=== 261. Concealment of evidence charges dropped against the Daybells === Published: Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:39:18 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=491170 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell | Booking photos
ST. ANTHONY -- Local prosecutors dropped the destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence charges against Chad and Lori Daybell Thursday. Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood, who is acting as special prosecutor in the Fremont County case, filed a motion to dismiss the evidence charges Wednesday. District Judge Steven Boyce approved the motion, officially dropping the charges Thursday. The couple was indicted in May on various charges, including first-degree murder for the deaths of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — Lori’s two children. The charges in that indictment are still being prosecuted and the dismissal of the other cases allows prosecutors to better focus on the newer charges with more serious penalties. Chad has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and prosecutors have until the beginning of August to file a notice of intent regarding if they will seek the death penalty. Lori’s case is on hold after Boyce put a stay or temporary pause on the case after a psychologist deemed her not competent for legal proceedings. She was committed to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for mental health treatment. Lori is also facing a conspiracy to commit murder charge in Arizona in connection to the July 2019 shooting death of her fourth-husband Charles Vallow. Investigators recently released hundreds of emails and documents tied to that investigation. You can read the latest Daybell news on EastIdahoNews.com. === 260. New details contained in thousands of Daybell case documents just released by police === Published: Mon, 19 Jul 2021 14:05:21 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=489429 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
A photo of Tylee Ryan and Lori Vallow Daybell contained in police documents. | Chandler Police Department
CHANDLER, Arizona -- Over 2,500 pages of information -- primarily emails -- released from Arizona investigators share new details into the investigation of Chad and Lori Daybell. The couple was indicted by a Fremont County grand jury in May on charges including first-degree murder for Tammy Daybell, Chad’s previous wife, and Lori’s two kids, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. The couple is also facing charges concerning the destruction, alteration and concealment of the children’s bodies. In Arizona, Lori is facing a felony conspiracy to commit a murder charge in connection to the death of her husband, Charles Vallow. Lori's now dead brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Charles in July 2019. Cox called the shooting self-defense, but investigators say evidence tells a different story. Chad has pleaded not guilty to all his charges and is scheduled for a jury trial in November. Lori's case is on pause after a judge committed her to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare as a mental health professional deemed her incompetent for trial. Since the shooting and killing of Charles Vallow, Lori's fourth husband, Arizona authorities sent and received thousands of emails as the investigation unfolded in multiple states. The Chandler Police Department released documents following records requests submitted by media organizations over the past 18 months. Here are major details contained in the files obtained by EastIdahoNews.com. === 259. Arizona prosecutor declines to charge Chad Daybell in Charles Vallow shooting === Published: Wed, 07 Jul 2021 13:29:16 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=488191 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com CHANDLER, Arizona -- Prosecutors in Arizona have declined to charge Chad Daybell in connection to the death of Lori Vallow Daybell's fourth husband, Charles Vallow. In a letter from Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel to Chandler Arizona Police, the reason for not charging Chad is listed as "no reasonable likelihood of conviction." Last month an Arizona grand jury indicted Lori for conspiracy to commit murder in connection to the July 11, 2019 shooting death of Charles. RELATED | Lori Vallow Daybell indicted in Arizona for death of fourth husband Charles Vallow The decision by Arizona prosecutors isn't unexpected since an affidavit of probable cause in Lori's case says there was "no obvious communication" between Chad and Lori to indicate he was directly involved in the planning of Charles' shooting. Jennifer Liewer, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, said police in Arizona submitted their case against Chad for review on April 1, the same day as Lori's case. READ THE LETTER FROM THE MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY HERE While authorities declined to charge Chad in the Vallow shooting case, both Chad and Lori face a lengthy list of charges in Idaho. Both were indicted by a Fremont County grand jury in May on charges including first-degree murder for the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Chad's previous wife and Lori's two kids, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. The couple is also facing charges concerning the destruction, alteration and concealment of the children’s bodies. Chad has pleaded not guilty to all charges in Idaho and is scheduled for a jury trial to begin in November and last about five weeks. Lori’s case in Idaho is stayed, or placed on hold after a judge committed her to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. A mental health professional deemed her not competent to stand trial. Despite Lori's case on hold and unable to have any hearings, her attorney Mark Means has filed a motion to have the trial moved from Fremont County. Means writes in the motion that "fair and impartial jury trial cannot" be held in the rural eastern Idaho county. Before a trial can be scheduled, Lori's case needs to be resumed and she has to enter a plea. === 258. 'I want to look her in the eyes.' Charles Vallow's brother explains why he doesn't hate Lori Vallow Daybell === Published: Fri, 02 Jul 2021 12:17:28 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=487525 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Gerry Vallow wasn't sure what to say when his 9-year-old granddaughter asked, "What happened to Uncle Charles?" It was another reminder that his older brother was gone - shot and killed in a Chandler, Arizona, home two years ago this month. "I just lost it. And anytime anyone talks about it, I kind of lose it. It's an emotional thing, and we're supposed to be macho guys, but this is beyond that," Gerry Vallow tells EastIdahoNews.com during a Zoom interview with his wife, Melanie Vallow, from their Texas home. Gerry has not spoken publicly about his brother's death or the criminal cases involving Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell. Both are facing multiple charges in Idaho for the deaths of Lori's children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell. A grand jury in Arizona indicted Lori on Thursday for conspiracy to commit the murder of Charles Vallow. Her brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Charles. Cox died -- of natural causes -- five months later in December 2019. Charles and JJ Vallow
Charles and JJ Vallow | Courtesy photo
"I would just like to sit down and look Lori in the eyes and talk to her. I really would. I'd like to ask her a couple of questions," Gerry says. "I would tell her she is not some reincarnated deity. She's not some god on earth that's going to lead people to the end of the world when Jesus comes." Charles was two years older than Gerry, and the two brothers grew up playing baseball together. Charles was funny, positive and a "pleasure to be around," according to Gerry and Melanie. They admit he wasn't perfect, but he was a good guy who was "crazy in love" with Lori. Melanie and Gerry knew Lori and Charles were experiencing some marital problems but said Charles was determined to make things work. About a month before he was killed, he and JJ visited Melanie, who was recovering from a serious illness. "Charles traveled a lot to Houston where we live, and he stayed with us, so I had a lot of time with him," Melanie recalls. "This has been very difficult for me because he and I got along very, very well. He said Lori was going to move to Houston and try to work it out. I asked him if he thought it was a good idea, and he said, 'I gotta make it work.' He loved her." Gerry learned Charles was dead when his sister, Kay Woodcock, phoned him and another brother on a conference call. He said he couldn't comprehend the news and did not want to talk about it with anyone. Gerry, Charles, and Bobby Vallow
Gerry Vallow, left, with his brothers Charles Vallow and Bobby Vallow. | Courtesy photo
Three or four months ago, as he was sitting on the back porch thinking about the chain of events, he says he lost it. "It just hit me. I'm not a mad guy or angry, but I went into a rage. An anger got to me that I didn't understand. I've never felt that mad before," he says. "I called a friend, and she told me I have to talk about it. I always hold things in, but she said to let people hear about my brother and start talking about it." Melanie and Gerry have followed the events of the past two years - from Lori and Chad fleeing to Hawaii, their arrests, the discovery of JJ and Tylee's bodies in Chad's backyard, murder charges and now a court decision that Lori is incompetent for trial. When asked for his reaction to the competency ruling, Gerry is blunt. "She ain't crazy. That b**** knew exactly what she was doing. And that's the truth," he says. Melanie adds, "I'm hoping she becomes competent really soon. I'm going to let the Lord handle that. I'd rather not judge her competency even though I know full well she knew what she was doing." Melanie says she prays for Lori every night, and despite being a death penalty advocate, she and Gerry hope Lori and Chad spend the rest of their lives in prison as death "is an easy way out." Idaho prosecutors have not yet indicated if they plan to pursue the death penalty. The Vallows know "justice takes time" and are being patient with the court system. They say they don't hate Lori, and regardless of how the complicated criminal cases are resolved, they trust in a higher power. "The creator of the universe will judge her. Not me. That gives me comfort because I'm not a judge," Gerry says. "I don't hate. I don't allow that emotion in my heart. In a way, I feel sorry for her." Watch our entire interview with Gerry and Melanie Vallow in the video player above. === 257. Documents giving more insights into Daybells' bizarre beliefs and death of Charles Vallow === Published: Thu, 01 Jul 2021 16:06:17 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=487413 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com CHANDLER, Arizona -- Disturbing new details and text messages released Thursday indicate the killing of Charles Vallow was planned and reveal more about Lori Vallow Daybell's extreme religious beliefs. Arizona investigators say a series of crimes that surrounded the July 11, 2019, shooting death of Vallow was not a "coincidence or justifiable." Local and federal investigations have also uncovered more information surrounding the deaths of Lori's two children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as the death of Tammy Daybell, the wife of Lori's fifth husband, Chad Daybell.

The planning of Vallow's death

Detectives say the first time evidence pointed at harm towards Vallow surfaced on Nov. 3, 2018. According to police, text messages between Lori and the now-widow of her brother Alex Cox were uncovered after seizing a phone when Cox died. The name of widow and friend of Lori is redacted in court documents. However, it is known Cox was married to a woman named Zulema Pastenes at the time of his death. Police say that on Nov. 3, 2018, a person texted Lori saying "she was told by God that she is to protect" her. Then in January 2019, a person told Lori, "She had a vision that she could create storms and fire and will have the eye of the Lord." A month later, Lori texted a person saying Charles was blocking her gifts. A redacted portion of the conversation that refers to causing harm to Vallow follows. In the conversations, Vallow is referred to as a dark spirit called "Hiplos" or "Ned." Investigators say Lori believed she was an exalted goddess directed to lead the 144,000 with Chad to prepare for the end of the world. Both Chad and Lori believe they had "extraordinary abilities," including teleportation, causing harm to others, calling up natural disasters, praying away demonic spirits and having visions. On June 3, 2019, Lori texted a person saying, "Just got home and got jj to sleep. Let's go spiritually tonight and work on him. We give the timing to the Lord but we don't need to relent. This is war." Then on June 19, 2019, a person texts Lori saying, "Oh and can you meet me at the temple in the morning? I have time tomorrow and we can work on Hiplos." Also, in June, investigators say Lori searched the internet for Social Security disability information. Police theorize that because of a message sent to Chad, Lori determined she would receive $4,000 a month in Social Security benefits if Vallow died. More redacted messages follow, but this time Cox joins in the conversation. In the weeks leading up to Vallow's death, the unnamed friend, Cox and Chad all converse about Vallow, referring to him as "Hiplos." "There is no obvious communication found between Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell to show that he was directly involved with the planning of Charles Vallow's murder," police wrote in the document. Just two days before Vallow was shot and killed, Lori discovered a planned "intervention" from Vallow and her other brother. Vallow had asked Lori to come clean about her relationship with Chad, or he would tell Tammy Daybell of their relationship.

The day Charles Vallow was killed

RELATED | Charles Vallow says Lori Vallow Daybell has ‘lost her marbles’ in newly released dispatch calls RELATED | Court docs, body camera detail aftermath of shooting that killed Charles Vallow Around 7:35 a.m. on July 11, 2019, Vallow arrived at Lori's home to pick up JJ. Vallow texted a person whose name has been redacted that Cox was there, and the person responded that Lori and Cox were planning something. Soon after, Vallow was shot and killed. Investigators began their homicide investigation and interviewed "all pertinent parties." During the investigation, police say there was concern about a bullet strike on the ground near Vallow's body. Investigators were also concerned about the timeline of events. "Alex Cox would not call 911 until (8:32 a.m.) to report the shooting. When reporting the incident, Alex indicated that it just happened. He was provided with CPR instructions and he acted as if he was performing life-saving measures on Charles," police say. Cox told police and 911 dispatchers that he had shot and killed Vallow in self-defense. According to police, GPS data shows how Lori took Vallow's rental vehicle and cell phone from the house at 7:49 a.m. The investigation uncovered Lori went to Burger King to buy food for JJ, and Walgreens to buy flip flops for her and Tylee. Lori finally returned home at 8:48 a.m. When paramedics tried to save Vallow's life after the 911 call, they saw blood coming from his body. According to police, it indicates Cox did not perform any aid on Vallow. Based on the timeline police compiled, Vallow lay dead or dying for around 43 minutes before anyone called 911. During this time, Cox called Lori. While bullet trajectory information from the autopsy shows, one shot went into Vallow while he stood, and another was fired while he lay on the floor. During a walkthrough of the incident with police, Cox said he fired both shots while Vallow was standing. "None of these concerns would immediately provide probable cause for the arrest of anyone present at the time of the murder, and more investigation as necessary," investigators write in the document. After Vallow was killed, Chad texted Lori. "I got the inspiration to go back to my original death percentages that helped us track Charles, Ned, etc. Tammy is very close," the message reads. "Her percentage has fallen steadily since Hiplos left. It is encouraging." Chad ended the text with a heart and lips emoji.

A series of crimes

As the investigation unfolded, police in Arizona say they learned of Lori and Vallow's tumultuous relationship. While he continued to live in Texas, Lori and two of their children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, moved to Arizona. Lori reportedly accused Vallow of infidelity, and at one point, she left JJ with Vallow and disappeared for two months. Body camera footage and 911 calls previously received by EastIdahoNews.com show how Lori reportedly told Vallow a spirit named Ned Schneider possessed his body. While Lori went to a mental health facility in January 2019 after these bizarre claims, she was released hours later. In the months following the shooting of Vallow, Chandler Police learned that in Gilbert, Arizona, another shooting took place. The victim, Brandon Boudreaux, was in an impending divorce from Lori's niece Melani Powlowski and on Oct. 2, 2019, he says Cox tried to shoot him from the back of a Jeep Wrangler. Boudreaux pointed to the extreme religious beliefs of Cox and Lori and said he suspected it led to his divorce. Police in Idaho were also contacted when JJ's grandmother Kay Woodcock could not get ahold of the child. Investigators learned that Lori moved to Rexburg with Cox. During a November 2019 welfare check, neither JJ nor Tylee were around. Lori told investigators where the kids were, but police said those statements were lies. Police said that "strangely," Chad's wife Tammy Daybell died on Oct. 19, 2019, at the couple's Fremont County home, just weeks before Lori and Chad wed in Kauai, Hawaii. Cox died on Dec. 12, 2019, at his Gilbert, Arizona, home. A medical examiner deemed he died of natural causes. A massive investigation followed, with both federal and local authorities participating. Search warrants on telephone records, social media accounts, bank records, medical records, email accounts, residences and seized electronic devices gave investigations insights into the Daybells. JJ and Tylee were found buried on Chad's Salem property on June 9, 2020. Investigators say both kids were killed and did not die of natural causes. "As a result of the data recovered, it was believed that none of the mentioned crimes were coincidence or justifiable," police documents read. "Specifically to Chandler, the evidence shows that Charles' death was a planned event and necessary to prevent Charles and others from confronting Lori about her extreme religious beliefs when he came to town. ... The death of Charles Vallow was also necessary in order for Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow to marry and fulfill their religious prophecy."

What's next for the Daybells

Both Chad and Lori Daybell are in jail. RELATED | Lori Vallow Daybell indicted in Arizona for death of fourth husband Charles Vallow RELATED | A psychologist says Lori Vallow Daybell is not competent. What happens now? In Idaho, a Fremont County grand jury indicted Lori and Chad on various charges in May, including first-degree murder, for the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Tylee and JJ. Chad and Lori are also facing charges in relation to the destruction, alteration and concealment of the children's bodies. Then on June 24, a Maricopa County, Arizona, grand jury indicted Lori for conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Vallow. Jennifer Liewer, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, tells EastIdahoNews.com that Lori's Idaho case will run its course before she faces the charge in Arizona. Lori’s case in Idaho is stayed, or placed on hold, after a judge committed her to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. A mental health professional deemed her not competent to stand trial. Chad is scheduled for a jury trial in November that is expected to last five weeks. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges filed against him. READ HERE: Chandler police documents detailing death of Charles Vallow === 256. Lori Vallow Daybell indicted in Arizona for death of fourth husband Charles Vallow === Published: Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:06:01 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=487147 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell talking to investigators the day her fourth husband Charles Vallow was shot and killed by her brother Alex Cox. | File photo
PHOENIX, Arizona -- A grand jury in Arizona indicted Lori Vallow Daybell Thursday for conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. The indictment alleges that on July 11, 2019, Daybell conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to kill Charles Vallow, according to a Maricopa County Arizona Attorney’s Office news release. On the day Vallow died, Cox called 911, saying he shot and killed Vallow in self-defense at a Chandler, Arizona home. Cox could not be charged since he died on Dec. 12, 2019, from what a medical examiner deemed to be natural causes. "Complex, difficult cases of this nature take time to properly investigate and solve," Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel said in a statement. "I appreciate the tremendous number of hours the dedicated officers of the Chandler Police Department have invested, and my office is equally committed to bringing those responsible for Charles Vallow’s death to justice." In the months following Vallow's death, Daybell moved to Rexburg to be near Chad Daybell. Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell, died on Oct. 19, 2019, after Vallow's kids, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, vanished on separate dates in September 2019. READ THE ARIZONA INDICTMENT HERE The couple married in November 2019 and fled to Hawaii where they remained until Lori's arrest in February 2020. Chad remained a free man until investigators discovered JJ and Tylee's bodies buried on Chad's Salem property on June 9, 2020. In May, a Fremont County grand jury indicted Lori and Chad on various charges, including first-degree murder, for the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Tylee and Joshua “JJ” Vallow. Chad and Lori are also facing charges in relation to the destruction, alteration and concealment of the kid's bodies. Lori's case is stayed, or placed on hold, after a judge committed her to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. A mental health professional deemed her not competent to stand trial. Chad is scheduled for a jury trial in November that is expected to last five weeks. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges filed against him. Jennifer Liewer, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, tells EastIdahoNews.com Daybell's Idaho case will run its course before she faces the charge in Arizona. "As with any charged crime, the County Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring the due process rights of a defendant, while ensuring the rights of victims are protected and those who commit crimes are held accountable for their actions," the news release says. === 255. Lori Vallow Daybell reportedly moved from jail as new documents are filed in case === Published: Mon, 28 Jun 2021 12:19:12 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=486533 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell may have been moved from the Madison County Jail to another facility, according to a VINE notification received by EastIdahoNews.com and others. However, government agencies will not confirm the move or her current location due to privacy laws, or the temporary stay of her case. EastIdahoNews.com's inquiries were declined by the Madison County prosecutor's office and sheriff's office and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. This development comes days after EastIdahoNews.com obtained 169 pages of evidentiary case documents about Daybell that were sealed hours after we obtained them. The VINE victim notification phone calls were sent out Thursday around 10:30 a.m. The message said Daybell was placed into "supervised custody" in "another facility." The service's website lists the same information. VINE allows crime victims and others to obtain timely details about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day. The alleged move relates to Daybell's mental health. On June 8, Judge Steven Boyce committed Daybell to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare after a mental health professional deemed her incompetent to assist in her defense. Daybell has been in the Madison County Jail since March 2020. The state of Idaho maintains two psychiatric hospitals for inmates. Daybell could have been moved to State Hospital South in Blackfoot, a facility with 110 psychiatric adult beds and 42 skilled nursing beds. The hospital maintains a statewide program to restore the competency of criminal justice patients. She could have also been transferred to State Hospital North, a 55-bed psychiatric hospital in Orofino that provides treatment for adults in psychiatric crisis. These are just two possibilities of Daybell's location, as Idaho has a handful of other private mental health facilities. Idaho law allows Daybell to be held in a health and welfare facility for up to 90 days to restore her competency. If that happens, court proceedings resume as normal. If not, the pause of her case extends another 180 days, and she would continue to receive treatment. RELATED | A psychologist says Lori Vallow Daybell is not competent. What happens now?

Evidentiary documents filed and sealed

As Daybell's competency is reviewed, all parts of her case are on hold and for the most part, the case will not progress. However, Means recently filed a motion to compel on June 18 to demand prosecuting attorneys release more information to him. In general, a motion to compel asks the judge to enforce a request for information relevant to a case. Attached to Means' motion to compel were 169 pages of text messages, witness statements and other evidentiary documents connected to the case. EastIdahoNews.com obtained the morning they were filed, but hours later, in an emergency motion to seal by the prosecution, District Judge Steven Boyce sealed Means' filing and all information in connection to it. READ THE ORDER TO SEAL HERE Included in Boyce's sealing was the actual motion that sealed the case. EastIdahoNews.com filed a public record request asking Boyce to unseal the order that sealed the 169 pages. That order was granted Friday. Means' motion to compel and 169 attached pages are still sealed and, at this time, EastIdahoNews.com is not publishing the information to protect the integrity of the case. In May, a Fremont County grand jury indicted Daybell and her husband Chad Daybell on various charges, including first-degree murder for the deaths of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — Lori’s two children. Chad is scheduled for a jury trial in November that is expected to last five weeks. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges filed against him. === 254. UPDATE: Jury trial for Chad Daybell set to begin in November === Published: Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:18:50 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=486315 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST ANTHONY — A jury trial date is now scheduled for Chad Daybell for his alleged involvement in the killings of three people.   During a scheduling conference for 52-year-old Daybell on Wednesday morning, District Judge Steven Boyce, Defense Attorney John Prior and Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Linsdey Blake agreed to schedule the jury trial starting on Nov. 8. They suspected it will last about five weeks. Daybell did not appear during the hearing over Zoom. Daybell pleaded not guilty at an arraignment earlier this month to every charge against him. In May, a Fremont County grand jury indicted Chad and his wife Lori Vallow Daybell for various crimes, including first-degree murder for the deaths of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — Lori’s two children. Chad is also facing financial-related crimes for a life insurance policy that increased shortly before Tammy’s death. Lori’s case is on hold after Boyce put a stay or temporary pause on the case after a psychologist deemed her not competent for legal proceedings. Lori was committed to the Department of Health and Welfare to undergo restorative mental health treatment. === 253. How a mechanical engineer ended up playing Nate Eaton in a TV movie === Published: Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:39:26 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=486263 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- I never thought I'd be writing a story about a guy playing me in a movie. Sure, I've interviewed Nate Eaton, the baseball player, but both Spencer Lord and I agree our Zoom conversation a few days ago was "surreal." Lord plays me in "Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story," a movie scheduled to air on Lifetime this Saturday. It's a role he never imagined back in 2016 having just graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of British Columbia. "Growing up, I was pretty good in school, so I went to the guidance counselor and was told I should try engineering because I was good at physics," Lord recalls. "But I got a job and realized it wasn't my forte or passion, so I thought back to what I could do that sparked some passion in me." Lord hated his job and remembered his 12th-grade friends recruiting him to try out for the play "Kiss Me, Kate," where he was cast as Fred, the lead role. He sang three solos and fell in love with acting.
Now, years later, Lord decided to follow his dreams and leave engineering behind. "I was going to give my boss my two weeks' notice, and he comes and sits down in my office," Lord tells EastIdahoNews.com. "I could tell what was going to happen ... and he let me go before I was able to quit, which was OK because that meant I got unemployment." The money helped Lord transition to serving tables at a restaurant while taking acting classes. One year later, in 2017, he was cast in his first role - Terry, an "oddball" with a tickle fetish, in the CW series "Riverdale." "I had a couple of days on set for two episodes, and it ended up being a great learning experience," Lord explains. "There was a lot of learning to be done in a very short period of time." Since then, Lord has been cast in supporting lead actor roles but has never played a real person - until now.
Nate Eaton confronting Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell in January 2020. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Spencer Lord confronting actors playing Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell. | Lifetime
"It was nerve-wracking at first, but it was great - especially playing you - because you have hundreds of videos online reporting and interviewing people," Lord told me during a Zoom conversation. "So in a way, it was simple but wasn’t as easy. ... I watched hundreds of minutes of you and watched how you sit, the intonations in your voice and then tried to mimic the way you speak." Lord was unfamiliar with the Daybell case, a story full of twists-and-turns spanning several states and people. You can get caught up on the latest here. The Canadian actor had about a week to prepare for the movie and says several scenes are nearly verbatim from my reporting - including him approaching actors playing Chad and Lori Daybell in Hawaii.
"(I) started watching all the work you’ve done, and (the story) is bizarre, it’s terrible and the fact that she’s been deemed incompetent - it’s kind of wild," Lord says. "It’s an interesting look at the judicial system as well in how everything shakes out." Lord has other projects that are set to air in the coming months. His role model is Jake Gyllenhaal, and hopes to one day "do it all" - perform on Broadway, work on a gritty true-detective-type TV show, act in a romantic comedy and who knows? Maybe play another news reporter down the line. "I sincerely hope I did you and your profession and passion justice," he tells me. "If nothing else, that was my goal." "Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story" airs Saturday, June 26, at 8/7c on Lifetime. Watch my entire conversation with Spencer Lord in the video player above. === 252. Prosecutor responds to 'inappropriate,' 'absurd' requests of Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney === Published: Wed, 16 Jun 2021 17:37:00 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=485468 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
File photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Special Prosecutor Rob Wood says a recent motion filed by Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney is "inappropriate" and "absurd." On Friday, Daybell's attorney, Mark Means, asked District Judge Steven Boyce to grant several requests after his client was committed to the Department of Health and Welfare. In a court filing, Means said the requests are necessary because of the “fragile mental state of incompetency, as a direct result of the historical and systematic mental, emotional and physical abuse (Daybell) suffered." Wood is responding to the motion in court documents filed Wednesday by calling Means' arguments "unfounded" and "legally unauthorized." Daybell and her husband Chad Daybell are accused of various crimes, including first-degree murder, for the deaths of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — Lori’s two children. District Judge Steven Boyce committed Daybell to a state mental facility this month after a psychiatrist said she was not competent for trial. RELATED | Attorney makes long list of requests before Lori Vallow Daybell is moved to mental health facility Court records show that on March 2, Means asked for a mental competency evaluation which led to Lori's commitment. In his filing, Means did not include details about the alleged abuse but raised concerns about conversations he says were held between the Director of the IDHW and prosecutors concerning Daybell that did not include him. Wood noted in his response that Means left out "an important detail" - it was Wood's office who informed Means about the call in the first place. "The State sent an email to Defense Counsel and the Court immediately notifying Defense Counsel and the Court of the single phone call with Department of Health and Welfare," Wood wrote. "The State did not initiate said communication and immediately brought it to the attention of both the Court and Defense Counsel. The Department is an independent agency and therefore, equally accessible to Defense Counsel should he wish." Means wants Boyce to order IDHW to follow a specific treatment outlined by a court-appointed mental health evaluator. While it is not clear what the report from the mental health expert says, Wood says such a request is not covered under Idaho Law. RELATED | Lori Vallow Daybell committed to mental health facility "The State is unaware of any legal, psychiatric or medical authority that would allow the Court, Defense Counsel or the Prosecutor, all of whom lack medical degrees, to interfere with the daily treatment of the Defendant or dictate how any such treatment should proceed," Wood wrote. With Means asking for private and confidential access to Daybell at any time while she is in IDHW care, Wood says the argument does not have legal merit. "While an individual in a treatment facility ... can often contact their attorney, Defense Counsel's unrestricted request is not supported by law," Wood wrote. Means also asked Boyce to place a gag order on anyone caring for Daybell while she is in custody. Wood says all medical information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act so making such an order is not needed. The defense attorney also requested that Daybell have no communication with anyone while in treatment without Means' permission in order to prevent self-incrimination. Wood says this request is "absurd." RELATED | Court proceedings on hold after psychologist finds Lori Vallow Daybell incompetent "This is simply another inappropriate attempt by Defense Council to dictate the Department how to perform the task that Defense Counsel request and the Court ordered," Wood wrote. "Defense Counsel injecting himself into the daily treatment and work of the Defendant by medical and psychiatric treatment providers is highly improper and not allowed under the law." Wood notes that Daybell was arrested in February 2020 and has been in Madison County since March 2020. Means did not request a competency exam until one year later - in March 2021 - and now his motion "is an attempt to dictate how, where and when the Department treats the Defendant. This attempt is highly inappropriate." Wood asks Boyce to deny Means' motion and says a hearing on the matter is not necessary because the requests are "unfounded and legally unauthorized." With Daybell’s commitment and competency in question, the case against her has been stayed, or paused, until further notice. Idaho Law allows her to be held in a health and welfare facility for up to 90 days to restore her competency. If that happens, court proceedings resume as normal. If not, the pause extends another 180 days, and she would continue to receive treatment. It’s unclear which state facility Lori will be sent to. Chad Daybell pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. A scheduling hearing is set for June 23 to take place over Zoom. === 251. Attorney makes long list of requests before Lori Vallow Daybell is moved to mental health facility === Published: Mon, 14 Jun 2021 17:25:39 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=485055 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
File photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell's defense attorney Mark Means has a lengthy list of requests after a judge committed her to the Department of Health and Welfare last week. In the document filed Friday, Means says he is making the requests because of Daybell's "fragile mental state of incompetency, as a direct result of the historical and systematic mental, emotional and physical abuse she suffered." Means did not detail the abuse but said he is raising concerns due to allegations of conversations between the Director of the IDHW and prosecutors over Daybell's situation while excluding Means. Daybell and her husband Chad Daybell are accused of various crimes, including first-degree murder, for the deaths of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — Lori’s two children. District Judge Steven Boyce committed Daybell to a state mental facility earlier in June after a psychiatrist said she was not competent for trial. RELATED | Lori Vallow Daybell committed to mental health facility Means is asking for all conversations about Daybell's treatment, transfer to the facility and other issues regarding her competency and the IDHW. Means also wants Boyce to order private and confidential access to Daybell while she receives treatment. Means also addresses concerns after Daybell was declared indigent, meaning she has limited ability to pay for legal services such as a defense attorney or investigative or expert fees. Means, an attorney privately retained by Daybell, goes on to say no funds have been made available to him from the county and his costs have included subpoenas of Daybell's close friend, Melanie Gibb, the Madison County Sheriff's Office, costs to buy hard drives and transportation costs to meet with prosecutors. He said by allowing private access to Daybell, future additional costs can be avoided. RELATED | Key witness served lengthy subpoena by Lori Daybell’s attorney Means states that he wants to be directly involved in Daybell's treatment and asks for the names and credentials of all people involved in her care. Means also wants to know proposed treatment, medications and plans before they are administered to Daybell. RELATED | Court proceedings on hold after psychologist finds Lori Vallow Daybell incompetent With Daybell's commitment and competency in question, the case against her has been stayed, or paused, until further notice. Idaho Law allows her to be held in a health and welfare facility for up to 90 days to restore her competency. If that happens, court proceedings resume as normal. If not, the pause extends another 180 days, and she would continue to receive treatment. It’s unclear which state facility Lori will be sent to. Chad Daybell pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. A scheduling hearing is set for June 23 to take place over Zoom. === 250. EastIdahoNews.com honored with 3 national journalism awards === Published: Mon, 14 Jun 2021 15:46:57 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=485048 By EastIdahoNews.com staff IDAHO FALLS -- EastIdahoNews.com was honored with three National Federation of Press Women awards during a virtual ceremony Friday evening as part of the organization's national communications contest. Reporters Nate Eaton and Eric Grossarth won first place in the 'Continuing Coverage or Unfolding News' category for their coverage of "The Daybell Case Unfolds." Eaton won individual first-place awards for his video web series "Where are the Children" and for his 'Video Feature' about Rosalee Parker entitled "She Lost her Limbs, But Never Lost Her Hope." Over 2,000 entries from communicators across the country were submitted in this year’s contest. Men and women are welcome to enter the competition. Winners first competed in contests within their state and first-place winners advanced to the national contest. Two other Idaho communicators were also honored. Cathy Koon of St. Anthony won two honorable mention awards for her work as the editor of NFPW’s quarterly publication “Agenda” and for her personal opinion column, “Just a Thought.’ Well-known book author Donna Fletcher Crow won national second-place honors for her novel “Against All Fierce Hostility,” Book 6 in the Monastery Murders. The entry was recognized in the Fiction for Adult reader’s category. She also won third place honors in short story category for her entry “A Lighted Lamp, Scenes of Christmas Through Time.” You can see a full list of the winners here. === 249. 'He's a liar. He's a liar.' Grandmother, brother react to Daybell's not guilty plea === Published: Wed, 09 Jun 2021 12:21:42 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=484406 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Kay Woodcock was not expecting to become so emotional during Chad Daybell's arraignment Wednesday morning. Woodcock traveled from Louisiana to St. Anthony on the one-year anniversary of her grandson, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, being found buried in Daybell's backyard with his sister, Tylee Ryan. The grieving grandmother sat on the first row of the courtroom next to Colby Ryan, JJ and Tylee's older brother. When Daybell pleaded not guilty to eight felony charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder, Woodcock started to cry and grabbed Ryan's hand. "I didn’t expect it. As with all this, it comes over in a wave of emotion and it just makes it more real," she said after the hearing. "It just seemed surreal for a long time and as you accept it more and more, things just get to be more real." RELATED | Chad Daybell pleads not guilty to murder and other charges Daybell and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, were indicted by a grand jury on May 24. They are also charged in connection to the death of Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy Daybell. Three of Chad and Tammy's children sat behind their father during the arraignment and quickly left the courthouse following the hearing. Several police officers, detectives and other investigators were in the courtroom along with a few members of the community. Daybell wore a white shirt and tie and repeatedly said, "Not guilty" as Judge Steven Boyce read him the charges. RELATED | Lori Vallow Daybell committed to mental health facility. Chad Daybell expected to enter plea in court. "It’s hard. It’s really hard," Ryan said afterward. "Seeing him, knowing he did it and knowing everything about the truth - this whole process is really hard. We’ve all had to go through it but he’s going to say what he’s going to say. He’s going to lie about it. From the beginning, they have lied. There’s nothing you can do about it." Ryan says he has spent the past year focusing on the positive and trying to remember happy times with his siblings - the normal days, swimming in the summer, hanging out together and laughing. "I was just thinking about all the good times we’ve had. That’s all we can hold on to and remember. You don’t want to have all your memories be bad and you don’t want all your memories to be about them being gone," he explains. A hearing will be held on June 23 to set a trial date for Daybell. Lori Vallow Daybell has been declared incompetent and her proceedings are on hold until she is deemed fit for trial. Woodcock is pleased proceedings are finally moving forward in Chad Daybell's case and plans to be there every step of the way. "I'm glad we’re moving on to the next step. Hard to believe it's one year to the day where we found out they were for sure dead and (the police) unearthed them in (Daybell's) backyard," Woodcock says. "I think he should just give it up. How do you have two kids in your backyard and you don’t know anything about it. He's a liar. He's a liar." === 248. Chad Daybell pleads not guilty to murder and other charges === Published: Wed, 09 Jun 2021 11:40:56 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=484379 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell in Fremont County Court on Wednesday | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
ST ANTHONY – Chad Daybell pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to charges connected to the deaths of three people. Daybell, 52, appeared for his District Court Arraignment before District Judge Steven Boyce. During the hearing, Daybell entered a not guilty plea on each charge handed down last month by a Fremont County Grand Jury. Daybell and his wife Lori Vallow Daybell are accused of various crimes, including first-degree murder for the deaths of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — Lori’s two children. RELATED | Lori Vallow Daybell committed to mental health facility. Chad Daybell expected to enter plea in court. In attendance at the hearing were three of Chad's children, Garth Daybell, Seth Daybell and Emma Murray. They sat behind him stoned-faced while he spoke the words not guilty. Colby Ryan, the older brother of Tylee and JJ sat in the courtroom gallery next to JJ's grandmother, Kay Woodcock. The two held hands while tears came from their eyes. Law enforcement, members of the public and the media were also in attendance at the hearing. Lori's case is on hold after Boyce put a stay or temporary pause on the case after a psychologist deemed her not competent for legal proceedings. On Tuesday, Boyce officially committed Lori to the Department of Health and Welfare for mental health treatment. Wednesday marks the one-year mark since investigators found the bodies of Tylee and JJ buried on Daybell's Salem property. He was arrested and been in jail on other felonies related to the case until the murder charges came down last month. Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the following charges:
Chad Daybell, his attorney John Prior. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
=== 247. Lori Vallow Daybell committed to mental health facility. Chad Daybell expected to enter plea in court. === Published: Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:02:14 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=484365 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell and Lori Daybell | EastIdahoNews.com file photo

UPDATE

During an arraignment on Wednesday, Chad Daybell pleaded not guilty to all nine charges brought against him. Read about the latest here.

ORIGINAL STORY:

