on August the 10th of ’19, and that was a 35-second FaceTime,” Woodcock shared, her voice thick with emotion. “He just said, ‘Hi Mom, Mama, Hi Papa.’ And then he looked up, as if someone, whoever was holding the device, and he goes, ‘Gotta Go Mama, gotta go. Gotta Go Mama, gotta go Papa. Bye.’ And that was it.”
A Web of Suspicions and Disturbing Discoveries
Woodcock’s suspicions grew when she discovered disturbing searches on her late brother’s Amazon account, including items like a beach wedding dress, a bathing suit, and malachite wedding rings. The date of these searches? October 2nd, 2019, just weeks after Tammy Daybell’s death.
The investigation took a gruesome turn when human remains were found on Chad Daybell’s property in June 2020. Rexburg police detective Ray Hermo, the lead detective on the case, described the harrowing discovery of what they believed to be Tylee’s remains.
“Eventually, we uncovered, uh, bits and pieces of who we assumed was Tylee,” Detective Hermo testified. “Um, that had been burned. There were pieces of bone, like I said, charred, charred flesh, um, just, the best I can describe is just globs of, of, of flesh that were falling apart.”
Further digging revealed the body of little JJ.
“Eventually all the dirt was removed from the, the small body wrapped in plastic,” Hermo continued, his voice heavy with the weight of the discovery. “The body was then, uh, photographed. ERT took their measurements. Uh, the body was eventually removed, moved from the burial site and put into a black body bag, which was locked for evidence purposes, placed in the back of the coroner’s vehicle unseen.”
The testimony proved too much for Lori Vallow Daybell, who requested to leave the courtroom, a request that was denied by Judge Steven Boyce.
“Zombies” and Religious Extremism
One of the most unsettling aspects of this case is the alleged involvement of extreme religious beliefs. Melanie Gibb, Lori’s former best friend, provided shocking testimony, revealing that Lori and Chad believed they were part of the 144,000, a group chosen to lead missionary work upon the return of Jesus Christ.
Gibb also testified about the group’s practice of “castings,” rituals meant to drive out evil spirits from individuals they believed to be possessed by “dark” entities. Gibb’s testimony took a chilling turn when she revealed that Lori used the term “zombie” to describe these possessed individuals.
“Did she ever tell you if JJ was taken over or possessed by an evil spirit?” the prosecutor asked.
“Yes, she did,” Gibb replied.
“And do you recall approximately when that would have been?”
“Um, September, was it September 2019? Is that when I was, yeah, yeah, September, yeah. Two, yeah, September 2019, yeah.”
“Was that the first time you’d heard of JJ being possessed?”
“Yes.”
Gibb’s testimony sent shockwaves through the courtroom, with jurors visibly stunned by the revelations. The prosecution played a secretly recorded phone call between Gibb and Lori, during which Lori claimed to know JJ’s whereabouts after his death, stating, “He’s perfectly fine.”
A Trial Gripped by Horror and Unanswered Questions
As the trial unfolds, the world watches, horrified and captivated by the shocking details emerging from the courtroom. The prosecution continues to present its case, building a narrative of religious extremism, manipulation, and cold-blooded murder.
The defense, on the other hand, will likely focus on Lori Vallow Daybell’s mental state, attempting to paint a picture of a woman who, though deeply troubled, is not capable of the crimes of which she is accused.
The trial is far from over, and many questions remain unanswered. What truly transpired in the months leading up to the children’s disappearance? What role did Chad Daybell play in these horrific events? And what, if any, mental health issues might have contributed to Lori Vallow Daybell’s alleged actions?
The world waits with bated breath for the answers.