ST ANTHONY – A judge has committed Lori Vallow Daybell to a state mental health facility and her husband Chad Daybell is expected to enter a plea in court Wednesday morning. Lori's order signed by District Judge Steven Boyce on Thursday will send Daybell into the care of the Department of Health and Welfare to undergo treatment to restore her mental competency. Daybell's competency was called into question in March and last month Boyce put a stay or temporary pause on her criminal case. "The court finds that the Defendant does lack (the) capacity to make informed decisions about treatment," Boyce writes in the order. "The court finds that the defendant is not dangerously mentally ill." RELATED | Chad Daybell hears murder charges read in court; Lori Daybell given a continuance Last month, a Fremont County Grand Jury indicted Daybell and her husband Chad Daybell on various charges, including first-degree murder for the deaths of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — Lori’s two children. With Lori's commitment, Idaho law allows her to be held in a health and welfare facility for up to 90 days to restore her competency. If that happens, court proceedings resume as normal. If not, the pause extends another 180 days, and she would continue to receive treatment. It's unclear which state facility Lori will be sent to. RELATED | Court proceedings on hold after psychologist finds Lori Vallow Daybell incompetent Chad is expected to enter a plea on the charges Wednesday morning. He will appear before District Judge Steven Boyce at the Fremont County Courthouse for his District Court Arraignment. The hearing is expected to last only a few minutes. The hearing is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. and EastIdahoNews.com will stream it live in the player above. EastIdahoNews.com will provide updates on this story. === 246. Prosecutor no longer disputes the competency of Lori Vallow Daybell === Published: Mon, 07 Jun 2021 13:59:05 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=484061 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY —- The prosecutor in the Lori Vallow Daybell case no longer contests the findings of a psychologist who believes Daybell is not competent for court proceedings. In a document filed Friday, Rob Wood withdrew his contest to a competency evaluation that has put the case against Daybell on hold. Wood initially said he did not agree with the findings of the mental health expert but after further review, he no longer objects to the professional's diagnosis and proposed treatment plan. RELATED | Court proceedings on hold after psychologist finds Lori Vallow Daybell incompetent Daybell and her husband Chad Daybell are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder and other crimes. The charges are in relation to the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan — two of Lori’s kids — and Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. Mark Means, Daybell’s defense attorney, requested a psychological evaluation for his client in March. A licensed clinical psychologist met with Daybell in the Madison County Jail on at least two days and, according to court documents filed last month, determined “the defendant was not competent to proceed.” Restorative treatment was recommended. While District Judge Steven Boyce put a stay on the case, he still needs to legally declare Daybell is unfit for trial. In order for Daybell to be competent for trial, Idaho law says she must understand the proceedings against her and be able to assist in her own defense. If Boyce rules she cannot, hearings are put on hold for 90 days. Daybell will likely be placed in a facility for treatment with the goal of getting her competent. If that happens, court proceedings resume as normal. If not, the pause extends another 180 days, and she would continue to receive treatment. A June 16 hearing to determine Daybell’s competency status will likely be canceled. Chad Daybell is scheduled for his District Court arraignment on Wednesday. === 245. A psychologist says Lori Vallow Daybell is not competent. What happens now? === Published: Tue, 01 Jun 2021 15:54:09 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=483329 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com In the video player above, Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Danny Clark explains competency in the Idaho court system. IDAHO FALLS -- Although a psychologist has said Lori Vallow Daybell is not competent for trial right now, a judge still needs to legally declare it, and a pause in court proceedings could only be temporary. Daybell and husband Chad Daybell are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder, among other crimes. The charges are in relation to the killings of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan — two of Lori’s kids — and Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. Mark Means, Daybell's defense attorney, requested a psychological evaluation for his client in March. A licensed clinical psychologist met with Daybell in the Madison County Jail on at least two days and, according to court documents filed last week, determined "the defendant was not competent to proceed." Restorative treatment was recommended. Bonneville County Prosecutor Danny Clark, who has nothing to do with the Daybell case, has seen similar situations play out in his 20 years of prosecuting crimes. "It’s a very well-educated opinion on her competency ... but ultimately, the determination of competency is a judicial ruling made by a judge. That has not occurred as of yet," Clark tells EastIdahoNews.com. "Competency is a very specific thing. It does not mean there isn’t a mental illness. It doesn’t mean they don’t suffer from certain things. It means simply comprehending or understanding the proceedings against them." In order for Daybell to be competent for trial, Idaho law says she must understand the proceedings against her and be able to assist in her own defense. If Judge Steven Boyce rules she cannot, hearings are put on hold for 90 days. Daybell will likely be placed in a facility for treatment with the goal of getting her competent. If that happens, court proceedings resume as normal. If not, the pause extends another 180 days, and she would continue to receive treatment. "If the defendant is then deemed to be not competent and not likely to become competent, they are committed to Department of Health and Welfare until they become competent," Clark says. There is no insanity defense in Idaho, and it is "very, very rare" for a case to be paused and never resume because of competency, according to Clark. He has only seen that happen once in Bonneville County over the past two decades. "That’s a lot of cases, a lot of evaluations, a lot of findings of incompetency that later are determined competent," he says. "I would imagine this would be similar to those cases. ... I’ve had cases where someone was determined to be incompetent three times on the case before it got to a conclusion. It might take some time, but it almost always moves forward." In more cases, defense attorneys ask for psychological exams because they spend more time with their clients than prosecuting attorneys. The requests usually happen shortly after someone is taken into custody, but in Daybell's case, Means asked for an exam a year after she was booked into the Madison County Jail. Although that might seem unusual, Clark says it's not unheard of. "I’ve had cases where the defense attorney brought the issue up six months into the case, and we all respected his or her decision to bring the issue up at that stage based on what they were seeing," he says. Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood disputes the findings in Daybell's psychological report, according to court documents, so he could argue that it be thrown out or request a second opinion. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for June 16 at 9 a.m. where Boyce will decide how to proceed. === 244. Arizona investigators seek to charge Lori Vallow Daybell in connection to Charles Vallow's death === Published: Thu, 27 May 2021 13:02:55 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482779 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Charles Vallow with Lori Vallow Daybell. | File photo
CHANDLER, Arizona -- Arizona investigators are attempting to have Lori Vallow Daybell charged with the death her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. On Thursday, Chandler Arizona Police Sgt. Jason McClimans confirmed to EastIdahoNews.com that on April 1, investigators submitted their case to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The submitted charge is conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. "Because this is an open case with our office and a charging decision has not yet been made, we are unable to provide comment on the case," Maricopa County Attorney's spokesperson Jennifer Liewer said in an email. "I can confirm a case was submitted by Chandler PD and our office is currently reviewing the facts and evidence in the case to make a charging decision." Vallow was shot and killed July 18, 2019, inside a Chandler, Arizona, home by Lori's brother Alex Cox. Police rushed to the scene and found Vallow's body in the house. Cox told officers the shooting was self-defense. RELATED | Chad and Lori Daybell indicted for murders of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell In the months that followed, investigators in Idaho uncovered how Lori moved to Idaho, where Chad Daybell, her now-fifth husband, lives. Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell, died under suspicious circumstances in 2019 along with two of Lori's children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow. The Daybells were indicted by an Idaho grand jury this week for a lengthy list of charges, including the first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder of Tammy and the two children. Additional charges are related to the allegations that Chad and Lori gained financially from the three deaths. RELATED | Charles Vallow says Lori Vallow Daybell has ‘lost her marbles’ in newly released dispatch calls Cox is listed in an indictment as a co-conspirator in the three deaths in Idaho. Cox passed away in December 2019. According to the Maricopa County medical examiner, he died of natural causes. Vallow seemingly predicted his own death, repeatedly contacting Arizona authorities about Lori wanting to have him killed and that an angel was there to help her dispose of the body. RELATED | ‘She’s unhinged. It scares the crap out of me.’ New footage shows Charles Vallow’s concern for Lori Vallow "She’s lost her marbles,” Vallow told a 911 dispatcher in January 2019.
Vallow tried to have Lori held for a mental evaluation, but police determined she seemed normal. “During my contact with Lori, I found her to be in a normal state of mind but only slightly upset she did not have her property,” a Gilbert officer wrote in a police report, referring to the fact that Vallow had taken Lori's phone, keys and wallet. “Lori showed no signs of mental distress as she described what was occurring and appeared to be in a good mood." RELATED | Lori Vallow Daybell found incompetent to move forward with court proceedings However, on Thursday, an Idaho judge issued an order of stay on court proceedings for Lori. The document shows a judge previously ordered Lori to undergo a mental competency evaluation in March. During that evaluation, a psychologist deemed her not mentally sound and recommended she undergo treatment. It is not clear what that treatment is. There is also evidence that suggests Lori thought she could gain financially from the death of Vallow through a life insurance policy. However, shortly before his death, Vallow signed a $1 million life insurance policy over to his sister Kay Woodcock, removing Lori's access to the funds. RELATED | Charles Vallow had a $1 million life insurance policy he left to JJ’s grandma, rather than Lori Vallow Daybell === 243. Court proceedings on hold after psychologist finds Lori Vallow Daybell incompetent === Published: Thu, 27 May 2021 11:10:14 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482765 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- A psychological assessment has determined Lori Vallow Daybell is incompetent to move forward with further court proceedings. On Thursday, District Judge Steven Boyce issued a stay -- or hold -- on the case based on the assessment. The order indicates her attorney requested the evaluation after her fitness to proceed was called into question. On March 8, Lori's entire case was put on hold pending a competency evaluation. The results show Daybell is not mentally sound to proceed to trial and it recommends she undergo treatment. It's not clear what that treatment will entail or where it will occur. In the order, Boyce also notes that prosecutors contest the finding of this report. As a result a hearing will be scheduled at a future date. Until then the stay on the case remains in effect. It's unclear if the future hearing will be open to the public. EastIdahoNews.com first learned about the competency evaluation in March when sealed court documents were inadvertently published for a moment at a courthouse kiosk. In the interest of protecting the integrity of the case, EastIdahoNews.com opted not to publish the documents at that time. RELATED | Chad Daybell hears murder charges read in court; Lori Daybell given a continuance Daybell along with her husband Chad Daybell are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder among other crimes. The charges are in relation to the killings of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan -- two of Lori's kids -- and Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell. Lori was supposed to make an initial appearance Wednesday on the murder charges after a grand jury indictment this week, however, during a sidebar, Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins sided with Lori's attorney Mark Means to place the hearing on hold. Chad is next scheduled to appear on June 9 to enter a plea on the murder charges. Lori's next court date has not yet been scheduled. RELATED | Chad and Lori Daybell indicted for murders of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell === 242. Grandparents of JJ Vallow say 'we want a capital case' against Chad and Lori Daybell === Published: Thu, 27 May 2021 09:12:30 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482612 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com LATEST UPDATE: Lori Vallow Daybell found incompetent to move forward with court proceedings IDAHO FALLS -- The grandparents of Joshua "JJ" Vallow say they hope prosecutors seek the death penalty against Chad and Lori Daybell, the couple charged for the killings of Lori's kids, 7-year-old JJ and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell. News of the indictment broke Tuesday after a Fremont County grand jury met for a week before deciding to have the couple charged. Among the charges are first-degree murder and conspiracy charges, along with charges related to receiving monetary gain from the deaths of JJ, Tylee and Tammy. "(Tuesday) was probably one of the hardest days I've had," Larry Woodcock, JJ's grandfather told EastIdahoNews.com. The Woodcocks learned of the indictment the same day as what would have been their grandson's ninth birthday. When meeting with prosecutors Tuesday, Larry said the world just stopped. RELATED | Chad Daybell hears murder charges read in court; Lori Daybell given a continuance "For us, every day is a what-if day," Larry said. "What would JJ be doing today? What would we be doing on JJ's birthday?" After special prosecutor Rob Wood and Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake announced the charges, Kay Woodcock, JJ's grandmother, said she had just one question. "These aren't capital murder charges?" Kay said she asked Wood. "We want a capital case." Prosecutors haven't yet said if they will seek the death penalty. Idaho law says prosecutors have up to 60 days after the Daybells either plead guilty or not guilty to announce their intent to seek the death penalty on the murder charges. RELATED | Chad and Lori Daybell indicted for murders of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell The case against Chad and Lori is likely far from over. Many murder cases across the state typically take a year or more to reach their resolution. The Woodcocks said they will be there the entire way. "People ask, 'How can you be so patient?'" Kay said. "Well, we don't have a choice so we chose to be patient." With the case unraveling for well over a year, the Woodcocks have spent a fair amount of time away from their Louisiana home. They now call eastern Idaho their "second home." It's the outpouring of support from around the world that keeps them going, the Woodcocks said. "The support that we get, people don't realize how therapeutic that is for us," Larry said. "It is so therapeutic." Watch more of the interview in the player above. RELATED | ‘I pictured this day so many times,’ says Tylee Ryan’s aunt following murder indictments RELATED | Tammy Daybell’s parents, siblings issue statement following murder charges === 241. Retired FBI agent applauds investigators for 'putting together the pieces' in Daybell case === Published: Wed, 26 May 2021 16:20:41 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482687 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- A retired FBI agent says prosecutors and investigators have done a good job "putting together the puzzle pieces" that led to murder charges against Chad and Lori Daybell. Frank Montoya worked for the FBI over 25 years and served in a variety of high-profile positions, including the head of national counterintelligence and as the special agent in charge of the Honolulu and Seattle divisions. Montoya oversaw counterintelligence squads and led several national security investigations but says he has never seen a case like the Daybells. RELATED | With Chad and Lori Daybell on the move, retired FBI agent explains what could happen next "The indictments really illustrate how this complex case, with all these twists and turns, just how intensive, time-consuming and difficult it can be to put everything together," Montoya tells EastIdahoNews.com. "It was a painstaking, lengthy process but they needed to put together all the pieces." Montoya was not surprised to learn a grand jury found enough evidence to indict the Daybells for murder, conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes. From the beginning, many have assumed the couple was connected to the death of Lori's children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, along with Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell. "One of the very big challenges of these cases is you pretty much know who did it but you have to prove who did it. That's not as easy as it might seem and this is not a 60 minute crime show," Montoya says. The indictments lay out some details about the alleged crimes, such as allegations that Lori and Chad sent text messages to each other "regarding death percentages for Tammy and JJ" three months before Tammy died. Investigators also found texts between the couple about Tammy being "possessed by a spirit named Viola." But a lot of information, including how Tammy and the children died, was not contained in the court documents. "You don’t want to reveal all of your trial strategy in your indictment because that provides the defense with many more opportunities to craft its own defense," Montoya says. "It’s very prudent the prosecution lays out a sufficiently detailed indictment while not exposing everything because they still have a prosecution to look forward to." Prosecutors Rob Wood and Lindsey Blake address Chad and Lori's religious beliefs in the indictments by saying they were used "for the purpose of encouraging and/or justifying" the alleged homicides. As the case progresses, Montoya believes that could play a major part and we could learn "if they are super committed or is it just a cover for sex, greed and a lust of money?" READ: Here is the indictment document for murder against Chad and Lori Daybell At a minimum, it will be months before a trial is held on the new charges. Between now and then, Chad or Lori could enter a plea agreement and share what they know with investigators. Montoya says those involved in this case from the very beginning should be applauded for their work. "The point of justice being served for these victims - JJ, Tylee and Tammy - absolutely depended on the cooperation and efforts of all of these agencies working together," Montoya says. "That’s what you saw yesterday was a culmination of all these efforts." Watch our entire interview with Montoya in the video player above. === 240. Chad Daybell hears murder charges read in court; Lori Daybell given a continuance === Published: Wed, 26 May 2021 10:39:18 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482602 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell made separate court appearances over Zoom Wednesday morning on new charges, including murder. | Screenshots
ST. ANTHONY — Lori Vallow Daybell's initial court appearance was continued Wednesday morning following a sidebar between Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins and her attorney Mark Means. As a result, Lori, who appeared in the hearing via Zoom wearing a mask, did not hear her charges read in court, and the hearing was adjourned after only a few minutes. The only other notable event during the hearing, was that Special Prosecutor Rob Wood objected to the continuance. It's not clear why the continuance was issued by Eddins. Based on previous court hearings we know that all of Lori's future court proceedings were put on hold in March for an undetermined amount of time, and for an unknown reason. Prior to Lori's hearing, her husband Chad Daybell appeared in court over Zoom from the Fremont County Jail with his attorney John Prior. The charges were read against Chad, and the judge affirmed that Chad would be held without bail. Prior did not object to that decision. The two court appearances come following the convening of a grand jury in Fremont County last week. On Monday the grand jury indicted the couple on variety of charges including first-degree murder for the deaths of Chad's first wife Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — Lori’s two children. The couple was served warrants Tuesday. Both Chad and Lori were already behind bars on $1 million bail for charges related to the concealment and destruction of the bodies of the children. Wood and Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake announced the indictment at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. The Daybells are charged with the following: In addition to the charges, additional details surrounding the deaths of Tylee, JJ and Tammy, were also released. Charging documents indicate investigators believe Lori’s brother Alex Cox was a co-conspirator in the alleged crimes. Both Chad and Lori could face the death penalty with the first-degree murder charges. If prosecutors decide to not seek the death penalty, the couple could receive multiple life sentences with a mandatory minimum of 10 years. The arraignment for Chad is scheduled for June 9. It's not clear when Lori's initial appearance will resume. === 239. 'I pictured this day so many times,' says Tylee Ryan's aunt following murder indictments === Published: Wed, 26 May 2021 07:00:55 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482534 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow | Courtesy photo
ST. ANTHONY -- The aunt of Tylee Ryan, one of three people allegedly killed at the hands of Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow Daybell and Alex Cox, called Tuesday's news of the murder charges "surreal." The Daybells were indicted by a grand jury on several charges including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Charging documents allege the couple is responsible for killing 7-year-old JJ and 16-year-old Tylee. Cox could not be charged as he died in 2019. "I've pictured this day so many times in my head as I've been waiting for some indication that more serious charges were coming," Tylee's aunt, Annie Cushing, told EastIdahoNews.com. "You feel this tugging at you because you don't want to be crushed, but at the same time I was like 'Is this it?'" RELATED | Daybell indictments lay out details surrounding deaths and other alleged crimes Cushing is the sister of Joseph Ryan, Tylee's father and Lori's third husband. He passed away in 2018 of natural causes, according to investigators. Over the past year, Cushing has advocated for investigators to look into Ryan's death. Special Prosecutor Rob Wood and Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake's announcement of the new charges coincided with what would have been JJ's ninth birthday. "It just kind of felt heavy. Just thinking about the senseless loss of life. Then to get this news, it just made today infinitely more special," Cushing said.
Annie Cushing in an earlier interview with EastIdahoNews.com. | File photo
Tammy Daybell's parents and siblings also expressed their thoughts on the new charges in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com. "We’d like to thank the tireless efforts of law enforcement, the FBI, and all those who’ve continued to seek out the answers during the investigations surrounding Tylee, JJ and Tammy," the statement read in part. "We appreciate their pursuit of justice, and ultimately some measure of peace for those of us left in the wake of our loss." They expressed their desire for privacy at this time, including for the children and grandchildren of Tammy. You can read the entire statement here
Tammy Daybell | Courtesy image
Chad will have his initial court appearance on the new charges Wednesday at 11 a.m. Lori will appear at 11:30 a.m. The hearings will be held via Zoom, and EastIdahoNews.com will carry the hearings live. "I want to see the coconspirators' feet held to the flames," Cushing said. "I want everyone who aided Chad and Lori in these crimes to be held accountable and I want justice." === 238. Tammy Daybell's parents, siblings issue statement following murder charges === Published: Tue, 25 May 2021 17:59:21 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482569 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com The following is a statement from Tammy Daybell's parents and siblings: As the parents and siblings of our dearly beloved Tammy, we want to make a brief statement in light of today’s news. First, we’d like to extend our continued love and heartfelt sympathy to the families of Tylee and JJ. Words cannot adequately express the depths of loss and pain that they are suffering, but we hope they know that they are not alone and we grieve and hold a place in our hearts with them at this time. In light of new information and forward movement in the judicial process, we ask for consideration of our family’s right to privacy and continued grieving as we process this. We’d especially ask that this consideration be extended to our dearest Tammy’s children and grandchildren. We want their lives to retain as much peace, normalcy and remembrance of their mother/grandmother as possible. No one knows how to handle this perfectly. We ask that we all be given the space to continue to honor and grieve our loved one the best we can. We’d like to thank the tireless efforts of law enforcement, the FBI, and all those who’ve continued to seek out the answers during the investigations surrounding Tylee, JJ and Tammy. We appreciate their pursuit of justice, and ultimately some measure of peace for those of us left in the wake of our loss. Thank you to all those family, friends, and supporters near and far who have continually reached out to us. We thank those who’ve shown interest in honoring Tammy’s legacy with us through our beginning efforts with the Tammy Douglas Daybell Foundation. We pray that truth will prevail, and that all of us left behind will find a way to pick up the pieces and somehow come out of this crucible together. Tammy’s Parents & Siblings === 237. Daybell indictments lay out details surrounding deaths and other alleged crimes === Published: Tue, 25 May 2021 16:28:22 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482528 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell booking photos
ST. ANTHONY -- Charging documents for Chad and Lori Daybell give insight into how the couple allegedly conspired and had three people killed. Announcement of murder and other charges against the Daybells came Tuesday afternoon during a news conference with Special Prosecutor Rob Wood and Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake. The nine-page indictment sheds new light on the events surrounding the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow. The indictment alleges that starting on Oct. 26, 2018, Chad Daybell, Lori Daybell and Alex Cox, Lori's deceased brother, used religious beliefs to justify the killings. The three expressed fringe religious beliefs about people becoming zombies and preparing for the end of the world. READ THE INDICTMENTS HERE While court documents do not go into the specifics of how Tylee died, it’s known she was last seen alive on Sept. 8, 2019, at Yellowstone National Park. Investigators believe Tylee was killed the next day before being burned and buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home. Internet search records show Chad looked up "ssw wind," referring to a wind direction. Phone records place Cox on Daybell’s property in the general area where investigators would eventually find Tylee’s body. A few weeks later, on Sept. 23, 2019, JJ was last seen alive with Cox who “did take possession” of the 7-year-old boy. JJ’s body was also found by investigators when searching Chad’s property on June 9, 2020. After the kids are believed to have died, Lori is alleged to have continued to collect on the children’s Social Security benefits, moving their deposit into her personal account, according to the indictment. An investigation into the children’s disappearances did not begin until November 2019 when JJ’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, reported their grandson was missing. Investigators and charging documents indicate how Lori allegedly lied about the kids' wellbeing and locations before she and Chad fled to Hawaii. The kids were not the only ones Chad, Lori and Alex allegedly conspired to kill. When Chad and Lori met, the two were still married - Chad to Tammy Daybell and Lori to Charles Vallow. Police have said Cox shot and killed Vallow in an Arizona home on July 11, 2019, leaving Chad the only one married. Cox told investigators the shooting of Vallow was in self-defense, however, the case in Arizona remains an open investigation. Text messages from July 30, 2019 between Chad and Lori talk about “death percentages" of Tammy and the kids, according to the indictment. Text messages between Chad and Lori also mentioned Tammy being in a limbo, possessed by a spirit named “Viola.” Nearly seven-months before Cox shot and killed Charles Vallow, Arizona police body camera footage shows Vallow talking to authorities about Lori saying he had been taken over by a spirit named “Nick Schneider.” On Sept. 8, the same day Tylee was last seen alive at Yellowstone, Chad signed an application to increase Tammy’s LifeMap insurance to the maximum allowed under the policy, according to the indictment. Previous court documents indicate that policy was around $430,000. With the life insurance increased, Cox tried to shoot Tammy outside of the Salem home on Oct. 9, 2019. That evening, Tammy called 911, saying a masked man shot at her in her driveway with a paintball gun. Tammy went to Facebook afterward, saying she has no idea who the person was or why they would shoot at her. Cox visited Sportsman's Warehouse – an outdoors and hunting store in Idaho Falls -- before the shooting, but court records do not indicate what he did there. Before Oct. 9, 2019, investigators determined Cox went to a gun range to practice his shooting skills. According to court documents, Cox also searched the internet between Oct 8, 2019 and Oct. 12, 2019 about “Grendel drop,” and shooting through a “Dodge Dakota.” The Grendel drop search is likely in reference to the ballistics of a 6.5 Grendel round for a rifle. Then Tammy died on Oct. 18, 2019. Chad is reported to have told investigators she died in her sleep; however, charges indicate otherwise. Court documents do not go into detail about how she died, but Cox was in the parking lot of a church 2.5 miles down the road from Chad’s home that day. With Tammy, Charles, Tylee and JJ dead, Chad and Lori were married in Hawaii on Nov. 5, 2019. They returned to Idaho before going back to the island in December 2019 after police came looking for JJ and Tylee. Lori was arrested in February 2020 in Hawaii and brought back to Idaho on charges related to the disappearance of her kids. The charges all changed after investigators found the kids bodies, also leading to the arrest of Chad. They were charged with felonies related to destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, namely the bodies of Tylee and JJ. Investigators spent months collecting evidence, allowing prosecutors to build a case. With COVID-19 slowing things down, a grand jury finally met over the past week in Fremont County. The grand jury decided to indict the couple on Monday. In addition to the initial charges, Chad and Lori are charged with the following: The penalty for the murder charges range from life in prison without the possibility of parole to the death penalty, Blake said. If prosecutors decide on the death penalty, they have to notify Lori and Chad within 60 days of their plea. Although Cox is believed to be involved in the deaths of JJ, Tylee and Tammy, he died in December 2019 at his Arizona home of what a medical examiner called natural causes. Chad will have his initial court appearance on the new charges Wednesday at 11 a.m. Lori will appear at 11:30. The hearings will be held via Zoom, and EastIdahoNews.com will carry the hearings live. === 236. READ: Here is the indictment document for murder against Chad and Lori Daybell === Published: Tue, 25 May 2021 16:25:01 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482535 By EastIdahoNews.com staff
Tammy Daybell, left, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee Ryan
On Tuesday prosecutors announced Chad and Lori Daybell were indicted for first-degree murder for the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, as well as other charges, including conspiracy, theft, and insurance fraud. The indictments come after a grand jury convened over the past week in Fremont County. For details surrounding the indictments, click here. Click here if you have trouble viewing the document below. === 235. Chad and Lori Daybell indicted for murders of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell === Published: Tue, 25 May 2021 14:10:06 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=481235 By Nate Eaton and Robert Patten, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell have been indicted on first-degree murder charges for the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow. Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood made the announcement during a news conference Tuesday, which happened to be the day JJ would have turned 9 years old. Wood, a special prosecutor in the case, was joined by local, state, federal law enforcement and other officials. The news comes after a grand jury convened over the past week in Fremont County. RELATED | Daybell indictments lay out details surrounding deaths and other alleged crimes The following are charges Chad and Lori are facing, according to a news release sent after Wood and Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake met with the media Tuesday afternoon:
  1. Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception for the death of Tylee Ryan.
  2. Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of first-degree murder for the death of Tylee Ryan.
  3. Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception for the death of JJ Vallow.
  4. Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of first-degree murder for the death of JJ Vallow.
  5. Lori and Chad Daybell were indicted on the charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy Daybell.
  6. Chad Daybell was indicted on the charge of first-degree murder in the death of his wife Tammy Daybell.
  7. Lori Daybell was indicted on the charge of grand theft related to Social Security Survivor benefits over $1,000 allocated for the care of minors Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow that were appropriated after the children were missing and ultimately found deceased.
  8. Chad Daybell was indicted on the charge of insurance fraud related to a life insurance policy he had on Tammy Daybell for which he was the beneficiary and received funds after her death.
  9. Chad Daybell was indicted on the charge of insurance fraud related to another life insurance policy he had on Tammy Daybell for which he was the beneficiary and received funds after her death.
The penalty for the murder charges range from life in prison without the possibility of parole to the death penalty, Blake said. Prosecutors were not disclosing what penalty they will pursue, but if they decide on the death penalty, legally they have to notify Lori and Chad within 60 days of their plea.
Grand jury proceedings are held in strict confidence and are sealed from the public, so it's unknown what evidence and information-led the jury to indict. Wood and Blake released few details about the indictments but expressed thanks to the public for being patient over the past year. Tammy Daybell
Tammy Daybell
RELATED | Tammy Daybell would have turned 51 today. Here’s how her parents and siblings hope you’ll honor her. The indictments come nearly one year after the bodies of 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow, were found buried on Chad's Fremont County property. He was arrested June 9 on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Tylee's body was dismembered and burned, according to court documents. JJ's body was wrapped in tight black plastic and secured with gray duct tape. Tylee and JJ
Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow
Chad pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been in the Fremont County Jail on a $1 million bail. Lori was arrested on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kauai, Hawaii, and extradited to Rexburg. She was charged with two felony charges of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and has been in the Madison County Jail on a $1 million bail. Lori pleaded not guilty to the charges. Chad and Lori married weeks after Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell, suddenly died on Oct. 19, 2019. The couple fled to Hawaii as police began investigating the disappearance of JJ and Tylee. Tammy's death has been under investigation for over a year and an autopsy was complete in February, but results and her cause of death have not been released to the public. Lori's former husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, in July 2019. Cox said the shooting was in self-defense, but the investigation is still open. Cox died of natural causes in December 2019, according to the Maricopa County, Arizona, medical examiner. EastIdahoNews.com confronted Chad and Lori in Hawaii in January 2020, and they refused to say where the children were. The case was thrust into the national spotlight, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed progress down as grand juries were unable to meet. However, Wood said authorities have spent "thousands of hours ... seeking the truth for these innocent victims," and Blake said the case has been moving forward behind the scenes. "I want to assure everyone that despite the delays, we have been working diligently to pursue justice for the victims in this case, to ensure we have the evidence required to prove the facts beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," she said. Chad will have his initial court appearance on the new charges Wednesday at 11 a.m. Lori will appear at 11:30. The hearings will be held via Zoom, and we will carry the hearings live. === 234. Prosecutor holding news conference on Daybell case === Published: Tue, 25 May 2021 13:43:31 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482451 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com For what happened at the news conference, click here. ST. ANTHONY -- New information will be announced in the Chad and Lori Daybell case Tuesday. GET THE LATEST DETAILS ON THE CHARGES HERE. Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood is holding a news conference in Fremont County. This comes after a grand jury was convened over the past week, and Wood may reveal additional charges against the couple. Grand jury proceedings are held in strict confidence, and the prosecutor presents evidence and witnesses as the jury ultimately decides whether to indict. RELATED | Grand jury vs. trial jury. What's the difference? The news conference comes on the day Lori's son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, would have turned 9 years old. He and his sister, Tylee Ryan, were found buried on Chad Daybell's property last June. Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Lori Daybell has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. EastIdahoNews.com will live stream the news conference in the video player above. We will have a complete story once it is concluded. === 233. Key witness served lengthy subpoena by Lori Daybell's attorney === Published: Mon, 24 May 2021 17:32:43 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482387 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Melanie Gibb | File photo
REXBURG -- Mark Means, Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney, subpoenaed a key witness in the case and wants a list of items spanning several pages. Court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com show Melanie Gibb, a key member of Daybell's inner circle, was served a subpoena at a Rexburg hotel on Wednesday, but she refused to take it. The person who served the subpoena wrote that she left the document at the hotel. The subpoena is seven pages, and Means basically requests any form of communication Gibb had with more than 45 people since Jan. 1. 2019. Those people include Lori and her new husband, Chad Daybell, along with friends, acquaintances, police, prosecutors and "any and all journalists" Gibb has had contact with - including EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton, East Idaho News or East Idaho News agencies. READ THE SUBPOENA HERE Means also wants Gibb to hand over all of her phone records, text messages, phone calls and "identify all telephone numbers you have used personally, professionally, temporarily aka 'burner' telephones," the subpoena reads. The request for information does not stop at communication. Means wants all of Gibbs' travel records from Jan. 1, 2018, between Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii and other locations. RELATED | Melanie Gibb confronts Lori and Chad Daybell in phone call The attorney also has asked for social media usernames and passwords for Gibb's Facebook, Yahoo!, Twitter and Instagram accounts along with login information from the website Another Voice of Warning. The AVOW forum was commonly used by Chad Daybell, who is also facing criminal charges. Means wants to know Gibb's internet provider, information about electronic devices, podcasts, books, and public appearances. Additionally, Means is requesting any copy of police records regarding charges, convictions, plea agreements and immunity agreements regarding her involvement in the case. Means want all the information at his office in Meridian by June 1. News of the subpoena comes the week of the one-year anniversary of Gibb breaking her silence in an exclusive interview with EastIdahoNews.com. She testified at Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing but has maintained a relatively low profile. The Daybells have pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the alterations, destruction and concealment of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, two of Lori’s children. Investigators found the remains buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home in June 2020. A scheduling conference is set for June 9 in Fremont County. === 232. Judge declares Lori Vallow Daybell indigent === Published: Fri, 21 May 2021 16:07:43 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=482073 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- A district judge has declared Lori Vallow Daybell as indigent. The single-sentence order came down from District Judge Steven Boyce on Friday. Idaho law allows a judge to declare someone as indigent, meaning she has limited ability to pay for legal services such as a defense attorney or investigative or expert fees. A judge can determine this based on monthly income, whether a person is on public assistance or if they are serving a sentence in a correctional or mental facility. In Idaho's court system people are sometimes declared indigent when seeking a public defender, but this does not seem to be in the case for Daybell. Mark Means, her attorney, confirmed with EastIdahoNews.com that he will continue to represent Daybell. Daybell has been in custody at the Madison County Jail since being extradited from Hawaii in March 2020. She was arrested and pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the alterations, destruction and concealment of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, two of her children. Her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, is facing similar charges and is being held in the Fremont County Jail. Investigators found the remains of the children buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home in June 2020. The Daybells are also under investigation for the death of Chad's wife, Tammy. She died in her sleep in October 2019, just weeks after investigators believe JJ and Tylee were killed. The couple is next scheduled for a status conference on June 9. === 231. Attorney identifies witnesses in upcoming Daybell hearing === Published: Wed, 12 May 2021 14:52:42 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=480468 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell decline to speak to EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton in January 2020 in Hawaii. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
IDAHO FALLS -- New court documents filed in the Chad and Lori Daybell case identify witnesses whom Chad's attorney, John Prior, plans to call in an upcoming hearing. EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton appears on that list as a "lay witness." He was subpoenaed late Tuesday afternoon while at work and ordered to be present at the hearing on June 9. A subpoena is a court-ordered command for a person to appear in court as a witness or for someone to provide evidence that will be used in a legal case. Alongside Eaton are three other lay witnesses -- Heather Daybell, a sister-in-law to Chad, private investigator Joe Adriany and a woman named Andrea Fricke. The court documents also identify an expert witness from Ironwood Insights, a market researching firm based in Arizona. A lay witness is an everyday person who testifies based upon their personal knowledge or life experiences, as opposed to an expert witness who testifies based on professional knowledge or experience. Prior has not publically identified his reasoning for calling the witnesses, and attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. RELATED | East Idaho News reporter subpoenaed in Chad and Lori Daybell case EastIdahoNews.com ethics policy prohibits reporters from participating in judicial proceedings on cases they are actively covering. As such, EastIdahoNews.com and Eaton have retained attorney Jeffrey J. Hunt to fight the subpoena. "News reporters should not be conscripted as witnesses for either side in a criminal case, particularly in a case of such enormous public interest and concern," Hunt said. "The First Amendment protects the independence of the press so it can report on criminal cases and not be forced to become witnesses in them. We hope the defense will reconsider this course and withdraw the subpoena. If not, we will ask the court to quash the subpoena.” Since the subpoena was filed Monday night, EastIdahoNews.com has been contacted by a number of national press organizations in support of fighting the order, including the Radio Television Digital News Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists. "Disturbing," Dan Shelley, the executive director of RDTNA tweeted Wednesday. "Journalists shouldn't become part of court proceedings." CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna called for the subpoena to be rescinded and issued the following statement: “Attorneys should refrain from subpoenaing journalists, and U.S. courts should not grant such orders, which imperil reporters’ abilities to do their jobs,” Martinez de la Serna said. “EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton belongs in the courtroom’s press box and not on the witness stand.” Both Chad and Lori Daybell are charged with conspiracy to conceal or destroy evidence, and Chad is charged with concealment/destruction of evidence after the bodies of Lori’s children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, were found buried on Chad’s Salem property last summer. === 230. East Idaho News reporter subpoenaed in Chad and Lori Daybell case === Published: Tue, 11 May 2021 11:59:10 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=480291 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell and East Idaho News reporter Nate Eaton
IDAHO FALLS -- East Idaho News reporter Nate Eaton has been subpoenaed to testify as part of the Chad and Lori Daybell case. The order was filed by Chad's attorney, John Prior, on Monday; however, as of Tuesday morning, neither Eaton nor East Idaho News had officially been served the paperwork. Both Chad and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, are charged with conspiracy to conceal or destroy evidence, and Chad is charged with concealment/destruction of evidence after the bodies of Lori’s children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, were found buried on Chad’s Salem property last summer. The two-page document requests Eaton appear before the court during a hearing in St. Anthony on June 9. It's not clear why Prior has issued the subpoena, or why Eaton has been requested to testify. Eaton expressed some surprise at the notice, which appeared in Facebook groups following the case late Monday. In response, Eaton and East Idaho News have retained an attorney and intend to fight the subpoena.
East Idaho News company policy prevents reporters from actively being involved in any judicial proceedings related to a story they are covering. This is the second time the media has been brought into the Daybell court proceedings. Last July, East Idaho News led a cadre of nine local, regional, and national media outlets in legally opposing a motion to ban video cameras inside the courtroom during preliminary hearings for the couple. The media partnership was successful, and Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins denied the motion. RELATED | East Idaho News joins with other media in opposing request to ban cameras from Daybell hearings The fact Prior is wanting Eaton to testify on behalf of the defense is unusual, according to Idaho State University Journalism Professor Zac Gershberg. Typically, when a journalist is called upon to testify, it is for the prosecution, and the purpose of the subpoena is to learn information gleaned from the newsgathering process. It's a fairly common practice for journalists to fight subpoenas based on ethical obligations. "Part of being a journalist is newsgathering," Gershberg said. "It could compromise a reporter's ability to interview sources or gain their trust if they know the reporter might testify and give up the goods in court." Gershberg emphasized that journalists try very hard not to become involved in the stories they are covering. "Not only might this compromise a journalist's ability to cover this case, but their ability to report on future cases might also be damaged," he said. The majority of states in the country have shield laws, which protect journalists from having to testify. However, Idaho is one of a dozen or so states without a shield law, which means every instance of journalists being subpoenaed is handled individually. One of the most recent cases in Idaho was a subpoena of Associated Press reporter Keith Ridler by activist Ammon Bundy's defense. That order was successfully quashed in March. East Idaho News has reached out to Prior for a statement on the order and will update this article if he replies.
Chad Daybell, left, confers with defense attorney John Prior during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. Daybell is being charged with destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, both felony charges. The remains of Lori Vallow Daybell's two children were found on Chad Daybell's property. | John Roark, Post Register
=== 229. Tammy Daybell would have turned 51 today. Here's how her parents and siblings hope you'll honor her. === Published: Tue, 04 May 2021 14:41:55 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=479309 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Courtesy photo
SPRINGVILLE, Utah -- The Tammy Douglas Daybell Foundation is now registered to solicit donations in every state. Daybell's parents and siblings made the announcement Tuesday, on what would have been her 51st birthday. The Salem mother of five was found dead in her home in October 2019. Her husband, Chad, and his new wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, are under investigation for Tammy's death. An autopsy was completed, but results have not been publicly released. The Tammy Douglas Daybell Foundation was created last fall "in honor of Tammy's legacy of service and love of literacy." "The foundation’s mission is to give children the opportunity to learn to love the written word," according to a news release from the family. "Tammy loved books, children and was a school librarian at the time of her death. Donations will be utilized to give books to children that they may keep for themselves, assist libraries with various programs and support literacy programs across the country." The foundation is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit and donations can be made in the following ways: "We are excited to begin fundraising events and asking for volunteers. Programs are being developed that will allow you to make a difference in your community, wherever that may be," the news release states. "Volunteer opportunities will be announced in the near future. Please watch our website for updates." === 228. DNA testing conducted on possible blood, Chad Daybell's tools, court documents reveal === Published: Wed, 28 Apr 2021 15:32:16 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=478682 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Law enforcement conducted DNA testing on tools seized from Chad Daybell's property and a possible blood sample found at an apartment. That's according to court documents filed Tuesday by Madison County Special Prosecutor Rob Wood in connection to the Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell case. Both are charged with conspiracy to conceal or destroy evidence, and Chad is charged with concealment/destruction of evidence after the bodies of Lori's children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, were found buried on Chad's Salem property last summer. Wood's filing comes in response to a motion from John Prior, Chad's attorney, and Mark Means, Lori's attorney. The defense lawyers asked Judge Steven Boyce for an expedited hearing in regards to DNA testing being conducted by law enforcement. That hearing was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon but was postponed as both Wood and the defense attorneys are requesting information from the state lab so they could potentially reach an agreement on the issue. The hearing was scheduled after Prior asked Boyce to order the prosecution to do the following: Wood responded by stating the investigation into Tylee and JJ's deaths is ongoing and any evidence in his possession has already been provided to Prior and Means. "When updated or new discoverable reports are received, they will be given over to both defendants on an ongoing basis," Wood wrote. "Since the investigation's inception, numerous items of evidentiary value have been collected; many of which are suitable for forensic analysis and testing. The reports reflecting the seizure of these items have been produced to the defense." Wood referenced one report about the seizure of tools that are taking a long time to test because of COVID-19 delays and backlogs at forensic laboratories. "On April 12, 2021, the State received the results of DNA analysis of debris found on tools that were seized from Chad Daybell's property," Wood said. "The State also learned that some samples obtained from the examined items were possibly suited for DNA analysis but that those samples were of such size and quantity that the testing process itself would consume the entirety of the sample(s)." Wood said on April 18, he received another report from the state lab "regarding a possible blood sample from an apartment that would require consumptive testing to test the DNA." He did not specify which apartment the sample came from, but Lori and her brother, Alex, lived at separate apartments in Rexburg when the children disappeared in September 2019. Three days after receiving the report about the apartment sample, Wood said he sent the lab results to the defense attorneys along with a letter saying he planned to ask the state lab to perform testing. "Both defendants wrote the State and told the State they objected to this without their experts having a chance to review the materials," Wood wrote. "On (April 22), the State sent the Defense an email informing them that due to their requests, the State would not immediately seek the consumptive testing and asked the Defense to send the State the names of their experts within 14 days. The State offered to facilitate the defense experts' access to and examination of the sample(s) in question." Wood said that he is entitled to test evidence "to achieve a fair and just result" and noted that forensic testing is common. He explained: During Wednesday's hearing, Wood agreed to hold off on any testing that would completely consume evidence until information is received from the state lab. Both parties could then work out an agreement or request that Boyce resolve the issue. === 227. Daybell defense attorneys file motion regarding DNA testing === Published: Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:33:14 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=478198 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell
REXBURG -- The attorneys for Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell are requesting an expedited court hearing to discuss DNA testing being performed by law enforcement. In a motion filed Thursday, John Prior, Chad Daybell's attorney, wrote that Rob Wood, the special prosecutor in the case, sent a message to Prior Wednesday stating Wood intends to have DNA testing done on samples obtained by police. Court documents do not provide details about when or where the samples were obtained, but the bodies of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan were discovered buried on Chad Daybell's property last June. Law enforcement has not yet released their remains to family members. "(Wood) notified my office...that additional DNA testing would completely consume the remaining DNA evidence obtained by law enforcement. This would preclude the defense from seeking independent testing by their own expert," Prior wrote. Prior asked the court to order the prosecution to do the following: Prior asked that Judge Steven Boyce schedule a hearing "to avoid the state moving on its intention to consume all DNA evidence prior to the defense having the opportunity to even review such evidence." READ JOHN PRIOR'S MOTION HERE Mark Means, Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney, filed a motion joining Prior in his request. Means included a letter sent to Prior from Wood asking for clarification on 30 items Prior says he has not received from the prosecutor. "I have not received any specific information from you regarding what you are missing in the discovery from the State," Wood wrote." You did send two letters regarding discovery in the recent months, and we responded to those requests before our recent status conference. I would note that all the items requested in those letters had already been provided to you or have since been provided to you other than Tammy Daybell's autopsy report, which the Fremont County Prosecutor has not and will not provide to my office." READ MARK MEANS' MOTION HERE Tammy Daybell died in Fremont County so Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake is overseeing that death investigation. The expedited hearing on DNA has been scheduled for April 28. === 226. Made for TV movie based on Daybell story set to air this summer === Published: Tue, 13 Apr 2021 19:39:27 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=477095 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
REXBURG -- A&E Networks' Lifetime plans to air its dramatization of the Daybell story this summer. "Doomsday Mom" will be a scripted made for TV film based on the story of Lori Vallow Daybell and her fifth husband Chad Daybell, according to a Lifetime news release. The network plans to air the show on June 26, with Lauren Lee Smith playing Lori and Marc Blucas playing Chad. "As investigators learned of Lori and her husband Chad Daybell’s involvement in a doomsday-prepper group, a trail of mystery was revealed spanning five states and numerous questionable deaths," the tease reads. Linda Purl and Patrick Duffy also star in the show, but their roles were not specified. Lighthouse Pictures is producing the film for Lifetime with Sony Pictures Television distributing. Karen Glass and Tom Mazza of Everywhere Studios and Judith Verno of Peace Out Productions serve as executive producers. Stephen Tolkin wrote the script and Bradley Walsh serves as director. The film is set to undergo filming and production this spring, EastIdahoNews.com confirmed.
Lauren Lee Smith, left, Marc Blucas, right. | Courtesy A&E Networks
The story of Chad and Lori Daybell unfolded in Rexburg in Fall 2019 when Lori's two children -- 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan -- disappeared. The couple were married on the beaches of Kauai, Hawaii, shortly afterward. Investigators caught up to Daybells in Hawaii, where they arrested Lori and brought her back to an Idaho jail in February 2020. The bodies of JJ and Tylee were found buried in Chad's backyard in June 2020, leading to his arrest. RELATED | Daybell trial pushed back, no new date set Detectives are also investigating the deaths of Lori's former husband Charles Vallow -- shot and killed by her brother Alex Cox in July 2019 -- and the October 2019 death of Chad's wife Tammy Daybell. No one has been arrested or charged in connection to those deaths and Cox died in December 2019. The couple have pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the destruction, alteration and concealment of the children's bodies. Their jury trial was scheduled for this summer, but it was decided last week it will now be held at a later date. === 225. EastIdahoNews.com nominated for 2 Emmy awards === Published: Sun, 11 Apr 2021 10:11:58 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=476861 By EastIdahoNews.com staff SEATTLE, Washington -- EastIdahoNews.com has been nominated for two Regional Emmy Awards, the Northwest Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announced Friday. "The Daybell Story Unfolds" by reporters Nate Eaton and Eric Grossarth is a finalist in the 'Continuing Coverage' category and "She Lost her Limbs but Never Lost Hope" by Eaton is nominated in the 'Serious Feature' category. NATAS Northwest recognizes broadcast excellence produced in 2020 from the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Eaton and Grossarth, along with the entire EastIdahoNews.com staff, spent the year tirelessly pursuing new developments in the case against Chad and Lori Daybell and the disappearance of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. They were led to Hawaii, Arizona and Utah in pursuit of the story. Other nominations in the 'Continuing Coverage' category include: In "She Lost her Limbs but Never Lost Hope," Eaton shared the story of Rosalie Parker, a 9-year-old girl from Idaho Falls who lost her arms and legs following a car crash and life-threatening infection.
Other nominations in the 'Serious Feature' category include: Emmy Award winners will be announced during a virtual gala from Seattle, Washington on June 5. You can view all of the nominees here. === 224. Daybell trial pushed back, no new date set === Published: Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:41:28 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=476095 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
John Prior, Chad Daybell's attorney; Judge Stephen Boyce; Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood; Mark Means, Lori Daybell's attorney; Rachel Smith, prosecuting attorney
ST. ANTHONY — The trial against Chad and Lori Daybell has been pushed back after their attorneys said Tuesday they are not ready for the scheduled dates in July. Mark Means, Lori's attorney, and John Prior, Chad's attorney, asked Judge Stephen Boyce to delay the proceeding. A new date was not set but a hearing for pre-trial motions is scheduled on June 9 - the one-year anniversary of when 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, two of Lori’s children, were found buried on Chad's property. The Daybells have pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the alteration, destruction and concealment of the bodies. Prosecutor Rob Wood said he and his co-counsel, attorney Rachel Smith of Missouri, were ready for the July trial. Prior said he has dozens of items to discuss with Wood and Smith before going to trial. He also said he still needs to ask to move the trial from Fremont County and may potentially hold a hearing to ask Chad's case to be severed from Lori’s. In October, Boyce approved to try the Daybells together for efficiency after Wood said he planned to use the same evidence and witnesses to prosecute. If Prior officially files a motion to sever, Boyce could order the trials to happen separately. While the Daybells attorneys are preparing for a trial, investigators are still looking into the deaths of Chad and Lori’s former spouses. Chad’s wife, Tammy Daybell, underwent an autopsy after she died on Oct. 19, 2019, just weeks before he married Lori. Charles Vallow, Lori’s husband also died in 2019 after her brother Alex Cox shot and killed him at an Arizona home. Details on Tammy’s autopsy have not yet been made public. === 223. Police release body camera footage from the day Alex Cox died === Published: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 16:03:28 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=475548 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Gilbert Police Department
GILBERT, Arizona -- Police in Arizona have released blurred body camera footage from the day Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, 51-year-old Alex Cox, was pronounced dead. The footage released Wednesday comes from multiple Gilbert Police Department officers called to Cox’s home on Dec. 12, 2019. You can't see much since the video is blurred, but you can hear what is said among first responders. "Our detectives are coming out," an officer is heard saying in the video. "If you guys are not transporting him, just leave him be because we have other stuff we have to do at the house." Police in Gilbert have already released dozens of pages of heavily redacted reports giving insight into Cox's death. Investigators believe Cox is tied to the death of Daybell’s two children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Their bodies were found buried on the Fremont County property of Chad Daybell, Lori’s husband, in June 2020. EMTs and police were called to Cox's house where he lived with his new wife Zulema Pastenes by a 19-year-old stepson. He found Cox lying on the floor of the bathroom gasping for air as vomit came from his mouth. Cox was taken to Banner Gateway Hospital where he was pronounced dead. When officers first got to the scene, they were not sure why detectives were coming to the house. Paramedics were trying to revive Cox as people in the room speculated about what happened. "Just from walking around the house, my assumption would be it's probably drug-related because of little blowtorches down there," an officer says. "Usually, people don't have the blowtorches for anything other than (drugs)." However, autopsy and toxicology reports obtained by EastIdahoNews.com in May 2020 show Cox did not have illicit drugs in his system. A medical examiner determined Cox died of natural causes. The report indicates Cox died from blood clots wedged into the arteries of his lungs. High blood pressure also contributed to his death. One video shows Pastenes telling investigators what happened. The day Cox died, Pastenes said Cox called a friend and received a “blessing” over the phone. EastIdahoNews.com confirmed from multiple sources this friend was Chad Daybell, who had married Lori a month earlier.
Two body camera videos show Zulema Pastenes, the widow of Alex Cox talk about the moments leading up to his death. | Gilbert Police Department
"My friend texted me saying, 'You better get home now,'" Pastenes told police. Pastenes then had the stepson check on Cox. He found Cox on the floor and made the 911 call shortly after this call with Daybell. According to Pastenes, Cox began having shortness of breath Dec. 6, 2019. The following day, Cox drove to Algodones, Mexico, to buy prescriptions because they were cheaper. When he arrived home, he reportedly felt winded but refused to get medical treatment. Cox and Pastenes had only been married two weeks at the time of his death. They eloped in Las Vegas, and the couple moved in together. Before and after Cox's death, his name was connected to several criminal investigations across Arizona and Idaho. Cox shot and killed Lori Daybell’s fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019. Cox claimed self-defense, but police were still investigating the death when Cox died. Idaho court documents show Cox’s phone placed him at the location where the remains of JJ and Tylee were found around the time they disappeared. No one has been charged in the kids’ deaths, but Chad and Lori Daybell are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of their bodies. EastIdahoNews.com is combing through hours of additional body camera footage released Wednesday. We will post additional reports as we discover newsworthy elements. === 222. The latest timeline in the Lori and Chad Daybell case === Published: Fri, 26 Mar 2021 19:30:13 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416190 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee Ryan | Facebook and Instagram
Editor's note: This timeline was originally published Jan. 17, 2020. It has been updated with the latest events as of March 26, 2021. REXBURG — In December 2019, the world learned that two children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, and his sister, Tylee Ryan, were missing. Since then, their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, and her new husband, Chad Daybell, have been arrested and charged. EastIdahoNews.com created the following timeline of events. RELATED | Police searching for Rexburg children believed to be in serious danger

Written timeline of events

=== 221. Keith Morrison discusses new Daybell 'Dateline' and Thursday episode focused on MacKenzie Lueck === Published: Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:47:17 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=474817 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com NBC correspondent Keith Morrison spoke with EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton about Friday's all-new 'Dateline.' The two-hour special reveals new details on the mysterious deaths of Chad’s former wife Tammy and Lori’s former husband Joe. In an exclusive interview, Tammy’s sister Samantha Gwilliam opens up about finding out from Chad that Tammy had died in her sleep. Morrison also spoke about Thursday night's 'Dateline' that covers the case of MacKenzie Lueck, a University of Utah student who went missing for weeks before her body was found in a shallow grave. Watch the video in the player above for the entire conversation.
=== 220. WATCH: Tammy Daybell's sister tells Dateline she was shocked and betrayed learning Chad had remarried === Published: Thu, 25 Mar 2021 11:52:54 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=474744 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- In her first television interview, Tammy Daybell's sister is sharing how she learned her brother-in-law, Chad Daybell, had married Lori Vallow weeks after Tammy's death. Samantha Gwilliam and her husband, Jason, are speaking exclusively with Dateline NBC during a two-hour special Friday night. Gwilliam tells Keith Morrison that Chad told her Tammy had "been sick and had a coughing fit and passed away," adding that Chad "sounded upset and devastated. I mean, I was crying and he was crying. It was a really hard moment." Chad married Lori Vallow in Hawaii less than a month after Tammy's death. The Gwilliams had never met Lori and were stunned at the news. "I was shocked because at that point, Tammy had only been gone for a month. And I just thought, 'Is the grief clouding his judgment? I mean, who goes and does that? It didn't make sense to me. And obviously, I was really upset," Gwilliam says. "I felt like that was too soon for anybody to get over my sister." The new Dateline NBC will reveal new details on Tammy's death and the passing of Lori’s former husband Joe. Morrison also speaks with mental health experts who say the deaths of the children could have been avoided if a court had listened to them more than a decade ago. Dateline NBC will air Friday at 8 p.m. on KPVI Newschannel 6. You can get the very latest details on the Daybell case here. === 219. Dateline NBC to air 'Mommy Doomsday' with exclusive new interviews === Published: Wed, 24 Mar 2021 13:55:05 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=474610 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Courtesy Dateline NBC
REXBURG -- For the first time, the family of Tammy Daybell is speaking on camera about her unexpected death in October 2019. The new interview will air as part of Dateline NBC's two-hour special "Mommy Doomsday," which airs this Friday at 7 p.m. MT. The special episode continues to explore the evolving case of Chad and Lori Daybell, the deaths of Lori's children 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and the deaths of Chad and Lori's former spouses. The special will feature an exclusive interview with Samantha Gwilliam, the sister of Chad's first wife Tammy. Gwilliam shares her first-hand experience learning about her sister's death in a phone call with Chad.
Gwilliam told Dateline's Keith Morrison that Chad said Tammy had "been sick and had a coughing fit and passed away." The thought of her sister's death left Gwilliam sick and devastated. "He sounded upset and devastated," Gwilliam said. "I mean, I was crying and he was crying. It was a really hard moment." You can watch the exchange here. Eventually, Gwilliam learned of her brother-in-law's quick marriage to Lori and said, "I felt like that was too soon for anybody to get over my sister." Tammy's death remains under investigation as the Fremont County Sheriff's Office received her autopsy results in February. The contents of the autopsy and her cause of death have not been publically released. The show also shares recorded audio of Lori discussing the death of her third husband Joseph Ryan. A medical examiner and investigators have said that Ryan died of natural causes. The show will also touch on new information about insurance money Lori received after Ryan's death. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS Other new interviews are with mental health experts who say the deaths of Joshua and Tylee could have been avoided if a court had listened to them more than a decade ago. Additionally, the show will feature EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton. The TV special follows a six-part chart-topping podcast also called "Mommy Doomsday." This episode will be the fourth Dateline Special covering the Daybell case. The Daybells have pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the alterations, destruction and concealment of the bodies of Joshua and Tylee. Investigators found their remains buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home in June 2020. === 218. Veteran homicide prosecutor will join case against Chad Daybell. Decision on Lori Vallow Daybell still pending. === Published: Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:50:48 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=474323 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY – A local judge says an out-of-state veteran homicide attorney can join the prosecution team against Chad Daybell. However, that is not yet determined in the case against his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, due to a previous sealed court order suspending all upcoming hearings. The first 30 minutes of the hearing were in a breakout session, which was likely related to those sealed court orders. District Judge Steven Boyce decided on Chad’s case to allow Rachel Smith -- a Missouri special prosecutor with over 100 homicide and death penalty cases to her name – to help Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood’s team. “This is a very complicated case," Wood told Boyce. "The amount of discovery as we talked about is very large. There is a lot of information, so we're seeking to have her help in this case through the Madison County Prosecutor's Office through a Special Prosecutor.” RELATED | Daybell prosecutor requests a veteran homicide, death penalty attorney join the case
Fremont County Special Prosecutor Rob Wood and Missouri Special Prosecutor Rachel Smith | Courtesy Fremont County Court
The judge's only concerns about the move, which were echoed by Defense Attorney John Prior, were some housekeeping issues. Namely, that the case is in Fremont County, while Wood is asking for Smith to join the Madison County Prosecutor's Office. Boyce was concerned that Fremont County would have to weigh in on the appointment. Woods, however, said he planned to essentially deputize Smith, and Boyce said he was OK with that once the court received a written filing to that effect. Boyce's other concern was whether Smith maintains a current law practice in Missouri. Smith, who was present with Wood, testified that she does currently operate a practice, which also satisfied the judge's concern. Smith is going to be paid by Madison County. In a letter sent to the Madison County Commissioners and obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, Wood said the enormous amount of work on the case and a comparatively smaller team make it difficult to keep up with the day-to-day work. The commission approved the request. The Daybells have pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the alterations, destruction and concealment of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, two of Lori’s children. Investigators found the remains buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home in June 2020. The case is currently in Fremont County, where Wood is acting in the role of Special Prosecutor. Near the end of the hearing, Prior said all his concerns had been satisfied. Mark Means, Lori's attorney, did not speak during the public portion of the hearing. The next hearing in the Daybell case is scheduled for a status conference on April 7.
Courtesy Fremont County Court
=== 217. Daybell prosecutor requests a veteran homicide, death penalty attorney join the case === Published: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:25:10 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=474036 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood wants to add a veteran homicide prosecutor to his team to assist in the ongoing case against Chad and Lori Daybell. Wood made the request to District Judge Steven Boyce on Thursday to add Rachel Smith, a Missouri attorney, onto the case. According to a motion obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, Smith is an active member of the Missouri Bar, the professional association that regulates the legal profession in that state. The admission of Smith to the Idaho jurisdiction is requested for "any investigating or resulting case or charges regarding the conduct of the defendants connected with crimes against Tylee Ryan and Joshua Vallow in Idaho." The Daybells have pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the alterations, destruction and concealment of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, two of Lori’s children. Investigators found the remains buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home in June 2020. The case is currently in Fremont County, where Wood is acting in the role of Special Prosecutor. So far, no one has been charged with the children's deaths but the case is still an active investigation. Wood explained his reasoning for the additional attorney in a letter, obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, that was sent to the Madison County Commissioners on Tuesday. "Few offices our size across the county have the manpower to manage a case of this magnitude without sacrificing their day-to-day obligations," Wood wrote. "The temporary addition of an experienced prosecutor to work on the Daybell case will enable us to meet the increased manpower demands during the duration of this high-profile matter and ensure justice for the victims and people of Madison County." Wood calls Smith "a veteran homicide prosecutor" with 25 years of experience in complex criminal cases. Her resume includes over 100 homicide and death penalty cases and she currently works as a special prosecutor throughout Missouri to help other prosecutors. READ WOOD'S ENTIRE LETTER HERE "There is also a long-term benefit to having Ms. Smith as part of our team for the next several months," Wood wrote in his letter. "While we have an excellent staff of skilled prosecutors in the office and our community enjoys relatively low crime rates, the criminal litigation experience and teaching instruction Ms. Smith brings with her will help prepare our team for future complex situations if and when they arise." The Vera Causa Group, who serve as consultants on the case for Wood, referred Smith to Madison County while Wood was searching for additional help on the case. If Boyce approves the motion, Wood or any other Madison County Deputy Prosecuting attorney would need to accompany Smith to proceedings unless the judge approves that she can attend alone. Within the past week, two additional filings were made in the Daybell case. One is an order to seal part of the case and the other is a motion to protect certain information in the case from being released outside of attorneys involved. The Daybells are now scheduled for a motion hearing on Monday at 3 p.m. to discuss the potential addition of Smith to the case. === 216. LETTER: Prosecutor explains why he needs additional help in Daybell case === Published: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:24:11 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=474147 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
File photo
REXBURG -- Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood sent a letter on Tuesday to Madison County Commissioners explaining why he needs help in the Daybell case. You can read the entire letter below. === 215. Attorney files motion insisting Lori Vallow Daybell be called by her legal married name === Published: Mon, 08 Mar 2021 16:50:28 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=472613 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell wants to be called Mrs. Lori Daybell and her attorney has gone so far as to file documents stating how she should be addressed in court proceedings. Hours before a scheduled hearing Monday afternoon, defense attorney Mark Means filed a motion explaining his client married Chad Daybell on Nov. 5, 2019 in Hawaii and "under the conflicts of laws and 'Full Faith and Credit Clause' of the United States Constitution, states must recognize common-law marriages when such marriage is valid in a sister state." "Defendant (sic) true full name as of this date (which precedes any legal action in the State of Idaho) is Lori Norene Ryan Vallow Daybell, or Mrs. Daybell," Means wrote. "All State interest or argument to oppose this motion is subservient to the US Constitution application in this matter." Means attached the Daybell's marriage certificate, a document that had not been released publicly, to his motion. They were married at Anni Beach Park, just minutes from their rented condo in Princeville, Hawaii. The Daybell marriage was not discussed during Monday's Zoom hearing - and not much else was. Means appeared with John Prior, Chad's attorney, and special prosecutor Rob Wood in front of Judge Steven Boyce. The group immediately went into a closed break-out meeting and 45 minutes later, they appeared again with Boyce announcing the discussion had been recorded but was sealed to the public. Wood was expected to ask Boyce to exclude a survey commissioned by the defense attorneys regarding jury bias that would be brought up during a change of venue hearing scheduled for March 22. Boyce said that hearing as well as Monday's would no longer be held. A status conference is now set for April 7 to discuss where the case stands at that point. The Daybells have pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the alterations, destruction and concealment of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, two of Lori’s children. Investigators found the remains buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home in June 2020. === 214. Prosecutor wants Chad Daybell's attorney to tell him who was conducting a survey about the case === Published: Fri, 26 Feb 2021 13:30:15 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=471494 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Special Prosecutor Rob Wood wants Chad Daybell's attorney to hand over information after a survey that was performed last year in Fremont County. Wood filed a motion to compel for attorney John Prior to provide the name of the person who conducted the survey among Fremont County residents last summer. The purpose was to gather information about moving the trial to another county. Wood previously asked for the identity of the person who performed the survey. "Chad Daybell responded to the State's specific request with a one-word response of 'none,'" Wood wrote in the new motion filed this week. "The Defendant has refused to provide the State with the name of the witness and other requested information he is required to provide." In August, three people in Fremont County told EastIdahoNews.com that a woman approached them and said she had been hired by a Boise firm to conduct surveys about the case. The woman asked if they had heard of Chad and Lori Daybell, if they thought the couple is guilty and if anything might change their minds during a trial. The Daybells have pleaded not guilty to felonies related to the alterations, destruction and concealment of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, two of Lori’s children. Investigators found the remains buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home in June 2020. This is the latest argument over discovery in the Daybell case. Lori Daybell's attorney, Mark Means, filed his own motion to compel in January for Wood to hand over information related to communication involving a list of individuals associated with the case. At a hearing on Feb. 17, District Judge Steven Boyce ruled Wood must provide a response on whether he has discussed the case with the people on the list and provide information on what was learned in individual interviews. Defense attorneys say it would be unfair for their clients to keep the trial in Fremont County and that finding an unbiased jury would be nearly impossible. A change of venue hearing is scheduled for March 22. === 213. Lori Vallow Daybell will not get a cell phone in jail, judge rules === Published: Wed, 17 Feb 2021 11:25:23 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=470254 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell will not be getting a cell phone in jail following a ruling by District Judge Steven Boyce on Wednesday. Boyce made the decision at the end of a morning Zoom hearing with Special Prosecutor Rob Wood, Chad Daybell's attorney John Prior and Lori Daybell's attorney Mark Means. The attorneys argued whether Lori should be given a cell phone to communicate privately with Means. Several disputes about discovery in the case were also discussed. In his ruling, Boyce recognized the COVID-19 pandemic has made more things difficult for attorneys and clients to meet with each other but emphasized that inmates still have the right to privileged attorney-client meetings. He said that he would allow Lori and Means to use the attorney-client room unless the room is not available. He denied Means' request for Lori to have a cell phone or to turn the cameras off in the attorney-client room. “That goes way outside the scope of what the jail policies would be,” Boyce said. “An electronic telecommunication device is considered a major contraband item.” Means requested a cell phone with restricted access, and that jail video cameras be turned off during face-to-face meetings in January. In his motion, he said was unable to meet face-to-face with Lori in an attorney-client room from March until June due to COVID-19 restrictions. He also said there had been an occasion where a face-to-face meeting was accidentally recorded. “In all reality, I shouldn’t have to ask to meet with my client,” Means said Wednesday. Wood expressed opposition to the motion and said giving a cell phone to one inmate opens the door to every inmate asking for a phone. Wednesday’s hearing also touched on a dispute between Means and Wood over the handling of evidence and information. Means filed documents in December 2020, demanding Wood reply to his specific discovery request. Means demanded Wood hand over information related to conversations with a lengthy list of individuals associated with the case. With time deadlines passed Means filed a motion to compel in January asking Boyce to order Wood to fulfill the request. Wood submitted his document in opposition to Means' motion to compel. Wood called the request for text, emails and other information concerning the conversations with witnesses “unreasonable" and "oppressive.” Means continues to be concerned with Wood's conversations with witnesses. Last month, Means and Prior argued for Wood to be kicked off the case for allegations of prosecutorial misconduct regarding a discussion with friends and relatives of Lori. Boyce denied that request and said Wood could keep prosecuting the Daybells. On Wednesday, Boyce ruled Wood must provide a response if he has discussed the case with the people on the list. He also must give information on what was learned in individual interviews. The information must also be handed over within 14-days, Boyce ruled. However, Wood is not required to respond to broad requests, such as any conversation had with a member of a particular group. The next Daybell hearing is scheduled for March 22. The Daybells are charged with felonies related to the alterations, destruction and concealment of the bodies of 7-year-old Johsua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, two of Lori’s children. Investigators found the remains buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home in June 2020. === 212. Dateline 'Mommy Doomsday' podcast, hosted by Keith Morrison, premieres today === Published: Tue, 16 Feb 2021 08:55:07 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=470086 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- The Chad and Lori Daybell story is now part of a six-episode true-crime podcast that debuted today. "Mommy Doomsday" is hosted by "Dateline NBC" correspondent Keith Morrison, who has been reporting on the case for the past year. The podcast has been ranked No. 1 on Apple charts since it was announced last week. "Mommy Doomsday" takes a closer look at the Daybells and events surrounding the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, Lori's children. They were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in June. The couple is now facing charges of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. They have denied any wrongdoing. "This is such a strange and remarkable tale with events which have occurred that people find hard to believe," Morrison tells EastIdahoNews.com. "Among stories to cover, this is one of those that you go, 'Well duh, of course you do a podcast on "Mommy Doomsday" because it's just such an unbelievable story.'" Morrison says the podcast is "freeing" in that it allows him to tell the story without worrying about video to match his narration. He also doesn't need to be concerned about time constraints he faces in television. LISTEN TO THE PREVIEW OF THE PODCAST HERE "One of the advantages of a podcast is you can let the story breathe. You can go down all the rabbit holes and delve into the mysteries that you simply don't have time for in a television story," he says.

Morrison's previous podcast

This marks the second original true-crime podcast from Morrison, who previously hosted the No. 1 podcast "The Thing About Pam," which was downloaded more than 14 million times since it launched in September 2019 and was listed on Apple’s top 25 most popular new shows of 2019. The podcast tells the story of Russ Faria, who came home two days after Christmas in 2011 to find his wife, Betsy, dead. Her brutal murder set off a chain of events that would leave another person dead and expose a diabolical scheme. This month, NBC greenlit a series based on the story featured in "The Thing About Pam." Two-time Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger will star and executive produce the show. "It was another story that was just bizarre and strange. Curious things happened and then more curious things happened," Morrison says. "Interesting that when we made the announcement it was going to be a movie, and Rene Zellweger was going to be in it, all of a sudden the podcast was back in the top 10 again." The first two episodes of "Mommy Doomsday," produced in partnership with Neon Hum, will be available for download and streaming on any podcast platform beginning today. An additional four episodes will debut over the next three weeks. Watch our entire interview with Morrison in the video player above. RELATED | Keith Morrison discusses ‘incredibly sad’ developments in Daybell story === 211. Prosecutor objects to Lori Vallow Daybell's request for a cell phone === Published: Mon, 15 Feb 2021 14:32:24 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=470072 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood | Pool file photo
REXBURG -- The Madison County prosecuting attorney objects to Lori Vallow Daybell's request for a cell phone and says she should be treated no differently from other inmates in the Madison County Jail. Daybell's attorney, Mark Means, filed a motion Jan. 19 regarding attorney-client privilege communication. He asked that his client be given a cell phone so they can communicate with each other. He also requested that jail video cameras be turned off whenever the two meet face to face. RELATED | Lori Daybell’s attorney says she should be given a cell phone so they can communicate Daybell has been incarcerated in Madison County since March 2020. She is charged with two felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of evidence regarding two of her children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Authorities found Tylee and JJ’s bodies buried on the property of her husband, Chad Daybell, in June. Means argued that he and Lori Daybell could not meet in an attorney-client room at the jail from March until June 2020. Jail facilities across the state implemented restrictions on visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Means, Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney, argued he could not meet with his client in an attorney-client privilege room and had to communicate with her through plexiglass using a metal corded phone. | Court exhibit
“The only option (was) to converse with (the) defendant through the ‘public’ room and metal corded telephone ... with two video cameras videotaping these privilege meetings,” Means wrote. He aid when he wanted to speak with his client on the phone, she had to be handcuffed to a desk with a deputy nearby or use the Telmate system, which Means said was a recorded line. Means asked Judge Steven Boyce to grant him uninterrupted, face-to-face meeting time with Daybell as needed. He also requested a cell phone for Daybell that she can only use to communicate with Means, and he asked the jail “be ordered to shut off video recordings (and) other recording device(s) during privilege communication.” In his response filed Friday, Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood said he has no objection to Means meeting with Daybell in person as long as proper COVID-19 precautions are followed. Wood said he does have an issue with security cameras being turned off but agreed no audio recordings should be made by the jail while Means visits with Daybell. "The state has been informed by the jail that the security camera system does not record audio," Wood wrote. "The state is further aware that a virtual box can be drawn around the defendant and her counsel so that security personnel monitoring security cameras cannot see the defendant and her attorney and any items on the table in front of them while they are meeting." Wood noted, however, that Idaho law considers cell phones as contraband items for inmates and said issues Means raised about Telmate recording Daybell's calls were already resolved during a bond hearing in May 2020. In an affidavit filed last March, Madison County Sheriff Lt. Jared Willmore confirmed two calls were accidentally recorded on March 31 and deleted. One call lasted a minute, while another lasted nearly a half-hour, Willmore said. "(At that time) the defense provided no evidence that protected and privileged communications of the defendant and her attorney were being recorded," Wood wrote. "The defendant has provided no new evidence that she and her legal counsel are unable to have confidential telephonic communications via Telmate." Wood said all jail inmates are required to use Telmate to communicate with their attorneys, and Daybell should be treated no differently. READ WOOD'S ENTIRE RESPONSE HERE "The defendant has provided no evidence or information justifying special cell phone privileges for the defendant," Wood wrote. "The state is aware of no other inmate that has filed a motion requesting a cell phone due to the required use of Telmate. The state is aware of no other claims by any other defendant/inmate that their right to counsel is violated by the use of Telmate." Wood also mentioned that Means is attempting to "relitigate facts previously decided by the court" by taking to Twitter with "false claims that the state is or has wrongfully recorded attorney/client conversations."

When attorney client communications are or were recorded, when attorney is denied access to meet with his client for months (is the current case in Madison County, never the case in Fremont) when witnesses are coached on what they want to hear... one must ask their self...

— Mark Means Law (@MeansLaw) February 4, 2021

Finally, one must ask yourself, when the defense has to fight for the production of evidence, when list of witnesses for the state is produced a year or so after charges are filed, when attorney client communications are or were wrongfully recorded,

— Mark Means Law (@MeansLaw) February 4, 2021
A hearing on Means' request has not been set. He and Wood are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a motion-to-compel-evidence hearing. === 210. READ: Letter from AG to Fremont County Prosecutor regarding Tammy Daybell death investigation === Published: Thu, 04 Feb 2021 18:27:52 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=468505 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com The Idaho Attorney General’s Office investigation into the death of Tammy Daybell is being transferred back to the Fremont County Prosecutor’s Office. RELATED | AG transfers Tammy Daybell death investigation back to Fremont County Prosecutor “Effective this week, the Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has resumed full authority and responsibility over the case of the death of Tammy Daybell,” Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake wrote in a news release. “The newly elected prosecutor requested the case be transferred back to Fremont to be handled locally. The Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office thanks the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for their hard work, time and effort on this case.” EastIdahoNews.com obtained the following letter from the Idaho Attorney General's Office to Blake detailing the transfer of the case. === 209. AG transfers Tammy Daybell death investigation back to Fremont County Prosecutor === Published: Thu, 04 Feb 2021 17:47:23 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=468468 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- The Idaho Attorney General's Office investigation into the death of Tammy Daybell is now headed back to the Fremont County Prosecutor's Office. Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake, who was elected in November, made the announcement in a news release Thursday evening. "Effective this week, the Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has resumed full authority and responsibility over the case of the death of Tammy Daybell," Blake wrote. "The newly elected prosecutor requested the case be transferred back to Fremont to be handled locally. The Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office thanks the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for their hard work, time and effort on this case." READ | Letter from Idaho Attorney General to Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Former Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Marcia Murdoch requested the AG take the case last April. Since then, Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell have been under investigation for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to Tammy's death. RELATED | Attorney General takes over murder, conspiracy investigation in Daybell case The Utah Medical Examiner's Office has been conducting an autopsy on Tammy's body since it was exhumed in December 2019. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries announced Thursday the autopsy is finished and was turned over to his office Wednesday. “The contents of this report will not be made public at this time as it is evidence in an open and ongoing investigation,” Humphries said. “We will release additional information as it becomes available.” Here’s part of the essay Chad Daybell wrote about his wife 12 days after she died Fremont County Sheriff deputies were called to Tammy and Chad Daybell’s Salem home on Oct. 19, 2019. Chad said Tammy went to bed coughing and he discovered she had died in her sleep. The 49-year-old mother of five had been in good health and was training for a race. Within weeks of her death, Chad married Lori Vallow Daybell, and a massive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies was launched into Tammy's death, along with the death of Lori’s former husband, Charles Vallow, and her two missing children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. JJ and Tylee's bodies were found last June buried in Chad's yard. Chad and Lori Daybell are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of the bodies. === 208. Here's part of the essay Chad Daybell wrote about his wife 12 days after she died === Published: Thu, 04 Feb 2021 15:30:18 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424586 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com This story was originally posted on EastIdahoNews.com on March 4, 2020. We are sharing it again in light of the fact Tammy Daybell's autopsy results were handed over to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office Wednesday. Tammy Daybell died unexpectedly in her home on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. She was buried the following Tuesday in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. Nine days after her death, Chad published an essay titled 'Moving into the Second Half of My Life' in the LDS-AVOW (Another Voice of Warning) Global Initiative Newsletter. The first section of his post was sent to EastIdahoNews.com. Here is what he wrote. If you have the second part of his essay and wish to share it, please email neaton@eastidahonews.com. You can remain anonymous. RELATED | Chad Daybell allegedly increased his wife’s life insurance. Then she died and was buried within 3 days. Here are other ‘weird’ observations friends noticed. === 207. Tammy Daybell's autopsy is complete === Published: Thu, 04 Feb 2021 13:21:33 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=468422 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- The autopsy for Tammy Daybell is finished and has been turned over to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. Investigators received the autopsy report from the Utah Medical Examiner Wednesday, according to a news release from Sheriff Len Humphries. "The contents of this report will not be made public at this time as it is evidence in an open and ongoing investigation," Humphries says. "We will release additional information as it becomes available." READ THE NEWS RELEASE HERE Fremont County Sheriff deputies were called to Tammy and Chad Daybell’s Salem home on Oct. 19, 2019. Chad said Tammy went to bed coughing and he discovered she had died in her sleep. The 49-year-old mother of five had been in good health and was training for a race. Tammy had visited with her siblings and parents two weeks earlier in Springville, Utah, and showed no sign of sickness. Within weeks of her death, Chad married Lori Vallow Daybell, and a massive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies was launched into her death, along with the death of Lori’s former husband, Charles Vallow, and her two missing children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Tammy’s body was exhumed in December and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office is investigating Chad and Lori for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to Tammy's death. Tammy was the librarian at Central Elementary School in Sugar City and had also worked at Madison Middle School. Family and friends said she loved reading and serving others. Tammy’s siblings and parents announced the creation of the Tammy Douglas Daybell Foundation in October “to honor her legacy of service and love of literacy.” RELATED | Tammy Daybell’s family launches special project on anniversary of her death “Tammy’s true focus throughout her life was her family, from serving a delicious dinner each Sunday to remembering every birthday and holiday with gifts,” her obituary reads. “She also loved all sorts of animals, but she especially loved Indian runner ducks. She also raised pigeons, chickens, cats and rabbits, knowing each one by name. She loved gardening, cooking and playing games with the family. Her laugh will be remembered and cherished.” === 206. Lori Daybell's attorney says she should be given a cell phone so they can communicate === Published: Mon, 25 Jan 2021 17:05:33 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=466162 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
This court exhibit shows how attorney Mark Means communicates with his client, Lori Vallow Daybell, at the Madison County Jail. Cameras record the interaction.
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney wants his client to be given a cell phone so they can communicate with each other, and he's asking that jail video cameras be turned off whenever the two meet face-to-face. Attorney Mark Means filed a motion in Fremont County on Jan. 19 regarding attorney-client privilege communication. Daybell has been in the Madison County Jail since March 2020. She is charged with two felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of evidence regarding two of her children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Authorities found Tylee and JJ's bodies buried on the property of her husband Chad in June. Lori Daybell in court with attorney Mark Means
Mark Means appears in court with Lori Vallow Daybell during a March 2020 hearing. | John Roark, Pool photo
In the motion, Means argues that he could not meet face-to-face with Daybell in an attorney-client room from March until June. Over the past nine months, the Madison County Jail and other facilities in Idaho have implemented restrictions on visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Means says from March 30 to June 9, he was only permitted to communicate with Daybell on the telephone. "My client is allowed to speak with counsel through two telephone options. One telephone is at the desk of the deputy and my client is handcuffed to said desk approximately two feet from the ear of a deputy," Means wrote. "The other option is through a recorded line (Telmate) approximately 15 to20 feet from said deputy/deputy clerk." Means raised concerns that Telmate calls might be recorded. In an affidavit filed last March, Lt. Jared Willmore of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed two calls were accidentally recorded on March 31 and deleted. One call lasted a minute while another lasted nearly a half-hour, Willmore said. Beginning in June, Means met face-to-face with Daybell but he says on Jan. 5, he arrived at the jail and was denied access to the attorney-client room. "The only option (was) to converse with Defendant through the 'public' room and metal corded telephone, again with two video cameras videotaping these privilege meetings," Means wrote. "The past and current circumstances the defense is forced, arbitrarily, to deal with in preparation for trial are unfair." court exhibit
Photo exhibits included in motion for order directing attorney client privilege communication.
Means asks Judge Steven Boyce to grant him uninterrupted, face-to-face meeting time with Daybell as needed. He also requests a cell phone for Daybell that she can only use to communicate with Means, and he asks the jail "be ordered to shut off video recordings (and) other recording device(s) during privilege communication." A hearing on the motion has not been set. On March 22, Means and John Prior, the attorney for Chad Daybell, will go before Boyce and argue that charges should be dismissed against their clients and the trial venue should be moved from Fremont County. === 205. Investigation into the death of Lori Daybell's third husband is now complete, police say === Published: Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:21:18 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=465581 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Joesph Ryan | Courtesy photo
PHOENIX, Arizona -- Police say the investigation into the death of Lori Vallow Daybell's third husband is complete. Phoenix Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Mercedes Fortune confirms to EastIdahoNews.com that the review into Joseph Ryan's death investigation has been finalized and that he died of natural causes. Detectives re-opened the investigation after an October 2018 audio recording of Daybell came to light with her saying she “was going to murder” Ryan. Six months before the recording was made, Ryan died of an apparent heart attack. Mercedes said the results of their new investigation have not changed. In the recording, Daybell explained how she would justify killing Ryan using scriptures. Ryan was the father of Daybell’s daughter, Tylee Ryan. Daybell went on to say that her feelings changed when she began attending a Latter-day Saint temple regularly. RELATED | Police reviewing investigation into the death of Lori Vallow Daybell’s third husband Daybell's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed by Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, in July 2019. That investigation remains open, as does the investigation into Tammy Daybell's death. Her husband, Chad Daybell, married Lori Vallow weeks after Tammy died. RELATED | Audio recording captures Lori Daybell saying she ‘was going to murder’ her third husband Cox died in December 2019 and a medical examiner determined his death to be natural. Lori and Chad Daybell are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori’s two children. In June, investigators found the bodies buried on Chad’s Salem property. === 204. New details released on what happened the day Alex Cox died === Published: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:47:25 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=464382 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Listen to the 911 call imade when Alex Cox's step-son found him dead in a Gilbert Arizona home on Dec. 12, 2019, in the player above.
GILBERT, Arizona -- Authorities released new information Monday regarding the investigation into the death of Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, Alex Cox. The 59 pages of heavily redacted reports provide more insight about Cox, his death and what those close to him had to say about his life. Investigators believe Cox is tied to the death of Daybell's two children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Their bodies were found buried on the Fremont County property of Chad Daybell, Lori's husband, in June 2020. On Dec. 12, 2019, the Gilbert Arizona Police Department was called to Cox's home where he lived with his wife, Zulema Pastenes. The couple had been married two and a half weeks. According to the newly released report, Pastenes' stepson had been in his bedroom with the door closed and headphones on when Pastenes, who was not home, called and asked him to check on Cox. The stepson found Cox, 51, lying on the floor of the bathroom gasping for air as vomit came from his mouth. The stepson called 911, and first responders rushed to the home. Cox was taken to Banner Gateway Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE 911 CALL IN THE PLAYER ABOVE Autopsy and toxicology reports obtained by EastIdahoNews.com in May 2020 show that a medical examiner determined Cox died of natural causes. The report indicates Cox died of blood clots wedged into the arteries of his lungs. High blood pressure also contributed to his death. RELATED | Medical examiner says Alex Cox had blood clots in his lungs and died of natural causes Pastenes went to the hospital, and investigators found her sitting next to her husband's body. They asked to speak with her in another room. "Zulema asked me why she was being questioned, and if she was considered a suspect in the death of her husband," a detective wrote in his report. "I assured her she was not a suspect, but I needed information from her regarding what happened at her house when Alex was discovered." According to Pastenes, Cox began having shortness of breath Dec. 6, 2019. The following day, Cox drove to Algodones, Mexico, to buy prescriptions because they were cheaper. When he arrived home, he reportedly felt winded but refused to get medical treatment. The day Cox died, he called a friend and received a priesthood "blessing" over the phone. EastIdahoNews.com can confirm from multiple sources this friend was Chad Daybell, who had married Cox's sister, Lori Daybell, a month earlier. Pastenes and Cox had known each other for about a year, according to the Pastenes. The couple eventually went on a trip to Las Vegas and eloped in a "spur of the moment" decision on Nov. 29, 2019, Pastenes told police. READ THE GILBERT POLICE REPORT HERE Before Pastenes and Cox married, he lived in Rexburg in neighboring townhomes with Lori and his niece, Melani Pawlowski. Pastenes said Cox visited for Thanksgiving, and she asked him to stay in Arizona. After Cox and Pastenes married, Pawlowski stayed with the couple in Arizona, according to police documents. She had married Ian Pawlowski, whom she met in Rexburg, at a small wedding chapel in Las Vegas on the same trip. During the interview, Pastenes said Cox did not have much communication with his six siblings. She said she knew Lori and Melani but did not know where Lori lived or her phone number. "She said the last time she tried texting Lori, the number was disconnected," according to the report. "She had met Lori a few times before when Lori lived locally. She had not seen Lori since she moved a few months ago. She did not think Lori was married." RELATED | FBI releases new photo of Alex Cox with Tylee and JJ at Yellowstone Meanwhile, Pastenes' daughter arrived at the house and spoke with detectives about her mother and Lori. She described the two as good friends who attended the same congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to police reports. The daughter said both Pastenes and Lori were "preppers" preparing for the end of the world, and her mother met Cox, whom she described as "very religious," through Lori. The two became engaged, and Pastenes planned to move to Idaho with Cox, Daybell and Pawlowski, according to the daughter. Plans changed when Cox moved in with them around Thanksgiving 2019. Back at the hospital, a family member showed up and told Pastenes she should not speak to investigators without an attorney. They went to their home, and Pastenes received a phone call from someone. "Moments later, Zulema told me she would not talk with me without a lawyer," an officer wrote in a report. Others, whose names were redacted from police reports, also would not speak with investigators as they had retained attorneys. After Pastenes stopped talking, the Gilbert Police Department served a search warrant on the home. Officers searched the house and several items of evidence were recovered, according to police reports. Details of what was taken were redacted from reports, but it appears one of the items was a cell phone, which had data extracted from it. Included in the case report is an introduction to Cox's involvement in several investigations before, during and after his death, but no further details were explained. It is known Cox shot and killed Lori Daybell's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019. Cox claimed self-defense. Police were still investigating Vallow's death in Chandler, Arizona, when Cox died. Idaho court documents show Cox's phone placed him at the location where the remains of JJ and Tylee were found around the time they disappeared. No one has been charged in the kids' deaths, but Chad and Lori Daybell are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of their bodies. RELATED | Documents detail horrific manner JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found in Chad Daybell’s yard In a recorded conversation played during a court hearing last week, Special Prosecutor Rob Wood told Lori's sister, Summer Shiflet, in October that he intends to file conspiracy to commit murder charges against the couple. Those charges had not been filed as of Monday. The next court hearing for the Daybells will discuss moving the trial from Fremont County. A date for that hearing has not yet been scheduled. Along with the release of the Cox police report, Gilbert Police shared videos, 911 calls and other reports tied to the Daybell investigation as previously reported on by EastIdahoNews.com. === 203. Judge says prosecutor will stay on Daybell case === Published: Fri, 08 Jan 2021 17:05:08 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=464084 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Rob Wood. | File photo
ST. ANTHONY — Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood will remain on the cases of Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell. Judge Steven Boyce made the decision late Friday afternoon after a day and half of arguments from Wood’s attorney, Madison County Deputy Prosecutor Troy Evans, and attorneys representing the Daybells. “The court cannot find at this time that the interaction between Mr. Wood and the witness would render Mr. Wood’s continued participation, in this case, unfair and cannot determine that the prosecutor's pretrial activity will be a material issue in this case,’ Boyce said. The couple is charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori’s two children. In June, investigators found their bodies buried on Chad’s Salem property. Lori’s attorney, Marks Means, and Chad’s attorney, John Prior, accused Wood of prosecutorial misconduct following a conversation Wood had with Lori’s sister, Summer Shiflet, on Oct. 1, 2020, in Arizona. Wood denied the allegations and asked for an expedited hearing to clear up the matter. The hearing took place all day Wednesday and on Friday afternoon. Chad and Lori did not appear. Means and Prior allege that Wood tried to “coerce, unduly influence, coach, and or intimidate” Shiflet. The attorneys also say Wood inappropriately discussed the case with Lori’s sister-in-law Zulema Pastenes. On Wednesday, Shiflet’s attorney, Garrett Smith, testified along with James Davidson, a forensic psychologist, and University of Idaho Law Professor Samuel Newton. They were asked their opinions about Smith's recording of the conversation between Wood and Shiflet. LISTEN TO THE RECORDING HERE Wood and Evans filed new documents Friday morning asking that Shiflet be allowed to testify and an affidavit be submitted Mindy Gee. The woman is a staff member in Wood's office who took a call from Shiflet. Means and Prior objected to both requests. Boyce agreed to allow part of Gee’s affidavit into the hearing but denied testimony from Shiflet. In his closing remarks, Prior questioned Wood’s ability to prosecute the case and said that because he made “disparaging comments” to Shiflet, Wood should be removed. Prior said such comments were an attempt to influence and manipulate Shiflet’s testimony if she is called as a witness in her sister’s case. “Mr. Wood is cheating,” Prior said. “Mr Wood is lying, and Mr. Wood is doing nothing but trying to influence, coach, intimidate a witness, before that witness has had a chance to get in front of a trial.” Means said Wood and Shiflet’s conversation raised “red flags” and eyebrows” and argued that experts in the case testified that the prosecutor was attempting to coerce and manipulate Shiflet. Means said now other witnesses need to be investigated because of Wood’s alleged actions. “If this type of behavior goes unwarranted, unchecked, unsanctioned, you are telling myself, Mr. Prior, the prosecutor and anyone else who wants to cite this case in the future that you can engage in these tactics without repercussions,” Means said. “That is a dangerous precedent that I don’t think any court or any witness or defendant would want to have.” Evans disagreed with the accusations and argued that Wood never told Shiflet what to say during the conversation and affirmed that Smith, Shiflet’s attorney, never objected or opposed to anything discussed during the meeting. “The defendants again have shown no damage to their client in any way if Mr. Wood stays on the case,” Evans said. Wood did not speak during the hearing. However, EastIdahoNews.com received the following statement from him afterward through a spokeswoman: "We appreciate the judge’s ruling. We remain resolute and focused on our search for justice for JJ and Tylee." The next Daybell hearing is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on June 2. However, the issues of moving the case out from Fremont County and dismissing the case still need to be taken up before Boyce. Those hearings were postponed because of this week's hearing.
=== 202. No decision made yet in keeping prosecutor on Daybell case === Published: Wed, 06 Jan 2021 18:36:19 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=463900 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Attorneys in the Daybell case meet over Zoom on Wednesday morning
ST. ANTHONY — After a day-long hearing, the status of Special Prosecutor Rob Wood in the Daybell case remains unknown. Lori Vallow Daybell’s attorney, Marks Means, and Chad Daybell’s attorney, John Prior, accused Wood of prosecutorial misconduct. Wood, who is also the Madison County prosecuting attorney, denied the allegations and asked for an expedited hearing to clear up the matter, which unfolded Wednesday. RELATED | Hearing regarding Daybell prosecutor happening Wednesday morning The Daybells were not present at the hearing. The couple is charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori’s two children. In June, investigators found their bodies buried on Chad’s Salem property. Wood had Madison County Deputy Prosecutor Troy Evans sitting beside him at the hearing.
Means and Prior alleged that Wood tried to “coerce, unduly influence, coach, and or intimidate” Lori’s sister, Summer Shiflet, during an October meeting in Arizona. Around the same time, Wood is alleged to have been inappropriately discussing the case with Lori’s sister-in-law Zulema Pastenes. RELATED | Who's who in the Daybell case Garrett Smith, the Arizona attorney for Shiflet and Pastenes, recorded the meeting on his phone at the Chandler Arizona Police Department. Smith testified at the hearing that Wood speaking with Shiflet about certain details of the case concerned him. Means and Prior submitted the audio as evidence in the case, which was played in court. RELATED | New information revealed in recording between Lori Daybell’s sister and Prosecutor Rob Wood Here is what we learned from the audio recording: Prior called James Davidson, a forensic psychologist, to testify at the hearing. Means hired Davidson to conduct a forensic analysis on the audio and its coinciding transcript. Davidson testified for more than an hour about how Wood could have placed bias into Shiflet during the conversation. University of Idaho Law Professor Samuel Newton also testified as an expert. Newton said prosecutors have an obligation to interview witnesses, but it crosses the boundaries if they try to improperly influence the person to change their story. “No case is worth pushing someone towards a specific narrative,” Newton said. In the incident of Wood speaking with Shiflet, Newton said it could be ethically problematic. Newton said it's up to a judge to determine if Wood engaged in prosecutor misconduct and not him. Wood has denied accusations of misconduct. In response to the motions filed by Prior and Means, Wood affirmed Shiflet and Pastenes’ own attorney was with them the entire time, and no objections were made to the questioning. Boyce is expected to hear closing arguments by Means, Prior and Wood on Friday afternoon. After that, Boyce will determine if Wood can stay on the case. === 201. LISTEN: New information revealed in recording between Lori Daybell's sister and Prosecutor Rob Wood === Published: Wed, 06 Jan 2021 11:27:32 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=463802 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY — An audio recording of prosecutor Rob Wood speaking with Lori Vallow Daybell's sister was played during a court hearing Wednesday. John Prior and Mark Means, attorneys for Chad and Lori Daybell, have accused Wood of prosecutorial misconduct. Their key argument focuses on an October recording between Wood and Summer Shiflet, Daybell's sister. Means and Prior allege that Wood tried to “coerce, unduly influence, coach and/or intimidate” Shiflet as they met in Arizona. Garrett Smith, Shiflet's attorney, recorded audio of the meeting on his phone. Wood argues he was introducing himself to Shiflet and Smith, was present the entire time, made no objections to the questioning. Means and Prior submitted the recording as evidence in the case. New information shows: The Daybells are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori’s two children. In June, investigators found their bodies buried on Chad’s Salem property. You can listen to the entire recording played in court in the player above. A complete story about the hearing will be posted when it concludes. You can watch it here. === 200. LIVE: Hearing regarding Daybell prosecutor happening Wednesday morning === Published: Wed, 06 Jan 2021 08:00:40 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=463705 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
M
ST. ANTHONY -- A judge will listen to arguments Wednesday morning from the attorneys of Chad and Lori Daybell as they request that special prosecutor Rob Wood be dismissed from the cases of their clients. Lori’s attorney, Marks Means, and Chad’s attorney, John Prior, have accused Wood of prosecutorial misconduct. Prior and Wood requested that the hearing be closed to the public but Means argued to have it open and District Judge Steven Boyce agreed. The parties will meet via Zoom at 9 a.m. It's not clear if the Daybells will appear. The hearing deals with joint motions to disqualify Wood. In the motions, Means and Prior allege that the prosecutor tried to “coerce, unduly influence, coach, and or intimidate” Lori’s sister, Summer Shiflet, during an October meeting in Arizona. Around the same time, Wood is alleged to have been inappropriately discussing the case with Lori’s sister-in-law Zulema Pastenes. The accusations are in regards to audio recordings with both of the women that were given to the defense attorneys. Wood has denied all of the allegations against him and requested an expedited hearing to clear up the situation. He affirmed Shiflet and Pastenes’s own attorney was with them the entire time and no objections were made to the questioning. The Daybells are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori’s two children. In June, investigators found their bodies buried on Chad’s Salem property. You can watch the hearing at 9 a.m. in the player above.
=== 199. New dates scheduled for Lori Daybell misdemeanor trial === Published: Mon, 04 Jan 2021 10:10:03 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=463430 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell did not attend a virtual court hearing on misdemeanor charges in Madison County Monday morning. While the felony charges surrounding Daybell have been in the spotlight, her misdemeanor charges are still pending. The charges came during the search for Daybell's two children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. During the virtual hearing, Daybell's attorney, Mark Means, said his client did not want to attend the proceedings that lasted less than five minutes. Means also submitted a waiver to a speedy trial. Means, along with Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood and Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard, discussed when to schedule a jury trial on the misdemeanor charges. The trial is now set for Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 with a pretrial conference on Aug. 17. Daybell's misdemeanor charges consist of resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. Prosecutors allege that on Nov. 26, 2019, Daybell lied to police about JJ's whereabouts by saying the child was with her friend, Melanie Gibb, in Arizona. Daybell allegedly asked Gibb to lie to investigators and say JJ was with her. The contempt charge stems from Daybell not complying with an order signed by Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins that required her to produce the children to the police or the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. On June 9, 2020, investigators found JJ and Tylee's remains buried on Chad Daybell's Salem property. Chad is the fifth husband of Lori and both face felony charges in Fremont County. You can find all of the latest Daybell case news here. === 198. The stories that most impacted EastIdahoNews.com reporters in 2020 === Published: Wed, 30 Dec 2020 17:11:41 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=463137 By Robert Patten, EastIdahoNews.com
From top left, EastIdahoNews.com reporters Nate Eaton, Nate Sunderland, Eric Grossarth, Brittni Johnson, Rett Nelson and Silas Wright.
As difficult as 2020 has been, we've reported on triumphs as well as tragedies. Our reporters are looking back on this year and are sharing a few of the stories they covered that affected them the most. (Click here to see our most-clicked stories of 2020 and here to see this year's top news statewide.)

Brittni Johnson

Ririe teen who tried to take her own life wants others to know suicide isn’t the answer (June 23) and Former student-athlete dies by suicide; his family uses tragedy to help others (June 24)

Former Bonneville High School student-athlete Braydon Pugmire. | Courtesy Brad Barlow
I felt a personal responsibility to not only tell these mental health stories accurately, but to do it in a way that others who are struggling would know it’s okay to reach out for help. Writing these articles was a reminder to me, and hopefully the community, that sometimes what is portrayed on the outside doesn't match how somebody is feeling on the inside. We need to always be aware of that. There are simple things we can do to help others, and I hope that’s something the community took away from both stories.

A look at how east Idahoans handled a pandemic a little over a century ago (Dec. 22)

From The North End
This story was different from what I am used to writing, but I am glad I took the time to research so much information. From comments I read, people were fascinated to see that east Idahoans are handling COVID similar to how they handled the Spanish flu over 100 years ago. In a way, I think this gave east Idahoans peace of mind knowing that eventually, things do go back to "normal."

Silas Wright

Teacher moved to tears as generations of students honor her with special music video (July 9)

Zola crying
Idaho Falls High School choir teacher Zola Jensen
This was a great, heartwarming story of generations of students wanting to honor a teacher that meant so much to them. The community got to see that even despite COVID-19 restrictions, they could use their talents (some of which students have turned into careers) to give credit back to one that inspired them. It was such a great experience being able to interview everyone and hearing their passion for music and their love for Ms. J, the teacher. I'll always remember this story.

Eric Grossarth

Recovering addict says getting arrested was the best thing that ever happened to him (Aug. 7)

Logan Celner | Courtesy photo
Logan Celner's story gave me a new perspective on addiction and the impacts it has on local east Idahoans' lives. Celner spoke honestly and openly about his experience, arrest and the impacts on his life. It gave me a new way to look at crime reporting in eastern Idaho.

EXCLUSIVE: Chad and Lori Daybell served with search warrants in Hawaii (Jan. 30)

Eric Grossarth and Nate Eaton with Daybells in Hawaii  - Dateline
Eric Grossarth, left, and Nate Eaton as they try to get answers on the whereabouts of the missing children from Lori and Chad Daybell. Taken in January in Hawaii. | Dateline
I still remember sitting in the car hearing that 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan had disappeared. Little did I know that about a month later, Nate Eaton and I would be boarding a flight to Hawaii in hopes to speak with Chad and Lori Daybell. The trip turned out more eventful than planned and gave me experiences as a reporter I may never get again.

Nate Eaton

Nearly 1,000 Idahoans died alone and were buried in a forgotten cemetery. Here’s how you can help remember them (Sept. 21)

Tracey Sessions was appointed State Hospital South Administrator in 2008 and made the cemetery one of her key priorities. | Courtesy Jim Sessions
We don't know when John, Mary or many of the others buried here were born. We don't know anything about them. Then Tracey Sessions came along and started to research them. Since then she has passed away, but her husband has worked hard to make sure her project didn't die with her.

She lost her limbs but never lost hope. How Rosalie Parker miraculously recovered after nearly dying (Nov. 16)

Rosalie Parker
Rosalie Parker. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
I spent a day with this incredible girl and her family. I don't think I'll ever be the same. If you have a few minutes, watch the video in this story. I promise it will make your day better! Thanks, Rosalie, for letting me tell your story.

Rett Nelson

Hundreds gather to ‘Stand Together’ during unity walk in Idaho Falls (June 20)

protest
Demonstrators hold up signs prior to the George Floyd unity walk in Idaho Falls. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com
The death of George Floyd in May sparked a series of riots and protests. This lead to a nationwide conversation about racism. While these events caused conflict elsewhere, this story about a Unity Walk showed eastern Idaho is different. During the demonstration, city leaders spoke about racial injustice and the effort to make sure everyone is needed and is treated equally. Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson's statement that "black lives do matter" answers the question much of the nation was fighting about and is what really makes the story a good one in my book.

‘We just weren’t strong enough.’ Local business permanently closing due to COVID-19 (May 7) and New and old local restaurants are casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic (Sept. 29)

sorry we're closed sign
File photo from March 2020
COVID-19 put the economy and business front and center as the nation went into lockdown. Many businesses have weathered the storm, but some have not. The loss of one business is one too many, but it's been inspiring to watch how the community has rallied around those who have struggled and to see how struggling business owners have handled the loss with grace and dignity and given us all an example worthy of emulation.

Nate Sunderland

A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell (Feb. 23)

Julie Rowe and Chad Daybell
Julie Rowe and Chad Daybell
This story took months of research with many anonymous sources. Every one we spoke with seem to take us down a new rabbit hole, and we never knew what we were going to find. In the end, we were able to paint a fairly clear picture of a “church within a church” here in eastern Idaho. It was astounding to see how many people had beliefs beyond those of conventional Latter-day Saints. === 197. The most-read stories on EastIdahoNews.com in 2020 === Published: Tue, 29 Dec 2020 16:18:46 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=462956 By Robert Patten, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton, right, asks Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell about the whereabouts of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow in January 2020. The children's bodies were not discovered until June. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
Although most of us are ready to social distance ourselves from 2020, it's worth taking a look back at what interested you this year. We've compiled a list of the most-read articles on EastIdahoNews.com. Our goal was to show the breadth of this 2020's stories, so we had to make a few adjustments: Let's take a look at what you were reading! Click on the headlines to look at these stories again.

10. 9. DeOrr Kunz vanished 5 years ago today. Here's where the investigation stands. - July 11

DeOrr Kunz
DeOrr Kunz
Two-year-old DeOrr Kunz disappeared while on a camping trip in Lemhi County on July 10, 2015. Since then, people have searched the area countless times, investigators have interviewed those who were with the boy, and no solid evidence on DeOrr's whereabouts has been produced. We hope 2021 brings answers for DeOrr's family and community.

9. WATCH: Yellowstone issues warning with video about how aggressive bison might be right now - Aug. 12

bison
Courtesy National Park Service
Tourists interacting with bison in Yellowstone National Park has long been a popular topic on EastIdahoNews.com. One of our first stories to go viral was this one from 2016, in which tourists put a bison calf in the back of a car because the animal was cold.

8. SEASON ENDING: Nearly all entrances and roads close in Yellowstone on Monday - Oct. 29

yellowstone sign
Yellowstone National Park sign
Yellowstone is an important part of east Idaho's economy, but we were surprised this one did as well as it did. In addition to the local interest it got, this article was picked up by out-of-state websites, and we were grateful we could tell the world about the seasonal closure.

7. I owe $12,000 on my vehicle and have $25,000 in savings. Should I hang on to savings or pay off the car? - Sept. 8

Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
This one was even more of a surprise. We love our columnists, but we never expect what they write to make the most-read articles of the year. Nevertheless, in this time of economic hardship, Dave Ramsey's responses to financial questions have interested more of you than ever. RELATED | Pandemic, politics and protests make Idaho’s top 2020 news

6. Idaho teacher no longer employed after racially charged, sexual comment about Boise mayor - July 29

Rita Soltesz
Rita Soltesz | West Ada School District
This teacher inadvertently taught the public an important lesson -- watch what you say on social media.

5. Idaho Falls man, two others in hot water after chickens found in Yellowstone hot spring - Oct. 30

geyser at Yellowstone
A geyser at Yellowstone National Park. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
While you're staying clear of the bison, don't get too close to the hot springs either! No word on how geyser-cooked chicken would taste, but three people were left holding the bill.

4. He thought he was meeting a teenage girl for sex. Instead it was a man with a camera. - July 15

Screenshot
Stories like these are some of the most unpleasant articles we have to write, and we wish people didn't commit these kinds of crime at all.

3. 'I was convinced I was dead.' Man survives grizzly attack in Henrys Lake State Park - June 1

Gregory 'Thor' Godar was attacked by a bear while hiking with his wife in Henrys Lake State Park on May 29. | Courtesy Gregory Godar
In this account of survival, Gregory "Thor" Godar was hiking in Henrys Lake State Park with his wife when he was charged by a bear and couldn't get to his bear spray in time. As the 500-pound bear slashed him, he looked into its eyes and was sure it was the end. He thought, "Well, at least I’m getting killed by a pretty bear."

2. Documents detail horrific manner JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found in Chad Daybell's yard - June 20

JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan
Since 2019, nearly everyone in our area -- and many around the world -- has asked, "Where are the kids?" We even flew to Hawaii to ask that question in January, but children's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, and her husband, Chad Daybell, stayed quiet about it. The answer finally came when investigators discovered the bodies of 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old JJ Vallow on Chad's Salem property on June 9. More details on the case, which has strong religious overtones, will likely be revealed in 2021 as the couple is tried for concealment, alteration and destruction of the bodies. Police are also looking into the deaths of the Daybells' former spouses. To see previous stories, a timeline, who's who and where the case stands today, click here.

1. Investigators question story of hiker found in Zion National Park, say statements 'don’t add up' - Oct. 24

Holly Courtier
Holly Courtier
Holly Courtier had been missing for nearly two weeks in Utah's Zion National Park. When rescuers found her, she was dehydrated, had lost 15 pounds but was going to be OK. The happy ending was soon viewed with suspicion: To law enforcement, the family's statements just didn't "add up." They also questioned a GoFundMe set up on Courtier's behalf, which raised thousands of dollars. === 196. New information released on closed Daybell court hearing === Published: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:49:21 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=462387 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell
ST. ANTHONY -- A court order summarized what happened at a closed hearing Friday in the Chad and Lori Daybell cases. Allegations of misconduct were made last week by Lori’s attorney, Marks Means, and Chad’s attorney, John Prior, against Special Prosecutor Rob Wood. The attorneys went before District Judge Steven Boyce on Friday after several motions were filed by the parties. Boyce closed the hearing to the public and media citing "prejudicial" or harmful information would be discussed. In joint motions to disqualify Wood from the case, Means and Prior accused the prosecutor of allegedly trying to “coerce, unduly influence, coach, and or intimidate” Lori’s sister, Summer Shiflet, during an October meeting in Arizona. Around the same time, he is also alleged to have been inappropriately discussed the case with Lori’s sister-in-law, Zulema Pastenes. The accusations are related to October audio recordings of Wood speaking to both women that were later given to the defense attorneys. Wood denied all of the allegations against him and requested an expedited hearing to clear up the situation. Wood affirmed Shiflet and Pastenes’ legal counsel was with them the entire time and had no objections to the questioning. Wood responded with a motion asking Boyce for a temporary judicial protection order that would prevent the parties, witnesses, potential witnesses, victims, victim/witness coordinators, law enforcement officers and court personnel from discussing the motions to disqualify or the related audio on social media or with the news media. The requested protection order also asked that correspondence or communication between parties not be given to news media or posted on social media. In the order filed Monday, Boyce denied Wood's request, meaning that those involved in the case could speak with the media while keeping certain documents sealed in the case. Among the sealed documents is an affidavit by Garrett Smith, the attorney who was present in the audio recordings of Shiflet and Pastenes. Means has also asked Boyce to stop Wood from actively working on the cases until a decision was made on the prosecutor's status. Boyce denied the request. While a hearing to move the case out of Fremont County is scheduled for Jan. 6, a hearing to decide if Wood should be disqualified is now scheduled for the same day. Wood and Prior want the hearing closed to the public, according to Boyce's order. Means wants it open to the public. Boyce has until Dec. 30 to decide if the public can attend or view the hearing regarding the request to remove Wood from the cases. The Daybells are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori’s two children. In June, investigators found the bodies buried on Chad’s Salem property. === 195. 'These are real human lives.' Journalists discuss covering Daybell case over the past year === Published: Fri, 18 Dec 2020 12:00:58 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=461773 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Four reporters are sharing their thoughts about covering the disappearance of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan one year after the case went public. EastIdahoNews.com News Director Nate Eaton and Reporter Eric Grossarth joined Fox10 Phoenix Reporter Justin Lum and Fox13 Salt Lake Investigative Reporter Adam Herbets for the in-depth conversation. Over the past twelve months, the four reporters have covered the twists and turns of the complicated case that has made headlines around the world. The journalists have spent months diving into facts of the case, searching for the truth in the kids' disappearance and finding answers to puzzling questions. Watch the entire conversation in the video player above and find the latest on the Daybell case here. === 194. Hearing to address alleged misconduct by prosecutor in Daybell case closed to public === Published: Thu, 17 Dec 2020 17:36:58 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=461880 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Pool photo
ST. ANTHONY -- A hearing regarding accusations of prosecutorial misconduct in the Chad and Lori Daybell case will be closed to the public Friday. The hearing deals with accusations made by Lori's attorney Marks Means and Chad's attorney John Prior against Prosecutor Rob Wood. Wood is the Madison County Prosecuting Attorney and is serving as a Special Prosecutor in Fremont County's case against Chad and Lori. In a joint motion to disqualify filed Tuesday, Means and Prior accuse Wood of allegedly trying to "coerce, unduly influence, coach, and or intimidate" Lori's sister Summer Shiflet during an October meeting in Arizona. Around the same time, he is also alleged to have been inappropriately discussing the case with Lori's sister-in-law Zulema Pastenes. The accusations are related to audio recordings with both of the women that were given to the defense attorneys. On Wednesday, Wood denied all of the allegations against him and requested an expedited hearing to clear up the situation. Wood affirmed Shiflet and Pastenes's own legal counsel was with them the entire time, and no objections were made to his questioning. RELATED | Prosecutor refutes allegations of misconduct made by Daybell attorneys The hearing on the misconduct allegations are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday but includes the annotation "CLOSED HEARING," according to Idaho's online court portal. At the moment, the audio recordings that are at the center of the issue have not been made public. In another document, Wood asked District Judge Steven Boyce for a temporary judicial protection order that would prevent the parties, witnesses, potential witnesses, victims, victim/witness coordinators, law enforcement officers and court personnel from discussing the motions to disqualify or the related audio on social media or with news media. The requested protection order also asks that correspondence or communications between parties not be given to news media or posted on social media. Late Thursday, District Judge Steven Boyce ordered an affidavit filed Wednesday be sealed and that "any further proposed affidavits or exhibits in support of the joint motions to disqualify be SEALED until further order of this court." In his order, Boyce wrote, that the parties’ privacy interests and right to fair trial outweigh the public interest related to the affidavit. It's not exactly clear as to what will happen at Friday's hearing or if the outcome will be immediately shared with the public. The Daybells are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori’s two children. In June, investigators found the bodies buried on Chad’s Salem property. === 193. Prosecutor refutes allegations of misconduct made by Daybell attorneys === Published: Wed, 16 Dec 2020 16:56:54 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=461734 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood
ST. ANTHONY -- Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood is denying any sort of misconduct in the case of Chad and Lori Daybell following accusations made by defense attorneys this week. The latest conflict in the Chad and Lori Daybell case began after Lori's attorney, Mark Means, and Chad's attorney, John Prior, filed motions to disqualify Wood as the prosecutor on the cases. Wood is serving in his capacity as Madison County Prosecuting Attorney in Lori's case and acting as a Special Prosecutor in Fremont County for Chad's case. The defense attorneys claim they recently received an audio recording between Wood and Summer Shiflet, a material witness and the biological sister of Lori. Also on the recording was Zulema Pastenes, another material witness in the case who is a former associate of Chad and Lori Daybell. The recordings were made at an Arizona police station in October. In his filing, Means alleges the recording clearly illustrates Wood’s "attempt to coerce, unduly influence, coach, and or intimidate Shiflet." With regards to Pastenes, Means said the recording shows Wood discussing "things that support the state’s position of the case." Prior's filed his motion to disqualify after Means and it is nearly identical to a section from Means's motion. Both defense attorneys allege prosecutor misconduct in the recording, which might prevent their clients from having a fair trial. They claim Wood violated Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct and assert that his actions might be construed as witness tampering or intimidating. Means further asserts that Wood has made himself a material witness in the case and that he intends to subpoena the prosecutor as a witness to support these and future motions. The attorneys ask the court to deny Wood from taking any further action in the Chad and Lori Daybell cases. Wood responded to the motions Wednesday. He maintains he did not coerce, unduly influence, coach, and or intimidate any witnesses. He calls the allegations meritless and says that during meetings with Shiflet and Pastenas, both were accompanied by their own legal counsel. Wood says the meetings were introductory in nature, and not investigative. Additionally, the meetings happened prior to interviews with Arizona law enforcement that Wood says he did not participate in. Wood says Shiflet's and Pastenas's attorney did not object to any of his statements or questions during the interaction, nor has he in the two months since the recordings were made. Wood affirms he did not make the recordings or consent to be recorded. Wood asks the judge for a hearing on this matter and objects to any extension of time for the defense on these motions. The audio referenced in this case has not been made public by anyone involved in the case. In addition to his response to Means' and Prior's motion, Wood has also filed for a temporary judicial protection order that would prevent the parties, witnesses, potential witnesses, victims, victim/witness coordinators, law enforcement officers and court personnel from discussing the motions to disqualify or the exhibits on social media or with news media. The requested protection order asks that correspondence or communications between parties not be given to news media or posted on social media. The Daybells are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori’s two children. In June, investigators found the bodies buried on Chad’s Salem property. A date for the hearing has not been set. === 192. Daybell's attorney argues why he thinks trial should be moved out of east Idaho === Published: Mon, 07 Dec 2020 11:19:10 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=460533 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell with his defense attorney John Prior at the Fremont County Courthouse. | File photo
ST. ANTHONY –- Chad Daybell’s attorney outlined reasons for moving his client's jury trial out of eastern Idaho in a six-page document filed Thursday. Defense Attorney John Prior's main argument for moving Daybell’s trial from Fremont County is extensive media coverage of the case - particularly by EastIdahoNews.com. Prior requested a change of venue in September and says in this new memorandum that a fair and impartial jury cannot be found in eastern Idaho. “East Idaho News, who has dominant and expansive readership within all of the Seventh Judicial District, has on almost a daily basis reported on information regarding this case,” Prior writes in the document. “Considering the pretrial publicity and the strong feelings in the community about the case, the Court should take appropriate steps to protect Mr. Daybell’s right to an impartial jury.” Daybell pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Prosecutors filed the charges after investigators found the remains of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan buried on his property in June. JJ and Tylee are the children of Lori Vallow Daybell, the woman who Chad married in November 2019 in Hawaii. She is also facing two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Prior argues that EastIdahoNews.com’s coverage has included interviews with material witnesses and photos of the location where investigators found the children’s remains. He called the coverage by the media “inflammatory” and says it exposes potential jurors to inadmissible evidence. Prior claims the media has reported “inflammatory and untruthful information” by insinuating that Daybell played a role in the Oct. 19, 2019 death of his former wife, Tammy Daybell. In April, EastIdahoNews.com obtained a letter from the Idaho Attorney General's Office that stated Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell are under investigation for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to Tammy's death. Nobody has been charged in relation to her death. READ PRIOR'S COURT FILING HERE “The prosecutor continues to allow this inaccurate information to continue by not providing the autopsy results performed on Tammy Daybell despite it having been performed (a) significant time ago,” Prior writes. “The advancement of this narrative in a small population area only continues to taint the potential jury.” Prior argues that the trial should be moved to the Boise, Nampa, Caldwell area as there are more people and the "hope of finding an impartial jury from a larger population is far more likely than in a very small number of eastern Idaho rural communities." Prior also mentions Special Prosecutor Rob Wood's hiring of Vera Causa Group, a communications firm handling media relations for the case. Prior says he has not conducted any interviews despite reports of facts he "takes issue with" and claims Wood is trying to "advance his own narrative." While Wood has issued a few press releases, he has not done any media interviews. The memorandum also touches on a private email sent by Daybell's sister-in-law to local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The email talks about how Chad's alleged fringe religious beliefs and the case impacted her and her family. Prior says even if the case is moved to western Idaho, potential jurors should be screened for exposure to potential pre-trial publicity. Lori Daybell's defense attorney Mark Means has also asked the case be moved out of Fremont County. At a hearing scheduled on Jan. 6, Means and Prior will make their argument before District Judge Steven Boyce in Fremont County. Prior will also argue to dismiss the case against Chad Daybell altogether. === 191. Chad and Lori Daybell trial now scheduled === Published: Thu, 12 Nov 2020 16:04:58 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=457787 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY —- New dates are on the calendar for the combined jury trial for Chad and Lori Daybell in 2021. The couple was scheduled for separate jury trials until last month when District Judge Steven Boyce approved a motion by Special Prosecutor Rob Wood to combine the cases. The Daybell trial is now scheduled to begin on July 12. The trial is anticipated to last for several weeks. The trials were previously planned for the first part of 2021. The Daybells are charged with felonies related to the concealment, alteration and destruction of the bodies of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Lori's two children. In June, investigators found the bodies buried on Chad's Salem property. All jury trials in Idaho postponed until 2021 due to spike in COVID-19 cases Lori has been in custody since February after prosecutors said she had abandoned her children. Chad was arrested on the day the children were found in his backyard. Additionally, Chad’s attorney John Prior was scheduled to argue for dismissal of the case in November, and a hearing was to be held to move the trial out of Fremont County. Those hearings have now been rescheduled to Jan. 6. Prior has argued that Chad cannot obtain a fair trial in the small eastern Idaho county due to extensive media coverage of the case. Mark Means, Lori’s attorney, has also asked to move the trial expressing similar concerns. === 190. Police reviewing investigation into the death of Lori Vallow Daybell's third husband === Published: Mon, 09 Nov 2020 10:01:32 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=457053 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Listen to the recoridng of Lori Vallow Daybell in the player above.
PHEONIX, Arizona -- Authorities have confirmed they are reviewing their investigation into the death of Lori Vallow Daybell's third husband after an audio recording was recently made public. Last week, EastIdahoNews.com shared the October 2018 recording of Daybell saying she "was going to murder" Joseph Ryan, her third husband. Ryan died of an apparent heart attack six months before Daybell made the comments. His sister, Annie Cushing, shared the recording in hopes that police would open an investigation. “I think for them to continue to say he died of natural causes is reckless,” Cushing told EastIdahoNews.com. In the recording, Daybell explained how she would justify killing Ryan using scriptures. Ryan is the father of Daybell's daughter, Tylee Ryan. Daybell went on to say that her feelings changed when she began attending a Latter-day Saint temple regularly. “I did not have a murderous heart,” Daybell said in the recording. “I just wanted to stop the bleeding and stop the pain. … I was like, ‘I’m either going to turn my life to the temple, or I’m going to commit murder.'” After EastIdahoNews.com and other media outlets posted the recording, the Phoenix Police Department issued a statement. "The Phoenix Police Department has been made aware of the information and is reviewing the 2018 death investigation of Joseph Ryan," a police spokeswoman said in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com on Sunday. Ryan's remains were cremated after his death.
Joseph Ryan | Courtesy Photo
READ THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE In July 2019, Daybell's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed by her brother Alex Cox in Chandler, Arizona. Investigators also suspect Cox is involved in the disappearance Tylee and Daybell's 7-year-old son Joshua "JJ" Vallow. They were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in June. Lori and Chad Daybell married on Nov. 5, 2019, on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. The Daybells were both arrested and charged with crimes related to the alteration, concealment and destruction of the children's remains. A jury trial for the couple is expected to happen sometime in 2021. === 189. Audio recording captures Lori Daybell saying she 'was going to murder' her third husband === Published: Thu, 05 Nov 2020 16:28:33 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=456808 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Listen to the the recording in the player above.
REXBURG -- Newly released audio of Lori Vallow Daybell appears to show her justifying the concept of murder using verses of religious scriptures. The recording came from October 2018 and was shared with EastIdahoNews.com by Annie Cushing, the sister of Daybell's third ex-husband, Joseph Ryan. The statements about murder were referring to Ryan, who died of an apparent heart attack several months before the recording. Cushing hopes by sharing the audio, police in Phoenix, Arizona, will open an investigation into her brother's death. Ryan's death is just one of several oddly timed deaths related to the Daybell case. "You think you can't be shocked anymore by Lori Vallow Daybell, and then you get a recording like this," Cushing said. READ THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE The 40-minute recording is of an informal religious discussion where Daybell preached about her beliefs to a number of friends. Cushing has not said where she obtained the record, but EastIdahoNews.com can verify the voices of several people at the meeting. At the time of this recording, Daybell was married to Charles Vallow. The discussion starts with Daybell talking about how much she loves Jesus Christ and her experience with angels. She talks about Moroni visiting her as an angel. Moroni is an ancient prophet written about in the Book of Mormon. Early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accounts describe Moroni returning to earth as an angel. Daybell also mentions her difficult divorce with Ryan and initiates the discussion about murder. "I was going to murder him," Daybell said in the audio. "I was going to kill him like the scriptures say. Like Nephi (another Book of Mormon prophet) killed ... just to stop the pain and to stop him coming after me and to stop him coming after my children." Daybell told those at the meeting that Ryan raped her children. She said that during the divorce proceedings, Ryan called her a "lying crazy Mormon." Daybell said Ryan turned the judges against her and was continuously trying to get custody of their daughter, Tylee Ryan. RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell "I would go through the scriptures and find all the things," Daybell said. "If he comes against you once, if he comes against you twice, if he comes against you three times, then you can kill him. It says it in the scriptures." Utah State University Religion Professor Patrick Mason, who specializes in Mormon history, told EastIdahoNews.com that Daybell appears to be referring to a passage in Section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants, another book of scripture used by Latter-day Saints. Mason said the revelation was given to church founder Joseph Smith in 1833 after early members experienced violent persecution from mobs. "The clear message of the revelation is the Saints should not pursue violence," Mason said. "But it goes on, and it does lay out a very specific criteria when the Saints could be 'justified on fighting back.' ... To invoke this particular revelation to justify murder even of somebody who has perhaps abused you or treated you poorly in the past, that to me seems well beyond what the revelation actually allows." As the thoughts of killing Ryan ensued, Daybell shared that a wise person told her to attend a Latter-day Saint temple, a sacred place of worship for church members. Daybell had been a longtime member of the faith and went to her local leader to obtain a recommend, which permits members who are deemed spiritually worthy to enter. "I did not have a murderous heart," Daybell said. "I just wanted to stop the bleeding and stop the pain. ... I was like, 'I'm either going to turn my life to the temple, or I'm going to commit murder.'" The recording has some similarities to other documents and videos that have been released about Daybell. In January 2019, Daybell's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, contacted police in Gilbert, Arizona and told officers that his wife was having a mental breakdown. Vallow told police "she just lost touch with reality." Body camera footage shows Vallow explained Daybell believed another person had taken over his body and Daybell allegedly told him, "I can murder you now with my powers." RELATED | Body camera footage shows Charles Vallow telling police his wife wanted him dead When that video was recorded, Daybell had been married to Vallow for many years. Ryan and Daybell divorced in 2004, but a contentious custody battle continued for years. Ryan died in April 2018. His body was not discovered for about a week. The medical examiner said Ryan died of an apparent heart attack, but Cushing believes foul play may have been involved. RELATED | Who’s who in the Daybell case Phoenix Police have not opened an investigation into Ryan's death, according to Cushing. Although she has asked, she said the department is sticking to the cause of death by the medical examiner despite the multiple other death investigations surrounding Daybell. "I think for them to continue to say he died of natural causes is reckless," Cushing said. The Phoenix Police Department did not respond to EastIdahoNews.com's request for comment. Just a few months after Vallow went to the police with his concerns about Daybell, Vallow died. In July 2019, Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Vallow in Chandler, Arizona. Cox is the same person who, in 2007, used a stun gun on Ryan and threatened to kill him. Cox ended up serving time in jail after pleading guilty to aggravated assault for attacking Ryan. Not long after, Cox also died of apparent natural causes. Both Vallow and Cox's deaths remain under investigation. After Vallow died, Daybell married her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, in November 2019 on a Kauai, Hawaii, beach. Thursday marks the couple's one-year anniversary. Shortly after the wedding, it was discovered that Lori's two minor children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow, had disappeared. RELATED | Mother shares ‘chilling’ experience of asking Lori Daybell where her children are Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy Daybell, died on Oct. 19, 2019, just weeks before he married Lori Daybell. Tammy Daybell's death remains under the eyes of investigators, including the Idaho Attorney General's Office. RELATED | Friends of Tammy Daybell express concern over her death Last summer, the two children were found dead and buried in Chad Daybell's backyard. Investigators believe the children died in September 2019. Cell phone data also placed Cox where investigators uncovered JJ's and Tylee's remains on June 9. Police arrested Lori Daybell on Feb. 20 in Kauai for the disappearance of her children. She was then extradited to Idaho. Chad Daybell was arrested near his Salem home on June 9, shortly after the bodies were found. The couple remains held in separate jails in eastern Idaho. They are charged with multiple felonies related to the destruction, alteration and concealment of the children's bodies. Charges for the killing of JJ and Tylee have not yet been filed. Although the Daybells are charged with a crime, it does not necessarily mean they committed them. In the United States justice system, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A jury trial for the couple is expected to happen sometime in 2021. === 188. Judge combines trials for Chad and Lori Daybell === Published: Thu, 29 Oct 2020 09:28:30 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=455980 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell
ST. ANTHONY -- The jury trials for Chad and Lori Daybell will be combined following a ruling by District Judge Steven Boyce Thursday morning. During the hearing, Chad Daybell, alongside his attorney, John Prior, appeared over Zoom alongside the judge and Special Prosecutor Rob Wood. Wood initially asked for the cases to be combined for efficiency as he planned to use the same evidence and witnesses to prosecute both Chad and Lori Daybell. Wood argued keeping the cases separate meant duplicative work for two separate judges and two sets of court staff. Additionally, the cost for bringing witnesses for both cases would be higher, and separate trials might create inconsistencies for rulings on evidence which may lead to potential appeals. Prior argued combining the trials will increase the media coverage. With that in mind, Prior claimed that it would become difficult to find an unbiased jury, making it unfair for Chad. Wood disagreed. "Separate cases absolutely mean more hearings, more media coverage and more difficulty in finding a suitable jury," Wood said. Both Prior and Wood mentioned that a motion for severance could be filed at a later date such as if a plea agreement or other resolution to the case was met by one of the defendants. Before making his ruling, Boyce said under Idaho Criminal Rule two people can be tried together when the defendants are accused of participating in the same act. Lori's attorney Mark Means was not part of the hearing, because he does not object to having the cases combined. Authorities arrested Chad on June 9 in Fremont County after the remains of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan were found buried in his backyard. In November 2019, Daybell married the children’s mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, on a beach in Kauai, Hawaii. Chad has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Lori was arrested on Feb. 20, and jailed in Madison County. She has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Her jury trial is set to begin on April 2. The next hearing for the case is scheduled for Chad on Nov. 24 when Prior is expected to argue the case should be dismissed. Prior is also planning to ask a judge to move the trial out of Fremont County due to potential jury bias concerns. === 187. Daybell's hearing to dismiss case postponed === Published: Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:40:19 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=455002 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell in Kauai Hawaii. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
ST. ANTHONY -- The hearing on a motion to dismiss the case against Chad Daybell has been postponed. It was scheduled for Oct. 29 but Daybell's attorney, John Prior, asked for it to be continued because he and prosecutor Rob Wood just received the preliminary hearing transcript and need more time to prepare. The hearing will now happen on Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. While the motion to dismiss hearing is postponed, the hearing to combine the cases of Chad and his wife, Lori Daybell, is still set for Oct 29 at 10 a.m. Wood is expected to argue that combining the trials will prove more efficient for everyone involved since they use the same witnesses and evidence. Prior opposes having the trials together but Lori's attorney, Mark Means, has said he has no objection to combining the trials. The Oct. 29 hearing will happen over Zoom and EastIdahoNews.com plans to stream it live. The Daybells face felony charges in Fremont County after the remains of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan were found buried on Chad’s Salem property. The two are currently scheduled for separate jury trials in 2021. READ THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE On Nov. 24, Prior is also expected to ask that Chad's trial be moved out of Fremont County. Prior says that his client can not receive a fair and impartial jury in the rural community of about 13,000 people. A hearing on if Lori's case should be moved is not yet scheduled. === 186. Tammy Daybell's family launches special project on anniversary of her death === Published: Mon, 19 Oct 2020 14:53:04 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=454811 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com SALEM -- One year ago today, Tammy Daybell died in her Fremont County home, and her family wants to make sure her life is not forgotten. On Monday, Tammy's siblings and parents announced the creation of the Tammy Douglas Daybell Foundation "to honor her legacy of service and love of literacy." "The mission of the Tammy Douglas Daybell Foundation is to give children the opportunity to love the written word," according to a statement from the family. "The Foundation has been established as a nonprofit organization and has been granted 501(c)3 status but is not able to accept donations at this time. Details of the foundation will be announced at a later date, but a Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts, along with a website, have been set up for the public to follow developments on the project. Fremont County Sheriff deputies were called to Tammy and Chad Daybell's home Oct. 19, 2019. Chad said Tammy went to bed coughing and he discovered she had died in her sleep. The 49-year-old mother of five had been in good health and was training for a race. RELATED | A closer look at two pivotal months in the Daybell investigation Tammy had visited with her siblings and parents two weeks earlier in Springville, Utah, and showed no sign of sickness. Within weeks of her death, Chad married Lori Vallow Daybell, and a massive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies was launched into her death, along with the death of Lori's former husband, Charles Vallow, and her two missing children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ON THE DAYBELL CASE Tammy's body was exhumed in December and the Idaho Attorney General's Office is investigating Chad and Lori for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to the death. Scott Graf, a spokesman for the office, tells EastIdahoNews.com the investigation is ongoing. Autopsy results have not been released. Tammy was the librarian at Central Elementary School in Sugar City and had also worked at Madison Middle School. She loved reading and serving others. READ TAMMY DAYBELL'S OBITUARY HERE "Tammy’s true focus throughout her life was her family, from serving a delicious dinner each Sunday to remembering every birthday and holiday with gifts," her obituary reads. "She also loved all sorts of animals, but she especially loved Indian runner ducks. She also raised pigeons, chickens, cats and rabbits, knowing each one by name. She loved gardening, cooking and playing games with the family. Her laugh will be remembered and cherished." === 185. Oxygen network to feature hour-long program on Daybell case Thursday === Published: Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:09:03 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=453577 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Watch a preview of 'Injustice with Nancy Grace' featuring the Daybell case in the video player above. Courtesy Oxygen.
IDAHO FALLS -- The case of Chad and Lori Daybell will be back in the national spotlight Thursday night as 'Injustice with Nancy Grace' features the story on the Oxygen network. The hour-long program will include interviews with Colby Ryan, Lori's oldest son, and Annie Cushing, Tylee Ryan's aunt. Law enforcement experts and EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton were also interviewed for the show. Producers have been working on the episode since February. "After devout, LDS mother Lori Vallow encounters a doomsday author, she descends down a path of darkness into a dangerous cult. The result is a trail of broken lives and dead bodies - including two of Vallow’s own children," a description of the program says.

FIND THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE

The remains of Lori's children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, were found buried on Chad’s property in June. She has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Chad pleaded not guilty in August to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. 'Injustice with Nancy Grace' airs on Oxygen at 7 p.m. MT. Episodes are posted online here after their air. === 184. WATCH | The Doomsday Couple: A COURT TV special === Published: Thu, 24 Sep 2020 18:55:27 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=451961 By EastIdahoNews.com staff COURT TV is taking a closer look at the Chad and Lori Daybell cases. In the video player above, watch 'The Doomsday Couple: A COURT TV Special" that originally aired Saturday, Sept. 19. Several guests were interviewed, including EastIdahoNews.com Managing Editor Nate Sunderland. Find complete Daybell case coverage and the latest here. === 183. 'She had a heart of gold.' Vigil planned for Tylee Ryan on her 18th birthday === Published: Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:31:00 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=451760 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
A makeshift memorial honoring Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan has been set up across the street from Chad Daybell's home. | Courtesy Janeese Summers
REXBURG -- Tylee Ryan would be turning 18 years old Thursday but instead of having a birthday party with her friends, a vigil and celebration of life is being held in her honor. "We want her to be remembered and celebrated for the strong, loving, beautiful girl she was," says Janeese Summers, one of the vigil organizers. "Her spirit is an example to all of us to love and care for and protect anyone around us with everything we have." The remains of Tylee and her 8-year-old brother, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, were found buried on Chad Daybell's property June 9. Tylee and JJ's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, married Chad in November. For months, they refused to tell investigators where the children were but police now believe Tylee was killed Sept. 9, 2019 and JJ died Sept. 23, 2019 - one year ago today. "On what would have been her 18th birthday, we remember our Tylee and express our gratitude for every moment we were blessed to have her in our lives," Summer Cox Shiflet, Tylee's aunt, tells EastIdahoNews.com. "We express our gratitude to all who love her and have prayed for her. We miss her every day. There will never be another Tylee!" Shiflet says Tylee was a talented singer, dancer, artist, photographer, decorator, hairstylist, makeup artist, impersonator and swimmer. She performed in shows at school and "excelled at anything she tried." "Tylee had such great insight and intellect, and she was very quick-witted and often spoke in sarcasm and dry humor," Shiflet says. "While she was able to verbally eviscerate anyone with one sentence, she never did so out of cruelty, but it was always done in humor and style." Tylee loved hanging out with her friends and visiting the LDS Temple. Shiflet notes that Tylee had "great faith in God and said the most beautiful prayers." At a balloon release program in Arizona meant to honor the children last month, Shiflet shared about her niece's kind personality.
A program passed out at a balloon launch for Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan in Arizona last month. | Courtesy Summer Cox Shiflet
"Tylee had a heart of gold, and would be there for any of her friends that needed anything," Shiflet recalls. "She always had great compassion because she had been through so much, which made her a great listener and great support to those around her." A makeshift memorial in Tylee and JJ's memory was set up weeks ago across the street from Chad Daybell's home. Photos of the children have been attached to a fence, along with ribbons, bows, flowers and signs. Rexburg Police Department detectives who have been working on the case stopped by to pay their respects Wednesday.
Rexburg Police Detectives David Stubbs, Ray Hermosillo, Ron Ball and Chuck Kunsaitis at a memorial honoring Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. | Courtesy Janeese Summers
"Like all of us, they never met Tylee or JJ," says Summers. "They have devoted the last 10 months of their lives to them and will continue to do so until justice is served. These men have seen things that can not be unseen, but I pray with time those dark memories will fade. Their dedication and hard work has not gone unnoticed." The vigil will be held at the Porter Park pavilion in Rexburg beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday. Members of the public are invited to attend. === 182. Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney files documents asking that trial be moved === Published: Thu, 17 Sep 2020 18:36:51 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=451039 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell | File photo
ST ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney is officially asking for her jury trial be moved out of Fremont County. In court documents filed Thursday, Mark Means wrote that Daybell can not receive a fair and impartial jury in its current location. Means asked that a hearing be held on the matter and he will support his reasoning in further court filings. Daybell pleaded not guilty on Sept. 10 to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. The charges came after the discovery of her children’s remains. In June, investigators found 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan found buried on the property of her husband, Chad Daybell's Salem home. Chad Daybell has also pleaded not guilty to felony charges and his attorney, John Prior, has asked that his client's jury trial be moved out of Fremont County for the same reasons. Prior has also asked that the charges against his client be dismissed altogether. READ THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE Prior and Means have hinted at moving locations in the past. Last month, three people in Fremont County told EastIdahoNews.com that a woman approached them and said she had been hired by a Boise firm to conduct surveys about the case. The woman asked if they had heard of the Daybells, if they thought Chad and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, were guilty and if anything might change their minds during a trial. The couple is scheduled for separate jury trials in 2021. However, Special Prosecutor Rob Wood has asked the judges on the cases to combine the trials. Wood said he intends to use the same witnesses and evidence and having them joined would be more efficient for those involved. Prior filed an objection to Wood’s motion last week, saying that it would be unfair to his client to have the trials together due to local and national media coverage being enhanced. Means has no objection to having the trials together, according to court documents filed Monday. On Oct. 29, Chad Daybell and Prior are expected to appear before District Judge Steven Boyce to argue that the case be dismissed and to not combine trials with Lori Daybell. Lori Daybell is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 25 for a pre-trial conference; however, hearings on the recently filed motions are likely to happen sooner. === 181. Lori Daybell does not object to combining trials and she can wear street clothes to hearings - with one condition === Published: Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:49:23 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=450832 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Pool file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell has no objection to combining jury trials with her husband, Chad Daybell. In response to the prosecution's request to combine the trials, Lori Daybell's attorney, Mark Means, said on Monday that his client has no issue with the proceedings being held together. Both Chad and Lori Daybell have pleaded not guilty to felony charges related to the grim discovery of her children's remains. In June, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan were found buried on Chad's Salem property. The couple currently has separate jury trials set for 2021. Special Prosecutor Rob Wood filed a motion on Sept. 1 to combine the trials, citing plans to use the same evidence and witness. Wood said having the trials together would make the judicial process more efficient. READ THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE John Prior, Chad Daybell's attorney, filed an objection to Wood's motion last week, saying that it would be unfair to his client to have the trials together. Prior says local and national media coverage would be enhanced, hurting his client's right to a fair trial. In addition to the notice of no objection, Means filed a motion to allow Lori Daybell to wear street clothes to upcoming hearings rather than jail clothing. Means says in the motion he's previously discussed the issue with District Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr. but did not elaborate on the reasoning. Lori has appeared at recent hearings wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt. Watkins granted the request and said Lori can wear street clothes of her choice as long as they are "solely provided" by her. Chad Daybell's pretrial conference is scheduled for Dec. 10 with a jury trial set to run from Jan. 11 to 29. Lori Daybell's pretrial conference is set for Feb. 25 with a jury trial set to run from March 22 to April 2, both being in Fremont County. A hearing to decide if the trials will be combined has not been set. === 180. Chad Daybell's attorney objects to combining trial with Lori Daybell === Published: Fri, 11 Sep 2020 09:09:03 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=450291 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell with his attorney John Prior at an August preliminary heairng. | Pool file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- The defense attorney for Chad Daybell says combining the jury trial with Lori Vallow Daybell will only increase media coverage and make it unfair for his client. In an objection motion filed Wednesday, John Prior claims an "overwhelming amount of local media coverage" already makes it impossible for Chad Daybell to receive a fair trial in eastern Idaho. He says combining the trials would be prejudicial or give the jury a stronger opinion toward his client other than the facts at hand. "Joining the cases combines the coverage of both defendants local media as well as national media and only adds to the level of attention and knowledge prospective jurors would have in this case," Prior wrote. Daybell pleaded not guilty in August to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. READ THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE A jury trial is set to run from Jan. 11 to 29 in Fremont County but Prior has asked the proceedings to be moved out of the county due to potential jury bias. Police arrested Daybell on June 9 after the remains of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan were found buried in his backyard. In November 2019, Daybell married the children's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, on a beach in Kauai, Hawaii. On Thursday, Lori Daybell pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Her jury trial is set to begin on April 2. Rob Wood, the special prosecutor in both cases, requested that Chad and Lori Daybell's jury trials be combined for efficiency as he plans to use the same evidence and witnesses. Mark Means, Lori Daybell's attorney, has yet to file a response to Wood's request but he is expected to ask for his client's trial to be moved from Fremont County. === 179. Lori Vallow Daybell pleads not guilty, jury trial set for April === Published: Thu, 10 Sep 2020 10:50:20 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=450173 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Daybell at her District Court arraingment alongside Mark Means.
ST. ANTHONY — Lori Vallow Daybell pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Thursday and her case will now go to a jury trial scheduled to begin in April. Daybell appeared via Zoom before District Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr. who summarized the two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Seated next to her attorney, Mark Means, Daybell showed little emotion during the 5-minute hearing. She was dressed in a blue sweater as she sat behind the defendant's table. Because of COVID-19 precautions, she wore a medical mask over her face. Means entered the not guilty plea on behalf of Daybell. The jury trial is set to begin on April 2 with a pretrial conference on March 22. Daybell is married to Chad Daybell, the man who owned the property where investigators found the remains of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan in June. Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. His trial is set for Jan. 11 to 29 and his attorney, John Prior, is asking it to be moved to a different county. Means now has 60 days to file a motion if he wants to change venues for Lori Daybell's trial. Earlier this month, Special Prosecutor Rob Wood asked that both trials be combined for efficiency. He said in a motion that he expects to use the same evidence and witnesses in the trials. Watkins and District Judge Steven Boyce, who presides over Chad's case, have not made any ruling on combining the trials. === 178. Woman speaks out after spending 4 days in jail alone with Lori Vallow Daybell === Published: Tue, 08 Sep 2020 15:03:00 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=449752 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- A local woman who spent time with Lori Vallow Daybell in the Madison County Jail is sharing details about the experience for the first time. The woman has asked EastIdahoNews.com not to use her real name for safety reasons. In this story, we will refer to her as Missy Cook. Madison County Jail officials confirm Cook was incarcerated on a parole violation at the time Daybell was booked. Cook was later sent to another correctional facility until she was recently released from custody. Cook visited with EastIdahoNews.com for two hours last week and provided notes she kept while behind bars in Madison County. The notes detail conversations Cook allegedly had with Daybell. During the time they were both incarcerated, Daybell spoke with her new husband, Chad Daybell, and her son, Colby Ryan. Cook overheard parts of those conversations from her adjacent cell. RELATED | Colby Ryan issues heartfelt message to his ‘beautiful, amazing, sweet angel’ siblings Cook also showed us a text message conversation she had with Daybell days ago through a phone app that allows people to communicate with inmates. Daybell remains in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail on two felony charges of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. She is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

Meeting Lori Vallow Daybell

While Cook was incarcerated in Madison County this spring, she was placed in disciplinary lockdown between March 4 to 8 for breaking jail rules. Deputies moved her into a segregated pod, which contained two cells. "Everybody in the jail was talking about how Lori was coming back from Hawaii and we wondered if we'd be able to see her," Cook says. "So I'm sitting in the pod and in walks two or three guards with her. They were very nice and she was nice. She walked in with her stripes on but she also had a bulletproof vest on. I had never seen another inmate like that."
Lori Vallow Daybell arrives at the Rexburg airport from Kauai on March 5, 2020. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
Daybell arrived in Rexburg Thursday, March 5 from Hawaii, where she had been arrested on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of a dependant child. Her children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, had been missing since September 2019 and Daybell refused to cooperate with law enforcement. WATCH: Lori Vallow Daybell arrives in Rexburg and refuses to answer our questions Jail officials confirm to EastIdahoNews.com that Cook and Daybell were in a pod together for four days. They had their own private cells but were able to walk out into the pod and watch TV, read books, make phone calls or talk with each other. "I made it a point not to ask about her kids. I wanted to gain her trust and see if she would tell me anything," Cook recalls. "I’d been judged (unfairly) for one of my crimes and turned inside out for something it wasn’t. I couldn’t imagine feeling what she was feeling when she got there." Daybell was upbeat and friendly, according to Cook. She never showed any sign of heartbreak, never cried, did not appear to be disappointed and opened up about how glad she was to no longer be in the Kauai Community Correctional Center. "She said the jail in Hawaii was so bad. There were roaches on the floor and it was awful. She kept saying how nice Madison was compared to that and how amazing the food was here," Cook says.

Going to court

The day after Daybell was booked, she was scheduled for her initial court appearance in Madison County. Media outlets from across the country were huddled outside the courthouse and hundreds of people showed up hoping to catch a glimpse of the accused criminal. "She was totally aware of all of it. She said, 'We have the death of Kobe Bryant and COVID but no - there’s me. I’m the lead story. I’m more important than all that stuff,'" Cook tells EastIdahoNews.com. "She knew she was the main story and she liked it." Daybell was proud to show off her blue toenail polish but complained about her dry skin and was worried about how she would look during the hearing. Cook gave her some lotion, deodorant and makeup she had purchased from the commissary. Many inmates also use Jolly Rancher candies and colored pencils for lipstick or eye shadow.
Lori Vallow Daybell at her initial court appearance in Madison County on March 6, 2020. | Pool file photo
"So she comes to the door and has on this bright pink lipstick. She said, 'How does it look?' I hesitantly paused and said, 'Oh....you look good,'" Cook recalls. "I gave her some tips and said she could use a regular lead pencil to draw in her eyebrows and helped her get ready for court." Cook says Daybell "knew how big of a deal" the hearing was and looked forward to it. When she returned to her jail cell hours later, she wanted Cook to watch the news with her. "As the news came on, she said, 'Here it comes! Here’s my story. Turn it up. Let’s see what they say about me now,'” Cook recalls.

Bail and phone calls

Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins set Daybell's bail at $1 million. She was determined to get out of jail and met with her attorneys for hours daily to see if she could come up with the money. "Every day she’s going out with her lawyers and I'd say, 'Are you bonding out?' She would say, 'I hope so,'" Cook says. "I remember before one of those meetings, she ran her fingers from her head down her body and said, 'We’ll see if all of this is worth $1 million.'" When Daybell wasn't with her attorneys, she was likely talking on the phone or having video chats with Chad or Colby. Daybell would sometimes wear earbuds so Cook could not hear what was being said to Daybell, but she listened to Daybell's words and took notes. "She talked on the phone with her son literally almost two days straight. After the big entrance at her arraignment, she got on the phone with her son and said, 'I didn’t see you (in the courtroom). There were just so many people,'" Cook says. "He kept saying, 'Mom, where are JJ and Tylee? Why won't you tell us? What's going on?'" Cook never heard Daybell discuss where her missing kids could be; rather, she would talk about memories from the past or ask Colby to show her his baby. When Colby became frustrated that his mom was not cooperating, Cook says she would tell him to read the scriptures. "She told Colby to read Job (a book in the Old Testament) and he would understand. She said she was being tested like Job," Cook says. "She would say, 'Colby, just listen to me. Everyone wants to know but it's none of their business. God doesn’t judge me and they shouldn't judge me. The prophet says to stay off social media so don't go on there.'"
Chad and Lori Daybell in Kauai, Hawaii on Jan. 25, 2020. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
Cook describes Daybell's calls with Chad as "nauseating." Daybell wanted affection and reassurance from her husband that he loved her and she always made sure she looked good if they communicated via video.

Life in jail

The day begins at the Madison County Jail with a standing headcount around 7 a.m. Breakfast is served and inmates must then complete chores. "You're given a bucket with cleaning supplies and you have to clean. Everything is metal so your spray things down, scrub the shower, scrub the floor - it's awful," Cook says. Lunch arrives around 11:30 a.m. and inmates are given an hour of outdoor activity. Dinner is served at 5 and everyone must be in their cells by 11 p.m.
Madison County Jail Lt. Jared Willmore next to a jail cell. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
Daybell never spoke to Cook about religion but spent her free time reading scriptures and praying. "I told her one thing that’s going to keep her sane in here is if she reads her scriptures every night," Cook says. "I said the only comfort she's going to get is to pray." In all the time they spent together, Daybell never discussed JJ or Tylee. Cook believed they were safe and never imagined their remains would be found buried on Chad Daybell's property on June 9. RELATED | ‘With heavy hearts’ police identify remains found on Daybell property "I thought the kids were alive. I really did. I thought they had them in a polygamy compound and they were there working while she and Chad went to Hawaii to live their lives," Cook says. After four days, deputies came to the pod and told Cook she was being moved so Daybell could be by herself. They hugged each other and Daybell said she was sad to see her go. A few weeks later, Cook was transferred to another facility. When she was released in August, Cook sent Daybell a text message through GettingOut, an app used to communicate with inmates. Daybell responded, "How are you doing? I've been praying for you. I'd love to visit with you. I'll schedule you in later today. Hopefully that will work." Cook has not heard back from Daybell since that day but hopes to communicate with her again. She says all the inmates in the jail are following the case closely. "I think she will turn against Chad. If she’s as vindictive as she is, those kids were buried on his land and at his house. I would turn on him to save my own ass," Cook says. Cook says it isn't her place to say what she believes should happen to Daybell. But she remembers one thing her old pod mate repeatedly said throughout their time together. "Everything has a purpose. God has a plan for everyone. His plan will be accomplished," Cook remembers Daybell saying. === 177. Chad Daybell's attorney asks to move trial from Fremont County === Published: Fri, 04 Sep 2020 14:50:11 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=449578 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
File pool photo | John Roark
ST. ANTHONY -- The defense attorney for Chad Daybell is asking the trial be moved from Fremont County because "a fair and impartial jury" can not be found. In the motion filed Friday, John Prior says he will support his claims in forthcoming papers, pleadings and memorandums. Prior is asking that oral arguments be held in regard to changing the venue. He does not give suggestions as to where he thinks the trial should be moved. Prior has hinted at moving locations in the past. Last month, three people in Fremont County told EastIdahoNews.com that a woman approached them and said she had been hired by a Boise firm to conduct surveys about the case. The woman asked if they had heard of the Daybells, if they thought Chad and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, were guilty and if anything might change their minds during a trial. Daybell pleaded not guilty last month to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. READ THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE Police arrested Daybell on June 9, after the remains Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, were found on his property. Daybell married the children’s mother, Lori, in November – two months after investigators say they were last seen. Lori Daybell is also charged in Fremont County with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 10 before District Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr. Earlier this week, Special Prosecutor Rob Wood has asked District Judges Dane Watkins Jr. and Steven Boyce to combine the cases. In court documents, Wood says the cases should be joined based on the fact that charges against the Daybells allege they participated and or conspired in an act or series of actions. Prior also asked on Aug. 27 that Boyce drop the charges, saying that Wood did not present enough evidence at a preliminary hearing to point the finger at Chad. A jury trial for Chad is set to run from Jan. 11 to 29 in Fremont County. === 176. Prosecutor wants to combine the cases against Chad and Lori Daybell === Published: Wed, 02 Sep 2020 15:39:03 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=449166 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell walk into the Kauai Beach Resort in January while they were under investigation for the disappearance of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
ST. ANTHONY -- The cases for Chad and Lori Daybell could be combined after a request from the prosecutor's office. Special Prosecutor Rob Wood has asked District Judges Dane Watkins Jr. and Steven Boyce to combine the cases in a motion filed on Tuesday. In the documents, Wood says the cases should be combined based on the fact that charges against the Daybells allege they participated and or conspired in an act or series of actions. "Trials in these matters will require the same witnesses and evidence be presented by the State," Wood wrote in a six-page memorandum supporting the motion. "In order to preserve judicial economy and efficiency, avoid delays in bringing either defendant to trial, and for the benefit of the witnesses and victims, these cases should be joined." Under Idaho court procedures, co-defendants can be charged under the same complaint if they are accused of participating in the same act or acts of the alleged crimes. Chad pleaded not guilty last month to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. READ THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE Lori is set to appear for her district court arraignment on Sept. 10, where she will enter a plea on two felony charges of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Both were charged after investigators with the Rexburg Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office and FBI located the remains of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. The two children of Lori were last seen alive in September 2019 before being buried in Chad's backyard. Two months later, Lori and Chad were married in Hawaii where they lived at the time of her arrest in February. The documents filed Tuesday are among a handful of new developments in the case. Last week, John Prior, Chad's defense attorney, asked Boyce to dismiss the entire case. Prior says prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence that Daybell committed the crimes. A jury trial for Chad is set to run from Jan. 11 to 29 in Fremont County before Boyce. Prior has until Oct. 20 to file a motion if he wants to move the trial to another venue to avoid potential jury bias. Neither Prior nor Lori's attorney Mark Means have filed responses to Wood's motion as of Wednesday afternoon. === 175. Chad Daybell's attorney asks for case to be dropped === Published: Tue, 01 Sep 2020 09:25:53 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=449145 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
John Prior and Chad Daybell at a preliminary hearing. | Pool photo John Roark
ST. ANTHONY -- Chad Daybell's defense attorney has filed a motion asking a judge to dismiss his client's entire case. John Prior filed the motion to dismiss with District Judge Steven Boyce Thursday stating there was not sufficient evidence presented at the preliminary hearing on Aug. 3 and 4. Daybell pleaded not guilty last month to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. At the preliminary hearing, Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins determined that special prosecutor Rob Wood presented enough evidence to have the case advance to district court. VIEW THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS IN THE DAYBELL CASE "The charges are not supported by the evidence and duplicative as allegations against the defendant," Prior wrote in the motion to dismiss. "Further, the prosecution has yet to present evidence to support when the alleged acts is (sic) supposedly to have taken place and if the defendant acted in any manner to support the allegations." Prior claims the accusations against Daybell made in the criminal complaint filed by Wood are "vague and broad." Prior says that Daybell's constitutional rights are being violated because he can not be "fairly notified and apprised of when, how and what he is accused of doing." READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT CHARGING DAYBELL Along with the motion, Prior asked that a transcript of the preliminary hearing be produced and that a hearing to dismiss the charges be pushed out long enough for him to review the evidence and the transcript. On June 9, police arrested Daybell after the remains Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, were found on his property. Daybell married the children's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, in November - two months after investigators say they were last seen. FIND THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE Lori Daybell is also charged in Fremont County with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 10 before District Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr. Chad Daybell's jury trial is set to run from Jan. 11 to 29 in Fremont County before Boyce. Prior has until Oct. 20 to file a motion if he wants to move the trial to another venue to avoid potential jury bias. Wood has not responded to Prior's motion, and as of Tuesday, a hearing had not been set on the motion to dismiss. === 174. Chad Daybell pleads not guilty, jury trial set for January === Published: Fri, 21 Aug 2020 08:32:06 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=447901 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Chad Daybell pleaded not guilty to four felony charges Friday morning as his case advances to a jury trial set to begin in January. Daybell appeared before District Court Judge Steven Boyce who read a summary of Daybell's charges, including two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Seated next to his attorney, John Prior, Daybell appeared via Zoom from the Fremont County Jail. He was dressed in a white shirt and red tie and showed little emotion during the 10-minute hearing. Prior entered the not guilty plea on behalf of Daybell. "By pleading not guilty you will maintain all your constitutional rights in this case," Boyce said. "Among those rights, you have the right to be presumed innocent. The presumption of innocence is a real and important right that lies at the foundation of our criminal justice system." Boyce further explained that unless Daybell pleads guilty at a later date or the prosecutor proves to a jury the charges against him beyond a reasonable doubt, the presumption of innocence remains. FIND THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE Boyce asked Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood, a special attorney appointed to the case, how long would be needed for a jury trial. Wood suggested three weeks and Prior agreed. The jury trial is scheduled to run from Jan. 11 to 29, in Fremont County. A pretrial conference is set for Dec. 10. Daybell is the husband of Lori Vallow Daybell, the mother of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. The bodies of the children were found in June buried on Chad Daybell’s property. Since his arrest on June 9, Daybell has been held in the Fremont County Jail on $1 million bail. Earlier this month, he sat in court for his preliminary hearing in which investigators, friends and other witnesses testified. Lori Daybell is also charged in Fremont County with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence. She is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 10 before District Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr. Prior now has 60 days to file a motion if he wants to move the trial to another venue. If convicted of all charges, Daybell could face up to 20 years in prison and $40,000 in fines. === 173. Inside the FBI lab that processed Chad Daybell's devices and other electronic evidence === Published: Wed, 19 Aug 2020 15:43:02 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=447663 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com SALT LAKE CITY -- It’s no secret FBI agents have been actively assisting local law enforcement in the Chad and Lori Daybell criminal investigations. Agents in Idaho and from the Salt Lake City division are involved and a large part of the case is being worked on from the Intermountain West Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory (RCFL). When investigators seized 43 items from Chad Daybell's Fremont County home in January, computers, cell phones and other devices were sent to the RCFL where Cheney Eng-Tow is the lab director and a supervisory special agent for the FBI.
Investigators meet outside Chad Daybell's Fremont County home on Jan. 3, 2020. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
"We’re essentially a digital forensic task force," Eng-Tow tells EastIdahoNews.com. "We’re made up of FBI and state and local officers who are assigned here by their agencies. Our role is to provide digital forensic services to all law enforcement agencies in Utah, Montana and Idaho." The Daybell case is still very active, so Eng-Tow can’t speak about it specifically, but he was able to explain what the 12 employees in the RCFL do when computers, laptops, phones, drones, vehicles, watches and other electronics come in. "If there is stuff on there that’s going to help prosecute somebody, we want to find it. If there’s not anything on there, that’s fine as well, but at least the case agent knows for sure what’s on there," Eng-Tow says.

Analyzing computers

When a computer is checked into the RCFL for evidence, a forensic examiner removes the hard drive and images, or duplicates, it on a separate hard drive. The original is put back into the computer and left alone. "The computer goes back in the evidence room, and we now just work on the copy that we made," Eng-Tow says. "After you’ve taken an image of the hard drive, you can hash it." A hash value is a string of text generated from a mathematical algorithm. Eng-Tow compares it to a "digital fingerprint" where every piece of data is unique.
Cheney Eng-Tow, the director of the Intermountain West Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory and a supervisory special agent for the FBI, speaks with EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Some computers have millions of files and terabytes of information, but with the help of software, examiners can scour the duplicate hard drive for anything that might be helpful to the case. It can takes hours, weeks or even months to collect the necessary information. "After we’ve done our examination, we then run a hash value again, which should match the original one," Eng-Tow says. "If (the case) goes to court, we can then say that hash value at the end matched the one at the beginning, which matched the original hard drive. Therefore, we can say that any evidence we pulled out of there was on there from the beginning - we didn’t touch or add anything to it."

Analyzing cell phones

Working on cell phones is a little different. You can’t image (duplicate) a phone, so examiners use software and programs developed by the FBI to conduct their searches. The challenge can come when the phone has a password or PIN that can’t be cracked. "Sometimes when you’re trying to break these passwords, you’re trying millions of combinations a second. We’ve had them run for months and not be successful," Eng-Tow says. "Sometimes we get in, sometimes we don’t. If you let it run long enough, hopefully, you’ll get in." Often, the case agent assigned to the case might obtain password information from other evidence, like hand-written journals. Eng-Tow says sometimes examiners find passwords for phones stored on computers or vice versa. If a phone or encrypted computer is particularly difficult to crack, it could be sent to FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, where enhanced programs and tools are available.

How the RCFL works

When evidence is brought to the RCFL, it is checked in, and a "chain of custody" is generated. That means any time anybody looks at it or checks it out, a record is made. The forensic examiners will gather information for the case agent and local law enforcement. Any law enforcement agency in Utah, Montana and Idaho can submit digital evidence to the RCFL, and the FBI covers the costs. That can be beneficial to small departments that don’t have a trained professional or the budget to analyze electronic evidence. There are 16 other Regional Computer Forensic Laboratories across the country, and they only handle police investigations.
A map showing where 16 Regional Computer Forensic Laboratories are located across the country. | RCFL.gov
"We can’t do work for private citizens. All the stuff that’s submitted to us has to come from a law enforcement agency," Eng-Tow says. Last year, 455 cases were submitted to the Intermountain West RCFL. The lab currently has about 150 active cases, and at any given time, around 50 percent of investigations deal with child pornography, sexual exploitation or sexual assault. It takes 24 months to become a digital forensic examiner, and not just anybody can get a job at the RCFL. You have to work for the FBI or the eight other agencies that participate in the lab: the Sandy City Utah Police Department, Salt Lake City Utah Police Department, Ada County Idaho Sheriff's Office, Billings Montana Police Department, Davis County Utah Sheriff's Office, Boise Idaho Police Department, Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Attorney Generals Office. The Intermountain West RCFL also has satellite offices in Boise and Billings, Montana. Some of the biggest criminal cases -- and many that aren't so public -- have been solved thanks to the men and women who work in the RCFL. As technology continues to change, the work is not slowing down and will continue to evolve. "Every case these days, the person either has a phone or computer or both," Eng-Tow says. "The trend has been more and more cases each year. It’s a neverending thing for us to continually try and stay up." RELATED | Chad Daybell case advances to District Court after 2-day preliminary hearing === 172. Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney reacts to LDS First Presidency letter === Published: Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:32:26 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=446964 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Mark Means speaks during a bond reduction hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell in March 2020. | John Roark, Pool Photo
MERIDIAN -- The attorney for Lori Vallow Daybell says a letter sent from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints First Presidency to local leaders last week is "alarming and concerning." Mark Means issued a five-page response Thursday after church leaders Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring released a letter Aug. 4 with the subject 'Involvement in Legal Proceedings.' "We remind leaders and members of a long-standing policy that Church leaders should not involve themselves in civil or criminal cases regarding members in their units, quorums or organizations without first consulting with Church legal counsel," part of the letter says. "However well intentioned, Church leaders sharing information in legal proceedings can sometimes be misinterpreted and even damaging." The First Presidency says if local leaders believe they should testify or communicate in a legal matter, they should first contact church attorneys in Salt Lake City. The counsel from leaders has been church policy for several years and is contained in the Church General Handbook. But Means notes that the letter was released on the second day of the preliminary hearing of Chad Daybell and could impact upcoming trials. "By way of issuing this correspondence on the second day of a preliminary hearing ... the LDS Church has told approximately 26% of the residents of the State of Idaho to contact Church legal counsel to enter into a code of silence and to only discuss their potential knowledge of this case and any other civil or criminal case after filtering said 'knowledge' through the lens that is the LDS Church," Means writes. "These LDS residents make up possible jury pool members, witnesses, judges, prosecutors, police officers, detectives, deputies, police chiefs/captains, and other elected and nonelected officials throughout the State of Idaho." Means says the church's policy is "disturbing, and at worst, criminal" and goes against its own doctrine that a Latter-day Saint should "strictly obey every law of God, including the constitutional laws of the land in which he lives, and do it with a good and honest heart." After authorities found the remains of her two children, ages 7 and 16, on the Salem property of Chad, Lori was charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, along with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. Chad is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Both are scheduled to be arraigned this month, and Means argues the First Presidency letter could impact upcoming trials. "The LDS Church has tainted the Court’s ability for full disclosure by LDS witnesses, evidence procurement, jury pool and the like," Means writes. "That, in turn, affects our guaranteed basic fundamental right of right to an impartial jury and the lawful and controlling presumption of innocence until proven guilty." FOX 13 first reported on the First Presidency letter Wednesday. Doug Andersen, a spokesman for the church, tells EastIdahoNews.com the letter "serves as a routine reiteration of a long-standing policy and has nothing to do with any pending case." "This policy is intended to help leaders in their ministerial role to all those they serve, by not appearing to take sides in legal proceedings and to avoid implicating the Church in legal proceedings to which it is not a party," Andersen says in a statement. "This policy is included in the General Handbook and similar notices have been sent in recent years to reinforce this policy." You can read the First Presidency letter here and Means's response here. === 171. Date for Lori Vallow Daybell's arraignment scheduled === Published: Tue, 11 Aug 2020 15:14:04 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=446550 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- The district court arraignment for Lori Vallow Daybell is scheduled for the afternoon of Aug. 27. Daybell waived her preliminary hearing last week, moving her case automatically to the district court. Daybell is facing two felony counts of conspiracy to conceal, alter or destroy evidence in Fremont County. The charges came after investigators discovered on June 9 the remains of her two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, buried on the property of her husband, Chad Daybell. The judge assigned to Lori's case is District Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr. He typically handles cases in Bonneville County but can cover any hearing in the 7th Judicial District. At the arraignment, Daybell will enter a plea. If she pleads not guilty, a jury trial date will be set. In Madison County, Lori is also charged with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime, and contempt of court. She pleaded not guilty to those charges, and a jury trial is set for Jan. 25 to 29 before Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard. Chad is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to conceal, alter or destroy evidence. Prosecutors also charged him with two felony counts of concealment, alteration or destruction of evidence. He will appear for an arraignment on Aug. 21 in Fremont County to enter a plea. Each felony count the Daybells face holds a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. === 170. The latest on Charles Vallow's death and when charges could be filed against Lori Daybell === Published: Thu, 06 Aug 2020 16:19:50 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=445933 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell speaking with police after her husband, Charles Vallow, was shot on July 11, 2019.
CHANDLER, Arizona -- Police in Arizona will eventually ask prosecutors to file charges against Lori Vallow Daybell in connection to the 2019 homicide of her former husband, Charles Vallow. Chandler Police spokesman Sgt. Jason McClimans confirmed to EastIdahoNews.com that detectives plan to submit their case to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office but still have a ways to go in their investigation. "Our detectives are still going through active search warrants and subpoenas," McClimans said. The charges against Vallow could vary and are up to the prosecutor, but police indicate a conspiracy to commit murder charge is possible. "This case is a marathon, not a sprint," Chandler Police Detective Nathan Duncan told EastIdahoNews.com. "We are conducting a very thorough investigation to determine the truth behind the murder of Charles Vallow." On July 11, 2019, Vallow walked into the Chandler home where Daybell lived with their two children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. An altercation followed, according to Alex Cox, Daybell's brother. During a fight that reportedly involved a baseball bat, Cox pulled the trigger of his handgun. The bullets struck Vallow multiple times, killing him in an empty living room. Cox called 911 and said, “I got in a fight with my brother-in-law and I shot him in self-defense." Body camera footage shows dozens of first responders rushing to the home. Daybell returns to the home and is seen smiling on police body camera footage. "We just moved in here," Daybell told an officer. "That's why the neighbors don't know us. I'm like, 'Hi neighbors. Sorry.'" In the months following the death of Vallow, Tylee and JJ disappeared and their mother married Chad Daybell. Cox died in December of natural causes, according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office. His death is still under investigation. Tylee and JJ's remains were found buried on Chad's Fremont County property on June 9. Since the grim discovery, the Daybells have been charged with felonies. Lori is facing two felony counts of conspiracy to conceal, alter or destroy evidence in Fremont County. In Madison County, she is also charged with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. She pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges and waived a preliminary hearing on the felonies. Chad is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to conceal, alter or destroy evidence. Prosecutors also charged him with two felony counts of concealment, alteration or destruction of evidence. He will appear for an arraignment on Aug. 21 to enter a plea. === 169. Lori Vallow Daybell waives her preliminary hearing === Published: Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:57:52 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=445833 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell and her attorney Mark Means at an earlier court apperance | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell's conspiracy charges will be heading directly to district court after a motion filed by her attorney Thursday. On Thursday, defense attorney Mark Means officially waived Lori Daybell's preliminary hearing. The move comes just days after her husband Chad Daybell had his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on felony conspiracy and destruction of evidence charges. Following that hearing, Magistrate Judge Farin Eddins determined there was sufficient evidence to move the case to district court. Since Lori has waived the hearing, her case moves to the higher court automatically. She will also not have to appear in court next week. Waiving a preliminary hearing is a fairly common occurrence in Idaho. Once at the district level, Lori will either plead guilty or not guilty. If Lori pleads not guilty, a judge will set a jury trial date. Lori is facing two felony counts of conspiracy to conceal, alter or destroy evidence in Fremont County. The charges came after investigators discovered on June 9 the remains of her two children Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, buried on the property of her husband, Chad. In Madison County, Lori is also charged with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. She pleaded not guilty to those charges and a jury trial is set for Jan. 25 to 29 before Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard. Chad is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to conceal, alter or destroy evidence. Prosecutors also charged him with two felony counts of concealment, alteration or destruction of evidence. He will appear for an arraignment on Aug. 21, in Fremont County to enter a plea. Lori's district court arraignment date has not been scheduled. === 168. Melanie Gibb reflects on testifying, meeting JJ's grandparents and her message to Chad and Lori Daybell === Published: Thu, 06 Aug 2020 07:50:41 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=445810 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Melanie Gibb says testifying during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing this week "was quite the experience" but her favorite moment happened when she met Larry and Kay Woodcock, the grandparents of Joshua "JJ" Vallow. Gibb was a close friend of Daybell and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell. Gibb has known for months that she would be a key witness during court proceedings as her friends face charges after JJ and his sister, Tylee Ryan, were found buried on Chad Daybell's property June 9. "Overall I'm grateful to be able to share the information and knowledge that I have," Gibb tells EastIdahoNews.com. "It's hard to talk about those things knowing the whole world is watching you." WATCH THE ENTIRE PRELIMINARY HEARING HERE A dramatic moment during Gibb's testimony came when Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood played a 21-minute phone call from Dec. 8, 2019. Gibb confronted Chad and Lori about JJ, lies they allegedly told police and the fact they had been "deceived" and were on a dangerous path. LISTEN: Melanie Gibb confronts Lori and Chad Daybell in phone call "I knew after many people heard that, they would understand Chad and Lori and my relationship with them a little bit better," Gibb says. "I'm really grateful that got to come out. I knew it would help so I was happy to share it." Gibb has received some criticism since first speaking publicly about the case in May. During an in-depth interview with EastIdahoNews.com at the time, she said Chad and Lori were good people and expressed loved for them. Weeks later, the remains of JJ and Tylee were discovered and Chad was arrested. The couple had told Gibb last year that the children were "zombies" along with Lori's former husband, Charles Vallow. He was shot and killed by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, on July 11, 2019. Cox died of natural causes in December, according to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner. "Chad and Lori never talked about killing anyone. They would always talk about praying and hoping spirits (of zombies) would leave the bodies," Gibb explains. "She was also predicting dates about things that were going to happen and they just never happened. It seemed like there was a prediction every month or every week, and they didn't happen. I didn't get a sense that any of the things she said would happen so I didn't take a lot of it too seriously." One of those predictions included a major worldwide this month. While the couple reportedly believed the world would end July 22, 2020, Gibb says she had never heard anything from them about that date. "Their biggest date was August," she says. "I don't think they thought the world was necessarily going to come to an end but it would be a sign of a new transition or maybe things would start happening after that time." While Gibb had spoken to the Woodcocks on the phone, she had never met them until this week. They exchanged kind words Tuesday morning before the preliminary hearing and Gibb told Kay Woodcock that she loved her. FIND COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE DAYBELL CASE HERE At the conclusion of the hearing, Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins said Chad Daybell likely committed two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. His case now advances to District Court and he will be arraigned Aug. 21. Lori faces two felony charges of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and remains in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10 and 11. Gibb says she hopes others who follow the teachings of her former friends will realize they are wrong. The experiences of the past year have strengthened her faith, she says, and she has a message for Chad and Lori. "I hope that they can realize this is pure evil. There's nothing good. The whole goal for them was to be together and they're not," Gibb says. "All the things that they thought were going to happen, their predicted revelations - can they not see that nothing happened the way they thought it would happen?...At some point, you're going to have to come to the realization that you can't live in this pretend bubble. It has to pop eventually because they're not going to come out of jail. They're going to be there the rest of their lives." Watch our entire conversation with Gibb in the video player above. === 167. GALLERY: Photos from Chad Daybell preliminary hearing === Published: Tue, 04 Aug 2020 20:52:59 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=445578 By EastIdahoNews.com staff This is a gallery of photos taken during the preliminary hearing for Chad Daybell in Fremont County on Aug. 3 and 4. All photos were taken by John Roark, the designated press pool photographer.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4

Chad Daybell and defense attorney John Prior are seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Prosecuting attorney Rob Wood objects to a field of questions during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell is seen during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Kay and Larry Woodcock react after the judge determined there was enough evidence to move the case onto district court during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell is seen during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
FBI intelligence analyst Benjamin Dean testifies about his analysis of Tammy Daybell's cellphone during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Kay and Larry Woodcock are seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Melanie Gibb testifies during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
FBI forensic examiner Gary Lyu testifies during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Bruce Mattingly testifies during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Deputy Joe Powell testifies during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Defense attorney John Prior addresses the judge during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Prosecuting attorney Rob Wood addresses the judge during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Defense attorney John Prior questions Melanie Gibb during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Kay and Larry Woodcock are seen behind Chad Daybell during Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Larry Woodcock listens to FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels' testimony about the discovery of bodies on Chad Daybell's property during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Whitney Gee, Idaho Victim Witness Association, left, and Kay Woodcock are seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Larry Woodcock listens to FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels' testimony about the discovery of bodies on Chad Daybell's property during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels testifies about the discovery of bodies on Chad Daybell's property during Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Prosecuting attorney Rob Wood questions FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels about the discovery of bodies on Chad Daybell's property during Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins speaks to attorneys during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell is seen during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Jared Scott Willmore of Madison County Sheriffs Office testifies about the jail's phone system during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Defense attorney John Prior questions David Warwick during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
David Warwick testifies during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Melanie Gibb fields questions from defense attorney John Prior during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Melanie Gibb speaks with Kay Woodcock during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL

MONDAY, AUGUST 3

Rexburg detective Ray Hermosillo fields questions as a witness during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Defense attorney John Prior looks over paperwork during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
A photo of Chad Daybell and his attorney, John Prior, during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell is seen during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Melanie Gibb testifies during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Kay and Larry Woodcock listen to testimony from Melanie Gibb during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Wynn Hill, Brigham Young University of Idaho's Dean of Student Services, testifies during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell and defense attorney John Prior look over evidence during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Defense attorney John Prior speaks to the judge during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell is seen in the courtroom as Kay and Larry Woodcock look on during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Rexburg detective David Stubbs testifies during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell is seen during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell is seen during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Rexburg detective Ron Ball begins testimony during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell enters the courtroom during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell looks on during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell enters the court during his preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Prosecuting attorney Rob Wood is seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Kay and Larry Woodcock are seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Defense attorney John Prior addresses the judge during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Kay and Larry Woodcock listen to testimony during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell, left, confers with defense attorney John Prior during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell and defense attorney John Prior are seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell confers with defense attorney John Prior during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Chad Daybell and defense attorney John Prior are seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins is seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Kay and Larry Woodcock are seen during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins listens during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
Prosecuting attorney Rob Wood speaks with defense attorney John Prior during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, August 3, 2020. | Post Register/ John Roark, POOL
=== 166. LISTEN: The jail call between Chad and Lori Daybell the day investigators discover remains of children === Published: Tue, 04 Aug 2020 15:41:49 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=445417 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
You can listen to the call as played in court above
ST. ANTHONY -- On the day authorities found the remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, buried in the backyard of a Fremont County home -- Lori Daybell, who was incarcerated in the Madison County Jail, called her husband Chad Daybell. On Tuesday, that phone conversation was played as evidence during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing. Lt. Jared Willmore of the Madison County Sheriff's Office testified during the hearing that the recording was placed at 11:03 on June 9. Willmore oversees the jail in Madison County. A great deal of the call is muffled, but the conversation starts with Lori asking Chad if he is OK. Chad responds by saying, "They are searching the property." At the time of the phone call, the Rexburg Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office, and the FBI were digging up parts of Chad Daybell's yard. With a search warrant in hand, investigators focused on two areas of the property, which eventually led authorities to recover the bodies of the children. In the call, Chad tells Lori he loves her multiple times and for Lori to pray. He also tells Lori that her attorney Mark Means might be contacting her. Daybell tells Lori he is glad she called. "So, we'll see what transpires," Chad says. By the afternoon, detectives recovered the body of JJ wrapped in plastic and duct tape. The following day, the burnt and charred remains of Tylee were also unburied yards away on the property. Within an hour of the phone call, Chad drove away from the property on North 1900 East. Law enforcement followed, stopped Chad, and placed him into custody. The phone call played in court Tuesday is the last known direct communication between Chad and Lori since his arrest. Chad is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Lori is also charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. She is in jail in Madison County and is awaiting a preliminary hearing later this month. You can watch the entire hearing on the EastIdahoNews.com YouTube channel here. === 165. Chad Daybell case advances to District Court after 2-day preliminary hearing === Published: Tue, 04 Aug 2020 06:50:07 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=445354 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Larry and Kay Woodcock react after Judge Faren Eddins announces Chad Daybell's case will be bound over to District Court. | John Roark, Pool Photo
ST. ANTHONY -- The case against Chad Daybell has been bound over to District Court and he is scheduled to go before Judge Steven Boyce for an arraignment on Friday, Aug. 21. After a two-day preliminary hearing in Fremont County, Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins determined there is sufficient cause that Daybell likely committed two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.
Chad Daybell in court. | John Roark, Pool Photo
Over a dozen witnesses were called Monday and Tuesday, including FBI agents, Rexburg and Fremont County detectives, the BYU-Idaho Dean of Student and two of Daybell's close friends. They received questions from Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Spencer Rammell, special prosecutors in the case, before being cross-examined by John Prior, Daybell's attorney. RELATED | Detectives, BYU-I dean, Melanie Gibb testify during first day of Chad Daybell’s preliminary hearing Daybell showed little emotion during the hours of testimony but Larry and Kay Woodcock, the grandparents of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, were visibly upset as investigators described gruesome details about the condition of their grandson when he was found buried with his sister, Tylee Ryan, on Daybell's property. Once Daybell is arraigned in District Court, a jury trial will eventually be scheduled. His wife, Lori Daybell, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Fremont County on Monday, Aug. 10. She faces two felony charges of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and remains in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. Below is an archive of what each witness said throughout the day. You can watch the entire here on the EastIdahoNews.com YouTube channel here. LIVE UPDATES
3:50 p.m. Eddins is back from a 10 minute recess. He says the reason preliminary hearings are held is to determine probable cause. Eddins says after reviewing all of the testimony, exhibits and arguments, Wood has met its burden of probable cause. Eddins says there is probable or sufficient cause that Daybell committed the crimes he's accused of. Daybell's case is now bound over to District Court and he will go before Judge Steven Boyce on Aug. 21 for an arraignment. 3:35 p.m. Wood says the state has met its burden of probable cause on all four counts facing Chad Daybell and he asks Eddins to bound the court over to District Court. Prior is now making his closing arguments and says there is no indication of when the acts were committed. Prior says the prosecution isn't "even close" on the conspiracy charges. Prior is asking the court to dismiss the charges and says the prosecution has not met its burden. Eddins calls for a recess and says he will make a ruling momentarily on the record orally. 3:30 p.m. Wood says based on the state of bodies of JJ Valow and Tylee Ryan, they were victims of a homicide. Wood says based on the evidence presented, both Chad and Lori were somehow involved. The bodies were concealed and found on Chad Daybell's property. Alex Cox became Chad's brother-in-law two months later when Chad and Lori were married. 3:25 p.m. Wood says he has no further witnesses. Prior has no witnesses. We are now entering closing arguments. Wood says if the court finds an offense has been committed, the court must bind the case over to district court. Wood is now summarizing the timeline and witness testimony. FBI EMPLOYEE BENJAMIN DEAN 3:20 p.m. Dean says between Chad and Tammy, from July 29 until Oct. 18, the lengthiest SMS message was about the raccoon on Sept. 9. Dean studied multimedia messages from July 31 - Oct. 25, 2019. Facebook messages were not on the phone. Prior has no further questions and Dean leaves the witness stand. 3:15 p.m. Back from recess. Benjamin Dean of the FBI remains on the stand. Prior is now asking him questions about the text messages on Tammy's phone. After Oct. 18, there were no outgoing messages from her phone. Tammy died Oct. 19. Calls did occasionally come in after Tammy's death until the FBI seized her phone.
2:35 p.m. Dean now reading the text message exchange between Chad and Tammy on Sept. 9 about Chad saying he shot a raccoon on the property. More on the messages here. Dean says the first message Chad sent to Tammy was unusual as most of the messages between the two were very short. Dean says this was the first message from Chad to Tammy where Chad explained something about his day that was so detailed. Dean also noticed the date was Sept. 9 - the same timeframe that the FBI had inquired the public for videos and photos from Yellowstone. Dean also knew Tylee Ryan was last seen alive the day before - Sept. 8. After reviewing the messages, Dean relayed the information to the case agents. Judge calls for a recess. Court will resume at 2:50 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Dean says on Sept. 9, Tammy's phone had text messages from her husband, Chad Daybell. There were messages between the two of them from the past including statements of affection like, "I love you," and "Can't sleep without you." 2:25 p.m. Dean explains how he normally analyzes technological evidence. He says he reviewed a cell phone belonging to Tammy Daybell. He knows this because the device username was listed as Tammy, the phone number matched her number, there were incoming messages with the name Tammy and outgoing messages signing off with Tammy's name. There were direct messages with members of the Daybell family and all the members in the group messages had contact names stored in the device.
Madison County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Spencer Rammell
2:20 p.m. Dean says in March, he began analyzing tips coming into the FBI after the agency asked the public to send information if they were at Yellowstone National Park in Sept. 2019 - the last time Tylee Ryan was seen alive. Dean also received a hard drive and a thumb drive that were inside Chad Daybell's home. He completed the analysis on the devices in late May. He also reviewed two Bluray discs retrieved from Daybell's home in January. 2:15 p.m. Spencer Rammell calls Benjamin Dean to the stand. Dean has worked for the FBI for six years and is currently an intelligence analyst. He supports active cases but his main job is to analyze information and make assessments about specific threats.
Benjamin Dean
FBI EMPLOYEE GARY LYU 2:10 p.m. Lyu says he "parsed" data from the phone - which is converting data into information that can be read by humans. Rammell has no further questions. Prior asks the name of a program Lyu uses and is nothing further from this witness. 2:05 p.m. Lyu describing a phone with a purple case and glitter that the FBI took possession of. The phone was locked so Lyu requested the FBI's unlocking service so he could examine the phone. He sent the phone to FBI headquarters and it was returned to him on March 12. 2:00 p.m. Lyu continues to describe the policies of tracking evidence once it has been admitted to the FBI. He took possession on Jan. 16, 2020 of an LG phone that was inside Chad Daybell's home. 1:55 p.m. Gary Lyu is now called to the stand. He has worked with the FBI for over four years. He is a forensics examiner and works in the Intermountain West Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. Rammell asks Lyu to describe the process of forensics investigations - from intaking the items, assigning specimen IDs to each item and a chain of custody report on each item.
Gary Lyu
FREMONT COUNTY DET. BRUCE MATTINGLY 1:50 p.m. Mattingly is asked about executing the search warrant at Chad Daybell's home. He is talking about processing evidence and log sheets. Mattingly drove electronic evidence from Daybell's home to the FBI office in Salt Lake City. There are no further questions from Rammell or Prior.
Fremont County Sheriff's Office Det. Bruce Mattingly
FREMONT COUNTY LT. JOE POWELL 1:45 p.m. Rammell asks Lt. Joe Powell a few questions about handling evidence and Powell is dismissed. Prior has no questions for Powell. Fremont County Det. Bruce Mattingly is now called to the stand.
Lt. Joe Powell
FBI SPECIAL AGENT STEVE DANIELS 1:45 p.m. Prior has no further questions for Daniels. The witness is excused and the witness cubicle is being sanitized. The next witness will be Fremont County Lt. Joe Powell and Madison County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Spencer Rammell will be asking questions. 1:40 p.m. Prior asking Daniels to point out the pet cemetery on an aerial photo of Daybell's property. Daniels says there was ash inside and outside the fire pit area. Daniels says burial site #1 was approximately 1.5 feet deep and at the pet cemetery (burial site #2), the depth was 2 feet deep. 1:35 p.m. Daniels says line searches were conducted and five cadaver dogs searched the entire property. A line search is where crews are in a line looking at the ground going back and forth - looking for any indications of a clandestine grave. Daniels says a clandestine grave is an instance where somebody is trying to hide human remains in a grave. 1:30 p.m. Prior asking questions about the pet cemetery and Daniels says within the area, there were 2-3 potential graves. Daniels says the entire property was not dug up - but crews focused on burial sites #1 and #2. 1:25 p.m. Daniels is back on the stand and Prior is cross-examining him. Prior asking procedural questions about processing the crime scene and the pet cemetery. 12:00 noon Daniels says this was not the first time he was at the Daybell home. He visited Jan. 3 while assisting the Fremont County Sheriff's Office with a search warrant and was the team leader. Photos of cell phones seized from the home are admitted into the record. Wood says he has no further questions and court takes a lunch break. The hearing will resume at 1:20 p.m. 11:55 a.m. Daniels say the excavation resumed the next day - June 10. At burial site #2, Daniels says a "mass of dismembered human remains" were found. They were partially burned and Daniels says it was initially hard to recognize what his team was dealing with. At the bottom of the mass, crews found a melted green bucket and to the side of a bucket was a skull. To the side of the skull, the team found a jawbone with teeth. The team tried to lift the remains out of the burial site but the mass fell apart. All the pieces were placed in a body bag and the anthropologist and coroner did an "inventory" of the pieces they had. 11:50 a.m. While the backhoe is digging, two vertebrae are found. The anthropologist is unable to determine if the bones are human or animal. The backhoe stops digging and Daniels says he smelled the remains of a decomposing human. The search continues and crews discover a possible pelvic piece of bone. At this point, Daniels knew human remains had been found and crews stopped digging for the day. This became began burial site #2. The pieces that were recovered appeared to be burned and some were pink tissue. Dismembered pieces were put in a body bag, sealed up by the coroner and removed from the scene. All human remains from day one were taken. 11:45 a.m. Daniels says an anthropologist was on scene to help determine the difference between animal and human bones. Daniels is now being asked about the pet cemetery area and the exvacation efforts at the site. Crews removed the first area of vegetation and eventually found two sets of animal remains. After the animal remains were found and moved to the side, a backhoe was brought in and it excavated the 10x10 foot area. It dug approximately two feet down into the ground. 11:40 a.m. Daniels say a white plastic bag was underneath the black plastic bag. He made a cut with a razor blade into the white bag and that's when "the possible human hair" started coming out on his hands. At that point, Daniels determined it was human remains. The team continued the excavation of the grave and eventually, the entire body was uncovered that was wrapped in this black plastic bag with "a lot of duct tape intermingled." 11:35 a.m. Daniels says a patch of vegetation was removed from the land and then large stones were discovered. The three stones were taken away and crews then discovered wood boards that were placed on the gravesite. Photographs and scans were taken during the entire process. The next significant thing that was uncovered is a black plastic garbage bag, according to Daniels. He removed dirt around the oval-shaped object and the plastic bag was tightly wrapped against "the shape." Daniels says it felt like the shape of a skull and he took a razor blade and made a cut in the black plastic. 11:30 a.m. Wood admits a photo into the record showing the clandestine grave area near the pond. They refer to this as burial site #1. Daniels and his team began processing the area with special equipment, including a scanner and total station to take measurements. Daniels says the gravesite is processed layer-by-layer as the team exvacates down into the gravesite. The area was then excavated layer-by-layer. 11:25 a.m. Daniels says they find a dog statue in the backyard and possible graves near the statue. Daniels believes this is the pet cemetery. FBI, Fremont County Sheriff's Office and Rexburg Police officers begin searching the property - including the pond area. A clandestine grave is found near the pond. 11:20 a.m. Wood has presented an aerial image of Daybell's property for Daniels to describe the scene. Daniels is talking about the fire pit - the number one priority going in. Based on a text message, Daniels says they were aware of the pet cemetery but they didn't know where it was on the property. So their job was to try and locate it. Daniels says the photographer went to the "priority" areas first and Evidence Response Team members then went over. 11:15 a.m. Approximately one week before they searched Daybell's property, Daniels say they came up with a strategy to execute the search. On June 9, early in the morning, Daniels and his team arrived. Every member of the team had an assignment and a crime scene log was established. A photographer was on-site and "priority areas" were designated.
FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels
11:10 a.m. Willmore is no longer on the stand and FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels is called as a witness. Daniels is a senior team leader for the Evidence Response Team out of Salt Lake City, Utah. He has worked for the FBI for approximately 23 years. He is describing some of his training and experience. 11:05 a.m. Recess is over. Phone call between Chad and Lori is played again from the beginning. This was recorded as police were searching Chad's property and the remains of the children were found. Chad says to Lori, "They're searching the property." Lori says, "The house right now?" He says yes, and then says, "Mark Means will be talking to you." Means is her attorney. Chad says they are "out on the property" and Lori asks if they are seizing stuff. Chad says they are searching and have a search warrant. He says "we'll see what transpires" and Lori asks Chad what she can do for him. Chad responds, "I'm feeling pretty calm. I would call Mark (her attorney) though and talk with him." Chad says he spoke with Mark and then says, "I love you so much." She asks Chad if she should try to call him later and he says, "I don't know." Chad says, "I love you and we'll talk soon." Lori says, "I love you baby" and the call ends. 10:45 a.m. Phone call between Chad and Lori Daybell on June 9 now being played. Chad says to Lori, "They're searching the property." Lori says, "The house right now?" He says yes, and then says, "Mark Means will be talking to you." Means is her attorney. Chad says they are "out on the property" and Lori asks if they are seizing stuff. Chad says they are searching and have a search warrant. They both sound sad and somber. Judge asks for a short recess to try and fix the audio issue. 10:40 a.m. Willmore explaining how the Telmate system works and that all calls are recorded. Willmore says he accessed calls made by Lori Vallow for the prosecutor's office and he listened to the calls. Willmore talking about a phone call made by Lori Vallow to Chad Daybell on June 9 around 11 a.m. This was the same day police were at Daybell's house.
Madison County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jared Willmore
10:35 a.m. The next witness is Madison County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jared Willmore. Deputy prosecutor Rammell is asking questions. Willmore has worked 17 years for the MCSO and he is the lieutenant over the jail. He oversees the Telmate phone system that allows inmates to speak with their family members. DAVID WARWICK 10:30 a.m. Prior has no further questions. Wood has some follow-up questions. He asks David to clarify that on Sept. 22, he did a podcast with Melanie and Lori and JJ was not there. David says that is correct but he saw JJ later that night when Alex came to put the child to bed in Lori's room. 10:25 a.m. Prior asking how well David knew Alex Cox. David says he did not know him very well. They met at Lori Vallow's home when they met in August in Arizona and Alex was at Lori's home in Rexburg when they met in the fall. He was a fun guy with a sense of humor - didn't take anything real serious. Prior asks David he has ever had any problems understanding conversations. David says sometimes but he asks for clarification. 10:20 a.m. David recalls a meeting with Lori and Melanie at a piece of property near Chad's home when Chad showed up with a realtor. The met for around 30 minutes. David now describing doing the podcast with Lori and Melanie. At Lori's house, David says Melanie was staying in Tylee's room and he was staying in JJ's. Prior asks David if Melanie has any hearing or auditory processing disorders but Wood objects to the question so David cannot answer. 10:15 a.m. David Warwick recalls the night of Sept. 22. He says Alex Cox brought JJ into Lori's house "later in the night." Chad Daybell was not there. On the morning of Sept. 23, David says he woke up to get ready to go home. He went downstairs to say goodbye to everyone. Melanie Gibb and Lori Vallow were there but JJ was not. David says Lori told him JJ was being a zombie, climbed up on the cabinets and fridge, knocked down a picture of Christ and then climbed up to the top of the cabinets. David asked to see JJ and Lori said he was "out of control" and Alex had come to get him. 10:10 a.m. Court recess is over and David Warwick is called to the stand. Rob Wood asks David how long he has known Chad Daybell. David says approximately five years. David says he met Lori Vallow Daybell in August 2019. Chad Daybell was there. David says he has never met Tylee Ryan but he met JJ Vallow on Sept. 21, 2019 at Lori's townhome in Rexburg. David says he stayed at Lori's house while he was attending a conference. He arrived Friday night around 7:30 p.m. David says he saw Chad three times over the weekend. MELANIE GIBB 9:55 a.m. Prior asking about Chad Daybell's books. He asks if David Warwick is an author. Melanie says that's incorrect. Prior says he has no further questions. Wood asks for a 5 minute recess. 9:50 a.m. Prior asking Melanie about the places where Lori Vallow has lived and when/if Chad has lived with her at different locations. Prior suggests Alex had a habit of following Lori wherever she went. Prior asking about King Noah - an evil leader in the Book of Mormon referenced on the phone call between Lori Vallow and Melanie Gibb. He's also asking questions about Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet. 9:45 a.m. Prior asks Melanie about the days she and David Warwick were in Rexburg last fall. On Sept. 22, she says they went with Chad to a piece of land in Rexburg and Chad encouraged them to build on that land. Lori Vallow was not present but Alex Cox was. Melanie says the visit to the land was about an hour. Prior mentions that on the night of the 22nd, Alex was babysitting JJ. Lori shares that between 9 p.m. - midnight, Alex was coming and going from Lori's house. Melanie was in one bedroom at Lori's house, David was in another bedroom and Lori was in her own room. Melanie says JJ had a little bed in the corner of Lori's room and that's where he would sleep. Melanie says she remembers Alex coming in with JJ while she was recording a podcast with Lori and David about spiritual experiences. 9:40 a.m. Prior asks Melanie about her relationship with Tylee. Melanie says she didn't have a relationship with Tylee. Prior asks about Melanie's relationship with JJ. Melanie says she tried to communicate but he did not reciprocate so there wasn't a relationship. Prior asks Melanie if she has an autistic child and she says she does. Melanie says her autistic child was interviewed by the police about the whereabouts of JJ. Melanie's son told her that he had a short visit with officers about the whereabouts of JJ. 9:35 a.m. Prior now asking about Alex Cox. He asks Melanie to describe Alex's relationship with Lori. Melanie says they were very close. Prior mentions that Alex gave up a job to move with Lori to Rexburg. They talk about how close they are as brother and sister. 9:30 a.m. Prior asks who was present during her meeting with Rob Wood on Saturday. She says Wood was there along with her boyfriend, David Warwick, and some law enforcement officers were there. Prior asks how many times Melanie has spoken with FBI agents. She says 2-3 times sometime in 2020. Prior asks when, specifically, and Melanie says she can't recall. He is now listing months of the year and Melanie says she can't recall the specific time. Prior asks, "Was it an uneventful discussion? Is that why you can't remember it?" Melanie says she doesn't remember because it was on the phone. 9:25 a.m. Prior asks if Melanie ever met with Rexburg Police officers. She says some RPD detectives and prosecutor Rob Wood traveled to Arizona to meet with her. The topic of the discussion was "everybody" - meaning Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow and Alex Cox. Prior asks if police discussed with Melanie the fact that she lied to a police officer. Melanie says no. Prior asks if she was ever offered any deal to testify in the case. Melanie responds, "Never." Prior asks Melanie when she arrived in town. She says yes - on Saturday. Prior asks if Wood coached her or told her how to respond to questions when she arrived. She said no. Melanie said, "He asked me questions, I offered answers." 9:20 a.m. Melanie admits she lied to the police about the fact that she had JJ. Prior asking if she knows lying to police is a crime. She says yes and then called the police to admit she had lied. Melanie says she went to Utah and when she arrived home to Arizona, she immediately went to the Gilbert Police Department and spoke with Officer Pillar for at least two hours. She then visited him again in-person within a few weeks. 9:15 a.m. Melanie says she had a very close friendship with Lori. Prior asks if they were like sisters. Melanie says "possibly." Prior asks Melanie how many times she has spoken with the Gilbert Police Department. Melanie says multiple times - maybe 5-6. She says the first time she spoke with police was on Dec. 7 or 8. Prior asks if it's possible that a Gilbert officer left her a voicemail in November. She says yes. 9:10 a.m. Prior asks if Melanie has any sort of disorder that helps her understand things. Melanie says no. Prior asks when Melanie met Lori Vallow. She says at a church. Chad was not there, according to Melanie. Melanie says she met Chad in Mesa, Arizona in 2018 a week or two after she met Lori. They then saw each other again in St. George, Utah at a conference about science, Book of Mormon evidence, dreams, visions, etc. Prior asks Melanie her relationship with David Warwick. She says David is her boyfriend. 9:05 a.m. Melanie says she first met Chad 2-3 years ago at a preparedness camp in Morgan, Utah. Prior asks if the preparedness camp has any kind of religious undertones. Melanie says people shared their spiritual experiences and dreams at the camp. When asked if there was any church affiliated with the group, Melanie says it was members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior asks why Melanie looked at Rob Wood. She says she was looking around the room.
Melanie Gibb
9:00 a.m. Day 2 of Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing is underway. Melanie Gibb is the first witness on the stand. Daybell's defense attorney, John Prior, will begin questioning her.

ORIGINAL STORY

ST. ANTHONY -- Chad Daybell will appear before Judge Faren Eddins for a second day Tuesday as his preliminary hearing continues. Proceedings are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. in the Fremont County Courthouse and will be streamed lived on EastIdahoNews.com. Daybell is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. On Monday, Rexburg Police detectives, the Brigham Young University-Idaho Student Dean and Melanie Gibb, a close friend, offered testimony. Tuesday's hearing will begin with Gibb back on the stand as Daybell's attorney, John Prior, begins his cross-examination. Daybell was escorted into court wearing a bulletproof vest and handcuffs. Dressed in a white shirt and tie, he showed very emotion although he did smile occasionally during proceedings.
The purpose of the hearing is for Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood to convince Eddins that Daybell likely committed the crimes he’s accused of. Wood has subpoenaed several people to testify, including FBI Special Agent Benjamin Dean, FBI Special Agent Steven Daniels, FBI Special Agent Gary Lyu and Rylene Nowlin, an employee with Idaho State Police Forensic Services. RELATED | Detectives, BYU-I dean, Melanie Gibb testify during first day of Chad Daybell’s preliminary hearing At the conclusion of the hearing, Eddins will decide whether Daybell’s case should be bound over, or advanced, from magistrate court to district court. If that happens, a district judge will be assigned, an arraignment will be scheduled and the case will eventually go before a jury. Daybell was arrested June 9 after the remains of Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, were found buried on his property. His wife, Lori Daybell, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Fremont County Monday, Aug. 10 on two felony charges of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. FIND COMPLETE DAYBELL COVERAGE HERE EastIdahoNews.com will provide numerous updates on this story throughout the day as the hearing progresses. Refresh this page for the latest details beginning at 9 a.m. === 164. LISTEN: Body cam footage of Rexburg detectives confronting Lori Vallow about her missing kids === Published: Tue, 04 Aug 2020 06:38:56 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=445351 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- For the first time, the public is hearing Lori Vallow's reaction when detectives showed up at her Rexburg townhome and asked about her son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow. During testimony Monday, footage from a body camera worn by Detective David Stubbs on Nov. 26, 2019 was shown during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing. Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins has prohibited the media from showing video or photos presented during the hearing, but the public was able to listen to audio of the encounter. You can hear what happened in the video player cover. Click here for a complete story on the preliminary hearing and comprehensive coverage of the Daybell case can be found here. === 163. LISTEN: Melanie Gibb confronts Lori and Chad Daybell in phone call === Published: Mon, 03 Aug 2020 20:11:03 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=445295 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- A phone confrontation between Melanie Gibb and former friends Chad and Lori Daybell was streamed around the world Monday during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fremont County. The call reportedly happened on Dec. 8, 2019, and centered around the location of Lori Daybell's then-missing children Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. In the recording, Gibb confronts the Daybells about why they asked her to lie to law enforcement. Chad is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. He was arrested June 9 after the remains of JJ and Tylee were found buried on his property. During police's initial investigation into the whereabouts of the children, Lori told Rexburg police officers JJ was staying with Gibb. RELATED | Detectives, BYU-I dean, Melanie Gibb testify during first day of Chad Daybell’s preliminary hearing Chad and Lori later asked Gibb to lie about the boy being with her. Gibb was one of the witnesses to take the stand Monday, and during her testimony, Gibb told the court that she made the recording on her own, without the knowledge of law enforcement. The topics on the call varied widely, beginning with why Gibb was asked to lie, and a discussion about the whereabouts of JJ. It then shifts to points of religious doctrine from their shared Latter-day Saint faith, before finally becoming full-blown accusations of wrongdoing. At one point, Lori assures Gibb that JJ is safe. “I know exactly where he is," Lori says. "He’s perfectly fine and safe.” Eventually, Gibb tells Lori she is very concerned about their behavior, before the phone call abruptly ends.
The portion of Chad Daybell's Monday preliminary hearing where a recorded call of him and Lori Daybell being confronted by their friend Melanie Gibb
Listen to the entire call in the video above. Lori is also charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. She is in jail in Madison County and is awaiting a preliminary hearing later this month. Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing continues Tuesday at 9 a.m. with John Prior, Daybell’s attorney, cross-examining Gibb. EastIdahoNews.com will provide complete coverage of the hearing. Here is an archive of what each witness said throughout the day. You can watch the entire hearing on the EastIdahoNews.com YouTube channel here.
Chad Daybell at his preliminary hearing on Monday. | John Roark, Post Register
=== 162. What's expected to happen at Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing === Published: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 09:33:53 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=444843 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Chad Daybell will appear before a judge and hear evidence about the crimes he allegedly committed for the first time in person Monday. A preliminary hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in the Fremont County Courthouse. Daybell is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. He was arrested June 9 after the remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, were found buried on his property. Since then, he has appeared for court hearings from the Fremont County Jail via Zoom but on Monday, he and his attorney, John Prior, will go before Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins in a courtroom while Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood calls witnesses and presents evidence. Wood has been appointed as a special prosecutor in the case. "A preliminary hearing is where a judge in open court makes a determination whether there’s probable cause. More specifically, the judge determines whether a crime was committed and whether the defendant probably committed that crime," says Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Danny Clark.

FIND THE LATEST NEWS ON THE DAYBELL CASE HERE

Clark is not associated with the Daybell cases but agreed to speak to EastIdahoNews.com to explain how court proceedings generally work. He says once a criminal complaint is filed and a defendant is in custody, a preliminary hearing is usually held within 14 days. In big cases, that timeframe can be extended. During Daybell's hearing, Wood will need to convince Eddins that Daybell likely committed the crimes he's accused of. Wood has subpoenaed several people to testify, including FBI Special Agent Benjamin Dean, FBI Special Agent Steven Daniels, FBI Special Agent Gary Lyu and Rylene Nowlin, an employee with Idaho State Police Forensic Services. Melanie Gibb and David Warwick, friends of Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell's, confirm to EastIdahoNews.com that they will also be called as witnesses. "This is the first time in open court where the defendant has the right to vet or challenge evidence in some way," Clark says. "It would be very unlikely for the defense to put on any evidence at all in a preliminary hearing. Even if they have some, they generally would not put it on. It’s always the state that’s putting on the evidence at a prelim." Danny Clark
Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Danny Clark
Even though Wood will be arguing his case, Clark says prosecutors rarely present all of their evidence at a preliminary hearing because they don't need to. "The obligation is to put on sufficient competent evidence to show the defendant probably committed the crime. That’s the legal standard," Clark explains. After the hearing, Eddins will decide whether Daybell's case should be bound over, or advanced, from magistrate court to district court. If that happens, a district judge will be assigned, and Eddins will no longer be involved. An arraignment will then be scheduled, where Daybell will enter a guilty or not guilty plea. If he pleads guilty, a trial does not need to be held. If he pleads not guilty, the case will eventually go before a jury, but that can take some time. RELATED | Trial dates pushed back again as COVID-19 spreads across Idaho "I can't speak to this case or its timing, but typically on a homicide case, you're 12 to 24 months, under the best of circumstances, for those to come to trial and some completion. That's without any delays," Clark says.
Chad and Lori Daybell in Hawaii in January 2020. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
One week after Daybell's hearing, his wife and the mother of the deceased children, Lori Vallow Daybell, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in front of the same judge. She is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. It's possible both defendants could waive their hearings up until the time they are scheduled. If that happens, their cases would automatically advance to district court. While the public may be anxious for a quick resolution, Clark says justice takes time, and it's important to be patient. "This is a government body intervening in someone's life - affecting their personal rights and civil liberties," Clark says. "We’ve got to balance that against the demand on the government to ensure that everything’s done just right with respect to the defendant. Those things take some time." EastIdahoNews.com will provide complete live coverage of Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing beginning Monday at 9 a.m. === 161. Judge determines attorney can stay on Daybell case despite conflict of interest === Published: Tue, 28 Jul 2020 15:40:12 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=444452 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney Mark Means outside the Madison County Courthouse. At one point, he represented both Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Mark Means, the Meridian defense attorney representing Lori Vallow Daybell, will continue to serve on her behalf, despite a conflict of interest. The conflict stems from a statement made to EastIdahoNews.com in April, where Means confirmed he was representing both Lori and her husband, Chad Daybell in relation to the disappearance of Lori's two kids, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. After the children were found dead on Chad's Salem property, Chad dropped Means and retained John Prior of Caldwell as counsel. "After exhaustive analysis, the Court finds that any conflict of interest has been adequately waived for the current proceedings," Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins wrote in an order filed Tuesday. "This case can proceed forward with current counsel." It's not completely clear why Means representing both defendants creates a conflict, and all the documents regarding the conflict have been sealed. During Lori's initial appearance in a Fremont County court on June 30, Eddins asked Means if he had ever represented anyone else associated with the case. Means responded no. Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood interrupted him. “Your honor, I need to interject. At a bail reduction here in Madison County, Mr. Means did represent to the court that he was also representing Mr. Daybell. There was no criminal matter against him at that time, but I think that is appropriate to know,” Wood said.
Chad and Lori Daybell | Jail photos
On April 28, Means tweeted that his office was representing Chad Daybell and anyone wanting to reach him needed to contact Means.

Please not that this office (notice being provided by other means as well) represents Mr. Chad Daybell. If any agency, investigative authority etc., wishes to contact my client please contact my office directly.

— Mark Means Law (@MeansLaw) April 28, 2020
Due to the disagreement about representation between Wood and Means, Eddins ordered a hearing to listen to arguments. However, Eddins also ordered that any documents, including motions, memorandums, briefs and affidavits regarding if a conflict exists with Means in the case be sealed. In his order, Eddins said Lori's right to privacy in this matter and right to a fair trial outweighed public disclosure. "Sealed hearings were held regarding potential attorney conflict of interest," Eddin's wrote in Tuesday's filing. "The Court listened carefully to the oral arguments and thoroughly reviewed documents submitted by the state and counsel for the defendant." The Daybells are facing felony charges related to the destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence -- namely the bodies of Tylee and JJ. Preliminary hearings for the couple are set to begin next month. Court dockets indicate Chad’s hearing will start on Aug. 3, and Lori’s will begin on Aug. 10. Eddins upheld on Monday those hearings can be live-streamed or broadcasted, which will be carried on EastIdahoNews.com. Means could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. EastIdahoNews.com will update this story if we receive one. === 160. WATCH: Judge rules Daybell preliminary hearings can be broadcast === Published: Mon, 27 Jul 2020 14:18:30 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=444373 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY – A judge decided to still allow the broadcast of the Chad and Lori Daybell preliminary hearings set for next month. Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood asked Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins to not allow video cameras in the courtroom. He said broadcasting or livestreaming the hearing would make it more difficult to pick an unbiased jury. Both the media and defense attorneys, Mark Means for Lori, and John Prior for Chad, filed objections to Wood’s motion. “We’re not asking for a closed hearing. We’re not asking for a sealed hearing,” Wood said. The Daybells are facing felony charges in Fremont County after investigators discovered the remains of Lori's children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home. Court dockets indicate Chad’s hearing will start on Aug. 3 and Lori’s will begin on Aug. 10. Lori did not appear with Means in Monday's hearing, but Chad was with Prior. Chad did not say anything at the motion hearing Monday afternoon. “This is simply not a hypothetical issue,” Wood said at the motion hearing Monday afternoon. “The level of public interest, in this case, is so high. ... Exposure of evidence in a courtroom setting not only will create bias to potential jurors, but also the fact that it creates the appearance and possibility of bias is sufficient for the court not allowing video cameras.” If Woods' request had been approved, it would have essentially closed off the courtroom to the public, though the public and media would have been allowed to view transcripts or audio recordings of the hearings after. Under an Idaho Supreme Court Order, public access to hearings is limited to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As an alternative, many hearings have been broadcasted or livestreamed over Zoom or YouTube. “We believe that the video feed is really the very appropriate solution balancing all the factors in this case,” said Steve Wright, an Idaho Falls attorney hired by the media. “It’s the least intrusive method. It is a way to provide accurate information.” EastIdahoNews.com jointly hired Wright to object to Wood’s motion. Other media outlets participating include the Post Register, KIFI Local News 8, KPVI NewsChannel 6, The Idaho Statesman, KIVI Idaho News 6, KSL TV 5, Court TV and NBC News. “Publicity is not a bad thing,” Wright said. “In fact, it’s a good thing. The concern is bias arising from inaccurate information and there is no better way to make sure accurate information is provided that through a video feed.” Wood argued that having the hearings broadcast is not protected under the U.S. Constitution. He said the U.S. Supreme Court has not broadcast its hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic. “That accomplishes nothing other than interfering the media’s ability to try to provide appropriate coverage in this case,” Wright responded. Both Means and Prior agreed with Wright in that allowing livestreaming of the hearing is the best solution to the COVID-19 restrictions in place. Prior said the only other option to keep the hearing available to the public would be to open the doors for everyone. He said that is not an option in the midst of the global pandemic. “The public has the right to access court proceedings and should have the ability to scrutinize the court proceedings, even scrutinize what each of us do in our own roles during the judicial process,” Eddins said. Eddins said many already have strong feelings about the Daybell case. He said he has a priority to be transparent, allowing the public can be assured of the fairness of the judicial system. “The court finds no other viable option beyond allowing one news media outlet to broadcast the preliminary hearing and one media outlet to photograph the preliminary hearing in order to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19 while still guaranteeing their constitutional rights,” Eddins said. === 159. East Idaho News joins with other media in opposing request to ban cameras from Daybell hearings === Published: Fri, 24 Jul 2020 16:37:47 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=444128 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell
IDAHO FALLS -- EastIdahoNews.com joined with a cadre of local, regional and national media Friday in filing a legal objection in the upcoming court proceedings for Chad and Lori Daybell. The objection is in response to a motion made by Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood to ban video cameras inside the courtroom in preliminary hearings for the couple. Wood's motion asked Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins to reconsider his previous order, which allowed cameras to livestream the hearings from inside the courtroom. The crux of Wood's argument is that broadcasting the preliminary hearing will make it more difficult to find an unbiased jury in Fremont County. In his motion, Wood acknowledges the defendants have rights to a public hearing and the public has rights when it comes to criminal cases. But he says when it comes time to pick a jury, extra time and effort will have to be made for jurors who have viewed the preliminary hearing. “The motion is not for a closed or sealed hearing, but simply that the preliminary hearing in this case be treated the same as nearly every other preliminary hearing where there are no video cameras in the courtroom,” Wood wrote. RELATED: Prosecutor asks judge to ban video cameras at Daybell preliminary hearings Due to COVID-19 restrictions, if Wood's motion were approved by Eddins it would effectively close the hearing to the public as a very limited number of people are allowed to attend proceedings in person. Since the pandemic started earlier this year, the Idaho Supreme Court has limited public access to courtrooms and most hearings have been held via livestream with Zoom and YouTube. Without video cameras, and based on the rules in place by the Idaho Supreme Court, there is no way for the public or media to observe the Daybell hearing if Wood's motion is approved. On Friday, EastIdahoNews.com jointly hired Idaho Falls attorney Steve Wright to object to the motion. Other media outlets participating include the Post Register, KIFI Local News 8, KPVI NewsChannel 6, The Idaho Statesman, KIVI Idaho News 6, KSL TV 5, Court TV and NBC News. In his objection, Wright argues that video cameras are necessary for the public to have access to the court system. He affirms the importance of the public being able to view the hearings to ensure transparency and so they can see that justice is being served. "When the public is aware that the law is being enforced and the criminal justice system is functioning, an outlet is provided for these understandable reactions and emotions," the objection states. "The unique and remarkable allegations of this case are the very reason that video coverage of the proceedings is vital." Even before COVID-19, EastIdahoNews.com and other outlets have used video cameras to cover high profile cases. Last year, a judge allowed cameras in for the preliminary of Brian L. Dripps, the man accused of killing and raping Angie Dodge. In 2015, EastIdahoNews.com recorded the preliminary hearing for Brian Mitchell, a man accused of murdering another man at an Idaho Falls park. Wood said that broadcasting the hearing could affect the Daybell's constitutional right to a fair trial but Wright argues that "the State presents no basis why disallowing video coverage will properly balance the Constitutional rights involved." "The State of Idaho's requested remedy is also drastically disproportionate to the Constitutional burdens it imposes. The State would have the entire country, and world, deprived of a critical instrument to facilitate transparency in order to ensure it is more difficult for the residents of Fremont County to witness the judicial process," Wright writes. "The State of Idaho seeks to use a sledgehammer where the Constitution requires a scalpel." Wright ends his two-page objection by saying that if the hearing is effectively closed, the public loses its Constitutional right to observe the court system in action. “People in an open society do not demand infallibility from their institutions, but it is difficult for them to accept what they prohibited from observing,” Wright writes. In addition to the objection filed on behalf of the media, Mark Means, Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney, and John Prior, Chad Daybell's attorney, have both filed objections to Wood's motion. You can view the argument from Means here and Prior's argument here. The Daybells are facing felony charges in Fremont County after investigators discovered the remains of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home. Court records indicate Chad’s hearing will start on Aug. 3 and Lori’s will begin on Aug. 10. A hearing is scheduled on Wood's motion for Monday at 2:30 p.m. You can read Wright's entire motion here. === 158. Date of Chad Daybell's predicted end of the world comes and goes === Published: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 10:21:11 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=443969 By Garna Mejia, KSL TV REXBURG (KSL) - As prosecutors in Idaho build their case against Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow, the couple’s apocalyptic beliefs may provide some clues as to what happened to JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who were found buried in Daybell’s backyard. Among those beliefs, Daybell and Lori Vallow predicted Wednesday would bring the end of the world. Yet the world still turns as the Daybells sit in a jail cell. Daybell not only predicted it ends, but he also claimed to have visions of earthquakes hitting the Wasatch Front as a sign. RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell His interest in the end of times started long before JJ Vallow and Ryan’s disappearance. Daybell referenced the apocalyptic movie “2012,” describing it as “so bad it’s good movie” in a September 2015 blog post. Daybell praised Woody Harrelson’s performance as a “crazy doomsday prophet.” Daybell drew a parallel saying “Sheesh, I’m starting to sound like Woody Harrelson …” as he describes two earthquakes hitting the Wasatch Front. “The first one is moderate and it disrupts life for a few weeks. Many older brick buildings crumble and roads suffer damage, but repairs are made quickly,” Daybell wrote in his blog. In the beginning pages of his “end of times” book, “The Great Gathering,” Daybell described the earthquake as a 5.7 magnitude. Eerily enough, the March earthquake epicentered near Magna was a 5.7 magnitude quake. RELATED | Preparedness stores are slammed as eastern Idahoans stock up Divorce court documents further stated that Ian Pawlowski, the husband of Vallow’s niece, Melanie Pawlowski, met with detectives and the FBI in December and shared similar accounts about Vallow and Daybell’s beliefs in earthquakes. According to court documents, Ian Pawlowski stated, “I shared ideas about earthquakes being prepared in SLC… Al [Alex Cox] and Zulema had stayed in Las Vegas and were ‘preparing earthquakes’ at the time I spoke with the police.”

#LoriVallow & #ChadDaybell expected the end of times to happen July 2020. Kay says they expected the exact date to be July 22- today. One thing is for sure- They’re expected back in court. Just got the Text notifications. I think Mon.’s hearing is to decide livestream ?. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/nXPdnIHJa3

— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) July 23, 2020
Vallow also shared a keen interest in the end of times, as can be heard in a November 2018 podcast she recorded with her friend Melanie Gibb and Jason Mow, as part of the “Preparing a People” Platform. “We are gathering together as saints, as brothers and sisters and preparing for the second coming,” Vallow said during the podcast. Kay Woodcock, JJ Vallow’s grandmother, said Lori Vallow also expressed her radical beliefs to Charles Vallow, who in turn told Kay and her husband, Larry Woodcock. “To tell she [Lori] is a chosen one, that she is now a God and it is now up to her to help vet 144,000 so that they will be there for the second coming in July of 2020. I think it’s July 22. I don’t know what is going to happen on July 23,” Kay told KSL in January. Charles Vallow expressed his concerns about Lori’s mental state and fears that she was taking things to an extreme in divorce documents he filed in February 2019. The documents state, “Mother [Lori] informed Father [Charles] that she was a God assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ’s second coming in July 2020 and that if Father got in her way of her mission she would murder him.” Detectives with the Chandler Police Department in Arizona also tracked emails Daybell sent Lori Vallow in January 2019. The emails included a list of “Seven missions to accomplish together.” The seven items listed are: The documents obtained from the Chandler Police Department show detectives were looking into the couple’s religious beliefs during their investigation. Police listened to their podcasts looking for clues during the search for Ryan and JJ Vallow. === 157. Prosecutor asks judge to ban video cameras at Daybell preliminary hearings === Published: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:12:27 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=443380 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell's first court apperance in Madison County on March 6. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- The prosecutor in the Chad and Lori Daybell cases is asking a judge not to allow any video coverage of their upcoming preliminary hearings. In a motion filed Friday, Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood asked Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins to reconsider his order governing courtroom conduct and allowing cameras. On July 7, Eddins ruled that four members of the media can take photos and operate a pooled video camera to broadcast the hearing for the public. "Allowing broadcasting/live—streaming of the preliminary hearing will make it more difficult to pick an un-biased jury in Fremont County," Wood wrote in a memo to support his motion. "Picking a jury in this case will be difficult and time consuming due to the already existing media coverage." Wood acknowledges the defendants have rights to a public hearing and the public has rights when it comes to criminal cases. But he says when it comes time to pick a jury, extra time and effort will have to be made for jurors who have viewed the preliminary hearing. "The motion is not for a closed or sealed hearing, but simply that the preliminary hearing in this case be treated the same as nearly every other preliminary hearing where there are no video cameras in the courtroom," Wood wrote. While Wood mentions he has no intention to make the hearing closed to the public, an Idaho Supreme Court order issued in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic limits who can attend court proceedings. Most hearings are not open to the public and are streamed over YouTube or Zoom. EastIdahoNews.com and other local media outlets have covered high profile preliminary hearings with video cameras in the courtroom. Last year, a judge allowed local TV stations to bring cameras in for the preliminary of Brian L. Dripps, the man accused of killing and raping Angie Dodge. In 2015, EastIdahoNews.com recorded the preliminary hearing for Brian Mitchell, a man accused of murdering another man at an Idaho Falls park. "The public and press constitutionally have a right to be there, but they have under American common law no right to see a live broadcast," said Idaho State University Media Law Professor Zac Gershberg. "That is at the discretion of the judge." During the COVID-19 pandemic, many judges have allowed a conference call or video link for the public to watch court proceedings statewide. In previous Daybell hearings, Seventh District judges have allowed a live video stream. "I think if they're going to severely limit the number people present during Coronavirus, then constitutionally they should make the stream available," Gershberg said. "If the judge agrees (with the motion) and locks out the courtroom and doesn't provide the stream, then we're talking about something that would likely go to the Supreme Court of the United States." The Daybells are facing felony charges in Fremont County after investigators discovered the remains of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan buried in the backyard of Chad’s Salem home. Court dockets indicate Chad’s hearing will start on Aug. 3 and Lori’s will begin on Aug. 10. Although the hearings will happen in person, courtroom attendance is still limited due to COVID-19. An order filed this month limits attendance to the judge, court staff, attorneys, assistance, defendants, witnesses, and family members of JJ and Tylee. It's unknown when Eddins will respond to the motion. === 156. Bail lowered for Lori Daybell's misdemeanor charges, jury trial scheduled === Published: Fri, 17 Jul 2020 10:21:44 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=442963 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG — Lori Vallow Daybell's bail was lowered on three Madison County misdemeanor charges and a jury trial has been scheduled for the alleged crimes early next year. Daybell appeared with her attorney, Mark Means, via Zoom in front of Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard Friday morning for a pre-trial conference. She is charged with resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. She is also charged in Fremont County with two felony counts of conspiracy to destroy, alter, or conceal evidence. The hearing Friday is separate from the Fremont case, where bail remains at $1 million. Daybell was originally charged in Madison County with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children. Bond was set at $1 million but those charges were dropped July 2, so Means argued the amount should be lowered. "We think ultimately the $1 million isn’t reflective of the current charges and we ask that the court reduce it to $100,000," Means said. "My client has been a model inmate and these charges are not of a violent nature. There is no previous criminal record regarding my client in any jurisdiction that we know of." Means noted that Daybell's access to funds are "extremely limited" and explained the maximum penalty she could face if convicted of the misdemeanors would be two years in jail and a $2,500 fine. Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood acknowledged this specific case was now only misdemeanors and requested if Mallard does reduce bond that it be no lower than $250,000. While Daybell only faces misdemeanors in Madison County, Wood argued that the misdemeanors tie directly to the fact that she tried to conceal the location of her deceased children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Their remains were discovered buried on Chad Daybell's property June 9.
Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood speaks during a pre-trial conference Friday, July 17, 2020. | Zoom screengrab
"When the defendant obstructed the investigation into the safety and welfare of JJ Vallow, she was hiding the location of her dead child," Wood said. "When she refused to comply with a lawful order to produce her children, she did so in an effort to conceal the deaths of her minor children all while telling family and friends that they were fine." Mallard decided to decrease bond to $50,000 on each charge totaling $150,000. She noted that Daybell would still need to post $1 million in Fremont County to get out of jail. Fremont does not have a women’s facility, so all female inmates from both jurisdictions are housed in Madison County. The judge said if Daybell is able to post bond, she can have no contact with her husband Chad Daybell. A jury trial on the three charges was scheduled for Jan. 25-29, 2021. A preliminary hearing on the Fremont County charges is set for Aug. 10 and 11. Click here for the latest news on the Daybell case. === 155. Lori Daybell pleads not guilty to misdemeanor charges, asks for bond reduction === Published: Wed, 15 Jul 2020 14:11:56 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=442713 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell is pleading not guilty to three misdemeanor charges and is asking a judge to lower her bond. Daybell faces two felony charges in Fremont County of conspiracy to destroy, alter, or conceal evidence. She is also charged in Madison County with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. She was charged in Madison County with two counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, but those charges were dropped July 2. Daybell's children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, were found buried on the property of her new husband, Chad Daybell, in June. For months, the couple refused to tell authorities where the kids were. Mark Means, Lori Daybell's attorney, filed a motion Tuesday afternoon saying his client is pleading not guilty to the three misdemeanors and wants a jury trial. Means is also requesting a bond reduction hearing. "Defendant asserts felony charges regarding previous bond setting were dismissed, and as such, bond should be reset to reflect current charges evident in the newly filed amended criminal complaint," Means wrote. Daybell is being held in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. In addition, bond is set at $1 million for her charges in Fremont County. Fremont does not have a women's facility, so all female inmates from both jurisdictions are housed in Madison County. Chad Daybell is in the Fremont County Jail on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and two counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS Means also noted that because the felony charges were dropped, he and Lori Daybell request the right at a later time to ask for a change of venue regarding a trial. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Lori Daybell in Madison County on July 17 before Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard. A preliminary hearing will then be held in Fremont County on Aug. 10 and 11. Chad Daybell’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3 and 4. === 154. Preliminary hearings for Chad and Lori Daybell to happen in person === Published: Thu, 09 Jul 2020 12:37:59 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=441946 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori and Chad Daybell confronted in Hawaii by EastIdahoNews.com in January. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
ST. ANTHONY -- A judge determined in-person hearings for Chad and Lori Daybell will happen in August. "The defendant has a right to be present during the preliminary hearing," Magistrate Judge Farren Eddins wrote in his findings Thursday for Chad and Lori's separate cases. "The defendant has a right to confront and cross-examine witnesses in person. In order to preserve an adequate recording of the proceeding and to preserve the defendant’s rights, the defendant must be present in the courtroom with his (or her) attorney." The Daybells are facing felony charges in Fremont County after investigators discovered the remains of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan buried in the backyard of Chad's Salem home. Court dockets indicate Chad's hearing will start on Aug. 3 and Lori's on Aug. 10. Eddins held recent initial appearances for Lori and Chad respectively over Zoom as the Idaho Supreme Court issued an Emergency Reduction in Court Services and Limitation of Access to Court Facilities on April 22. The order came as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and dramatically changed how court proceedings took place across the state.
Magistrate Judge Farren Eddins. | File photo
The order allows judges to use their discretion to hold a hearing in person "because of the court’s needs or to prevent undue prejudice to a party.” Eddins determined the size of the courtroom in Fremont County allows those in attendance at the hearings to maintain social distancing. Court staff plans to install protective plexiglass along the bench and the witness stand to protect the health of those at the hearing. On Thursday, Fremont County court staff said they expect completion of the installation early next week. Although the hearings will happen in person, courtroom attendance is still limited. An order filed this week limits attendance to the judge, court staff, attorneys, assistance, defendants, witnesses, and family members of JJ and Tylee. Four media personal are also allowed to attend: three to operate the video camera for broadcasting and recording of the hearing, and one to take still photos. The public will have access to the images and videos, according to the order. The Idaho Supreme Court order also prohibits jury trials to start in criminal cases before Aug. 3. Many judges have streamed and will continue to stream other hearings over YouTube so the public can still have access. "Presumptively, hearings will be in electronic format by Zoom," said District 7 Trial Court Administrator Tammie Whyte. "A judge can make a finding that a particular hearing will need to be in person as things stand right now." But in-person hearings won't look as they did before the pandemic. "When we get to jury trials, that would obviously be in person, and that would look very different," Whyte said. "We're working on our plans right now for what that will look like." District 7 plans on maintaining social distancing measures and following recommended health guidelines as in-person hearings resume. Some counties like Fremont are installing plexiglass, and the juries may spread out among the courtroom. Court staff expects to have finalized plans closer to next month. "We're really just trying to do our best so that the courts are getting hearings done as safely as we can," Whyte said. You can watch the Daybell hearings on EastIdahoNews.com in August. === 153. Desertion charges dropped against Lori Vallow Daybell === Published: Thu, 02 Jul 2020 16:40:30 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440946 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com file photo
REXBURG -- Two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children against Lori Vallow Daybell were dismissed Thursday. The change to Daybell's charges come three weeks after police discovered the remains of her two kids, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, buried on Chad Daybell's property. On Monday evening, Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood filed two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence against Lori Vallow Daybell. Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Marcia Murdoch asked Wood to take on the case as it ties in closely with the charges in Madison County. Court records indicate Daybell is still charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. The misdemeanor charges, as well as the felony charges dismissed, were originally filed when police arrested Daybell in Kauai back in February. Police then extradited her back to Rexburg in early March. Chad Daybell is also charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Police did not arrest Chad Daybell until they discovered the remains of the children. Police say the couple conspired to "willfully and knowingly combine, conspire, confederate, and agree to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.” The evidence is the remains of JJ and Tylee, according to court documents. A preliminary hearing scheduled for Lori Vallow Daybell next week has been canceled. Her next court appearance is scheduled in Fremont County on Aug. 10 and Aug. 11. === 152. Families issue statement about services for JJ and Tylee === Published: Wed, 01 Jul 2020 15:36:46 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440589 By EastIdahoNews.com staff IDAHO FALLS -- The families of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow, and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan have announced that they will hold services for the deceased children in Rexburg, Phoenix, Arizona, and Lake Charles, Louisana. The dates of the services have not been announced as the children's remains have not yet been released to the families. The Ryan, Vallow-Woodcock and Boudreaux families issued the following statement on Wednesday.

Statement:

To the countless people who have loved and come to love our angels, JJ and Tylee, we Thank You for the endless prayers and kind words of encouragement. You have truly uplifted and carried us through this nightmare. For that, we can never express the depth of our gratitude. We are humbled by the kindness of strangers and unity shown in hopes of finding the kids. On June 9th our worst fears were confirmed with discovery of our beloved Tylee Ashlyn Ryan, 16 and Joshua Jaxon Vallow, 7. We are utterly devastated trying to comprehend how our children, full of brilliant light and jubilance for life, ended at the hands of those who were supposed to love and protect them. We look toward our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to give us even the tiniest bit of relief from this unfathomable pain and ultimately find some amount of peace. We have utmost faith in the judicial process and are confident justice will prevail. We want to express our immeasurable gratitude to the numerous law enforcement agencies and officers who tirelessly worked this case amongst all the others within this tangled web. Like us, many want to bid final farewell to JJ and Tylee. All plans are pending since their bodies have not been released, nor an estimated date is given. Upon release, we plan public services to be held in Rexburg ID., Phoenix AZ., then Lake Charles, LA. Please be assured once memorial details are finalized a public statement will be released. God bless all of you for the continued outpouring of love and comfort towards our families. We will never forget how blessed we are to live in a society of immense compassion especially during these challenging times. We ask you to continue to respect our families’ wishes of privacy during this difficult time. Warmest regards, The Ryan, Vallow-Woodcock and Boudreaux families

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‘My cousins are beautiful souls.’ Melani Pawlowski releases message expressing love for JJ and Tylee ‘My heart is so broken.’ Melanie Gibb writes letter warning others of Daybells’ deceptions Colby Ryan issues heartfelt message to his ‘beautiful, amazing, sweet angel’ siblings Tammy Daybell’s family issues statement Chad Daybell’s parents, family issue statement for ‘all who are suffering and grieving’ Cox family, Melani Pawlowski issue statement about JJ and Tylee JJ and Tylee’s families, Chad Daybell’s brother issue statements === 151. Chad Daybell appears before judge on new felony charges === Published: Wed, 01 Jul 2020 12:43:39 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440555 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Chad Daybell appeared before a judge Wednesday afternoon after being charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. He is also charged with two counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Daybell, dressed in a white shirt and blue tie, sat next to his attorney, John Prior. They were in the Fremont County Jail as proceedings were held via Zoom due to COVID-19 court restrictions. Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins presided, and Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood joined from his office. GET THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS HERE Eddins read a summary of each of the charges, and Eddins asked if he understood them, Daybell responded, "Yes." He showed little emotion during the 12-minute hearing. In the new charges, Daybell is accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow Daybell to “willfully and knowingly combine, conspire, confederate, and agree to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence” -- the remains of Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow. Police say the two lied about where the children were and refused to cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation. Officers discovered the remains of Tylee and JJ buried on Daybell’s property on June 9. He was booked into the Fremont County Jail on $1 million bail. Lori Vallow Daybell , the children's mother, appeared before Eddins Tuesday afternoon on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. She remains in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3 and 4. A preliminary hearing for Lori Daybell is set for Aug. 10 and 11. If Chad Daybell is found guilty of all four charges, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $40,000 fine. === 150. Chad Daybell facing new charges of conspiracy to destroy evidence === Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2020 18:45:42 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440525 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Chad Daybell has been charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. The new charges were filed Tuesday after Lori Vallow Daybell appeared in court accused of the same crimes. The conspiracy charges are different than those filed against Chad earlier this month, which were two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Police discovered the remains of Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan buried in Chad Daybell’s backyard on June 9. Investigators accuse Chad and Lori of conspiring with each other to dispose of the children's remains. On the new charges, Chad will appear before Judge Faren Eddins from the Fremont County Jail on Wednesday at 1 p.m. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 3 and 4 on the previous charges. Complete coverage on the case can be found here. === 149. Lori Vallow Daybell appears to cry during hearing on new charges === Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:23:58 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440480 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell appeared to wipe away tears Tuesday afternoon during her initial court appearance on two felony charges of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Daybell and her attorney, Mark Means, participated in the hearing via Zoom from the Madison County Courthouse due to COVID-19 concerns. Judge Faren Eddins presided and Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood joined from his office. Daybell's son and daughter-in-law, Colby and Kelsee Ryan, appeared on-screen during the proceedings and Eddins noted that Kay and Larry Woodcock, Joshua "JJ" Vallow's grandparents, were listening in to the hearing. Colby appeared stoic throughout much of his mother's court appearance. Daybell appeared in a long-sleeved blue shirt. She and Means were wearing protective masks, which hid their expressions. She was able to see Colby on a large screen and he appeared stoic throughout much of his mother's court appearance. She softly responded "yes" after Eddins read the criminal charges to her and asked if she understood them. She wiped her eyes and reached for a tissue when Eddins mentioned Daybell's daughter, Tylee Ryan, whose remains, along with JJ's, were found buried in Chad Daybell's backyard in the Salem area of Fremont County on June 9. Daybell is accused of conspiring with Chad Daybell to "willfully and knowingly combine, conspire, confederate, and agree to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence" regarding the remains of Tylee and JJ. Police say the two lied to them about where the children were and refused to cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation. RELATED | Lori Daybell lied and conspired to conceal the deaths of her children, documents allege The hearing lasted about 15 minutes, and Eddins kept Daybell's bond at $1 million. If she is able to post bail, she must reside in Bonneville, Jefferson, Madison or Fremont counties. She will also be required to wear an ankle monitor. Daybell is also facing two charges of desertion of children in Madison County, where she has been housed since March. Her husband is in the Fremont County Jail on two charges of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Bail is set for $1 million in his case. READ: Probable cause documents related to Lori Vallow Daybell’s new charges Before the hearing ended, Eddins asked Means if he had ever represented any other people associated with this case. He responded that he had not, and Wood interrupted. "Your honor, I need to interject. At a bail reduction here in Madison County, Mr. Means did represent to the court that he was also representing Mr. Daybell. There was no criminal matter against him at that time, but I think that is appropriate to know," Wood said. RELATED | Chad and Lori Daybell now have the same attorney and documents show history of financial troubles Means did tweet on April 28 that his office was representing Chad Daybell and anyone wanting to reach him needed to contact Means.

Please not that this office (notice being provided by other means as well) represents Mr. Chad Daybell. If any agency, investigative authority etc., wishes to contact my client please contact my office directly.

— Mark Means Law (@MeansLaw) April 28, 2020
Eddins asked Wood and Means to each submit an explanation regarding the issue so the case can move forward. Daybell's next court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10 and 11. RELATED STORIES Who’s who in the Daybell case The timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan === 148. Lori Daybell lied and conspired to conceal the deaths of her children, documents allege === Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2020 13:09:20 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440388 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell in court. | File photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Court documents released Tuesday detail how police say Lori Vallow Daybell conspired to conceal evidence in the deaths of her children. They also describe the horrific manner in which their bodies were found in Chad Daybell's backyard. Lori was charged late Monday with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. A 16-page affidavit of probable cause contains information by detectives that led them to file charges. Police say she conspired with Chad, her husband, who is facing two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence. On June 9, investigators found Lori's children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, had been buried on Chad's property. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ON THE DAYBELL CASE In the documents, Rexburg Police detective Lt. Ron Ball notes that law enforcement originally thought Tylee was 17 when she disappeared in September. She was last seen at Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 8, 2019 - two weeks before her birthday on Sept. 24. "Law enforcement has stated that Tylee was 17 at the time she went missing because we were not aware she was missing until several months after her 17th birthday," Ball wrote in the affidavit. "We now have reason to believe she was killed before her 17th birthday." Police note that based on cell phone records and GPS data, Lori's brother Alex Cox likely played a role in disposing of Tylee's body in Chad Daybell's backyard on Sept. 9. (Cox has since died of what a medical examiner says was natural causes.) Her remains, along with JJ's, were found as police executed a search warrant. Ball witnessed autopsies performed on each child.
A memorial set up at Porter Park in Rexburg to honor Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee Ryan. | Silas Wright, EastIdahoNews.com file photo
"It was not possible to identify (Tylee's) remains by simply looking at them as they were too damaged by fire and dismemberment and no longer had any recognizable features," Ball wrote. "An orthodontist ... was able to identify these remains as belonging to Tylee Ryan by matching an irregular jawline with an X-ray of Tylee when she was alive." Police were able to obtain "sufficient soft tissue" that was not burned to perform DNA tests on Tylee's remains. Those tests are being processed. Ball wrote that JJ's remains were found wrapped in plastic, and he recognized the child when his body was uncovered. "The body was well preserved. While I had never met JJ during his life, I was familiar with his face due to seeing many pictures and videos of him," Ball said. "I was further familiar with his haircut in the pictures I had seen of him in Yellowstone. ... JJ was further identified by Brandon Boudreaux (the ex-husband of Lori's niece, Melani Pawlowski), who was shown an autopsy photograph of the body and face." Who’s who in the Daybell case The majority of details contained in the new court documents were revealed when police filed charges against Chad earlier this month (Read that story here) and when Lori was charged with desertion and nonsupport of children in February (Read that story here). The timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan New information includes the following: In the criminal complaint against Lori Daybell, police accuse her of the following: Lori is scheduled for her initial court appearance at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. EastIdahoNews.com will stream the hearing live. Chad is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 3 and 4. Read the court documents filed against Lori Vallow Daybell here. === 147. READ: Probable cause documents related to Lori Vallow Daybell's new charges === Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2020 13:07:27 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440426 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com === 146. Lori Daybell set for court hearing Tuesday on new criminal charges === Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2020 10:31:44 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440343 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell with her attorney Mark Means at an earlier court apperance. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell will make an initial court appearance on new charges Tuesday afternoon. Daybell was charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence on Monday evening. The charges come about three weeks after investigators searched the home of her husband, Chad Daybell, and discovered the remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, her two children. Rexburg Police served a third search warrant on the Daybell home Monday. Detectives were seen inside the house, exterior buildings and in the backyard with cameras. They left with brown evidence bags. The initial appearance is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Lori Vallow Daybell and her attorney, Mark Means, will appear remotely from the Madison County Jail. EastIdahoNews.com will live stream the proceedings. === 145. Lori Vallow Daybell charged with conspiracy to conceal evidence === Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2020 19:55:38 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440308 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Lori Vallow Daybell is facing additional charges in connection to the disappearance and deaths of her children. Daybell was charged late Monday with two counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, according to multiple sources. The charges were filed after hours so information has not officially been posted on court websites. The charges come hours after Rexburg police served a search warrant at Chad Daybell's Salem home. Officers went into the house, exterior buildings and were seen in the backyard with cameras. They left with brown evidence bags. At this point, it's unknown if the search is tied directly to Lori Daybell's new charges.

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She has been in the Madison County Jail since March on two counts of felony desertion and nonsupport of children along with three misdemeanors. She's been in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. Police discovered the remains of Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan buried in Chad Daybell's backyard on June 9. Daybell was charged with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. More information is expected to be released Tuesday. Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for updates. === 144. Police execute search warrant at Chad Daybell's home === Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2020 14:21:40 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440203 By Nate Eaton & Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Photo: Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
SALEM -- Rexburg Police executed a search warrant at Chad Daybell's home Monday afternoon. Officers in marked and unmarked vehicles arrived around 1:15 p.m. and showed some paperwork to Daybell's son-in-law, who has been living at the home with his family, witnesses say. Police went into the house, exterior buildings on the property and were seen in the backyard with cameras. They left around 2:50 p.m. It's unknown what officers were looking for, and Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood declined to comment on the warrant. The scene Monday is dramatically different than when a search warrant was served June 9 at the same house. Dozens of officers were on the scene and roads were closed for two days as Daybell's property was excavated. Police discovered the remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan during their search.
Courtesy photo
The fact that Rexburg police are at the house means the warrant is likely related to the children, and not the death of Chad Daybell's wife, Tammy Daybell. The Attorney General's Office and Fremont County Sheriff's Office are investigating her death. Fremont County Sheriff's deputies were assisting Rexburg Police Monday. Chad Daybell was arrested June 9 and charged with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. The children's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, is charged with desertion of children and three misdemeanors. Both remain in jail on $1 million bail. RELATED | Human remains were buried on Daybell property in the days after JJ and Tylee disappeared, documents allege === 143. A closer look at two pivotal months in the Daybell investigation === Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2020 10:30:18 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=440081 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- A lot happened in the Daybell investigation over the course of eight weeks last fall. Events occurred in eastern Idaho during September and October that are key points in the investigation against Chad and Lori Daybell. Chad was arrested June 9 on two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Lori is charged with desertion of children and three misdemeanors. Based on court documents, interviews, previous reports and other sources, here’s a closer look at what led up to where we are today. SEPT. 1 OR 2 -- Lori Vallow moves into a townhouse on Pioneer Road in Rexburg with her brother, Alex Cox, and children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Neighbors told police they helped the family move in, and over the next few weeks, their son played with JJ multiple times. Alex eventually moved into his own unit at the same complex. SEPT. 8 -- Lori, Alex, JJ and Tylee go to Yellowstone National Park. Photos taken at the park are the last piece of evidence police can find showing Tylee with Lori. Court documents show Alex drove everyone in his silver pickup. His phone exits the west entrance of Yellowstone at 6:40 p.m. and is tracked at Buckaroo’s BBQ Grill in West Yellowstone from 6:45 p.m. to 7:02 p.m. Alex returns to Rexburg at 8:37 p.m., and his phone is at Lori’s townhouse until 9:35 p.m. He goes to Maverik and returns to Lori’s house from 10:44 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. At 11:44 p.m., he is located at his house. SEPT. 9 -- Court documents state Alex’s phone was at Lori’s apartment, where the kids were staying, from 2:42 a.m. until 3:37 a.m. Detectives indicate this is significant because it’s the middle of the night and the only time in September he appears to go to Lori’s house between midnight and 6 a.m. Alex goes home at 4:37 a.m. and stays there until 8:59 a.m. Twenty-two minutes later, he is located at Chad Daybell’s property. At 9:21 a.m., a GPS data point places him at the east end of the barn on Chad’s land. Alex appears to stay at the home for over two hours. Then, at 11:52 a.m., he is located at Del Taco in Rexburg. One minute later, Chad texts his wife, Tammy, who is at work. He says he’s shot a raccoon and buried it in their pet cemetery. He tells his wife he’s going to write at BYU. Tammy responds at 2:47 p.m., "Good for you." To which Chad replies, "I’m back home now." SEPT. 18 -- A babysitter meets Lori and JJ. She tells police she understood her employment would be ongoing. SEPT. 19 -- The babysitter watches JJ. Lori's friends, Melanie Gibb and David Warwick, arrive from Arizona. Lori immediately tells Melanie that JJ has become a zombie. SEPT. 22 -- Melanie and David tell police they saw JJ late that night as Alex was carrying him to his apartment. Alex later returned and JJ appeared to be asleep on his shoulder. SEPT. 23 -- David wakes up and asks Lori where JJ is between 8 and 9 a.m. Lori tells David and Melanie that JJ had been acting like a zombie, and Alex came to take him. During their weekend stay, Lori and Melanie discuss how Lori will be taking JJ to stay with Kay Woodcock, his grandmother, so Lori and Chad can complete their "mission." David and Melanie leave Rexburg, and that day, JJ has an unexcused absence from Kennedy Elementary School. At 9:55 a.m., the GPS on Alex’s cell phone shows him at the pond on Chad Daybell’s property. He’s there until 10:12 a.m. This is one of four visits Alex makes to Chad’s house in September – he stays for 12 minutes on Sept 6, 2.5 hours on Sept. 9, 17 minutes on Sept 23 and around 17 minutes on Sept. 25. SEPT. 24 -- Lori contacts the babysitter and says JJ has gone to stay with his grandmother for several weeks, and her services are no longer needed. Lori also calls Kennedy Elementary and says she would now be homeschooling JJ. OCT. 1 -- Lori visits Self Storage Plus in Rexburg and signs an agreement to rent a unit using the name Lori Ryan. She, Alex and a man believed to be Chad Daybell visit the storage locker eight more times in October and once in November. OCT. 2 -- Lori and a man who is likely Chad drop off a tire and what appears to be a removable car seat at the storage unit. In Arizona, Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Lori’s niece, Melani Pawlowski, is shot at while driving home from the gym. A private investigator believes the shooter was Alex, and he was driving a Jeep registered to Charles Vallow, Lori's deceased husband. Also on this day, a size 4 Sterling Silver Southwestern Style Malachite Gemstone is ordered on Charles Vallow’s Amazon account and shipped to Lori’s Rexburg home. It’s the same ring spotted in her wedding photos weeks later. OCT. 3 -- Lori returns to the storage facility with a different man, likely Alex, and they remove the tire and car seat from the locker. That same day, family members tell EastIdahoNews.com that Chad was working outside and he came in to tell Tammy that her deceased grandmother Cooper had visited him. He claims Grandma Cooper told him that Tammy needed to go see her parents in Springville, Utah. Tammy had mentioned to Chad earlier in the week that she wanted to see her family, but she was hesitant to go. Tammy always traveled with Chad or the children, but after her husband told her about his vision, she got in the car the next day and drove to Springville by herself. OCT. 4 -- Tammy arrives in Springville in the evening and has dinner with her parents. She spends the night at her sister’s house. OCT. 5 -- Tammy wakes up around 9 a.m. and drives back to Rexburg. OCT. 9 -- According to a Facebook post, Tammy pulled into her driveway, got out of the car and a man in a ski mask came up and shot at her several times with a paintball gun. He took off, and she called police. Authorities believed it was a prank, and the man was never found. OCT. 19 -- Tammy suddenly dies in her sleep at age 49. Chad insists an autopsy is not needed, and Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye declares Tammy has died from natural causes. OCT. 22 -- Tammy's funeral is held in Springville, Utah. Chad quickly leaves after the services and returns to Rexburg, where a memorial is held for Tammy the next day. OCT. 25 -- A friend of Tylee reportedly received a text message from her phone that said, “hi. miss you guys too …luv ya.” Ten days after that text message, Lori married Chad on the beaches of Hawaii, and a whole new phase of the investigation began. A comprehensive timeline of the entire investigation can be found here. === 142. Additional testing ordered on remains of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan === Published: Thu, 25 Jun 2020 10:05:12 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=439668 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com BOISE -- Additional testing is underway on the bodies of Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow after the Ada County Coroner's Office completed autopsies earlier this month. "Outside and ancillary testing has been ordered and will take several weeks to return. Once all results are received, the forensic pathologist's reports will be provided to the Fremont County Coroner," Ada County Coroner Dotti Owens said in a news release. Owens has a signed agreement with Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye to provide pathology services in this case, according to a news release. Fremont County will pay all fees and maintains responsibility for the investigation.

FIND THE LATEST NEWS ON THE DAYBELL INVESTIGATION HERE

Dye transported JJ and Tylee's remains to Ada County on June 11 after they were found buried on Chad Daybell's property. Tylee's body was dismembered and burned, according to court documents, while JJ’s body was wrapped in tight black plastic and secured with gray duct tape. Authorities have not released a cause of death for either child. Daybell is charged with two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence. "As this case is an open and ongoing investigation no further information will be released by the Fremont County Coroner at this time," Owens said. Autopsy results on Tammy Daybell, Chad's first wife, have not been finalized, Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told EastIdahoNews.com Thursday. === 141. Lori Vallow Daybell still in jail; notification was a glitch === Published: Tue, 23 Jun 2020 16:58:53 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=439499 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
File photo
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell is still behind bars in the Madison County Jail, despite a text notification from the VINELink app saying she had been released. VINELink is an app and website that allows crime victims and the general public to track the movements of prisoners. Around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, VINELink sent a notification to those subscribed that Lori Vallow Daybell had been released from custody. Jail staff quickly confirmed that Daybell was not released, and the notification was a computer glitch.
"We switched software programs and moved all of our inmates to the new program, and the VINE is still connected to the old software," Madison County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Isaac Payne said. Since the notification, sources say phones at the jail have been ringing non-stop. Daybell is charged with two felony counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime, and contempt of court. She is charged in relation to the disappearance of her two children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Investigators found the remains of Joshua and Tylee on June 9 at the property of Chad Daybell, the man Lori married in November. Chad Daybell is also in jail in Fremont County on two felony charges of alteration, concealment or destruction of evidence. Each has bail set at $1 million. === 140. Tammy Daybell investigation: Idaho law allowed her burial without an autopsy === Published: Tue, 23 Jun 2020 09:08:21 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=439402 By Garna Mejia, KSL TV SALEM (KSL TV) -- As investigations continue at Chad Daybell’s Salem property, officials say investigators were not required by state law to perform an autopsy after Tammy Daybell’s death. Not only were the remains of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow buried on the property, but Tammy Daybell allegedly died while sleeping inside the home, and the circumstances surrounding her death are now under investigation. Tammy’s death was sudden and unexpected, less than a month after detectives suspect Tylee and JJ were buried in the backyard. Her funeral took place just three days after she died. However, officials ruled she died of natural causes, which is why an autopsy wasn’t performed. “I just can’t help but think that I want to know what happened to Tammy,” Mandy Fowler, Daybell’s friend and co-worker, told KSL on June 11, shortly after the children’s remains were discovered in Chad Daybell’s backyard. Tammy Daybell’s friends and family said she was healthy and training for a marathon before her sudden and unexpected death.

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“What a complete waste of an amazing person. She truly was so awesome,” said Fowler, who worked with Daybell for about five years. Multiple sources told KSL Chad Daybell declined to have an autopsy performed. Ultimately, the Fremont County coroner ruled her death of natural causes, according to her obituary. “I actually went over to their house the morning after Tammy died,” said Matt Price, Tammy Daybell’s neighbor. “Chad didn’t seem to have any emotion, it was very odd.” Tammy Daybell was buried in Springville, Utah, where she and Chad Daybell grew up. Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office told KSL under Utah law, a case like Tammy Daybell’s would have been referred to the state medical examiner’s office. “As the state code says, sudden death while in apparent good health is automatically something that is seen by the medical examiner in Utah,” Cannon said. “If I went to bed tonight and didn’t wake up tomorrow, that would be unusual, and in Utah that would be a medical examiner case simply because we don’t know why I died. I’m not expected to die.” Cannon worked for eight years as a part-time investigator for the state medical examiner’s office, in addition to being a sheriff’s office deputy. Cannon said family members don’t get a say on whether an autopsy is performed. “We let them down easy, but we tell them state law prevails here, and for the good of everybody, it has to,” Cannon said. But in Idaho, there isn’t a state medical examiner’s office. University of Idaho College of Law professor Samuel Newton said death investigations are handled by county coroners and they ultimately determine if an autopsy will be performed. “The coroner may go and examine the scene and say, ‘Oh we don’t need one,’ but the statute does require the coroner to do the investigation and the autopsy would be up to the discretion of the coroner,” Newton said. County coroners serve four-year term elected positions and are only required to attend a coroner’s school and complete 24 hours of additional training every two years, according to Idaho state statute. In rural communities like Fremont County, this is a part-time job — and their resources are limited. For example, Fremont County listed a budget of just over $37,000 including the coroner’s salary. Neighboring Madison County listed about $20,000 for their budget. In comparison, Ada County, where Boise is located, has a budget of just over $3 million. Last December, deputies exhumed Daybell’s remains for an autopsy after determining her death was suspicious. Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow have been linked to the investigation. “That’s what my mind keeps focusing on, I want justice for her,” Fowler shared. Fremont County’s coroner is Brenda Dye. Her full-time job is as an EMT. KSL made several attempts to contact her and the Fremont County commissioners but did not receive a response. === 139. Who's who in the Daybell case === Published: Mon, 22 Jun 2020 19:40:54 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438081 By Robert Patten, EastIdahoNews.com
Charles and Lori Vallow with their children. | Courtesy Kay Woodcock
As of May 25, 2021, Chad and Lori Daybell are now facing murder charges in the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow, and Tammy Daybell, and we've updated some of the entries accordingly. Click here for more information on the charges. During our coverage of the disappearance and deaths of Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, we have reported the names of many family members, friends and public officials. The following is a who's who of people connected to the case and their relationships. The children had been missing since September 2019, when Tylee was 16 and JJ was 7. Their bodies were found in June 2020. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, and her new husband, Chad Daybell, are in jail on various charges related to the case, including first-degree murder. Note: Earlier reports indicated Tylee was 17, but now that we have a more solid timeline, it's more likely she was 16 (almost 17) at the time of her death. CLICK HERE FOR A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Lori Vallow Daybell's 5 husbands

Chad Daybell, left, and Lori Daybell in Hawaii when EastIdahoNews.com confronted them in January 2020. Chad is Lori's fifth and current husband. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
The children's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, has been married five times. Her former husbands are:
  1. Nelson Yanes. Married 1992. Ends in divorce. No children.
  2. William Lagioia. Married 1995-1996. Ends in divorce. Children: Colby Ryan
  3. Joseph Ryan. Married 2001-2004. Ends in divorce. Dies in 2018 of apparent heart attack. Children: Tylee Ryan
  4. Charles Vallow. Married 2005-2019. Ends in Charles' death. Children: Joshua "JJ" Vallow (by adoption). Charles had two children through his previous marriage to Cheryl Wheeler. See our interview with Wheeler here.
  5. Chad Daybell. Married 2019-present. Children: Chad had five children with Tammy Daybell, his now-deceased wife.

The Vallow family

Woodcocks
Kay Vallow Woodcock and Larry Woodcock with JJ. | Courtesy photo
Kay Vallow Woodcock is sister to Charles, Lori's fourth husband. She and her husband, Larry, are JJ's grandparents, which makes Charles JJ's biological great-uncle. Charles adopted JJ. Kay and Larry have communicated with the media since the early stages of the investigation. Here's their reaction to the fate of the children. After Chad and Lori were charged with first-degree murder, the Woodcocks said they "want a capital case" against the couple. Months before his death, Charles told police he was worried about Lori's mental health and said she wanted him dead. He also expressed worry for JJ's safety. Alex Cox shot Charles to death July 11, 2019, in Chandler, Arizona. Lori may be charged with murder in that case.

The Cox family

Tylee and JJ with their uncle Alex Cox in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, in September 2019, shortly before the children disappeared. | Courtesy FBI
Alex was Lori's brother. He maintained he killed Charles in self-defense. Alex died suddenly in December 2019. The medical examiner said he died of blood clots in his lungs, and it was a natural death. Alex had married Zulema Pastenes two weeks before. She has not spoken publicly about the case. Pawlowskis
Melani Pawlowski, left, and her current husband, Ian Pawlowski.
Melani Pawlowski is Lori's niece through a sister (deceased). She lived next door to Lori in Rexburg when the children disappeared. Melani married Ian Pawlowski and is involved in a custody dispute with her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, regarding their four children. Brandon was shot at in October and believes Alex was the shooter. Summer Shiflet and Janis Cox
Summer Shiflet, left, and Janis Cox. | CBS This Morning
Before the children's bodies were found, Melani, as well as Lori's mother, Janis Cox, and sister, Summer Shiflet, told the media they did not think Lori was capable of harming JJ and Tylee. They have since issued a statement.

The Ryan family

Annie Cushing
Annie Cushing is the sister to Lori's third husband, Joseph Ryan, and is Tylee's aunt. Cushing wonders if foul play was involved in her brother's apparent heart attack, but her questions may never be answered as an autopsy was not performed, and Joseph was cremated. See our interview with Cushing here and read her statement when the children's bodies were found here. After the Daybells were charged with murder, she released this statement. Although Tylee's brother Colby shares the Ryan name, Colby's biological father is William Lagioia. Colby has spoken out on behalf of Tylee and JJ during this ordeal. In an Instagram post after the bodies were found, he called the children his "beautiful, amazing, sweet angels." Read his full message here. Colby-Ryan-at-fence1
Colby Ryan pays his respects near where his siblings' remains were found in Salem, Idaho. | Courtesy Kelsee Ryan

The Daybell family

Tammy Daybell. | Courtesy photo
Chad's previous wife, Tammy Daybell, died suddenly on Oct. 19, 2019. Chad married Lori on Nov. 5, 2019. Chad and Lori were allegedly having an affair before Tammy's death. Tammy's body was exhumed in December 2019, and autopsy results have not been released to the public, though now Chad and Lori are facing murder charges related to her death. Tammy's sister Samantha Gwilliam told police about the pet cemetery on the Daybell property, which led to the discovery of Tylee and JJ's bodies. After the murder charges were announced, Tammy's family released this statement. As Tammy was a school librarian, they have also started a nonprofit that gives books to children. Chad and Tammy's five children have not spoken directly to the media. However, Tammy's family, Chad's brother Matt and other family members of Chad have issued respective statements following the discovery of the children's remains.

Friends and associates

Melanie Gibb, left, and Lori Vallow Daybell. | Courtesy photo
Melanie Gibb was Lori’s best friend, attended religious-themed conferences where Chad spoke and was with them the moment they met. We did a series of interviews with her. Gibb says Lori tried to get her to lie to police about the children's whereabouts, which she refused to do. Gibb describes Chad and Lori's relationship as a "fatal attraction." Gibb's boyfriend is David Warwick, who also knew Chad and Lori. Julie Rowe and Chad Daybell
Julie Rowe, left, and Chad Daybell. | Courtesy photo
Julie Rowe is an author whose accounts of her near-death experiences and end-times predictions were published by Chad's company, Spring Creek Book Company. In 2019, Rowe was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for publicly speaking out against the church, teaching false doctrine, and practicing priestcraft for content in her podcasts and website, she said. After the children's disappearance, she at first supported Chad and Lori but has since spoken out against the couple. Suzanne Freeman
Suzanne Freeman.
Suzanne Freeman is also an author published by Spring Creek Book Company. She had a disagreement with Chad on rights for her books and the types of books he was publishing. In 2017, she wrote him an email in which she said, "I know without a shadow of a doubt what you are preaching will not lead to happiness. It will lead to death and sorrow." Jefferson County resident Christopher Parrett Sr. operates the Another Voice of Warning or AVOW, which is a paid forum website where some Latter-day Saints have discussions or offer conjecture about their religion, and Chad was an active participant. When news of the children's disappearance became public, Parrett strongly supported Chad for months, but he publicly denounced him after the bodies were found.

Law enforcement and legal teams

The home where Tammy died and JJ and Tylee were buried is in the Salem area of Fremont County, which is Sheriff Len Humphries' jurisdiction. Tylee and JJ lived with their mother in a townhome in Rexburg (in Madison County). Shane Turman is the police chief there. He told EastIdahoNews.com in 2019 -- before the bodies were found -- that police believed the children were in "pretty serious danger." The prosecutor in Madison County is Rob Wood. After the children's remains were found on Chad's property, Wood became the special prosecutor in the case against Chad concerning the children as well. Also participating in the prosecution are Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake and Rachel Smith, a special prosecutor from Missouri experienced in homicide cases. Lindsey Blake and Rob Wood
In foreground, Lindsey Blake and Rob Wood. | EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori have both been represented by multiple attorneys. In December 2019, Sean Bartholick, of Rigby, Andrus & Rigby, represented them and told the public, "Chad Daybell was a loving husband and has the support of his children in this matter. Lori Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary. We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor." Mark Means
Mark Means. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
After Lori was extradited from Hawaii, the couple was represented by Mark Means. Currently, Means only represents Lori, and Chad has retained the services of John Prior.
John Prior, right, with his client Chad Daybell. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
=== 138. 'I was wrong.' Lori Vallow Daybell's sister releases message following deaths of JJ and Tylee === Published: Mon, 22 Jun 2020 16:36:31 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=439333 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com Summer Cox Shiflet, Lori Vallow Daybell's sister, posted the following statement on Facebook Sunday night. Shiflet is Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow's aunt. She gave permission to EastIdahoNews.com to share her message: Words are hard and inadequate. Trying to type through this pain is difficult. The last few months have been hard. The last week has been excruciating. Losing our precious Tylee and JJ in this horrific way is more than we can bear. ? I have a tremendous amount of gratitude to all of the law enforcement that have worked so hard to find Tylee and JJ?. When I first heard that remains had been found, I immediately felt the need to pray for those who found them. And I continue to pray for those who were on the scene, removed the remains, and have to analyze them to try to piece together what those poor babies endured. I feel for those who do this work and am so grateful they are willing to do this, to help bring peace and closure to families. I am also grateful to the Woodcocks for ordering the wellness check. I pray for them to have peace and comfort as well. My mother has been here with me the past few days and we both feel the same about this. I feel so incredibly grateful to all of our friends and family and even the strangers that have reached out to offer their love and support. I have leaned on them more than they know. We have prayed for the truth to come to light, but we never thought it would look like this. Believe me when I say, this has looked very different from my perspective than what the public has seen. It’s easy to jump on a bandwagon when you don’t personally know all the people involved. When you have been up close and personal, you can’t discount your own interactions, and just go by what everyone else says and thinks. I know there are people waiting for me to admit I was wrong. If that’s all you want to know... here it is... I was wrong. I am an extremely imperfect person that loves my family with all my heart, and I wanted to believe the best in them, and I held out hope for the best possible outcome. I have always said things truthfully as I understood them, and will continue to do that as I learn new information. While I am nowhere close to perfect, I strive to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I want to show love to everyone regardless of their imperfections. I do not find any joy in condemning people or in the mob mentality. There is no joy in finding out about my precious niece and nephew. And while I have moments of extreme anger... right now there is so much sorrow and hurt that I can’t even fully process all of it. The last thing I want to do is perpetuate more hate. There is already too much of that in this world. I am praying for healing for all of those who knew and loved Tyty and JJ. Even those who didn’t know them, but have been hurt by this news. I pray for healing for all who need it. Especially those who choose to lash out in anger over this. I pray for them especially, as I know when you are in pain from your own life circumstances, it is easy to act out in anger. I am trying my best not to do that. It is going to take time to work through all of these emotions and all of this grief. But I have experienced the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life many times, and I have great hope and faith that He can heal all those who turn to Him for comfort. Tylee and JJ are completely irreplaceable in our family. I have loved them greatly all of their lives. There are no words that can capture this loss. Words are just inadequate. We have dozens of Tylee and JJ stories that we love and share frequently. We had prayed our hearts out for them and hoped with all of our hearts they were safe. But we sadly have to face this new reality and our family will never ever be the same. Sadly, there is no way to go back and undo what has been done. ? We can only go forward. As much as we miss them here, I know my beautiful Tyty and precious JJ are in a beautiful place with people they love. ?? I am going to do my best to help what’s left of my family to honor Tyty and JJ by putting our trust in our Savior Jesus Christ, by trying to show an abundance of love and kindness, and look into ways of helping victims of abuse, children suffering from chronic illnesses, and children on the autism spectrum. Love you forever Tylee and JJ!!!??????????

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‘My cousins are beautiful souls.’ Melani Pawlowski releases message expressing love for JJ and Tylee ‘My heart is so broken.’ Melanie Gibb writes letter warning others of Daybells’ deceptions Colby Ryan issues heartfelt message to his ‘beautiful, amazing, sweet angel’ siblings Tammy Daybell’s family issues statement Chad Daybell’s parents, family issue statement for ‘all who are suffering and grieving’ Cox family, Melani Pawlowski issue statement about JJ and Tylee JJ and Tylee’s families, Chad Daybell’s brother issue statements === 137. Charles Vallow says Lori Vallow Daybell has 'lost her marbles' in newly released dispatch calls === Published: Mon, 22 Jun 2020 14:07:37 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=439267 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Stock image and courtesy photo of Charles Vallow
GILBERT, Arizona -- Newly released dispatch calls show how Charles Vallow pleaded to get his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, mental health help in early 2019. Vallow tried numerous times on Jan. 31, 2019 to have the Gilbert Police Department take Daybell to Community Bridges mental health facility. Vallow became concerned over Daybell's religious beliefs and the fact she was losing touch with reality. The Gilbert Police Department released the calls along with officer body camera footage and numerous documents. Vallow made one call at 1:12 p.m. to say he had the order needed for Daybell to receive mental health help. At this point, Vallow had already met with police twice the same day after arriving home in Arizona from Texas where he had been on a business trip. RELATED | ‘She’s unhinged. It scares the crap out of me.’ New footage shows Charles Vallow’s concern for Lori Vallow Daybell had gone to the Gilbert Police station to report Vallow stole her purse along with keys and her phone. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON THE DAYBELL CASE "I'm going to go over there," Vallow told the 911 operator. "The officer said he won't hold her because he doesn't have an active order. Could you get that to him immediately." According to Vallow, in the moments leading up to the call, Daybell said she would kill him with her powers. She reportedly told Vallow someone named Nick Schneider took over his body and that "Charles had been killed." The dispatcher tells Vallow to wait a moment as she figured out what happened. "She's supposed to be retained for Bridges," Vallow said. "I got an order last night. She's lost her marbles." RELATED | Body camera footage shows Charles Vallow telling police his wife wanted him dead The first call ends with the dispatcher saying she would have an officer call Vallow back. Just minutes later, Vallow calls dispatch again. He reiterated the order for Daybell's mental health evaluation. "They said somebody would call me back in a minute, and I just want to make sure that's going to happen. I've just been trying to find her all day. She needs serious help," he says. The dispatcher then tells Vallow they will call him back "as soon as they can." As Vallow was on the phone, Daybell, her daughter, Tylee Ryan, and friend, Melanie Gibb, spoke with officers to report him stealing the purse. "During my contact with Lori, I found her to be in a normal state of mind but only slightly upset she did not have her property,” a Gilbert officer wrote in a police report. “Lori showed no signs of mental distress as she described what was occurring and appeared to be in a good mood. Talking with Lori`s daughter and friend, they did not seem concerned for anything other than Lori getting her property back.” Daybell agreed to go to Community Bridges on her own. Due to her apparent normal state of mind, the officer felt it best to not take her involuntarily as the order allowed, according to the report. Community Bridges medically cleared Vallow later that day. On July 11, Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Vallow at a home in Chandler, Arizona. The next month, Lori moved with Tylee and her son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, to Rexburg. By the end of September, JJ and Tylee had vanished. Their remains were discovered at the home of Daybell's new husband, Chad Daybell, on June 9. Lori is charged with two felony counts of desertion and three misdemeanor charges. Chad is charged with felony concealment, alteration or destruction of evidence. Both remain held in local jails on $1 million bail awaiting preliminary hearings later this summer. === 136. FBI releases new photo of Alex Cox with Tylee and JJ at Yellowstone === Published: Mon, 22 Jun 2020 11:47:20 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=439220 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Courtesey FBI
REXBURG -- The FBI released a photo recently found of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan with their uncle, Alex Cox, hours before Tylee was likely killed. The new photo shows the 7- and 16-year-old children smiling on Sept. 8 while standing on a boardwalk of a thermal feature at the national park. Investigators say they had just recently found the new photo. "I am releasing it today only because the quality is a little better than the other photos we previously released from that day," said FBI spokeswoman Sandra Barker. Barker confirmed with EastIdahoNews.com that Yellowstone National Park is no longer a place on interest in the case. According to court documents, Cox's phone pinged the next morning at the location where the Rexburg Police Department, the Fremont County Sheriff's Office and the FBI found the remains of the children on the Salem, Idaho, property of Chad Daybell. Daybell is the man who married their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, amid suspicious deaths that also include the Daybells' previous spouses. The Daybells are both behind bars with $1 million bail on felony charges in relation to the disappearance of JJ and Tylee. The photo released Monday is not the first time the FBI released photos of the kids at Yellowstone. On March 5, as authorities were bringing Lori Daybell back to Idaho from Hawaii, the investigative agency shared pictures of the kids, Cox and a silver F-150 in hopes for new information and leads.
Courtesy FBI
RELATED | FBI releases photos of missing Rexburg kids in Yellowstone and asks for help In court documents released on Friday, investigators gave horrific details on how they found JJ wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape, while Tylee was dismembered and burned. Cox cannot face any charges in the children's deaths as he died in December of what a medical examiner determined to be natural causes. Investigators continue to look into how the kids died, and both Chad and Lori Daybell are scheduled for preliminary hearings later this summer. === 135. Keith Morrison discusses 'incredibly sad' developments in Daybell story, previews Monday's Dateline === Published: Mon, 22 Jun 2020 09:12:58 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=439177 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Dateline NBC will air a new program Monday night featuring the latest developments on the Daybell case and an interview with one of Chad and Lori Daybell's closest friends. This is third show Dateline has produced since February focused on the complicated story that took a sudden turn June 9 when the bodies of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found buried on Chad's Salem property. "This is such an incredibly sad story when you think about those children in the backyard - a place where the people living in the house would be going back and forth," NBC News correspondent Keith Morrison tells EastIdahoNews.com. "It's hard to fathom how you could live with that right in your backyard." Chad was arrested on two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Lori is charged with desertion of children and three misdemeanors. Court documents unsealed Friday detail the gruesome manner in how the children were allegedly found.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON THE DAYBELL CASE

Morrison spoke with Melanie Gibb, a friend who knew the couple well, and says both of them deceived her. "Her moment of ungluing, if I can put it that way, was when Lori and Chad called and asked her to lie for them," Morrison says. "That's when she understood this was all a sham. (Melanie says) Lori was like velcro. She took you in and didn't let you go. She was such a remarkable embracing personality. I think that she certainly wanted to believe Lori and I think she went with what Chad and Lori were telling each other as a number of other people did." The show also includes interviews with Lori’s friends David Warwick and April Raymond, and EastIdahoNews.com reporters Nate Eaton and Eric Grossarth. "What Happened to JJ and Tylee" airs Monday, June 22 at 9 p.m. MT on NBC.

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Melanie Gibb describes Chad and Lori Daybells’ religious beliefs and her relationship with the couple Melanie Gibb describes zombies, JJ’s disappearance and the ‘fatal attraction’ between Chad and Lori Daybell Melanie Gibb discusses mysterious deaths, an earthquake, confronting Chad and Lori and her message for them now === 134. Documents detail horrific manner JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found in Chad Daybell's yard === Published: Fri, 19 Jun 2020 18:42:31 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438864 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com EDITOR'S NOTE: This story contains graphic information that may be disturbing to some readers. REXBURG -- Court documents released Friday evening detail the horrific manner in which Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found in Chad Daybell's backyard. JJ was wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape, while Tylee was dismembered and burned. The information is in an 11-page affidavit of probable cause that was unsealed by Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins on Friday. The documents are about Chad Daybell, who is charged with two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence. He was arrested and booked into the Fremont County Jail on June 9 after investigators excavated two sections of his Salem property and discovered the remains of Tylee and JJ. The children's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, is in the Madison County Jail charged with desertion of children and three misdemeanors.

What happened to Tylee

The last time Tylee Ryan was seen alive was on Sept. 8, 2019, on a trip to Yellowstone National Park with their mom, uncle, Alex Cox, and JJ. Rexburg police released photos of the trip earlier this year. tylee and jj at yellowstone
JJ and Tylee are seen with their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, and uncle Alex Cox in Yellowstone on Sept. 8, 2019. | Courtesy FBI
It's not clear how Tylee died, but police learned about a possible motive for the death from Lori's friend Melanie Gibb. Months earlier, in the spring, Lori had told Gibb that Tylee had become a "zombie," meaning her spirit had left her body, and she had become "dark." "Gibb was on the phone with Lori and heard Lori call Tylee a zombie to which Tylee responded, 'Not me, mom,'" the affidavit states. "This arose out of Lori requiring Tylee to babysit JJ, and Tylee did not want to. Lori Vallow also told Gibb that Tylee had turned into a zombie when she was 12 or 13, which was approximately the same time Tylee had become 'difficult' to deal with." RELATED | Melanie Gibb describes zombies, JJ’s disappearance and the ‘fatal attraction’ between Chad and Lori Daybell Gibb traveled from Arizona to Rexburg with her boyfriend, David Warwick, from Sept. 19 through Sept. 23. They never saw Tylee, and Lori said she was attending school at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Cox had a townhouse in the same complex as his sister. Investigators obtained Cox's cell phone records and compared his activities on Sept. 9 with other days the same month. "On Monday, Sept. 9, from 12 a.m. and 12:44 a.m., Cox’s phone was located at his apartment (107). However, at 2:42 a.m. to 3:37 a.m., Cox is located again at Lori’s apartment (175), where Lori lived with Tylee and JJ. This is significant, not only because he is there in the middle of the night, but also because this is the only time in September he appears to go over to Lori’s between midnight and 6 a.m.," the probable cause states. alex cox
Alex Cox.
RELATED | Who's who in the Daybell case Cox returned to his apartment at 4:37 a.m., and at 9:21 a.m., he was located at Chad Daybell's property. The GPS datapoint placed him near the east end of the barn, according to court records, and he was still at the property at 10:30 a.m. "At 10:47 a.m., his phone shows a hit at the City of St. Anthony. At this time, we are unable to tell if he was actually inside the city limits of St. Anthony ... or if this was a cell tower ping on his phone while he was still at the Daybell residence," Lt. Ron Ball of the Rexburg Police Department wrote in the statement. "At 10:57 to 11:39, Cox is located at the Daybell property. At 11:52 to 12:02, he was at Dell Taco in Rexburg. He appears to spend most of the rest of the day in his apartment." That same day, the FBI found the following text message conversation between Chad and his wife, Tammy Daybell: Chad to Tammy at 11:53 a.m.: Well, I've had an interesting morning! I felt I should burn all of the limb debris by the fire pit before it got too soaked by the coming storms. While I did so, I spotted a big raccoon along the fence. I hurried and got my gun, and he was still walking along. I got close enough that one shot did the trick. He is now in our pet cemetery. Fun times! Chad to Tammy at 11:56 a.m.: Gonna shower now and then go write for a while at BYU. Love you! Tammy to Chad at 2:47 p.m.: Good for you! Chad to Tammy at 2:48 pm: I’m back home now Ball wrote the following about the exchange: "I found the text suspicious because raccoons are normally nocturnal animals and are not regularly out during the day. It should be noted that from interviewing neighbors of Chad Daybell, we are aware that in mid-July of 2019, Garth Daybell, Chad’s son, told their neighbors that Chad had shot a raccoon out of a tree on their property during the day. Garth told (a neighbor) about the raccoon in response to a question from (a neighbor) about hearing a gunshot. (Neighbors) informed me that the fire pit in the back of the Daybell property was hardly ever used until the last few months." As police learned this new information, they consulted with Tammy Daybell's sister, Samantha Gwilliam. They asked her if she knew about a pet cemetery on the Daybell's property. She said she knew about it as both she and Tammy "were pet people," and they both had pet cemeteries. "When asked the location of the pet cemetery on the Daybell property, she stated that it was east of the red barn and near the fire pit," the affidavit reads. "She informed me that she was aware of the location of the pet cemetery on the Daybell property because Tammy had shown it to her. Samantha was then shown an aerial photograph of the Daybell property, and she pointed to the same area near the fire pit where Alex Cox’s phone pinged on Sept. 9, 2019." Last week, investigators dug at the location while executing their search warrant and made a grisly discovery. "Ground in this area was probed with a steel pole, and several areas of disturbed ground were located. During a search of this ground, a buried cat and dog remains were found. A backhoe was used to dig further layers of dirt. While doing this, bricks were located approximately a foot below the ground," the affidavit reads. "The dirt in this area was searched, and several other items of interest were found, including other bones, charred tissue and charred bones. Cheryl Anderson (a Boise State University anthropologist on-site) indicated these additional bones, both charred and uncharred, and tissue found were human remains."
This aerial photo was taken as police served a search warrant on Chad Daybell’s property June 9. | EastIdahoNews.com

What happened to JJ

Lori withdrew JJ from Kennedy Elementary in Rexburg on Sept. 24 and told administrators she was going to homeschool her son. He had not attended class for at least two days. Police say they never found any sign of homeschooling during their investigation. When Gibb arrived at Lori's house in September around the same time, Lori told her JJ had become a zombie. "Gibb that JJ had become a “zombie” and (Lori) pointed out behaviors such as sitting still and watching TV, claiming JJ said he loved Satan, and an increased vocabulary as evidence that JJ was now a zombie," Ball wrote in the affidavit. "Gibb observed JJ’s behavior and felt it to be the same as she had always observed it." Gibb told detectives that Lori told her Chad had taught that once a person becomes a zombie, "death of the physical body is seen as the mechanism by which the body’s original spirit can be released," according to the probable cause. Lori told Gibb that it was her and Chad's mission to rid the world of "zombies." The last time Gibb and Warwick saw JJ was the night of Sept. 22. Warwick told investigators it was late, and he was going to do a podcast with Gibb and Lori. Warwick said JJ was acting up, so Cox took JJ to his apartment.
Chad Daybell, Fremont County Jail
"When Alex returned later that night, he was carrying JJ, who appeared to be asleep with his head on Alex’s shoulder," Ball wrote. "Warwick specifically remembered this because he saw it as a tender moment." The next morning, between 8 and 9, Warwick asked Lori where JJ was. Lori told Warwick and Gibb that JJ "had been acting like a zombie" and crawling on and on top of the kitchen cabinets. "She informed Warwick and Gibb that when JJ had climbed upon the cabinetry that he had knocked a picture of Jesus off the refrigerator," the probable cause says. "Vallow then informed Warwick and Gibb that Alex had come and taken JJ." The FBI analyzed Cox's cell phone movements on the morning of Sept. 23. He was at the Daybell property from 9:55 a.m. until 10:12 a.m. -- a total of 17 minutes -- near the pond. Police searched the area last week. "Members of the FBI removed the top layer of sod. Underneath the layer of sod were several large flat rocks. The rocks were removed, and two pieces of flat paneling were found. The paneling was removed, and investigators exposed a round object covered in black plastic," the affidavit reads. "Upon exposing the round object covered in black plastic, a strong odor was noticed. An FBI member used a small sharp instrument and made a small incision in the plastic and a layer of white plastic was observed. An incision was made into the white layer of plastic exposing what appeared to be human remains, the crown of a head covered in light brown hair." The affidavit says JJ's body was wrapped in tight black plastic and secured with gray duct tape. It is not clear how JJ died either.

Chad watches events unfold

As law enforcement executed their search warrant, Chad was "continuously watching where officers were searching. He was observed watching officers while sitting in his vehicle in his front driveway and while sitting in his vehicle across the street at his daughter’s residence," the affidavit reads. When JJ's remains were discovered, police wrote Chad left his daughter's house in an SUV. He was arrested about a mile from his home. He remains in custody in the Fremont County Jail on $1 million bail. Lori is in the Madison County Jail, and her bail has also been set for $1 million. Cox died in December 2019, apparently of natural causes. Tammy died in October 2019, and Chad married Lori a few weeks later. Results from her autopsy have not been released.

READ THE ENTIRE PROBABLE CAUSE DOCUMENT HERE

Chad was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 1 and 2, but it has been postponed to Aug. 3 and 4. === 133. READ: Probable cause details discovery of Tylee and JJ's bodies === Published: Fri, 19 Jun 2020 17:53:08 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438983 By EastIdahoNews.com staff
This aerial photo was taken as police served a search warrant on Chad Daybell’s property June 9. | EastIdahoNews.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: This document contains graphic information that may be disturbing to some readers. === 132. 'She's unhinged. It scares the crap out of me.' New footage shows Charles Vallow's concern for Lori Vallow === Published: Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:16:33 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438822 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Body camera shows footage of Gilbert Police officers speaking with Charles Vallow.
GILBERT, Arizona -- Newly released police body camera footage and 911 calls outline how Charles Vallow, Lori Vallow Daybell's former husband, pleaded with officers to get his wife help. Footage from the morning of Jan. 31, 2019, shows Vallow talking with Gilbert Police officers outside a hotel about how his wife lost touch with reality. She was expressing strange beliefs and telling people she knew when the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would be happening. "I tried to support her as much as I could, but it's gotten really bad lately," Vallow told officers. "She's had a break. Says I'm Nick Schneider, I've taken over Charles' body and Charles had been killed." It's unknown who Schneider is, but Vallow says Daybell wants him dead, a story he told officers hours earlier after arriving home from a business trip.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON THE DAYBELL CASE

"I never thought she would do anything like this, but she's just lost touch with reality," Vallow said. "She's unhinged. It scares the crap out of me." Vallow told police in the earlier exchange that Daybell considered herself a translated being and a God who spoke with an ancient prophet and Jesus Christ daily. He said her strange religious views were several years in the making but became increasingly worse. RELATED | Body camera footage shows Charles Vallow telling police his wife wanted him dead Vallow said Daybell told him, “I can murder you now with my powers.” Since meeting with police that night, Vallow said he found Daybell's car at the parking lot of a school where she dropped of their son Joshua "JJ" Vallow. While there, Vallow said he took Daybell's keys, phone and wallet. Vallow said a hotel key in her wallet helped him find her and he wanted to get Daybell picked up on a court order for her to receive a mental health examination. An officer told Vallow they could not go into the hotel and check on Daybell if employees did not want them to. She said a sergeant with proper paperwork would need to come to the hotel and have Daybell admitted for a psychological evaluation. "I don't want her hurt. I don't want her to hurt anyone else," Vallow said. "Her religious stuff has gone way off the deep end." Police tell Vallow his main focus should be on the safety on JJ. "If you don't feel comfortable with her state of mind, then maybe figure out a way to keep him safe even if that means not being at school," an officer tells Vallow. The officer advises Vallow to not take JJ out of state too long and reminds him there are two sides to every story. Later in the day, Daybell, Tylee and their friend, Melanie Gibb, visit the Gilbert Police Department to file a report against Vallow. Daybell corroborates that Vallow took her phone, keys and wallet and she says she just wants her property back. "During my contact with Lori, I found her to be in a normal state of mind but only slightly upset she did not have her property," a Gilbert officer wrote in a police report. "Lori showed no signs of mental distress as she described what was occurring and appeared to be in a good mood. Talking with Lori`s daughter and friend, they did not seem concerned for anything other than Lori getting her property back."
Body camera footage of Lori Vallow Daybell speaking to police in Jan. 2019.
Daybell agreed to go to the Community Bridges mental health facility on her own. Due to her apparent normal state of mind, the officer felt it best to not take her involuntarily as the order allowed, according to the report. Community Bridges medically cleared Vallow later that day. In the months following, Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Vallow at a home in Chandler, Arizona, on July 11. In August, Lori took her family to live in Rexburg. By the end of September, Joshua and Tylee had vanished. WATCH PART 2 OF CHARLES VALLOW'S EXCHANGE WITH POLICE:
=== 131. Dateline to air special on Daybell developments including interview with Melanie Gibb === Published: Thu, 18 Jun 2020 19:53:30 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438811 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Dateline NBC is airing a special Monday night focusing on the latest developments in the Daybell case. 'What Happened to JJ and Tylee' will include Melanie Gibb's first network television interview. She is the former best friend of Lori Vallow Daybell and knew Chad Daybell well. Gibb spoke with NBC News’ Keith Morrison and explained that Lori and Chad "had deception in them." "I saw him as the hand and her as the puppet on that hand. They were both, like, gasoline and fire - equally destructive to each other." Gibb says. "And they both lie. And so, that was their common thread, is that they were really good lying to each other. [It] seemed a good fit, for them to be like that with each other." (Watch that exchange here.) Gibb is speaking out after investigators discovered the remains of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan in Chad Daybell's backyard last week. They had been missing since September. Chad is in the Fremont County Jail on two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Lori is in the Madison County Jail charged with desertion of children and three misdemeanors.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS

The show also includes interviews with Lori's friends, David Warwick and April Raymond, and EastIdahoNews.com reporters Nate Eaton and Eric Grossarth. This is the third special Dateline has produced on the case. Watch part one here and part two here. 'What Happened to JJ and Tylee' airs Monday, June 22 at 9 p.m. MST on NBC. === 130. 'My cousins are beautiful souls.' Melani Pawlowski releases message expressing love for JJ and Tylee === Published: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 20:37:50 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438641 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Courtesy Melani Pawlowski
Melani Pawlowski, a cousin of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, posted the following message on Facebook Wednesday evening. She granted EastIdahoNews.com permission to share the post. I don't have words for the horrific details our family was informed of last week. It is unfathomable, and it doesn't feel like real life. We've been trying to process all of this while in absolute shock as we never could have seen this as the outcome and still have so many questions. While I feel so many emotions as I scroll looking at pictures of my cousins, I am grateful for so many who have prayed, hoped, and believed with our family. Thank you for the messages of comfort and love which overcome all the more negativity that is going around. Thank you to those who have honored JJ and Tylee with kindness. My cousins are beautiful souls who both radiate love towards others and whom had a zealous passion for life. I know Tylee and JJ know how I feel already - but I want to share for so many who didn't have the blessing of being able to be a part of their lives. And especially in gratitude for those who have expressed heartfelt empathy and who have chosen to love our family without judgment and to lift us up through this. Tylee was one of the wittiest, spunkiest individuals I've ever had in my life. She didn't let what people thought get to her. If you knew Tylee, she would probably be giving the biggest eye roll at all the drama unfolding in the media. To anyone using this terrible situation to express their hate and blame on others, she would probably tell you off- because she was the sassiest thing ever and wasn't afraid to say how she felt. Tylee loved to have fun and didn't draw into drama, but would use it as a platform for her comedy. Boy could she make others laugh! She went through a lot of hard things in her life, and she didn't deserve what happened to her..no one does. I truly wish she could go on live television and tell her story, rather than anyone else who has and will in the future- just know..the stakes are set high from that girl:) I know I could never measure up in that regard - as we've all seen, I'm horrible on live television and I would rather not do it ever again or to have to talk publicly about the trauma my family has gone through. I was always so impressed with Tylee's ability to express herself and communicate well - I wish she was here to clear up all the confusion for us; she would do it better than any of the rest of us could.
Courtesy Melani Pawlowski
JJ was a ball of energy and high spirits! He wanted to be on the move constantly, doing something active, or going somewhere with his cousins or siblings. He loved my oldest son, and he wanted to be with him morning, night, and day. He trusted Braxy, and would walk hand in hand with him as we took Disneyland Trips together, went to water parks, beaches, jungle gyms...anything to keep all the busy kiddos entertained. JJ bravely went on Guardians of the Galaxy all because my son and I wanted to go on it and he didn't want to be left out on the action. JJ reached out to everyone with his love, but nothing was more special than his bond with his siblings Tylee and Colby who just adored him. Our family has been grieving with one thing after another, we've suffered many betrayals and it feels as if only the Savior could understand. But I know others know similar grief and I believe we go through these experiences to learn and be able to comfort others. Thank you for any who can find it in their hearts to withhold negative feelings and to just exhibit love? While trying to mourn through this most devastating event our family will probably ever have to endure, the public continues to criticize and twist information, others are trying to capitalize on this tragic event for their own gain, and all this distracts from these two precious babes. Some have and probably will continue to edit out truths to their own advantage for the story they want. Bottom line is, that this is our family...you can speculate all you want, but no one has all the facts. Clearly I don't have all the details..we are all just doing the best we can. Without having knowledge or actual evidence to the contrary, we chose to go with what we hoped and believed. I couldn't go back and say anything different- it was what I knew...it was what I experienced. While wanting to have every answer and all the missing puzzle pieces, I know the Lord knows all and He has a way of healing and making things right in His time. I'm grateful it is His job to judge, not ours. I cannot process this pain and hurt alone, so I have no choice but to give it to the Lord and say 'take this'. I can't possibly understand why things have happened or why people make the choices they do. Life will never be the same. No one can tell me how I feel, what I know, or what I believe- only God and we know what we have individually experienced. We never know what other people are going through, or the pains they've endured.. so just be kind :) I believe that would make JJ and Tylee smile down from heaven- let's love others like the Savior would and remember these two sweet angels forever? === 129. Author warned Chad Daybell 3 years ago his teachings would 'lead to death and sorrow,' according to email === Published: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 10:05:08 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438462 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- An author who worked closely with Chad Daybell warned him three years ago that his teachings "will lead to death and sorrow." Suzanne Freeman was one of the first writers to have her work published by Spring Creek Book Company, which Daybell launched in 2004. Over the next ten years, she partnered with him on three projects but in 2014, she felt uncomfortable with the direction his business was moving and new authors he was working with. “He started publishing non-Mormon doctrine stories – people’s different experiences and stuff, and I just told him there’s something that’s not quite right,” Freeman told EastIdahoNews.com earlier this month. “Plus, we were working on a book of mine together to take out of the LDS stuff, and I was kind of surprised by that because he was an LDS author.” RELATED | Author who worked with Chad Daybell says he’s been deceived and needs to ‘do the right thing’ Freeman and Chad parted ways, but she wanted the publishing rights to her book back. On June 2, 2017, she sent him an email making the request with a stern warning: Hi Chad, I was wondering if it was at all possible for you to give me the rights of the books. I understand that you are busy but I have paid you off last fall and I have not seen any royalties since last year. I have had a deep respect for you and have thought that you were following the spirit but in the past few years I think that deception has crept in. I do not agree with what you are publishing. I have come to the understanding that what you are publishing is false. I understand that you don't agree and you might just think I am being spiteful or jealous in some way. That is further from the truth, but in the end, truth will prevail and the truth of all things will be shown to those who are true and faithful. I know without a shadow of a doubt what you are preaching will not lead to happiness. It will lead to death and sorrow. Daybell responded two days later, saying he was sorry Freeman had "bitter feelings" toward him and agreed to return her publishing rights. The two communicated via email for several months but Freeman said she never got the rights back. Freeman provided the email chain to EastIdahoNews.com with some personal information and details redacted. She forgot about the messages until she went back to her email archive this week. "I kept the emails because I wanted proof that he said he would give them (the publishing rights) to me and when I read through it...it was just plain old eerie. I just don't know what to make of it honestly," she tells EastIdahoNews.com. Freeman says when she told Chad his teachings would result in "death and sorrow," she was referring to his predictions about the end-of-times. She was particularly bothered about his idea that a "call-out" would happen where righteous members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with food storage and temple recommend would gather at Church-owned camps and prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON THE DAYBELL CASE "I figured they'd be up in the hills and people would be shooting each other because of food storage and stuff like that," Freeman says. "It was bad what he was doing and everybody was so obsessed with the "call-out" and wanting to go out there. If I even said anything remotely bad about these authors (he was working with), I would be attacked viciously. I had to quit a lot of these (online) forums because they were so abusive." Freeman recalls telling friends that Daybell's beliefs were dangerous but she had forgotten about the blunt warning she said to him in the message until this week. "It was a hard email for me to read. I'll be honest," Freeman says. "Maybe I thought I was being overdramatic just so I could get my rights back. I didn't think Chad would be a killer. I figured people would follow what was predicted and then people would die because of the false predictions." Freeman held out hope that Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan would be found alive. When she saw EastIdahoNews.com confront Daybell and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, in Hawaii in January, she had a bad feeling about the children but never suspected their bodies would be recovered in Daybell's backyard. She now looks back on her email message three years ago and wishes somehow Daybell would have taken her words to heart. "For me to see this, I feel like maybe I could have stopped it if he would have just listened to me," Freeman says. Suzanne Freeman provided the following emails to EastIdahoNews.com showing her exchange with Chad Daybell. Personal information and details have been redacted. === 128. 'My heart is so broken.' Melanie Gibb writes letter warning others of Daybells' deceptions === Published: Tue, 16 Jun 2020 11:11:00 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438271 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- One of Chad and Lori Daybell's closest friends has written a seven-page letter explaining how the couple deceived her and about her fear for her life. She also wants others who believe in the teachings of Chad and Lori Daybell to be able to "find the truth." Melanie Gibb knew Chad and Lori well and witnessed their relationship unfold over the past two years. Gibb spoke with EastIdahoNews.com in May and revealed stunning new details about Chad's beliefs, which she says ultimately led to people dying - including Charles Vallow, Tammy Daybell, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Gibb's letter was posted Monday night on AVOW, a preparedness website that stands for "Another Voice of Warning." It is not run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but many visitors are church members who pay monthly membership dues to the site. Gibb shared the letter with EastIdahoNews.com in hopes of reaching others who believe teachings similar to Chad's. RELATED | Melanie Gibb describes Chad and Lori Daybells’ religious beliefs and her relationship with the couple "I wanted to believe him too. He's so soft-spoken and comes across as sincere and humble. I get it. There is nothing like letting the world see you be deceived," Gibb wrote. Gibb addressed what she called "Prepper Pride" - the thought that "because we think we are aware, we are awake." She said Satan deceived her and detailed how she became involved with Chad and Lori. Chad and Lori met and Chad seemed to have all the answers she was desiring. She had learned about multiple probations (many lives) from the internet and really believed she was married to Moroni (a prophet in the Book of Mormon). She heard him often talk to her, according to Lori. Chad informed her she had been married to him before. Chad also informed her that they had been married multiple times, one being when he was James the Less from the Bible. He told Lori that they were each other’s favorites. She fell madly infatuated with (Chad). Lori loved his spiritual gifts, as he claimed to have the veil opened a little all the time and asked the Lord to close it because he saw too much. They felt it was okay to have this infatuated love because Jesus knew it was their mission to be the head of the 144,000, and they had been married multiple times (of course this is not true). RELATED | Melanie Gibb discusses mysterious deaths, an earthquake, confronting Chad and Lori and her message for them now As Charles was supposed to die, according to the visions Lori had of him dying, she was greatly disappointed when he didn’t. Chad and Lori were so anxious to be together that Chad devised a plan and called Lori to let her know that Charles (Lori's then-husband) was taken over by an unclean spirit and was no longer Charles anymore. These unclean spirits would later be called zombies. I was there when this happened and Lori seemed a little overwhelmed by this idea but wanted to believe Chad. Gibb wrote Chad and Lori constantly told her about "weapons" and "fiery darts" that were being launched at them by Satan because the devil hated them. She said Chad would get his information from the Book of Life and used a special tool to receive answers from the Lord. "He created a portal and would ask questions with a pendulum. I saw him twice with a gold-colored pointy pendulum with a string attached. The last time I saw Chad and Lori, he asked questions with the pendulum to see if people were light or dark. That was troubling to me. I thought, 'This is how he gets his answers?' He told Lori that Peter, James and John came to him in 2017 in the mountains," Gibb wrote. RELATED | Melanie Gibb describes zombies, JJ’s disappearance and the ‘fatal attraction’ between Chad and Lori Daybell Gibb said that before Chad met Lori, he "opened the doors of darkness" by doing energy work - a practice followers believe restores the balance and flow of energy throughout the body, mind and soul. Gibb believes energy work is dangerous and warns others that it can invite evil spirits. "Let me just say here, this energy work and these doctrines of the devil's will continue to take people away from God’s church. Most people that believe in multiple probations also believe in energy work. They kind of go hand and hand. Please pray about this yourself," Gibb said. After police began investigating Chad and Lori in November, Gibb realized they had lied to her, and "the fear was so great, I can't begin to describe." She said she couldn't sleep, eat and cried a lot. She said she ultimately found strength in Jesus Christ and the scriptures. I felt I needed to pay the price of my sins by confessing them all to the whole world. I have helped the police, FBI, prosecuting attorney and detectives with this tragic case. I admire these men so much for being a strength of truth and to bring justice for all. RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell Did Lori and Chad bring thousands of souls unto Christ? Did they help many people repent and turn back to God? Do these ideas of multiple lives help bring souls unto Christ? Does opening these doors through energy work really help bring us to God and rely upon Him only? We should be seeking God’s voice for all our answers if we want to hear from Him -- not from others on the other side of the veil. I wanted to bring purpose for why Tammy, Charles, JJ, and Tylee died. I know Tammy and Charles would want me to tell the world of these dangers of believing such doctrines. I know they would want their children to know the truth. Let’s make their death matter in stopping these evil doctrines and become humble, broken-hearted, faithful and obedient, and set a good example to the world of what Jesus Christ can do for all of us!! “?For the truth will make you free!!”? My heart is so broken because of what happened to all those who were murdered and those who I once called my friends. I have forgiven all because I know this was Satan’s work and God took all hatred and evil out of my heart years ago when He changed my heart and gave me a new one. I cannot begin to understand all the pain the family members have suffered who lost their loved ones. I know it has affected me forever. I will never forget it. Read Gibb's entire letter here. === 127. READ: Melanie Gibb's 7-page letter posted on AVOW === Published: Tue, 16 Jun 2020 09:44:34 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438282 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com === 126. Chad Daybell enters not guilty plea === Published: Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:59:18 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438200 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell and his attorney John Prior
SALEM -- Chad Daybell plans to plead not guilty to two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence. In court records filed Monday, Daybell's defense attorney, John Prior, entered the plea and requested a jury trial. The Rexburg Police Department arrested Daybell Tuesday after investigators excavated a section of his Salem property and discovered the remains of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. The two children disappeared in September 2019 and their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, is also behind bars in connection to the case. The document announcing Daybell's plea is not the only filing submitted by Prior on Monday. He also submitted his request for discovery, a standard practice for defense attorneys in preparation for their client's defense. Prior asked special prosecutor Rob Wood for any pertinent statements made by Daybell during the investigation and statements made by a potential co-defendant. Prior did not return EastIdahoNews.com's request for comment. Details surrounding how investigators were led to Daybell's property are unknown. An affidavit of probable cause was sealed by court order because it "is necessary to prevent harm to any person or persons." Wood noted during Daybell's initial appearance that the concealment of one of the bodies was “particularly egregious.” While Daybell states his plea as not guilty, it remains unclear if he is waiving his preliminary hearing. The online Idaho court docket still lists July 1 and July 2 as dates for that hearing. === 125. Authorities 'meticulously' building case in deaths of JJ and Tylee, expert says === Published: Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:22:50 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438166 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com SALEM -- Now that remains found in Chad Daybell's backyard have been identified as Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, investigators are working to determine how the children died and how they ended up buried on the property. Autopsies performed by the state medical examiner's office confirmed the children's identities, and Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood has said one body was concealed in a “particularly egregious” manner. Jennifer Shen, a forensic psychology professor at Alliant University, has served as the crime laboratory director for the San Diego Police Department for years. She has been following the Daybell case closely and says investigative work done at a burial site is "a meticulous operation."
Jennifer Shen, a forensic psychology professor at Alliant University, served as the Crime Laboratory Director for the San Diego Police Department for years. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
"The bodies are generally a wealth of information, so to start with, you’re at the gravesite where you have to recover the bodies in a way that you will make sure you maximize the gain of any evidence," Shen tells EastIdahoNews.com. "You need to go through the gravesite scoopful by scoopful of dirt to make sure there’s nothing you miss." Detectives will look for any clues at the burial site, such as plastic bags, gloves, fibers, hair or debris, that could lead them to suspects. Shen explains victims are sometimes identified by the clothing or jewelry they are wearing, and dental records are often used for confirmation. Daybell was arrested Tuesday after authorities excavated a section of his Salem property and discovered the remains. He is in the Fremont County Jail on $1 million bail charged with two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence. From the EastIdahoNews.com helicopter, we noticed a police dog on Daybell's land as police executed a search warrant. It's likely the animal helped to find the remains, Shen said.
Law enforcement officers serve a search warrant at Chad Daybell's property Tuesday, June 9. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
"If you have a fairly large property and you have cadaver dogs, those dogs can narrow down where the bodies are very quickly," she says. Law enforcement removed 43 items from Daybell’s home during a multi-agency raid in January. Computers, cell phones, journals, documents and medications were sent to forensic experts for examination. Several feet of snow covered the frozen ground, and no major digs were performed on the property at the time. "The investigators on this case have to lay out a very meticulous case for a search warrant. They have to be able to convince a judge that they have enough probable cause to go onto someone’s property and start digging in their backyard, and that’s not easy to do. It shouldn’t be easy to do," Shen says. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON THE DAYBELL CASE It's likely Daybell and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, will face additional charges in connection to the deaths of JJ and Tylee. While the discovery of the remains does bring some closure, other questions remain about aspects of cases tied to Chad and Lori. The Idaho attorney general is investigating both of them for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to Tammy Daybell, Chad's first wife. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries says her autopsy results have not been finalized.
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell | Fremont County Jail, Madison County Jail
"They might be looking for poisons or toxins of some sort. That can take a long time," Shen says. "The more complex the poisons or toxins you might be looking for or the body chemistry you might be trying to understand, the longer it takes. They’re not quick tests you can do immediately – they take longer." Shen stresses that investigations like these are complex, difficult and time-consuming. Although crimes may be solved within an hour on television, real cases cannot be hurried, and patience is necessary. "People’s lives are at stake. That can’t be rushed. It will take a while and it may be frustrating to wait, but that has to happen," she says. === 124. Colby Ryan issues heartfelt message to his 'beautiful, amazing, sweet angel' siblings === Published: Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:39:56 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=438068 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Courtesy Kelsee Ryan
SALEM -- Lori Vallow Daybell's oldest son visited the site where the remains of his siblings were found and says he will "always wish I could have traded places" with Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Colby Ryan and his wife, Kelsee, went to Chad Daybell's property Saturday and Sunday. They posted photos on social media of flowers, signs, teddy bears and other items that have been left along the fence. Police found the bodies of JJ and Tylee in Daybell's yard while executing a search warrant Tuesday. Ryan attached a sign to the fence that reads: To my beautiful little brother and sister. We will never forget you. This is not the end. You will have justice and we will meet again in paradise. I love you so much. Rest in peace.
Courtesy Keslee Ryan
Chad Daybell has been charged with two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence. He remains in the Fremont County Jail on $1 million bail. Lori Vallow Daybell is in the Madison County Jail charged with child abandonment, obstructing an investigation, contempt of court and soliciting a crime. Her bail is also set at $1 million.
Courtesy Keslee Ryan
In addition to posting his sign, Ryan shared photos of him with his siblings on Instagram with the following message: I don't even know how to start this. But to my beautiful, Amazing, sweet angels. The only peace I have is knowing you are in paradise. I'm broken over this. To not see (your) beautiful faces, hear your voices. Or know that I can't hug you or see you kills me. I will never let anyone forget you. I have prayed that I could be with you again, and one day that will be true. I have more love for both of you than you could ever know. I miss you both. I love you both. This seems like a nightmare. It seems unreal. You were taken from all of us. You both touched so many lives. You impacted so many people. That will never go away. Just know I will carry you every day and everywhere I go. My daughter will always know how lucky she is to have you both watching over her. Tylee And Joshua. I will never be able to express my love for you. But know this, I'm still here for you. I will always wish I could have traded places with you. But I'll never let you be forgotten. With all of my love to you both. Forever you're in our hearts. === 123. 'With heavy hearts' police identify remains found on Daybell property === Published: Sat, 13 Jun 2020 12:27:14 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437984 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
A memorial set up at Porter Park to honor Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. | Silas Wright, EastIdahoNews.com
REXBURG -- Human remains found on Chad Daybell's Salem property have been officially identified as 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. The Rexburg Police Department announced the findings Saturday following autopsies that were performed on both bodies in Boise. "The remains were taken to the medical examiner’s office where an autopsy and positive identification was performed. It is with heavy hearts that we now confirm that those remains have now been officially identified as those of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan," Rexburg Police Assistant Chief Gary Hagen said in a news release. The remains were found as a search warrant was executed at Daybell’s home Tuesday. Rexburg Police officers, Fremont County Sheriff deputies and the FBI made the discovery in the yard behind the house. Daybell was arrested and charged with two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS

The first felony count alleges Daybell hid, altered, or destroyed human remains on his property between Sept. 8, 2019 and June 9, 2020. The second count says Daybell hid, altered, or destroyed human remains on his property between Sept. 22, 2019 and June 9, 2020. Authorities have not released details about the conditions of the remains but during a court hearing Wednesday, Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood noted the concealment of one of the bodies was "particularly egregious." "We would like to thank all of the law enforcement officers involved, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, family, friends and everyone throughout this community and across the country for their diligent and tireless efforts to find JJ and Tylee," Hagen said. "It is not the outcome we had hoped; to be able to find the children safe. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of JJ and Tylee." Annie Cushing, the aunt of Tylee, issued the following statement Saturday. Read the full statement here. "Today marks the conclusion of a long and arduous search for my niece, Tylee Ryan, and her little brother, JJ Vallow. Rexburg Police Department has confirmed the remains found on Chad Daybell's property belong to them. The outcome comes as no surprise, but it still packs a devastating punch as the finality of it all sinks in." The affidavit of probable cause has been sealed in the case. Daybell is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 1.

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Tammy Daybell’s family issues statement Chad Daybell's parents, family issue statement for 'all who are suffering and grieving' JJ and Tylee’s families, Chad Daybell’s brother issue statements Cox family, Melani Pawlowski issue statement about JJ and Tylee === 122. Hundreds remember JJ and Tylee during candlelight vigil === Published: Sat, 13 Jun 2020 07:52:19 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437897 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- As the sun set over eastern Idaho Friday night, hundreds of people gathered in a field to remember Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. A candlelight vigil was held near Soda Tsunami in honor of the two children whose remains were found this week buried in property belonging to Chad Daybell. JJ and Tylee had been missing since September and their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, refused to tell authorities where they were located. Families as far away as Arizona attended the vigil. April Raymond was friends with Lori in Hawaii and drove up from Utah with family members to pay her respects. "I'm glad we have some answers but I'm waiting for a lot more," Raymond told EastIdahoNews.com. "We really wanted to be here. It was important for me to have an opportunity to remember Tylee and JJ the way that we would like to." Timanee Olsen, who does not know anyone in JJ or Tylee's families, organized the event, which included poetry, music, and prayer. Many in attendance wiped tears from their eyes as Erika Wohlschlegel sang 'In the Arms of an Angel' by Sarah McLachlan. Melissa Padigimus sang "Jealous of the Angels" by Donna Taggart. "Everybody's feeling the devastation and heartache," Olsen said. "I think it was one of those things that somebody needed to do it and I happened to be one of the people that was able to make it happen." After everyone lit a candle, a moment of silence was held for the children. Attendees wrote messages on index cards that will be delivered to JJ and Tylee's families. "Most of us haven't felt this kind of pain or loss," Lee Linde said during the closing prayer. "I think we can all feel the pain of this loss whether you knew JJ and Tylee or not because this kind of tragedy affects us all." JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, were unable to attend the vigil but watched a livestream on the EastIdahoNews.com Facebook page. When it was over, Larry posted a message in the comments. "God bless you all! Thank you for supporting the loss of our kids," he wrote.

PHOTO GALLERY OF THE VIGIL

Photographers: Tony Blakeslee and Nate Eaton === 121. Friends of Tammy Daybell express concern over her death === Published: Fri, 12 Jun 2020 08:28:38 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437792 By Garna Mejia, KSL TV SALEM (KSL TV) -- Friends of Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, have come forward to say something wasn’t right in the days before she died. “She smiled nonstop, she was out to do her very best and then some,” Mandy Fowler, Tammy Daybell’s friend and co-worker, told KSL TV reporter Garna Mejia. Friends and co-workers like Mandy Fowler said Tammy Daybell was loved by everyone at Central Elementary School where she worked as a librarian. “She was the most amazing person ever,” Fowler said. “You only meet someone like her once in a lifetime.” She said her 49-year-old friend was full of life, loved gardening, serving others and had somehow found the time to train for a marathon.

“We still suffer and will suffer with you for many years to come,” Statement from #TammyDaybell’s parents, siblings, & extended family. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/RuOzKJ5qHM

— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) June 11, 2020
“I mean, she truly was so awesome,” said Fowler. Fowler said Tammy most of all loved being a devoted mother. “She talked about her kids nonstop,” Fowler said. On a Saturday morning, Oct. 19, 2019, Fowler said she got an unexpected call from her supervisor. “She said she had heartbreaking news for us, and I was in total disbelief,” she said. “I had just seen her.” Tammy Daybell had allegedly died in her sleep the previous night at the Salem, Idaho, home she shared with her husband, Chad Daybell, and some of her adult children. Fowler said Tammy Daybell was discovered in her bed, Fowler said, and no one knew the cause of death. It left her in shock. “I saw her the day before she died,” Fowler said. She said she had noticed something different about Tammy Daybell during her last visit with her. Fowler said Tammy Daybell would often suggest books for her to read. She had stopped by the library to talk about a book choice, but said Tammy Daybell felt distant. “I was coming to ask her about another book recommendation, and she was just really busy and didn’t want to talk a lot,” Fowler explained. “ She seemed maybe kind of frustrated, and that wasn’t typical of her.” The day after Tammy’s Daybell died, staff at the school gathered to comfort her daughter, Emma Murray, who teaches at the same school. “Everyone was having a hard time because it was so sudden,” Fowler said. “Everyone shared a lot of good, happy memories about her. Emma wanted to hear everyone’s happy memories because she said that is what would get her through it.” During the visit, Fowler and another friend told KSL that Murray also shared concerns about the state in which they found Tammy Daybell’s body. Murray reportedly shared that Tammy Daybell appeared to have pink foam coming out of her mouth. Fowler and multiple sources told KSL that Chad Daybell refused to have an autopsy performed on his wife. They expressed concerns about Tammy Daybell’s funeral, which they felt was rushed. Tammy Daybell was buried in Springville, Utah, on Oct. 22, 2019 – three days after her death. Chad Daybell, 51, married Lori Vallow, 46, a few weeks after Tammy Daybell’s death. There are now several allegations that the couple was having an affair before Tammy Daybell’s death. With so many investigations involving Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow, Fowler said she hopes to find out what happened to Tammy. Daybell.
“I just can’t help but think that I want to know what happened to Tammy, ” she said. “I want justice for Tammy.” Tammy Daybell’s death has since been determined to be suspicious and is being investigated by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. Her remains were exhumed in December 2019. Autopsy results are still pending, according to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. KSL TV reached out to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office as well as the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office is assisting in the investigation as requested from the Fremont County District Attorney. Tammy Daybell’s death investigation is still active, and authorities were not able to provide further information at this time. Tammy Daybell’s family also provided the following statement Thursday in reference to the human remains discovered in Chad Daybell’s yard, which are believed to be his stepchildren, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan: As the family of our beloved Tammy, we want to extend our deepest and heartfelt love and sympathy to the families of Tylee and JJ. We share the pain of the tremendous and shocking loss you are enduring. We still suffer and we will suffer with you for many years to come. Please know we will continue our prayers to strengthen your families, as you are finally able to properly lay to rest your precious Tylee and JJ. As matters move through the judicial process, we pray that each of our families can be strengthened and trust that justice will be swiftly served. We wish to thank the many members of Law Enforcement and the FBI who continue to work tirelessly as investigations continue, and the public who have shown such love and support for our families. We also ask that our privacy continue to be respected at this time as we continue to grieve for Tammy, and the Woodcock and the Ryan families grieve this unfathomable loss. From Tammy’s Parents, Siblings and Extended Family === 120. Tammy Daybell's family issues statement === Published: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 15:40:30 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437678 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com The following is a statement from the family of Tammy Daybell: As the family of our beloved Tammy, we want to extend our deepest and heartfelt love and sympathy to the families of Tylee and JJ. We share the pain of the tremendous and shocking loss you are enduring. We still suffer and we will suffer with you for many years to come. Please know we will continue our prayers to strengthen your families, as you are finally able to properly lay to rest your precious Tylee and JJ. As matters move through the judicial process, we pray that each of our families can be strengthened and trust that justice will be swiftly served. We wish to thank the many members of law enforcement and the FBI who continue to work tirelessly as investigations continue, and the public who have shown such love and support for our families. We also ask that our privacy continue to be respected at this time as we continue to grieve for Tammy, and the Woodcock and the Ryan families grieve this unfathomable loss. From Tammy's Parents, Siblings and Extended Family

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Chad Daybell's parents, family issue statement for 'all who are suffering and grieving' JJ and Tylee’s families, Chad Daybell’s brother issue statements Cox family, Melani Pawlowski issue statement about JJ and Tylee === 119. Vigil planned for JJ and Tylee as memorials are set up in honor of the children === Published: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 09:21:21 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437604 By Rett Nelson & Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
A memorial for Tylee and JJ was held at Porter Park in Rexburg Wednesday night. | Silas Wright, EastIdahoNews.com
IDAHO FALLS -- Joshua "JJ" Vallow's grandparents arrived in eastern Idaho Wednesday and visited Chad Daybell's home - the place where their grandson's remains were found this week. Bouquets of flowers and T-shirts with the words "Bring JJ and Tylee home" lined the fence outside the Daybell property. Police discovered the remains of JJ and his sister, Tylee Ryan, while serving a search warrant at the home Tuesday.
Larry and Kay Woodcock at the Daybell home Wednesday evening. | Courtesy Janeese Summers
Investigators concluded their work at the home Wednesday evening but a deputy remained on-site Thursday morning. In Rexburg, a memorial with flowers, photos, teddy bears and candles was set up at Porter Park. And in Idaho Falls, a vigil is being planned Friday night for the children. "I just got this kick in the butt today that was like, 'You've got to do something.' Everybody on my Facebook page is talking and wants to do something but doesn't know what. So I just thought, 'Let's do this,'" organizer Timanee Olsen tells EastIdahoNews.com. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS The vigil will be held in the large field on the south side of Soda Tsunami at 3460 S. 25th East beginning at 8:30 p.m. Olsen say there will be prayers, a moment of silence and a musical performance of Sarah McLachlan's "In the Arms of an Angel." "If it's small, that's great and it will be intimate. If it's bigger, we'll have the space for it," Olsen says. "Anyone who is feeling the effects of this incredible loss is free to come and pay their respects." Olsen is asking those who attend to wear a mask and wear purple and blue to honor JJ and Tylee. Visit the Facebook page for more information.
Courtesy Timanee Olsen
=== 118. Chad Daybell's parents, family issue statement for 'all who are suffering and grieving' === Published: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 07:02:52 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437648 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com Chad Daybell's parents, Jack and Shelia Daybell, along with his brother, Paul Daybell, and the Daybell family have issued the following statement to EastIdahoNews.com about the deaths of the Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan: It is with heavy hearts and extreme sadness, that we wish to express our love and condolences to the families of JJ and Tylee. We especially want to convey our sorrow to Larry and Kay Woodcock and Colby Ryan for the pain and suffering they have endured for many months and especially at this time. We have hoped and prayed over the many months for the safety and well-being of JJ and Tylee and we are devastated by their passing. We are heart-broken that these beautiful children’s lives were ended tragically and prematurely and for the emptiness and pain it leaves in the lives of their loved ones. We also continue to mourn for Tammy, who has been a daughter and sister to us and part of our family for nearly 30 years. She was the sweetest and kindest person and a wonderful mother to her children. The lives of her children have been devastated since she passed away and through the events of the past months and recent days. We empathize and know that for every family and loved one involved, healing may take a lifetime. We send our most sincere love and prayers to all those who are suffering and grieving at this time. The Daybell Family

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JJ and Tylee’s families, Chad Daybell’s brother issue statements Cox family, Melani Pawlowski issue statement about JJ and Tylee === 117. Cox family, Melani Pawlowski issue statement about JJ and Tylee === Published: Wed, 10 Jun 2020 16:59:07 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437598 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com The following is a statement from attorneys Robert Jarvis and Garrett Smith. The Cox family --Janis and Barry, Summer, Melani and Ian -- is deeply saddened by the recent findings in the investigation into the whereabouts of J.J. and Tylee. Their love for them knows no bounds. The family has maintained a strong hope and belief that they were alive and well. With that hope and belief apparently shattered, they struggle to find comfort and hope in this potential new reality. They miss J.J. and Tylee very much. The family is very grateful to those who have expended so much time and effort in trying to locate them. The family expresses their deep and abiding love for J.J. and Tylee. The family will continue to closely watch the developing situation and will anxiously await the pending conclusions with heavy hearts. The family extends their gratitude to all those who have expressed their love and concern for J.J. and Tylee and feels the strength of their faith and prayers. Watch our interview with Melani and Ian Pawlowski here. === 116. JJ and Tylee's families, Chad Daybell's brother issue statements === Published: Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:02:51 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437555 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Joshua "JJ" Vallow's grandparents, Tylee Ryan's aunt and Chad Daybell’s younger brother have issued statements about Daybell's arrest and the discovery of human remains on his property. The bodies of JJ and Tylee were found Tuesday, according to multiple family members. Daybell is charged with two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence. He is in the Fremont County Jail on $1 million bail. Larry and Kay Woodcock issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon: The Woodcocks and the Ryans are confirming that the human remains found by law enforcement on Chad Daybell’s property are indeed our beloved JJ and Tylee. We are filled with unfathomable sadness that these two bright stars were stolen from us and only hope that they died without pain or suffering. Once officially confirmed, statements from the Rexburg Police, the Medical Examiner and the FBI will be released. We ask that you respect our family’s privacy while we grieve – we have only just been told of the loss of our loved ones and need time to process. We are not granting interviews at this time and hope you all understand that this is the worst news we will ever get in our lives and want to be left alone for the time being. Thank you, Larry and Kay Woodcock Colby and Kelsee Ryan Tylee Ryan’s aunt, Annie Cushing, issued this statement: Thank you for the overwhelming outpouring of love for Tylee and JJ throughout this crisis. My family and I eagerly await the results of the identification of the remains and autopsies but have hope that there will be resolution and closure in the near future. As sad and taxing as this protracted investigation has been, I’ve been deeply touched by the heartfelt expressions of grief, kindness, and support throughout this process. Tylee and JJ won the hearts of people all across the globe. I’ve seen and have been impacted by both the worst and best of humanity. Hopefully, goodness and justice will win out in the end. We ask for privacy in this difficult time. Matt and Heather Daybell issued this statement: The events of the past nine months have weighed heavily on our family – it has been one of the most difficult things we have ever had to go through. Some in our extended family are still struggling to accept the reality that Chad could have been involved in something so terribly wrong. On behalf of myself, my wife Heather, and our four children, we express our most sincere sympathies to Larry and Kay and to JJ and Tylee’s entire extended families. We are devastated by today’s news and the apparent role that Chad has played in what has transpired. Heather and I have communicated many times in person and by phone with Larry and Kay over the past several months – they have been examples of courage, strength and kindness to us throughout this difficult trial that they have been forced to endure. Throughout this ordeal, we have supported one another in pursuit of the truth, and will continue to do so. They have been praying for our family, as we have prayed for them. Our heartfelt love and prayers continue to go out to them and their family at this very difficult time. We also continue to pray for Tammy and Chad’s adult children and their spouses. Because of the difficulty of this situation, our relationship with them has been significantly strained. As a result, we have had no contact with them or Chad for the last many months - we do not know where his children stand at this time. As such, we ask for patience and compassion for them and for all of our extended family as we cope with the horrific events that have come to light. Matt and Heather Daybell === 115. Chad Daybell appears in court, prosecutor confirms remains found in yard are children === Published: Wed, 10 Jun 2020 11:44:11 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437536 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- Human remains found on Chad Daybell's property were children and one was concealed in a "particularly egregious" way, according to Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood. The information was disclosed as Daybell appeared for his initial court hearing Wednesday morning. He is charged with two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence. Kay Woodcock, the grandmother of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, confirmed to EastIdahoNews.com that authorities have told her one set of the remains belongs to JJ. However, authorities have not released a positive identification to the public. Daybell appeared via Zoom from the Fremont County Jail wearing a black and white jumpsuit. He showed no emotion during the proceedings and replied with one-word answers when asked by Judge Faren Eddins if he understands his rights.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DAYBELL NEWS

Eddins agreed with Wood's recommendation to set bail at $1 million even though the maximum penalty on each charge is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. "One of the primary reasons we are asking the bail to be set at that amount is these are human remains and although those remains have not yet been positively identified, we are aware that these remains are the remains of children," Wood said. "The concealment of one of the bodies is particularly egregious and should Mr. Daybell bail out, he has strong incentive to flee. The remains were found as a search warrant was executed at Daybell's home Tuesday. Rexburg Police officers, Fremont County Sheriff deputies and the FBI made the discovery in the yard behind the house. John Prior, Daybell's attorney, argued that bail should be fairly set based on the charges and recommended $50,000 on each count for a total of $100,000. "Mr. Daybell has every intention of staying in the community and every motivation of staying in the community to address these charges," Prior said."Bail is to assure that Mr. Daybell shows up to court. Bail is to assure he will not flee. Nothing says he will flee the jurisdiction." After ruling that bail will be $1 million, Eddins explained that should Daybell be able to post bond, he must not leave Bonneville, Jefferson, Madison or Fremont counties. He will also be required to wear an ankle monitor at all times. Daybell is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 1. === 114. Human remains were buried on Daybell property in the days after JJ and Tylee disappeared, documents allege === Published: Wed, 10 Jun 2020 10:33:52 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437510 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell | Fremont County Jail
REXBURG -- Chad Daybell has been officially charged with two felony counts of concealment or destruction of evidence, according to a criminal complaint obtained by EastIdahoNews.com Wednesday morning. Daybell was arrested Tuesday after authorities excavated a section of his Salem property and discovered human remains. Rexburg Police Assistant Chief Gary Hagen confirmed that two sets of remains were found at the Daybell home during their search. Authorities are continuing to investigate the property Wednesday. The first felony count in the criminal complaint alleges Daybell hid, altered, or destroyed human remains on his property between Sept. 8, 2019, and June 9, 2020. The second count says Daybell hid, altered, or destroyed human remains on his property between Sept. 22, 2019, and June 9, 2020. The two September dates correspond with the last time 8-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan were seen. The children both disappeared that month, and their mother Lori Vallow Daybell is sitting behind bars on a $1 million bail in connection to their disappearance. Neither set of remains have been identified as either JJ or Tylee. Positive identification will be made following an autopsy of the remains. In the weeks following the kid's disappearance, Chad's wife Tammy Daybell died and he married Lori Vallow Daybell on the beaches of Kauai, Hawaii. Both Chad and Lori are under investigation by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to the death of Chad’s former spouse Tammy Daybell. Tuesday search of the Daybell home involved the Rexburg Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office and the FBI. It was not the first time investigators visited the home on North 1900 East. On Jan. 3, the same agencies raided his home and collected 43 items of potential evidence. No other information was released in the criminal complaint, and for the moment, the probable cause statement has been sealed. Chad is scheduled to appear in court at 11 a.m. and will be streamed live on EastIdahoNews.com. === 113. Chad Daybell will appear in court Wednesday in Fremont County === Published: Tue, 09 Jun 2020 19:22:59 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437461 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Watch the June 9, 2020 news conference on Chad Daybell's arrest.
REXBURG -- Authorities didn't release any new details regarding the arrest of Chad Daybell during a press conference Tuesday evening. During the conference, Rexburg Police Assistant Chief Gary Hagen reiterated Daybell had been arrested and booked into jail in Fremont County following the discovery of unidentified human remains on Daybell's Salem property. Daybell was arrested for two felony counts of destruction or concealment of evidence, according to online court records. No bond has been set. Hagen also said an autopsy will be conducted on the remains before more information is released. READ MORE HERE Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries said Daybell will appear in court at 11 a.m. Wednesday, and the hearing would be streamed live on Youtube. Kay and Larry Woodcock, the grandparents of Joshua “JJ” Vallow, released the following statement on Tuesday evening: “We got this news early this morning that Police and FBI had served a search warrant at Chad Daybell’s property and have been in touch with law enforcement throughout the day. We were notified that law enforcement had discovered human remains on the property. This is obviously a very difficult time for our family, and we ask that you respect our privacy as we wait further news with heavy hearts.” Chad and his new wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, are being investigated by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to the death of Chad's former spouse Tammy Daybell. Lori Daybell’s two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, have been missing since September, and Lori is in the Madison County Jail on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of a dependent child.
=== 112. PHOTO GALLERY: Aerial views as search warrant is executed on Chad Daybell's property === Published: Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:08:31 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437429 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com The following photos were taken by EastIdahoNews.com reporters Nate Eaton and Brittni Johnson as police served a search warrant on Chad Daybell's property Tuesday, June 9. Read and watch the latest news on the case here. === 111. Chad Daybell arrested, booked into jail === Published: Tue, 09 Jun 2020 07:45:30 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=437308 By Nate Eaton & Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Courtesy Brittany Chapple

UPDATE

Chad Daybell was booked into the Fremont County Jail at 5:21 p.m., according to online records. He was arrested for destruction or concealment of evidence. Mark Means, Daybell's attorney, declined to comment on the arrest. EastIdahoNews.com has requested Daybell's mugshot from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. We will post additional details as we learn more.

ORIGINAL STORY

SALEM -- Human remains have been found on the property of Chad Daybell and he has been taken into police custody. The remains were found after authorities issued a search warrant at the Daybell home on 1900 East in Fremont County Tuesday morning. Rexburg Police Chief Shane Turman, Assistant Chief Gary Hagen, and Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries held a brief news conference Tuesday afternoon and confirmed the discovery of the remains but said they have not been identified. Turman explained Daybell was taken into custody for questioning, and charges are pending against him, according to a Rexburg police news release. PHOTO GALLERY | Aerial views as search warrant is executed on Chad Daybell’s property Multiple witnesses tell EastIdahoNews.com they saw several officers pull Daybell over near his home around 11:30 a.m. He was wearing a baseball cap, gray button-up shirt and blue jeans. Witnesses say he got out of his silver SUV, was placed in handcuffs and put into a police car. His vehicle was then towed away.
Chad Daybell was taken into custody Tuesday morning. | Courtesy Brittany Chapple
Fremont County Sheriff deputies, Rexburg Police officers and the FBI arrived at Daybell's home around 7 a.m. The warrant from the Rexburg Police Department is sealed so it is unknown what information officers are trying to obtain. READ: The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan The EastIdahoNews.com helicopter flew over the property and spotted a backhoe in the backyard, blue canopies, tarps and a K9 dog. FBI spokeswoman Sandra Barker confirms the agency's Evidence Response Team is assisting Madison County with the execution of a search warrant. Numerous roads around the home are closed and drivers are being re-routed. The media has been asked to remain in a staging area and police say they could be on the scene for multiple days.
Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
This is the second major search performed at the Daybell home. Law enforcement removed 43 items from the house during a multi-agency raid on Jan. 3. Officers searched a shed and used metal detectors, probes and rakes to go over several portions of the yard. Tammy Daybell, Chad's first wife, died suddenly at the Salem home in October. Chad and his new wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, are being investigated by the Idaho Attorney General's Office for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to the death. Lori Daybell's two children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, have been missing since September, and Lori is in the Madison County Jail on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of a dependent child. EastIdahoNews.com has reporters at the scene and will update this story with new information as we learn it.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE ON THE CASE

=== 110. Author who worked with Chad Daybell says he's been deceived and needs to 'do the right thing' === Published: Thu, 04 Jun 2020 09:03:35 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=436371 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com SALEM -- As autopsy results for Tammy Daybell are still being finalized, a woman who knew and worked with Tammy and Chad Daybell years ago is revealing new information about their past. Suzanne Freeman was one of the first authors to have her work published by Spring Creek Book Company, which the Daybells launched in 2004. The first book, "Led by the Hand of Christ," focused on Freeman's near-death experience, and over the next eight years, she partnered with Chad on two more projects. "He was interesting. He was very humble. When we were writing the first book, he called me up one day and said, 'Do you think maybe, possibly it would be OK . ... Do you think maybe we could put a subtitle on the book?" Freeman recalls, explaining Chad's hesitancy to make the request. "I thought that was interesting. Why didn’t he just come out with it? I didn’t care what he did as long as he didn’t change my story." Chad wrote about meeting Freeman on his website in August 2015. After discussing "that a humble housewife from a small Utah town had actually died, met the Savior, and returned," he wanted assurance that Freeman's experience was authentic. "Before I’d even consider publishing her story, I wanted to make sure her account stayed consistent within itself," he wrote. "I began asking her many questions to see if she would slip up or change her story, but throughout the 'interrogation,' she looked me in the eyes and was straightforward with her answers. After about 30 minutes, I felt satisfied and said, 'I believe you. I feel we should publish your experience.'" The book was released, and Freeman began speaking about her story at different events. Years later, she learned Chad claimed to have two near-death experiences, and she found it odd that he had never said anything to her about them. "He never mentioned he had a near-death experience. We had a lot of conversations, and I would think that might come up," Freeman says. "Having an NDE (near-death experience) myself, people come to me and tell me their stories, but he never once told me a story. He only said he had some sacred experiences of his own, and I respected that. Usually, in my experience, if you had a near-death experience, people want to share it because they can’t share it just to anybody, and I would totally be understanding."

Leaving Spring Creek Book Company

Over the years, Freeman remembers Chad's religious views aligning with the mainstream teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But in 2014, after releasing her third book, "The Spirit of Liberty," Chad suggested they combine all three of her publications and remove LDS references to make the story more mainstream. He also began working on projects that concerned Freeman. "He started publishing non-Mormon doctrine stories - people’s different experiences and stuff, and I just told him there’s something that’s not quite right," Freeman says. "Plus, we were working on a book of mine together to take out of the LDS stuff, and I was kind of surprised by that because he was an LDS author." Chad came to Freeman and said he would be closing his business because the "call-out" was coming. The idea, which is not Latter-day Saint doctrine, is that the president of the church will one day call on members who are prepared to gather. "The prophet one day, before any tribulations ... we’ll be called out to go to the (LDS Church-owned) girls' camps," Freeman says. "Only those that have their food storage and a temple recommend will go. He felt that was going to happen, I think it was July, so he was going to stop publishing books." Freeman says Chad believed the righteous would live together until earthquakes and calamities happened ahead of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. She had heard this idea in online chatrooms and forums, but it didn't make sense to her. "It seems to me that if you want to be safe, you wouldn’t go where the government knows where the church has camps," Freeman says. "I thought, 'I’m not going where the government knows that.' I just never felt that was for me." Chad and Freeman went their separate ways, but she says he promised to give her book rights back. When he didn't, she sought legal advice to discuss her options. "I went to an attorney, and he read through the contract. He said, 'I have never seen a publisher's contract this one-sided. This has nothing good for you in it,'" Freeman says. "I just thought that was not honest. I thought, 'Give me my rights back. That’s what I want.' I don’t want my name attached to what he’s publishing. I’m not believing in that, and I want to be left alone." Despite their falling out, Freeman says she still respected Chad and had a great admiration for Tammy. She describes their relationship as a "true love story" and never sensed any problems between the couple.
Chad and Tammy Daybell. | Facebook
"Tammy, she was a sweetheart. I think she was the heart of the business. She just really was good at it and really kind and really genuine," Freeman says. "He would tell me she was his soulmate, and he knew her in the pre-existence, and when he met her, they knew each other. I was impressed by that. I thought, 'Wow. They have a really sweet relationship, and that’s really tender.' I was impressed by him, how humble he was, and how he felt about his wife. That’s not very common. I really was honored to be Chad’s friend early on because I love to see good men. There’s good men out there, and I like associating with good people."

New developments and a message for Chad

Years went by, and Freeman lost touch with the Daybells. Then, in October 2019, she was shocked to see a Facebook post written by Chad announcing Tammy had died suddenly. "I am saddened to share that my beautiful, talented wife Tammy passed away early this morning in her sleep," the post said. "It is a shock to all of us. She was so wonderful in every way! We are still working out the details, but we plan to hold a viewing Monday evening in Springville, Utah, then hold the funeral and burial there on Tuesday. We will hold a memorial service in Rexburg on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Henry's Fork Stake Center. We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support. Thank you so much!" Freeman says the post felt "cold" and she assumed Tammy had been battling a long-term illness. A few weeks later, Freeman heard Chad had gone to Hawaii, met a widow and gotten married. She thought it was an untrue rumor. "I thought, 'Chad really loved his wife. Why would he marry that soon? This doesn’t make any sense. She’s not even cold in the grave - why would he get remarry that fast?'" Freeman says. "Knowing the love story I thought I knew, that didn’t seem like the Chad I knew. I thought it was plain old gossip."
Chad and Lori Daybell in Hawaii. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
When Freeman confirmed the rumor was true and Chad had indeed married Lori Vallow, she was stunned. "Why would a man want to marry a woman that didn’t know where her children were? There’s only one reason, but we’re not going to go there," Freeman says. "I just couldn’t believe it." RELATED | Chad Daybell’s brother issues statement ‘pleading’ for him to cooperate with investigation As Freeman has learned more about the investigation into Lori Daybell's missing children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, she's become increasingly worried. She's also disturbed by hearing Chad and Lori's religious teachings - including the belief that the kids may have become "zombies." "I am so ashamed. I think that’s the word – I’m ashamed. Embarrassed. Disgusted," she says. "I can’t wrap my head around the fact that he could be the person that they’re claiming him to be, but I believe it. There’s no lying he’s saying people are zombies, but I think he turned into a zombie. If people turn into zombies, Chad turned into a zombie personally." RELATED | Melanie Gibb describes zombies, JJ’s disappearance and the ‘fatal attraction’ between Chad and Lori Daybell Freeman knows some may be uncomfortable with what she is saying and she asks those with "hateful messages" to keep them to themselves. She also believes Chad's teachings about multiple "probations" are dangerous and conflict with the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "My belief is this. Christ died for us. He died for our sins. Multiple mortalities or probations denies what Christ did for us. Why would a loving God and Jesus Christ want us to come back and live our lives over and over? My life has been hard, and I wouldn’t want to do this again. I love Jesus with all my heart, and I just feel it’s denying the Savior," Freeman says. Chad's attorney, Mark Means, had no comment on Freeman's statements and she says she holds no ill will toward her former publisher. She now shares her books for free on her website and has a message for Chad. "Chad, we get deceived. We all get deceived, but please do the right thing. Just know there are people who love you," Freeman says. "Do the thing you know it right. Jesus will still love you. Just know that." RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan === 109. Part 3: Melanie Gibb discusses mysterious deaths, an earthquake, confronting Chad and Lori and her message for them now === Published: Thu, 28 May 2020 08:00:40 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=435343 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final part of our in-depth interview with Melanie Gibb, a very close friend of Lori and Chad Daybell. You can watch part one here and part two can be found here. It was Oct. 19, 2019. Melanie Gibb was in Arizona when she received a text message from a friend who had learned on social media that Tammy Daybell had died. She was startled but, then again, her friend, Lori Vallow, and Tammy's husband, Chad Daybell, had told her weeks earlier that Tammy would die. "I didn’t know how they did it, but I knew it was part of the plan that she was supposed to pass away," Gibb tells EastIdahoNews.com. "Other people knew she was supposed to pass away because Chad knew this information for quite a while." Gibb called Lori and asked if she had heard about Tammy's death. Lori said she had not and acted surprised, but this was the same woman who had told Gibb for months that she and Chad were supposed to be together. It was only natural that after Tammy's death, Chad and Lori would get married. "Their whole goal was to get together because they expressed to me many times that Tammy would be OK with this as she passed on," Gibb says. "(They said) she may not remember it now, but ... she had a mission to fulfill on that (the other) side, so they both felt that was where she was supposed to go."

Confronting Lori and Chad

Lori and Chad married in a private ceremony on a Hawaiian beach on Nov. 5 - less than three weeks after Tammy's death. Unbeknownst to Gibb, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, were missing and hadn't been seen since September. Gibb explained in part two of our series what Lori and Chad asked her to do when they returned to Rexburg, and police showed up at their door looking for the kids. Gibb refused to lie to officers but wanted to believe her friends. Finally, after a few days of soul-searching, she called Chad's phone and demanded answers. Lori picked up. "I think the first question I said is, 'Why haven’t you told us where the kids are?'" Gibb says. "(Lori responded), 'Well, for your safety, we cannot tell you.' That was just alarming to me. What safety? Why am I in danger? I didn’t feel like I was in danger." Gibb demanded to know why Lori had told the police that JJ and Tylee were with her. Lori admitted to lying but said it was for the safety of JJ. She refused to give Gibb any concrete answers on what was happening with the children and why she and Chad were not cooperating with law enforcement. She said it was a long conversation. "'I’m concerned for you,'" she recalls saying. "I’m concerned for your salvation. ... This is not light. This is darkness.' ... I was very uncomfortable talking to her. It was a disturbing conversation. ... I just continued to tell her that I was concerned for them. And I am, and I was." Gibb told Chad and Lori they were evil, and she did not have a testimony of the doctrine and teachings they had shared with her. They hung up the phone, and since that day, Gibb has not spoken to Chad or Lori again.

Alex Cox dies

Within weeks of that call, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, suddenly died on Dec. 12 in Arizona. Gibb was friends with Alex and his wife, Zulema Pastenes, but had not spoken to them for some time. "The bishop called and said, 'Why are there cop cars around Zulema’s house?' ... He calls me back and said, 'He died,'" Gibb says. "That completely threw me. ... I had many different ideas. I thought, 'Did he kill himself? ... Or maybe somebody could have tried to kill him?' I just really did not know. I was guessing all over the place." Earlier this month, the Maricopa County medical examiner announced Cox had blood clots in his lungs, high blood pressure and died of natural causes. The Gilbert Police Department is still investigating the death, but one thing is certain: Alex was devoted and loved Lori. RELATED | Medical examiner says Alex Cox had blood clots in his lungs and died of natural causes "I think he felt like a good ... big brother that wanted to protect his sister. They had a lot of fun joking around with each other, and they just had a good relationship," Gibb said.

Where are JJ and Tylee?

Six weeks after Alex died, police served Lori and Chad with a search warrant on the island of Kauai. EastIdahoNews.com asked them questions outside a beach resort, but they refused to say where JJ and Tylee are. Melanie saw the video of the encounter and says it was hard for her to watch. She says the video made Lori and Chad "look more guilty." RELATED | EXCLUSIVE: Chad and Lori Daybell served with search warrants in Hawaii "If you really do believe your children are being harmed or you think they’re going to be kidnapped and you're worried about them, you would be happy to tell anybody and everybody and the police about that," Gibb says. "You would not not talk and have no comment. ... I would think you would interact if you really felt they were (in danger)."
Chad and Lori Daybell refuse to comment on the whereabouts of JJ and Tylee when Nate Eaton confronts them in January in Kauai, Hawaii.
Although she was very close to Lori and Chad, Gibb says they have never told her where the kids are, and she does not believe they are alive. "They’re not on this planet anymore. I don’t think they are. That’s my personal opinion. Tylee is a very strong-willed individual, and she’s capable of making a phone call if she needs to call, and she hasn’t reached out to anybody and let anybody know she’s alive," Gibb says. "I can’t imagine she would be quiet the whole time. ... JJ’s a handful. He wouldn’t have his medication with him, so how could she take care of him? ... It doesn’t add up. If they’re in a safe place, why is (Lori) in Hawaii having a great time on her honeymoon when her children are hiding for safety? That doesn’t even make sense. I think most people understand that." Gibb believes Alex may have done something to the children for Lori or a "higher reason" before he died. Lori's mother, Janis Cox, and her sister, Summer Shiflet, defended Lori in a recent interview and said she has her reasons for not saying where JJ and Tylee are. Lori's niece, Melani Pawlowski, told EastIdahoNews.com Lori has "always done everything to protect her kids" and has a plan. When asked if she thinks Lori's family members know more than they are saying, Gibb says it's likely some do. "I don’t know all of what they know from Lori. I know some of them - what they know. I don’t know what everybody knows, but some of them do (know something)," she says.

Brandon Boudreaux

One aspect of the multi-jurisdictional, complicated case involves Melani Pawlowski's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Gibb met him briefly once or twice, but the two were not close. In October, somebody shot at Boudreaux when he was returning home from the gym. The main suspect in the shooting was Alex, but Gibb was unaware any unusual had happened until Melani and Alex asked her to go by Brandon's home. "I drove by to see if anybody was there because she was concerned about her children, and I talked to a neighbor," Gibb recalls. "He said that they had moved out two weeks ago. He said there were no children there, and he said, 'I’m really glad they moved on because somebody tried to shoot at Brandon.'" Gibb was startled and returned to share the news with Alex. His response was unusual. "He said, 'Oh yeah, we heard about that. He got shot at, but we believe that somebody tried to take a shot at him to make it look like it was us – or make it look like me,'" she recalls him saying. Gibb didn't think anything more of the incident until later when details started coming to light.

An earthquake, the end of the world and podcasts

Long before the deaths of Charles Vallow (Lori's previous husband) and Tammy, and before the children disappeared, Lori repeatedly told Gibb a large earthquake would happen in Utah. Then, when Gibb visited Idaho in September 2019, Lori said it would be happening soon. "She believed there was going to be an earthquake that was going to hit so large in Utah by the end of 2019 that (people) wouldn’t notice anything in her personal life going on," Gibb says. "(She said), 'So when Chad and I get married someday, nobody will notice we’re married because of the earthquake and different destruction going on.'" Lori was confident nobody would pay attention to her, and that's why her plan wasn't "orchestrated very well," according to Gibb. Lori often mentioned the world would end in 2020, and Jesus Christ would return to the earth. She based this belief on scriptural study and research. Gibb does not believe the Second Coming will be this year, but the topic has always interested her. Gibb discussed it as part of her podcast with the group "Preparing a People." She was one of the main hosts and was joined by guests, including Lori and Chad. Chad appeared four times - twice on the phone and twice in person. Chad discussed his visions on the podcasts but privately told Lori and Gibb that God "left the door open" for him to receive revelation. "I would think if he was such a visionary that he was portraying that he would have seen this (investigation) coming," Gibb says. "This is big. He would have seen this one."

Chad and Lori's relationship

Looking back at Chad and Lori's relationship now, Gibb describes Chad as the hand with "her as the puppet on the hand." "They're two people that have a lot of passion for a lot of things. They think a lot alike, as far as spiritual ideas go, and he comes across as reserved and quiet, and she is not. ... I think ultimately they are just as equally bad for each other," Gibb says. Lori knew the scriptures well and reads them while she sits in a Madison County Jail cell. Chad video chats with her, and they discuss religious doctrines that Gibb says do not represent teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "These doctrines are dangerous, and look what they lead to. They lead to people dying. If that doctrine was not revealed ... then these people would not have died. ... This has got to be such a painful thing for her to come to believe so that she realizes at some point she’s gone against what is true. That would be hard to take in - especially as much as she loves God," Gibb says. Gibb has never met any members of Chad's family, but Lori occasionally spoke about them. After Tammy's funeral, Gibb says Lori invited Chad and his kids over to her townhouse for cookies, and afterward Lori told Gibb "they fell in love" with her. Gibb thinks about Chad's children a lot and does not want to harm them by speaking out. "I am feeling for their journey. ... I have no desire to say things about people that are hurtful. It’s just truthful. ... This is very uncomfortable for me. I do care about those kids. I know Tammy does. ... I’m sure it’s hard to know who to believe, and my heart does go out to them," she says. "I really want them to know it’s really hard for me to talk about their dad because I really like Chad. I think he’s a good guy. He’s a nice man. I like him as a person, but his teachings - they’re dangerous." Lori repeatedly told Gibb how she could not wait to spend time with Chad, and their relationship was full of love and lust. Lori was a very impatient person, according to Gibb, and that led to their "fatal attraction."

Message to Chad and Lori

Gibb thinks about Chad every day. She knows he can answer questions concerning the whereabouts of JJ and Tylee. But despite everything that's happened, Gibb says she still loves and has a message for him. "I still care for you and Lori. This is really painful what you’re going through, but God has always taught us to be honest," she says. "There are no exceptions to those rules. ... Even if you’re guilty and confess, there’s a peace that comes from telling the truth. I know I have that peace because I’ve come forward because people passed away." As she's faced the circumstances over the past few months, Gibb says they've only made her faith stronger. She's preparing to be called as a witness at Lori's preliminary hearing in July and will see her friend face to face again. She also has a heartfelt message to Lori, who Gibb says holds so much information about this puzzling case that has devastated many lives. "We’ve had a lot of fun times together. We’ve laughed a lot, and I love her," Gibb says. "I’m so sorry that she’s been so deceived by Chad. ... I wish that none of this had happened. I have learned a great deal about deception, and now you (Lori) have learned a greater deal about deception. I just hope that you can really put aside a lot of what your wants are and be humble. ... He (God) still loves you. He still loves Chad, and you can always be forgiven. However long that takes - I don’t understand. But he’s a good God, and I know that He died for her too, and there’s still hope." Gibb adds, "If she comes to realize what her inner feelings were. 'Could Chad really be Satan? And if so, he’s a really good one.' ... maybe that was that little feeling telling you inside that he wasn’t doing the right things and saying the right things." === 108. Part 2: Melanie Gibb describes zombies, JJ's disappearance and the 'fatal attraction' between Chad and Lori Daybell === Published: Wed, 27 May 2020 08:00:03 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=435328 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second part of our in-depth interview with Melanie Gibb, a very close friend of Lori and Chad Daybell. Part 1 can be found here. It was September 2019. Lori Vallow was moving to Rexburg, Idaho, from Gilbert, Arizona. She didn't want to go at first, according to her best friend, Melanie Gibb, but Chad Daybell insisted she make the move. "She said she thought Chad would come to be with her in Arizona, and then she said, 'I changed my plans. I think I'm supposed to be up there (in Idaho). He says I'm supposed to be up there, but I need to get my own answer to find out if I’m supposed to be there,'" Gibb recalls. Lori prayed and eventually, she said she received the answer that she needed to move to Rexburg to be with Chad, Gibb says. But there was one complication - Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell, was still alive. "She was uncomfortable with it. She believed that Tammy was going to pass away, though, before she got up there," Gibb says. "That didn’t happen. She didn’t pass away before (Lori) got up there." Gibb says Lori thought Tammy might die in a car crash -- but that didn't happen. RELATED | Case of 2 missing kids grows to include deaths, cult rumors

Melanie Gibb visits Rexburg

Lori moved into a townhouse in Rexburg with her two children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, the first week of September. Lori's brother, Alex Cox, arrived a few days later and rented a different townhouse in the same complex. Gibb visited Sept. 19 and remembers walking around the Brigham Young University-Idaho campus and indoor track with Lori and Chad, who were holding hands and kissing. "I said, 'Aren’t you worried that people are going to see you?' She says, 'Well, Tammy doesn't come out a lot.' ... They said a lot of people that knew Chad didn't know what Tammy looked like because they didn't do a lot of things together," Gibb says. During their walk, Alex babysat JJ at home, but Tylee was not there, and Lori never mentioned her. Weeks earlier, Gibb had spoken to Lori on the phone after she moved to Rexburg and heard Tylee yelling in the background, so she was surprised the 17-year-old was not around. "I was told she was at (BYU-Idaho)," Gibb recalls. "I knew that Tylee had her GED, which she got when she was 16 or 17 ... There were definitely question marks. It didn't feel real. It didn't feel like the truth. I didn’t know what to say about it. I wouldn't assume that she had done something to her. It was unusual." Equally concerning was what Lori said about JJ when Gibb arrived in Idaho. "She said that he had turned into a zombie the day before I got there, and she was pointing out behaviors of his. ... She was trying to create uncertainty in me about what I saw. ... I was looking at him and thought, 'I don't know. He looks just like JJ to me,'" Gibb says. This wasn't the first time Lori had spoken to Gibb about zombies.

'Why is everybody in your life turning into zombies?'

Months before, Chad told Lori over the phone that her then-husband, Charles Vallow, had been possessed and would die in a car crash, according to Gibb. "I was in her house when that phone call came in, and he described to her that Charles was no longer Charles, that this unclean spirit that was friends with Charles on the earth ... had now passed on, and now he is this unclean spirit on the earth roaming around, and he's attached himself to Charles and now he has entered his body and taken over it," Gibb says. "So he’s not really Charles anymore. He's now this guy named Ned Snyder." Gibb says Lori was "blown out" and uncomfortable by what Chad was telling her. But even though he was quiet, unassuming and sometimes appeared to be unsure of himself, Lori trusted Chad and his "revelations." She would call and ask him questions, and he would tell her who was a "dark" or "light" spirit. "He would say he was receiving revelation about people," Gibb says. "He said the veil (between heaven and earth) was open all the time, and he had a way of seeing things that Lori could not. ... She would tell me, 'He's so much better at getting revelation than me. I used to get it a lot, but I rely upon him a lot more now.'" Lori predicted Charles would die in a crash traveling to Arizona from Texas. When that didn't happen, she questioned why, and Chad responded it was because of "people's choices," according to Gibb. When their prophecies were not fulfilled, Chad said it was due to the fact that people have agency and "somebody changed their agency." Chad and Lori told Gibb they knew how many zombies were in every state. "It was their commission to get rid of all the zombies before tribulations came upon us," she says. They would get rid of the zombies "through some kind of prayer that they would do," Gibb says, adding they believed it was effective because Chad received their death numbers through revelation. Those who questioned the beliefs were often considered "dark." RELATED | Zombies, shootings, dark beings: What new court documents suggest about Lori Daybell "It was a lot of drama, and I would ask (Lori), 'Why do these things keep happening to you?' Because I have never been around so much drama in my life.' ... It just seemed like it was one drama after another drama, and it never ended," Gibb says. "I used to say to her, 'Why is everybody in your life turning into zombies? Why is everybody after you? I don't understand.' And she would say, 'Well, it's because Satan really hates me, and because of my exaltation and the level I’m exalted to, they’re coming straight after me.' Gibb was never sure about the zombie beliefs and raised questions with Alex. He told her, "I 100% believe it." But even Lori had doubts. "I don’t ever believe Lori completely believed it. You know when you really want to believe something sometimes ... because the outcome is what you’re desiring to have – I think she believed it to a certain level ... but I’m not confident she 100% believed it," Gibb says. On July 10, 2019, Lori asked Alex to spend the night at her home. The next day, Charles arrived to pick up JJ, and Alex shot him to death. Lori's brother told police Charles had become angry, and the shooting was in self-defense. Gibb doesn't buy that explanation and believes Alex shot Charles to protect his sister from someone she believed was evil. "I didn’t know about (the shooting) until four days after it happened. She called me and said, 'Hey, did you see the news?' ... I said, 'I don't watch the news,' and she said, 'Charles was shot,'" Gibb says. "I’m like, 'What?'" Gibb was confused and asked what happened. Lori said Charles had been planning to kill her to cash in on a $3 million life insurance policy. She also said Charles' sister, Kay Woodcock (who is also the grandmother of JJ, whom Charles adopted), had turned into a zombie and was after her. "She told me (Charles) had about $1 million (in life insurance), and she knew when he passed away, she thought she was going to get the money ... but she thought possibly the policy had been switched from her to Kay," Gibb says. RELATED | Charles Vallow had a $1 million life insurance policy he left to JJ’s grandma, rather than Lori Vallow Daybell Sure enough, months before his death, Charles made Kay the beneficiary of the $1 million, and Lori did not receive the money. Gibb says Lori told her Tylee received funds after her father, Joe Ryan, died, and Lori also obtained government assistance as a single mother raising a son with special needs. According to research by EastIdahoNews.com, Lori was getting $5,000 to $6,000 a month.

JJ disappears

After Lori told Gibb in September that JJ was a zombie, the two decided it would be best to have him stay with his grandmother in Louisiana. According to Gibb, Lori said, "He's in the way of our mission, so we need to send him to Kay’s house." "We talked about Kay, and we talked about some of her family members that could actually take him on. ... We talked about what that conversation would be like with Kay, and she wasn't sure if Kay would really receive him. ... That was the plan that I knew of - he’s going to Kay’s house. ... That’s what I believed was going to happen, so I left thinking that's where he was going ... Kay's for sure," Gibb said. "I didn’t doubt that." Gibb returned home to Arizona and spoke with Lori a few times. Lori told her about meeting Kay at the airport and leaving JJ with her. Gibb didn't think anything of it until two days before Thanksgiving. She was in Utah for the holiday, and Chad called her out of the blue. She says he sounded scared and nervous. "I still get emotional about it. He said, 'Melanie, It’s Chad. When the police call, don’t pick up the phone," Gibb recalls. "My heart just dropped. I was so confused. ... He said, 'Yeah, the police are at Lori’s house checking on JJ.' I'm like, 'JJ’s not with Kay?' (Chad replied), 'No.' My heart dropped deeper, and I just knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know. I didn’t understand." Gibb wasn't sure what was going on and hung up the phone. Lori then called and sounded upbeat, cheerful and unworried. "She said, 'Kay is trying to kidnap him,' and I said, 'How do you know that?' 'Well, through the emails.' I said, 'I have not read your emails. What did they say?'" Lori replied that the emails from Kay said, "It’s not like I’m going to kidnap JJ or anything." "She led me to believe that everything was fine and that she was protecting JJ ... and not just Kay, but it felt like many people were after him," she recalls. Gibb says the emails did not sound like a threat, but Lori insisted everything was fine. She then allegedly told Gibb to lie to detectives. "She asked me to tell the police that JJ was with me. I was going to drive to Arizona for Thanksgiving, and he was going to go with me," Gibb says. "She had made it sound like we had arranged it or something ... she was going to come down there later and pick him up. It was a foreign idea. ... I can’t even tell you how uncomfortable (it was)." Then, a more bizarre request. "She said, 'I told the police that you were at 'Frozen 2' with JJ." Gibb said. "(Lori said), 'Get your cell phone out and take a picture of random kids running around to make it look like you (have) him with you.'" Gibb refused to do what her friend asked and says she had a gut feeling that "something was terribly wrong." It would not go away, and that's when she decided she needed to talk to the police. "I wanted to believe her. I didn't want to think that she would do anything like that. I really, really wanted to believe her," Gibb says. Gibb said she spoke with police the day Lori asked her to lie about JJ's whereabouts. Over the next week, she talked with Lori a few times, and during one conversation, Lori mentioned going on a trip with Chad and his children to California.

A message to those who believe Chad's teachings

Gibb struggled with what was happening, and one night began confiding everything to another friend. They spoke until 5 a.m. "(Chad and Lori) did not fit the pattern that the scriptures teach. I often think about when Jesus Christ was on the earth. He healed people. He cast out evil spirits. He did not kill people. And if they did have an unclean spirit, He was able to get rid of it, and those people were OK afterwards. There was no pattern of this behavior," Gibb says. "He was always sharing, where they were inclusive and hiding. ... This has been very hush-hush, and that’s not how God works. The mysteries of God, which they were always trying to unfold, are about bringing people to Jesus Christ. ... (Chad and Lori) were not bringing that. ... It was not leading people to Christ -- it was taking people away from him. Maybe they thought they had this pretend relationship with him, and it led to people dying." She says God was not behind their teachings. "You don't have to be running and hiding when you're transparent and doing the right thing. ... When you're telling the truth, you have nothing to worry about," she says. "I got to see a secret combination unfold in front of me, and I got to see it with my own eyes." One of the main reasons Gibb agreed to be interviewed was so she could speak to those who follow Chad's teachings or similar beliefs. She admits she was gullible and even confessed to detectives that she can't believe she was "sucked in." "There are many people other than Chad that believe these teachings of many lives or multiple probations. ... I want you to decide ... does having this information make you a better person? Does it make you loyal to your spouse? Does it make you feel like you’re better than other people?" Gibb asks. "If this idea of multiple probations had not been introduced, nobody would have ever died because they would have never thought they were married before. This is dangerous doctrine because this is not how he (God) works." RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell Gibb says despite everything that has happened, she still loves Chad and Lori. She says she hopes they will repent, tell the truth and confess to authorities any wrongdoings they have done. "I’m only here to share the truth because of those that passed away, and that justice needs to be served. ... But if you’re Lori ... She's got to admit that these people are dead and it was because of their teachings and their ideas that they had these things happen. ... You would have to admit you actually had something to do with the death of your family," Gibb says. "It would be hard to say, 'My belief systems are false.'" She continues, "I do feel sorrow for everybody involved. ... Everybody’s hurting from this. ... She's in ... jail now. She doesn't get to be with Chad, who she loves. That's what she wanted so badly, and now she can't even be with him. It was a fatal attraction that led to their separation and people passing away. It’s a tragic, tragic story." RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan In part 3 of our interview, Gibb discusses Tammy Daybell's death, confronting Lori and Chad about the missing children, where she thinks JJ and Tylee are, and the message she has for her friend who now sits behind bars. It will be posted Thursday on EastIdahoNews.com at 8 a.m. MDT. === 107. Part 1: Melanie Gibb describes Chad and Lori Daybells' religious beliefs and her relationship with the couple === Published: Tue, 26 May 2020 08:00:36 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=435278 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com Melanie Gibb likely knows more about Chad and Lori Daybell's relationship than anyone else. She was Lori's best friend, attended conferences where Chad spoke and was with them the moment they met. She saw the pair's friendship quickly turn into something more and says Lori confided intimate details about the couple's activities, beliefs and future together. Gibb is an extremely private person who has been in hiding since December. That's when police announced Lori's children, 8-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, were missing. Their mother has refused to say where they are and is in the Madison County Jail on two charges of desertion and nonsupport of a dependent child. After remaining silent for five months, Gibb is speaking exclusively with EastIdahoNews.com about the case, what she knows, where she believes JJ and Tylee are and how she got "sucked in" to Chad and Lori's religious circle. RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell We spent several hours with Gibb in an undisclosed location and have separated our interview into three parts that will be posted Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Why Gibb is speaking out now

Gibb says she has been silent for one reason: fear. Fear for her safety, fear for what will be reported in the media, fear for her family and fear that something could happen to her. "When you realize the people that you know and you're close to and love have been involved in something that has to do with people dying, you start to think, 'Oh my gosh, are they going to come after me?'" Gibb says. "Everything closes in, and you start to think about your own safety ... (and) what really happened, and could this really be true?" Gibb has spent this year facing her fears and is coming forward on behalf of the "innocent victims" affected by the actions of Lori and Chad. "I think it’s fair to Charles and JJ and Tammy and Tylee that somebody is standing up for what happened to them. I do care for them and the families that are involved," Gibb says. "I decided that the truth was more important than what I wanted. My goal is to speak to the things that have gone on and to those who have believed Chad and Lori's story." Gibb has been working with police since November, regularly speaks with investigators and does not have an attorney. She says she does not need one because she is telling the truth, and "God is on my side."

Meeting Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow

Gibb first met Chad Daybell a few years ago at a religious conference in northern Utah. He was speaking about his dreams, visions and the last days. The self-published author had written several books, and Gibb was familiar with his work. "I wanted to meet him because I thought his dreams were interesting, and when I met him, I thought he was a really nice guy," Gibb recalls. In October 2018, Gibb was teaching an evening class at her Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Gilbert, Arizona. Lori Vallow was there, and the two did not know each other. "She was very excited to hear the things I was teaching, so when I went out to the hallway, she came up to me and introduced herself," Gibb says. "She told me about a lot of personal experiences she had that were spiritual in nature, and we just hit it off." The two became instant friends and spoke about everything from religion to motherhood to everyday life. A few weeks later, they traveled together to St. George, Utah, for a conference where Chad was speaking and selling his books. Lori immediately walked up to Chad, and the conversation became personal. Gibb said he shared with her that they had met in a previous life and had been married multiple times before in prior existences. "They started talking about these different beliefs that are not something you learn in church," Gibb says. She said they discussed things out loud that normally would be talked about privately. Chad's wife, Tammy, and their five children were not at the conference, but Gibb says Lori was aware he was married. Lori and Chad exchanged phone numbers and began speaking every day, according to Gibb.

Chad's religious teachings

Within weeks of the St. George conference, Chad visited Arizona for another event. Lori invited several people, including Chad and Gibb, to stay at her home. Charles Vallow, Lori's husband, was out of town. Gibb remembers Chad and Lori going on a walk or jog together and talking about things "so personal, it's so hard to share with the world." "He was teaching us about some of his understandings about multiple lives and things of that nature," Gibb says. "It was definitely different. The idea was definitely a new concept. ... Did I 100% believe any of it, ever? No, not 100%, no. When you get introduced to something, you kind of let it marinate. ... I just listened to them talk about it." Gibb says Chad's teachings did not represent the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He met one on one with people and never held official gatherings or group meetings to discuss the concepts. "A lot of people have different ideas. 'Is this a cult? Is this not a cult?' ... I would just say from the beginning, it felt like he was talking to individuals," Gibb says. After the Arizona event, Chad and Lori continued speaking with each other every day. Lori had three phones - one designated solely for Chad - and he had a special phone for their private conversations, according to Gibb. At one point, Gibb suggested the pair should divorce their spouses but Lori told her they were "not allowed to" because of information they were receiving "from the other side of the veil." Chad and Lori believed they were the head of the 144,000 chosen people who were to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Gibb says they made her feel special and told her she was elect (chosen), and Lori insisted they had known each other in previous lives. Gibb says she thought their beliefs were a "little unusual." "When she taught me, she was always leading me to believe they were true, and there would be times I would say, 'Do you think that's a good idea?' ... I didn't voice much opposition to it, but just more listened," Gibb says.

Lori's family members

Gibb remembers the first time she met Charles, Lori's fourth husband. They were having a barbecue at the Vallows' home, and the kids were swimming in the pool. "He seemed like a nice guy - happy to see us, happy to meet us. ... He was talking a little bit about his conversion to the church, and he seemed to be pretty excited about it," Gibb recalls. RELATED | Body camera footage shows Charles Vallow telling police his wife wanted him dead Gibb never saw Charles lose his temper but says he and Lori often argued. She confided in Gibb that they were having marital problems, and there was a lot of contention. "He was trying to do things to help her and please her, and she seemed like she was struggling to be happy by that," Gibb says. "She seemed a little frustrated with him. They had something going on that I didn’t quite understand." Later, Gibb met Lori's brother, Alex Cox, and her niece, Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski), at the same home. Everyone got along, and Gibb describes them as a group of good friends. "It was fun and enjoyable. Alex was fun. He was a comedian kind of guy. We talked about all kinds of stuff - sometimes spiritual stuff, sometimes nonspiritual stuff. In the beginning, it was just more casual," Gibb says. "(Melani) was fun. I really love Melani. ... She seemed that she had a lot of strife going on in her life, and she was really worried about her family." RELATED | Melani Pawlowski speaks about her childhood, family deaths and her sudden Las Vegas wedding The group didn't get together often but remained close as Chad continued to share his unusual teachings.

Doubting the beliefs

Lori eventually stopped going to church but would attend the temple as often as she could. It was her favorite place, according to Gibb, and even though she was still married to Charles, and Chad was married to Tammy, they went together. One day, Lori told Gibb she was sealed to Chad. Latter-day Saints believe relationships continue after death for a husband and wife who are sealed in the temple. Sealings are performed by officiators in the temple and are recorded in church records. People cannot be sealed to a second spouse if they are legally married to a living person already. "(Lori said) they felt they were sealed by those on the other side of the veil that had the authority to do that," Gibb says. "She said it was OK they did this because they had been married so many times before, that their (current) spouses would understand someday." Other teachings alarmed Gibb, such as Chad creating a spiritual "portal" in Lori's closet or other places. "A portal is a spot where he said a prayer or something to create the portal. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know. ... (But) it was a way for them to interact spiritually," Gibb says. "I thought it was different. I thought, 'How do you do that?' ... It was pretty extreme, but to me, everything was new." Gibb says Chad had an extensive chart that ranked people based on their spiritual level. It showed Biblical apostles, the current Latter-day Saint 12 apostles, celebrities, friends and family members. It was four pages, and Gibb says it detailed how many lives each of the people have lived, whether they were "dark" or "light" spirits, their previous names, and other bizarre information. Lori had experienced 21 lives, and Chad was on his 31st life, according to the chart. Both had lived five lives on this earth, and Chad was considered a Holy Ghost. She said she always had a "little bit of doubt" about what Chad was saying and Lori did too. "Two to three times, (Lori) said to me, 'If Chad is Satan, he sure is a good one,'" Gibb says. "That tends to lead me to believe she wasn't 100% convinced either." Chad and Lori only seemed to share these extreme beliefs with those who were close to them. Looking back now, Gibb believes they kept it private so their church membership would not be put in jeopardy. "When you go in the temple, there are certain questions they ask you to see if your belief systems are consistent with the doctrine," Gibb says. "They were inconsistent, so that’s the reason they're going to be secretive about it." She said their doctrine was not affiliated with any Christianity she knew of. "It’s not doctrine that comes from Jesus Christ - it comes from the Adversary (devil)," she said. RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan In part 2 of our interview, Gibb discusses Lori's move to Rexburg, Tammy Daybell's death, Charles Vallow's death, zombies and the call from Chad Daybell that changed everything. === 106. Group sings 'Happy Birthday' for JJ Vallow as grandparents call on Lori and Chad Daybell to 'end this agony' === Published: Mon, 25 May 2020 20:47:40 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=435361 By Nate Eaton & Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG — Around two dozen people gathered at Kennedy Elementary School Monday night to commemorate Joshua "JJ" Vallow's 8th birthday. The boy, who has been missing with his sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, attended the school until his mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, withdrew him last September. Classmates, their parents, community members, Rexburg police officers and others were at the vigil. After lighting candles, a moment of silence was held before the group sang "Happy Birthday" to JJ. Jeanine Hansen, a Rexburg resident who has been following the case, read the following statement from Kay and Larry Woodcock, JJ's grandparents. As you know, today is our beloved grandson, JJ’s, 8th birthday. His absence is sorely felt by his brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, Larry, me and the world. We were blessed with this special young man's eight short years ago. He has been a bright light and joy in our lives. The hope of seeing his sweet, smiling face again is what gets us out of bed everyday. Tylee, with her beautiful smile and endearing sisterly ways, is our biggest hope they are being properly cared for. Lori and Chad, YOU can speak out to end this agony. We pray you feel the humanity and compassion God has instilled within you to bring this nightmare to a close. It is the Christian thing to do. The Rexburg area has encompassed us with love and warmth. We now feel this is our second home just as Facebook has been instrumental in communicating our story to the world. Thank you to every person who has shared, copied, pasted pictures and stories in whatever way you have helped to keep this story in the forefront. It's a worldwide effort to bring these two kids home. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Please let's keep JJ and Tylee at the forefront and your vigilance is greatly appreciated. We will never give up. Thanks and God bless each of you. The Vallow & Woodcock family Daybell is in the Madison County Jail on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of a dependent child. She refuses to say where her children are and, in a new statement released Monday, Rexburg Police asked the public to contact them with new tips about JJ and Tylee’s whereabouts. “We can’t express enough how appreciative we are for all of the officers, the community, family members and news media outlets near and far who have dedicated thousands of hours in the search of J.J. and Tylee and that will continue to do so until we have resolve in this case,” Asst. Chief Gary Hagen said in a news release. Daybell enrolled JJ at Kennedy Elementary on Sept. 3, 2019, according to principal Josh Wilson. Three weeks later, on Sept. 24, his mother unenrolled him and said she would homeschool the boy. Tylee, 17, was last seen at Yellowstone National Park Police on Sept. 8 with JJ, Daybell and her brother, Alex Cox. The FBI and Rexburg Police are asking visitors who were at the park that day to submit images, video or other information that may assist in their investigation. “We continue to hope and pray for the safe return of both of these beautiful children each and every day,” Hagen said. “We urge the public to continue to be vigilant for J.J. and Tylee and if you have any tips or information regarding their whereabouts, please contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3008.” === 105. JJ Vallow turns 8 Monday. A vigil is planned and police are asking for help in finding him and his sister. === Published: Mon, 25 May 2020 07:44:26 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=435294 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- A candlelight vigil is being held for Joshua "JJ" Vallow on Monday to commemorate his 8th birthday and raise awareness that the boy and sister, Tylee Ryan, are still missing. The vigil begins at 9 p.m. at Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg, the last place JJ was seen before his mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, withdrew him in September. "We will try and make it a nice little gathering," co-organizer Janeese Summers tells EastIdahoNews.com. "We are asking people to bring a candle." Daybell is in the Madison County Jail on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of a dependent child. She refuses to say where her children are and Rexburg Police are asking the public to contact them with new tips about JJ and Tylee's whereabouts. "We can’t express enough how appreciative we are for all of the officers, the community, family members and news media outlets near and far who have dedicated thousands of hours in the search of J.J. and Tylee and that will continue to do so until we have resolve in this case," Asst. Chief Gary Hagen said in a news release. Daybell enrolled JJ at Kennedy Elementary on Sept. 3, 2019, according to principal Josh Wilson. Three weeks later, on Sept. 24, his mother unenrolled him and said she would homeschool the boy. The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Tylee, 17, was last seen at Yellowstone National Park Police on Sept. 8 with JJ, Daybell and her brother, Alex Cox. The FBI and Rexburg Police are asking visitors who were at the park that day to submit images, video or other information that may assist in their investigation. "We continue to hope and pray for the safe return of both of these beautiful children each and every day," Hagen said. "We urge the public to continue to be vigilant for J.J. and Tylee and if you have any tips or information regarding their whereabouts, please contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3008." === 104. Body camera footage shows Charles Vallow telling police his wife wanted him dead === Published: Wed, 20 May 2020 06:54:19 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=434726 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Body camera footage of Charles Vallow from Gilbert, Arizona.
GILBERT, Arizona -- Newly released police body camera video shows the distraught father of 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan expressing concerns to police months before he was shot and killed. Charles Vallow, the former husband of Lori Vallow Daybell, called the Gilbert Police Department in January 2019 after he was unable to speak to his two kids for a few days. When police arrived, Vallow told an officer about alarming beliefs his wife was sharing. "She's not here," Vallow said in the video. "She lost her reality." Vallow told officers Lori considered herself a translated being and a God who spoke with an ancient prophet and Jesus Christ daily. He said her strange religious views were several years in the making but became increasingly worse. "I love her to death. This is killing me, officer," Vallow said. Even more concerning to Vallow was when Lori told him a man named Nick Schneider had taken over his body and she would have to kill him. Vallow said Lori told him, "I can murder you now with my powers." RELATED | Melani and Ian Pawlowski discuss religious beliefs, disturbing court documents, why Lori Daybell isn’t talking and what they know about missing kids Vallow told officers he called them as he feared for his, JJ and Tylee's safety. He said earlier that day, while he was on a business trip in Houston, Lori had called and told him to take the kids. When he arrived home, Vallow found his truck was not at the airport, and Lori said she threw out all of his clothes. She also allegedly emptied their joint bank account that day. Vallow's keys to get into their home had been inside the truck, and the police body camera footage shows him, as well as officers, kicking in the door of the house. When the police arrived, they had an order to have Lori picked up by officers for a mental health exam. They said typically they don't serve those orders during the night time and only came to check on the kids. "The only reason why we're here is some of the statements that you made towards our dispatcher - that you provided to them ... he (an officer) made the discussion to conduct the welfare check to make sure your children are safe," an officer said. A crime had not been committed, so police left the home. The next morning, Lori visited with officers to file a report against Vallow. She then went for the mental health exam and was medically cleared. Lori's brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Vallow at a home in Chandler, Arizona, on July 11. In August, Lori took her family to live in Rexburg. By the end of September, JJ and Tylee had vanished. RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan === 103. Melani and Ian Pawlowski discuss religious beliefs, disturbing court documents, why Lori Daybell isn't talking and what they know about missing kids === Published: Mon, 11 May 2020 08:13:13 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=433444 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com Editor's Note: This story contains the final portion of our interview with Melani and Ian Pawlowski. The video has been split into two parts. The first section can be watched in the player above. The second section can be found down in the story. IDAHO FALLS — Lori Vallow Daybell's niece and her new husband are speaking in-depth about their relationship with the mother whose two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, have been missing since September. Melani and Ian Pawlowski were married last November after dating for less than two weeks. Melani lived next door to Daybell in Rexburg during the time her children were missing. Ian is currently involved in a custody battle with his ex-wife, Natalie Pawlowski, and Melani is in her own custody dispute with her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Brandon was shot at in October and believes Alex Cox, his ex-wife’s uncle, was the shooter. The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan The Pawlowskis now live in Arizona and spoke with EastIdahoNews.com via Zoom on Saturday with their attorneys, Garrett Smith and Robert Jarvis. Below is a transcript of the second part of their interview. It has been lightly edited for clarity. You can watch and read the first part of our interview here. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE AND THE LATEST STORIES ON THE CASE Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com: When is the last time you saw JJ and Tylee? Melani Pawlowski: Ian has never met them, but the last time I saw them, they were packing up their home in Chandler where Charles had been shot. I remember how emotional it was just to be there. It was where this big thing happened. And Tylee thought it was hard being in the house after that situation happened. And Lori - sometimes she's had to do things to protect her kids. The court systems haven't protected her, and Tylee and Colby were abused by their dad, Joe. The court system didn't protect them, and she had this history of doing everything she could to protect Tylee and JJ. I've always seen that in her since I was a teenager, and she flew me out to go nanny for Tylee and JJ. I've never seen any evidence or anything at all that tells me that Lori would purposely harm her children. It's hard, all the attacks out there. I still see her as the wonderful mom she is. When I see her come in court, I'm looking for something off that I'm not seeing. Because I've had every fear of where they could be, but the last time I saw them was the end of August as they were moving because I think they moved up that first week in September. Eaton: Did you visit Lori in Rexburg before you moved there? Melani: I did I think on a weekend. My ex, Brandon Boudreaux, and I have 50/50 custody, and so anytime it wasn't my time with my kids, I was a wreck and just missed my kids. I tried to go hike in Arizona or go on a trip, and I did go visit Lori for a weekend up there (in Rexburg). She said, "Just come. Try out somewhere new and come see if you like it up here." We toured BYU-Idaho, and she said Tylee was with friends. She always was with friends, so I didn't ask any questions about that. And JJ is either doing some type of therapy or with a nanny or in a school that will help him. So if I didn't see him, I wasn't asking, "Where is he?" I just have always trusted her. I had known that they left to Idaho because they were being threatened by people. I didn't want to ask so many questions, and I didn't know what to do with that. And I was just there for love and support, and I just wanted to be there to help you guys (Lori). Eaton: Then you moved up in November. You didn't see the kids at all. Did you think that was a little suspicious? A little weird? I could understand not seeing them one or two days, but after days and days go by and Tylee's Jeep isn't there - did you ever ask Lori, "Hey, where are Tylee and JJ?" Melani: When I moved up that first week in November, Alex helped me move on Halloween night. We drove up that first week in November with a moving truck. I was very involved in setting up my home and getting everything for my kids. I did bring all the things they do need with them besides a mattress that had stains on it, broken toys and outgrown clothes that I left out front. It was not all of their belongings - I just took everything that was important to us to consolidate into a smaller apartment. I was getting my home ready and was going to figure out what's going on with my kids and get them back here. We were going to have a fresh start. And Lori is very independent, doing her own thing. She was next door, but I spent most of my time with Alex. Alex would come over and hang out with me. Those days were hard and teary missing my kids, and he would come over and lift me up. So if I saw Lori, she was still moving in and getting situated, so I didn't spend a lot of time over there. I did see some of their things, and she had a room set up perfectly for Tylee and JJ, and it didn't seem strange to me. I knew the threats she was getting from Kay Woodcock (JJ's grandmother) and from others, and I guess I didn't ask questions because I knew that history. I knew what was going on, and in my own head, I'm trying to find out where my own kids are. Eaton: There are going to be people that say when they get together with relatives, the talk instantly turns to our kids -- soccer games, piano recitals, whatever. So when you actually would see her, did that sort of conversation ever come up? I could maybe understand a day or two but if you're going on weeks, and you haven't seen them, did you say, "Where's JJ been?" - especially because he has special needs? Melani Right. Yeah. So she would tell me things like, one of the neighbor boys next door, I forget his name, but she would tell me all his friends and how funny they were. JJ was very high energy, and sometimes he'd be in other people's space, and I think sometimes that bothered some other people, so she would say, "These are the friends that are not judgmental, and they'll just let JJ come in." She said that he loved his school there. She always talked about her children, but during that time - from November to I guess the 20th is about when Ian and I started dating - I didn't see them, but I didn't see a lot of Lori. I saw Alex pretty much every day, and anytime I would go over, I'd say, "Where's Tylee?" and it was like she was out with friends. Lori would say, "We're doing everything we can to protect the kids from Kay. Kay's causing a lot of trouble right now," and I didn't really get into too much of their own custody deal. To be honest, I'm in my own head and don't know where my own kids are at that point. And as we know later in November, I went down to Utah to try to see them and see what we could work out. Eaton: When you got married at the end of November, did you move into Ian's place? Melani: No. We kept both of our apartments. I had a lease on mine and he did also. We kind of would sleep at my apartment and set up stuff for Max and Lily over at mine. I had one extra bedroom and so we spent most time at my apartment. Eaton: When did you guys find out there was an investigation and JJ and Tylee were missing? Melani: I'm foggy on this date but (Rexburg Police) Detective Hermosillo and another gentleman had come to my door while I was moving my stuff in so it had to have been early in November - I'd guess the second week in November. I get a knock at the door, and I open it and see police, and I'm jumpy because what is my ex up to? What's the next thing? Are my kids OK? The detective said, "Do you know who lives next door?" And I said, "Yes, I think Alex's name was on the lease, so sometimes my uncle's over there, sometimes my aunt goes over there," and I didn't know what that was about. That was it. That was my first encounter with Rexburg Police. Eaton: And that's when they said the kids are missing? Melani: No, no. This was early November. Then right before Thanksgiving, we're driving down to Arizona to meet Ian's family and have Thanksgiving, and I get a text from (Rexburg Police) Lt. Ball that says, "Somebody's broken into your home. I need you to call me right away." I'm immediately like, "Oh great. My ex has sent somebody. I knew he had a private investigator following me, and I immediately thought he sent somebody to come break into my house. I didn't know what to text back - I was kind of processing it." Then later, I texted back, "Well, I'm with people I love on Thanksgiving, and at least that's what's important." If whatever the heck was taken - I had my emergency cash savings and I had a computer, an iPad, an old phone I didn't use - I didn't know what had been taken, but I was like, if my whole apartment is robbed, it's OK. I got everything I need. It's not about things. Then he said, "I need you to call me," and then I later found out it was the Rexburg Police. They had knocked down my door and taken a lot of my things. I kind of felt bothered about the text I got but I understand they're just doing investigation. As soon as I returned after Thanksgiving, I went right into Detective Hermosillo and was like, "What's going on? I'm here to get my stuff." He asked me about my previous marriage, what was I doing here, and he asked me about Lori and Alex. I was an open book and said, "Here's what I know. Lori and Chad had left probably right around when I was going down to Arizona. They packed up and left, and I think it was a planned move. It wasn't last minute because they had talked about moving to Hawaii at some point. They told Ian when they met, 'You'll have to come visit us in Hawaii sometime.'" Eaton: Can you understand how that looks suspicious though? Melani: Absolutely. Everything looks suspicious. But I knew they had planned to move, but I didn't know exactly when they were going to move. Yes - so many things look suspicious. I think having some basis of knowledge on what people had already planned and what's actually going on, it kind of makes it less suspicious to me. Eaton: Where do you guys think JJ and Tylee are? Melani: I don't know, and I've been asked that so many times. As we know, I've had every fear in the world of what could have happened to them. I think most of December, after Lori and Chad just disappeared, and I didn't have a phone number for them and no contact, I am thinking the worst. I get a phone call from one of Lori's old friends, and she scares me with a lot of, "I think this happened, or this could have happened," and I'm having every "what-if," because I didn't see them the whole time I was up there in November. But I also had seen text messages from Kay and how she was treating Lori after Charles passed away. I also knew who Lori was, and Lori's always been somebody with a plan. She's always done everything to protect her kids. So, up until when my doors were broken down, and things shifted, and I can't talk to Lori and Chad, absolutely, I'm dumping on Ian, "What if this happened, and what if this happened?" If I have a nightmare about something happening, it just got dumped all on him unfairly, as we're newly married, and this just gets thrown in our lap. Eaton: We can transition with that into everything you allegedly told Ian and what he wrote down. Ian, can you explain the background about how this document came to be? Ian Pawlowski: The whole purpose of the document was to send to Melani's lawyers so they knew what I had gone in and told the FBI. So I told Melani on Dec. 19 that I had been talking with the police and a little later, I told her I'd been recording her. It was after I told Melani that I had been working with the FBI and the police that I wrote this. The whole idea is to protect her. Her lawyers needed to know exactly what I said, how I said it and that's how I wanted to present it to them. These are the fears I shared with them that Melani shared with me. The document sounds a lot more affirmative than what I heard, but when I go into the police, I want action. I want this to be over with, basically. I went and I shared with the FBI everything that I heard, everything I was afraid of, and at that point, I thought the kids were in danger. I thought there was something dark and sinister going on. I was afraid. So things came out when I talked with the FBI in a way that (I) shouldn't have. And I kind of regret the way I presented it to them because I feel like it's kind of blown this thing up a lot more than it should have. There wasn't really a whole lot going on until my ex-wife and I went in and spoke with the FBI. Then, a week later, they're starting to put out press releases and all these things. I don't know if what we shared acted as a catalyst for that. Or maybe I'm just full of myself. Eaton: For the casual reader seeing this, there is some shocking stuff in there. Chad and Lori apparently told you, Melani, that JJ and Tylee had been possessed and become zombies, that Alex may have to "take care" of the kids, he had "great faith" and "never wavered in his trust of the Lord." Can you understand these writings are alarming, concerning and suspicious on all counts? Ian: Anybody who doesn't know what's going on, they're going to look at this and go, "Yeah, this is insane." So Brandon contacted my ex-wife, Natalie, and basically shared the idea with her that Melani's in a cult, Lori's in a cult, Chad's a cult leader, they tried to kill me, they killed Charles and there's this whole plot. I'm hearing this and I'm going, "Holy crap! What did I get myself into?" And so anything that happens, anything I hear from then on, even if it's something I've heard before, I'm looking at it through the lens of, "This could be a cult." Something weird is going on, and I'm hearing this right after her door gets kicked in by the Rexburg Police and we see a search warrant looking for JJ. So everything seemed really off at that point. I've described it like a Treehouse of Horrors episode of "The Simpsons" for Halloween. You see a shadow of a claw on the wall, and then the light comes, and it's just a branch scratching on the window. Depending on how you shine the light, there are facts, but depending on how you shine the flashlight, the facts look different. When I'm hearing all these things, I'm scared, and I think there's a cult. As you go through the document, you kind of see my thought process of this is stuff that I'm hearing, and stuff I'm worried about. As I continue to look at it, I'm starting to see that there's really nothing proving any of this. There's nothing proving that Tylee and JJ have come to any harm. You can even see at the end of the document I'm still questioning why in the world do we not know where the kids are. But as I've gotten to know Summer and Janis and heard more about Lori's life and the experiences she's gone through, I'm starting to see maybe there is some reasoning behind what's going on. I have no clue what's going on, but I know that Melani is a good person. I've loved her through this whole thing. I was never really concerned about her. But in the beginning, I'm like, "Holy crap, her uncles are into some shady stuff, and I need to try to figure out what's going on. I'm going to record your conversations, try to get from point A to point B, get this thing wrapped up and over with so I can move on with my life and my new wife." Melani: I think it's important to understand where some of these things come from. Initially, when Charles filed for divorce with Lori, he brought a document over to my home with me and Brandon. We were still married, and everything seemed OK. With Charles and Lori, things just went quick. She had found a lot of women on his computer, and a lot of purchases and stuff that he'd been purchasing through Hollywood Hobbies or something. And Lori's upset, obviously. He's on the road all the time for his career - similar to what Brandon does for his work. And she found this and confronted him with it. Charles had never said anything ill about Lori ever. He just thought the world of her and worshipped her. As soon as she just started asking questions, he just flipped. He came over to our house and said, "Lori is crazy." He showed us this document, and that's the first time I saw this. It said something about Tylee being dark and JJ being light, and I'm trying to process all this. He said, "Lori doesn't think I'm me. She thinks I'm Ned or something." What do you take from all that? It just felt off. And Lori wasn't telling everyone in our family that Charles had been cheating on her. She had been trying to keep it between her and Charles. Charles just went ballistic, and then he took JJ away, saying Lori is never going to see him again. It's these patterns of narcissism where everything's fine until you start asking questions. I did see the same exact pattern happen with my ex-husband. Everything was fine, and he thought the world of me until I asked some questions he was uncomfortable answering. Instead of giving an explanation, he turned on me and said, "Melani, I'm going to take the kids away from you. You're crazy. I'm going to get you excommunicated from the church, and you're never going to see your kids again." That's just from asking, "What's this video I found? What are these text messages?" It was like watching Charles unravel first, then Brandon did the same exact thing. It's just these patterns, and you just can't make this stuff up. It's the same exact thing happening over and over again. Lori just moved on. She didn't play any of Charles' games, and he was back and forth, wanting to get back together or saying, "Your end is coming soon." So the day he came to the house, Summer said, "Alex, would you go over - Charles has been kind of aggressive and acting crazy. He's gonna go over there to get JJ. Will you go over there just in case something happens?" As we see, something did happen. I know they're trying to change that whole investigation now to make it look like Lori had something planned or Alex did but there's no doubt in my mind about that shooting. Brandon went and ran with that story to his advantage. He pulled me into the garage, and he and my uncle Adam said, "Charles has been murdered by Alex." I'm like, "It doesn't feel right, and there's got to be something more to this."
Eaton: So you do believe that Charles was shot in self-defense, and Alex was defending himself? Melani: Absolutely. And I went to Tylee and was like, "How are you?" She was so brave speaking about it and was very collected and very mature. I admire Tylee so much for how brave she was. She explained everything, and so did Lori and so did Alex, and it made sense with how Charles has been acting. You're in shock that it went to that extreme, but I'm glad Alex was there to protect Tylee. I hated that Tylee had to go through that, and I know there's been a lot of criticism of how Lori acted afterward. She's smiling on camera, and I know when she's uncomfortable, she'll just kind of laugh or smile and try to make light of it. I do the same thing. It's just how we handle being in shock, and every person handles being in shock differently. That's when everything started to be strange. Charles had said all these things in court documents, things I had never heard Lori say, and that's when these strange ideas started flowing around. Lori has always been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loves learning, and she spent a lot of time in the temple trying to learn and grow from experiences and trying to feel peace from all the things that have happened in her life. Charles, I feel, took that to an extreme with the things that he said about her. Honestly, I see everything Charles did ... like the emails about his life insurance. Charles sold life insurance and had his own company, and the texts between people -- it almost looked like a setup. It was very alarming to see all these things. I have been asked what spiritual experiences has Lori had. That's not for me to answer or to say what Lori and Chad's beliefs are. But I know the people they are, and I know they're good people and they're trying. As a family, we'd get together and talk about the mysteries of God and the deep doctrine conversations. We're allowed to do that. We're allowed to discern truth from error and just learn and in our church. We believe in revelation, and it's an ongoing process. We're learning continually and everything's changing. We're just people that are trying to grow in our faith and be closer to the Savior. There's no cult. Lori's my aunt, Zulema's almost like an aunt to me, Alex is my uncle, and this is my family. Where it comes down to Tylee and JJ and this zombie idea - it came from a disturbing phone call I got from one of Lori's old friends right after they took off to Hawaii. She told me, "Lori and Alex did something to Tylee and JJ, and we don't know where they're at, and Lori has lied to you," and all these things that didn't feel right. On that phone call, I felt a lot of fear and doubt, and that's when I kind of went into this worrying phase. I'm newly married, and I'm sharing these things with him and can't sleep some nights. I didn't know where they're at, I didn't know what was going on and I didn't understand these things. And Ian, which I don't know, is talking with Natalie and Brandon, and they're telling him these terrifying things that aren't true - that I've wanted to kill Brandon, and I'm in a cult. I have no idea what Ian's doing behind the scenes, and I'm in a scared time in my life where I'm trying to figure out the pieces. I'm trying to know what's going on with Brandon and his plans, and who he is working with, and where my kids are. December was terrifying - like we're thrown into this boiling pot as soon as we get married and trying to just adapt as best we can. Eaton: Melani, did you actually believe these things that Lori and Chad told you? Or were you telling Ian just to get it off your chest with the assumption you didn't know what to think? Melani: Lori and Chad did not tell me most of those things in the document. Those were fears I was hearing from other people, and never did I believe them. When you don't have knowledge about something and you're in a scary situation like this, you think the worst. And I'm an open book. I kind of say it how it is. I didn't know Ian was recording all these things and that he was talking to Natalie or Brandon. I had told him my history with Brandon, and I warned that Natalie's probably going to try to get ahold of Brandan, and Brandon's going to run with all these lies about me. Ian knew who I was, but the factor of Tylee and JJ going missing - he'd never seen them before and had only met Chad and Lori one time. He doesn't know what I know about the past with Lori trying to do everything she can to protect her kids and people who have been threatening her. There was so much going on in our in my own custody case with my children, and we hadn't got to that. So real quick - we get married, thrown into this boiler pot, and we're doing the best we can, and Ian acted on fears and doubt, rather than the things that he didn't know, but I don't hold any blame toward him. This was a terrifying time for us. And I'm just continuously dumping on him, and I had my dad sending threatening messages saying things about a shooting that Brandon Boudreaux's claiming and I never, still to this day, don't know if this shooting actually happened or who did it. Eaton: Do you think it was Alex? Melani: The first meeting with Detective Pillar the day after the shooting I said, "Here's all the people Brandon associates with." Then he asked if I had Lori or Alex's number, and I gave it to him. But when I heard that, it sounded like Brandon was trying to set them up or something. I know they don't have anything to do with it. Later on in December, Alex passes away, and then on Christmas, I get a phone call from Brandon, and I had to listen to him bullying me for an hour and threatening me and saying I had to go to the FBI and say that Alex shot at him. I said, "I don't know that, Brandon." And he's like, "If you ever want to see your kids again, you have to go and tell them that." Why did they never call Alex or say, "Can you come in and meet with us? We have some questions for you"? Brandon was so sure, but his story kept changing. Still to this day, I don't know what happened in the shooting. He had my dad on board sending me text messages saying, "Sentencing is coming soon for you. They know it was Alex. They know it was this Jeep registered to Tylee." I've been trying to put the pieces together of what's going on because I don't have the facts, but the knowledge that I do have - it doesn't add up to all the speculation and rumors that are flying around. To this day, I have not seen one shred of evidence about this shooting Brandon's claiming that leads me to believe that it was Alex Cox. Eaton: Do you believe that Brandon has turned dark? Melani: No, and in that document ... the way I understand this is in our faith is as you increase in becoming closer to your Savior and act in obedience and righteousness, you increase in light. As you make bad decisions or invite evil things into your life, you're losing that light of Christ. We talk about in our religion the gift of spiritual discernment, and I think you look at the fruits of people to know for yourself, "Is this a good person I want to have in life? Is this a bad person?" Never is there ever any ill intent if somebody is not making good choices in their life to do harm to them. You pray for them, and you bless those who persecute you and use you, and that's how I view it. I don't see children as being light or dark. We believe the age of 8 is the age of accountability when you're baptized. And from then on, you can make decisions in light or dark, if you will. That's just the terminology I see that as. The way these things are worded, it sounds terrifying, and they're stemming from bits of truth that we talk about in our religion. Eaton: In talking with you guys, you seem like mainstream Latter-day Saints. But a lot of members look at the writings and have never heard a lot of this stuff. They say, "Whoa, those ideas are on the fringe." I also think Latter-day Saints are very uncomfortable with the word "cult." Melani, you said you're not in a cult, but are you in a fringe group? A group that's not mainstream? Were Lori and Chad in a group that wasn't mainstream? Garrett Smith, attorney: Hang on a second. 15 seconds later Melani: I'm not in any cult, and I don't believe anything that is against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are topics where we don't have full understanding, like you see in this document - things like translation, we don't have information on. It's something that's talked about in the scriptures. And these are things that are interesting, and you want to learn more about the mysteries of God that no one really has the real answers on. These are things to learn about, but there are no beliefs that I have, or that I know that Chad and Lori have, that are against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or anything inconsistent with that faith. Eaton: One other question about the document, Ian, and then we can we can move on. You mentioned in there that your whole intent was not to smear anybody. Your intent was to protect your family and helps solve the case of the missing kids. Can you guys address the public as to what you all are doing to help in the case? Ian: We, to the best of our knowledge, have cooperated fully with the FBI and law enforcement. Anytime they've had questions, we've answered. That's all we can do right now. We're trying to set people at ease a little bit. Right now, the kids are missing. We don't know where they are, and there's so much speculation because of this information that's leaked in the accusations that Charles made in his paperwork, and people coming out of the woodwork to come after Chad or come after Lori. There's a lot of speculation that's happening, but so far, all we know is that they're missing. Lori's mom, Janis, put it really well. The kids aren't missing to Lori. They're missing to the rest of us. While I would absolutely love to know where they are and just get this over with and move on with my life, I have to try to have faith and believe that there's going to be a happy ending to this. I certainly hope there is because it's going to have a really negative effect on my life if there isn't. Eaton: So you guys have talked with the police in Rexburg and the FBI, and any time they want to talk to you, you're open to talking with them and answering questions. Ian: Absolutely. Yeah. Melani: Yeah. I had my first initial meeting with Detective Hermosillo, and then I invited FBI into my home for a few hours and told them everything that I did know. My first meeting with FBI, I shared a lot of these things I'm sharing with you, Nate, and they were like, "OK, this isn't where we thought this was going at all." We haven't heard this other side of why Lori would be doing what she's doing and why she does not feel safe to say where her kids are and why she needs to protect them. Eaton: A few people have said this story is all "hype." Yes, the media has latched on to this story because it is two missing kids but the "hype" could die down if the kids were produced or if she said where the kids are. Why do you think she won't? Melani: I don't have that answer, but I know no one is listening to her side. She's been what seems proven guilty before even given the chance to speak for herself. I know she hasn't come forward and said (where the kids are), and I absolutely would love that. She knows what she's doing, I believe, and she knows where the kids are. I can't remember the quote she said - very initially when things took off - something about when all this speculation and rumors over. I believe, when all the speculation and rumor is over, and we're looking at the real facts here, I believe she has a story to tell. She doesn't have reason to trust a lot of people right now. I can't ask that question to her. She's in jail waiting for her time to defend and tell her story. Eaton: Melani, why can't you ask her where the kids are? Melani: She's in jail, and everything's been recorded. It sounds like her conversations even with her own lawyer have been recorded and then given to Detective Ball and the prosecutor. I feel like that's a huge concern. I don't think if I asked her she would tell me. She didn't tell me before, probably just to not involve me, and whatever she's got going on - she's got a plan and I just want to be loving support and do whatever I can. When it comes down to it, every fear, every worry, every doubt that I have - it doesn't stick to the knowledge I do know of who Lori is and everything she's done to protect those kids. Those kids love their mom, and they don't want to be with Kay. JJ's never wanted to be with Kay, and I wish we could see the times Kay's actually come to try to be in JJ's life. I was in Arizona most of the time Lori and JJ were there after adopting him. I might have met Kay one time, but she wasn't a big part of JJ's life. I see a lot of things behind-the-scenes that aren't being said, and I don't know everything going on or where Lori would have the kids. Eaton: Do you think they're safe? Chad has said that they are safe. We don't know what that means. But do you think they're safe in a bunker somewhere? Smith: Nate, let me modify this just a little bit. Part of the premise of what our clients are saying, including Melani and Ian here with us, but also Summer (Shiflet, Lori's sister) and Janis (Cox, Lori's mother) - the premise of it is, first and foremost, they don't think they've ever seen anything in Lori's life that would give them any evidence that she could harm her children. The next level is that they know that Lori had a basis and a belief that she needed to take steps to protect her kids. We don't have all the details about that, but she had expressed at least that much to them. They were moving out of the state of Arizona, they were going away, and she had a reason for doing that. The third thing is that they had experienced in Lori's life this notion that she has a substantial distrust of the system because of its failure in her ability to protect her own kids. The system never was able to help her do that - the judicial system. So it's hard to go into Lori and say, "Just tell us where the kids are" when it undermines everything that I just set forth. They don't think she did anything to the kids. They know she's got a basis for wanting to protect them. She knows they know that she doesn't trust the system. And so to go in and ask her to tell them where the kids are would undermine her ultimate purpose - which is to protect the kids. Everybody wants that question asked because they just want to see when the kids are, but that's not what Lori's goal is here. Lori's goal is to protect them and saying where they are doesn't protect them. Melani: I think the bigger question is why does Lori feel the need to protect her kids? And from who? From what? And until we know that question, she probably will not tell any of us that, and she's willing to sit in jail over keeping quiet and not sharing that information. Smith: I saw the news clip from Kay where she said that she's never threatened Lori. Then at the end of the conversation, she said, "I had some phone calls and emails where I said some pretty mean things. But really, I just want to see JJ." You can't have it both ways. Either you sent mean and nasty communications that caused Lori to be threatened, or you didn't, and it sounds like she did, and Lori says she did. We expect Kay's going to come forward and say, "I would never want to harm JJ, all I wanted to do is this," but in Lori's mind, in Lori's perspective, she was under attack. She felt that she had good reason to believe and take whatever steps she took in order to fulfill that goal. Eaton: Melani, when's the last time you spoke with Lori? Melani: I had a phone call with her - I want to say the second week of December after Alex had passed. I think it was the night Ian told me he had been going to the police and FBI. I haven't heard anything from them since then. Eaton: And she and Chad were already in Hawaii at that time? Melani: I would guess they were already in Hawaii at that time because they left that last week in November and then a couple weeks later I had a phone call with them, I didn't have their number and that was the last time that I spoke with them. Eaton: What do you want people to know about what you guys know, about any involvement, about your aunt and the kids? Melani: Our biggest focus is we're working on our own custody cases right now that are affected by all the speculation and rumor - deflecting from what our exes are doing and keeping our kids away from us unjustly. That's our biggest focus. We're running on faith and hope that Lori's got a plan, and she knows where JJ and Tylee are, but I don't know where my children are. I'm having to spend all this time telling the truth because everything's been manipulated into lies in the media. People aren't seeing the whole picture of things. And this is a whole deflection on the truth. Everything that's being thrown around - all these ideas that people are bouncing off each other - they're missing the truth. That's our exes' goal, to distract from everything they're doing and confuse it in this case to take advantage of it. It's sad for our children, and we pray for them every day. We know we're going to be with them soon. Maybe they'll see us on TV, maybe not, but we know that they know who we are. And we patiently await every day until we are reunited with them. Ian: I just basically echo what Melani said. Her ex-husband and my ex-wife are taking advantage of this case and going with it to keep our children away from us. They're making all sorts of claims. Melani was the primary caretaker of her four kids for 10 years and never did anything at all to harm them. She was a loving mother, and for some reason, all of a sudden, now Brandon is trying to take them away. Same thing with my ex-wife. I took good care of my kids, and I love them. They love being with me. They love being with Melani. We had them almost entirely through the month of January ... didn't have any problems with Melani or me being around the kids at that point, but now that's a problem. This whole case is being used against us to keep our children away, and our exes are frustrated. Things kind of blew up when she and I got married. They both became very upset. It's frustrating to have this case continue. We had a preliminary hearing scheduled for the 7th and 8th, and now it's been pushed out to July, and until things get resolved, it's going to continue to affect us. We're just ready for it to be done. Melani: It's been a huge stall, Nate, and unfortunately COVID has been pushing things back. But the most disappointing thing was when we had a family custody hearing finally for the Boudreaux case with my children, Brandon didn't show up. I don't know where he was. And later on, seeing him on TV a few days later in the front row at Lori's hearing, waiting to see if they can keep her in jail longer and not reduce her bail, that's upsetting. Where were my kids during then and why is he leaving them? And why are they not the focus of his life? It's sad to see that. Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and I have every plea in my heart that Brandon will have any kindness in his heart to reunite me with with my children and let them talk to their mother. They're scared. I don't know what they've been told, but I know they know in their hearts who I am. I've done everything for them, and my whole life put everything, every ounce into them, and I'm so grateful I've done that because every day without them is unbearable. I know everything's going to come forward eventually. As we just keep trying to tell the truth and be ourselves and try to do the right thing, I know things are going to work out. I want to thank you for being open-minded, for wanting to share both sides and not being afraid to share truth. There's so much confusion out there, and this is what we want. We want everything to be heard, and I think everything will eventually unravel as we see it continuing to move forward. I appreciate you being willing to clarify anything that has been reported wrong because we see it reported wrong every day in all these different news sources. I desperately just want to call each one and say, "Hey, you got this wrong. These are the facts." I remember you saying how Brandon Boudreaux has claimed that I have a million dollars of reasons to shoot at him or kill him or get money for a cult. I know you're just reporting what you hear and what's given to you. I appreciate you giving us the time to respond to these false claims and accusations, and we're always happy to answer and clear up questions. Thank you for hearing us. === 102. Melani Pawlowski speaks about her childhood, family deaths and her sudden Las Vegas wedding === Published: Sun, 10 May 2020 07:55:46 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=433395 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Two key people tied to Lori Vallow Daybell are speaking about their relationship with her, Daybell's missing children (Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan), the death of Daybell's brother (Alex Cox) and other events that have come to light over the past few months. Melani Pawlowski is Daybell's niece. She married Ian Pawlowski last November and lived next door to Daybell in Rexburg during the time her children were missing. Melani is currently involved in a custody dispute with her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, regarding their four children. Brandon was shot at in October and believes Cox, his ex-wife's uncle, was the shooter. The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan The Pawlowskis now live in Arizona and spoke with EastIdahoNews.com via Zoom on Saturday - the day after Cox's autopsy report was released showing he died of natural causes. Below is a transcript of the first part of their interview. It has been lightly edited for clarity. On Monday, we will post the rest of the interview, including questions about JJ and Tylee, Lori and Chad, the Pawlowskis' religious beliefs, and why they are speaking out now. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE AND THE LATEST STORIES ON THE CASE Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com: The first thing I want to ask, Melani and Ian, is your reaction to the autopsy results which came out Friday concerning Melani's uncle, Alex Cox. What did you think when you heard the news? Melani Pawlowski It was relieving but we weren't surprised. We knew that it would be natural causes. We had no reason to think anything otherwise. I think it was just a comfort like, finally, this part is over and it's one more stepping stone to just keep revealing truth. And then the second half of the day, (Gilbert Police) say it's still under investigation. It feels like every time we get a little bit of good news, there's a little bit of drag too, but overall, just relief and comfort to be in the right direction. Eaton: You mentioned that police are still investigating and there is going to be people watching that still don't believe the results or say there's something more here. What do you say to them? Melani: You post truth out there, and people have already made up their minds and decided. Ian made a bad joke saying, 'Did they test for all the invisible poisons?' People will still think whatever speculation or rumors or whatever they want to believe even when it's right in front of their face. When Tylee and JJ show up and are here again, I don't know if people would even believe it. They still go on with their own...it's still they've done something bad and a lot of people have already made up their minds. We just want to come on and share what we do know and share truth and hopefully keep getting opportunities where more people will be open to that and be able to listen. Eaton: Melani, Alex was your uncle and a lot of people have thrown questions out there as to why he died. Was this just a big coincidence? Did you think there might be something more here? Melani: There was absolute shock when I got the phone call from Zulema Pastenes (Alex Cox's wife), and she was telling me (he had died). I had spoken with Alex earlier that day, and he seemed OK, but I knew the week before he was having trouble. He was, overall, a pretty healthy guy but stubborn. He wouldn't do regular checkups and was just was a tough guy. I was going to bring him some of his stuff because he had moved down to be with Zulema, and he had said, "Let's not meet up halfway. Let's wait. I'm not feeling very good." That was big for him to say that because he never would say that he wasn't feeling good. The week before, he said he had tightness in his chest and trouble breathing. He said he had bent down to get a water bottle and took the breath out of him. I was absolutely worried and was like, "You need to get to the doctor." And he was like, "No, no, no, I'm fine." So that morning, I called him and Ian was at work. He was somebody I could kind of just - you could tell him anything. He's like a vault. I was just openly telling him about things in my new marriage, things that were challenging or things that were going really well, and he was just my best friend at that point. He shared some things that I just felt I needed to write them down when he started talking to me. Eaton: Like what? Melani: He said, "Melani, the most important thing in your marriage is to be loving, be supportive, and be patient." And he kept repeating that and I was like - I need to remember that always. It was his last words to me, and I didn't know that, but it was really just special like that. He just said, "Everything's going to be fine, just keep moving forward, you're going to have your kids back soon and everything's going to work out. Just go on in faith." Later that evening, I got a call from Zulema, and I was excited. I started telling her about my day, and then it shifted. I kind of just went into shock for a little bit, and I fell to the floor. I just felt all the feelings of losing a close friend. I hadn't been very close with Alex most of my life. I was closer with my aunts and even my other uncle. Alex was a truck driver, and after starting to have challenges in my last marriage, you could just call him, and he always answered. He would just talk and let you talk to him. And I do talk a lot. And he would let me just vent, and he never would put somebody down or judge them. He would just say, "Here's how you handle that situation." Nobody could do any wrong in his eyes. He just was very positive and somebody that was so influential to be around when I'm going through the hardest thing and missing my four children. Eaton: How is Zulema doing? Melani: I love Zulema with all my heart. I feel like it's been really hard. She hasn't been able to really mourn and grieve the loss of her husband with all the accusations. She doesn't really feel ready to come forward and share her story and I respect that. She's still just trying to get through every day and missing her husband. But she's doing OK. Eaton: There has been some limited information that's come out about each of you, and I'm wondering if you could tell us about yourselves - how you guys met, how you ended up in Idaho and then back in Arizona? Ian Pawlowski: I grew up in Southern California and I got married in 2010. I moved to Idaho in 2011 with my ex-wife, Natalie, and we have two kids together. Right now they're nine and seven - Max and Lily. They're fantastic kids. I miss them a lot right now, and I would love to get them down here in Arizona. I started school at BYU-Idaho. I never finished. Just work, school and being a dad was too much, and I just figured I'd work. On our ninth anniversary, Natalie asked for a divorce. That was in March 2019. We worked our way through and got it all wrapped up in July. I decided to try to jump back into dating a little bit. It wasn't really my goal to find a wife - I just wanted to find people to hang out with. At the same time, I had just gone through a really rough divorce, and it kind of tore me up. I'm trying to put my life back together and was maybe looking for a little bit of validation - just somebody to talk to who's not going to judge me and push me away. I downloaded some dating apps and found Melani on one of them. I asked her on a date that day. I don't feel like I communicate well over text - I'm sarcastic a lot and don't come across well in text sometimes. So I invited her out to dinner, and we went to MacKenzie River. Eaton: What month was this? Ian: This was November. Eaton: Melani, you had moved to Rexburg? Melani: Yeah, the first week of November I moved. We were across the street from each other but didn't know it. Ian: I don't know how to describe it other than everything just kind of clicked with her. We'd had so many similar experiences with the way our divorces went and struggles, and we understood each other. I found no judgment with her, no preconceived notions - she just wanted to get to know me. We spent the next two days basically just talking constantly. It was just easy to click, and I didn't have to try to do mental gymnastics to justify a second date. Eaton: Then you got married shortly thereafter. Ian: Correct. So one of the things that led to us getting married so quickly was our children. She had four kids, and one of the first things I put on my bio is that I'm a dad. I've got two kids I love with all my heart, and I want them to be a big part of our lives. I still haven't had the opportunity to meet her kids yet, and I can't wait too. The first time we came to Arizona, I came down with my two children to have Thanksgiving with my family. Melani was talking about how she didn't have anybody to go to Thanksgiving with, and so I invited her to come be with my family. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. She showed up, and my kids immediately fell in love with her. My daughter can be a little shy, a little standoffish, and just immediately was attached to Melani. She wanted to take her around and show her everything she'd been doing, play games with her and tell her everything that's on her mind. Just to see Melani interact with my kids - it made me fall really hard, really fast for her because she's just so sweet and good with them. Melani: We got married Nov. 30. It was really fast. I was in this battle with my ex, and I didn't have my kids with us, but we both pray about decisions together, and we felt that it was right. A Vegas wedding wasn't dreamy or anything, but our goal was to be sealed in the temple one day. So we said, "Let's do this when we have Max and Lily, and then we have Braxton, Brighton, Blake and Brees too, let's all get together on that special day where we can be together." Eaton: Did you guys have a joint wedding with Alex and Zulema, or was that separate? Melani: Alex and Zulema had been dating for several months, and Alex was very ready to marry Zulema. She was waiting until she got an answer. She knew she was supposed to be with Alex but was going to wait until it felt like the right time. They had talked about wanting to get married in Jackson or Las Vegas, and it just so happened when they picked their date, they had more of a plan than Ian and I did. The coincidence of us picking the day right after them wasn't planned or anything - it was just what happened. We made the decision in Arizona during Thanksgiving and said, "Let's do it." And while we're there, we need a witness, and Alex and Zulema are there. This wasn't our big wedding day - just the beginning of our lives together, and then we'll have that special moment when we're all together as a family. Eaton: So they got married the day before you guys did? Melani: We got married on the 30th, and I think they got married on the 29th. Eaton: Was it just an intimate ceremony for the both of you? Melani: For Ian and I, we had two or three hours. We got a dress and a tux and got the kids all dressed up and their hair done. I think the Lucky Little Wedding Chapel is where we picked and it was a small room. It was very intimate and quick - not anything crazy or anything, but it was special to us. Alex and Zulema were our witnesses, and it was just planned last second. We didn't have time to invite a lot of people. It was just a on-a-whim decision and (we) felt like it's what we should do. Eaton: Melani, were you born and raised in Arizona? Melani: I was born in Utah, but I lived in Phoenix as a baby and then lived in California for a while. And then Seattle is where I spent a lot of time growing up. Eaton: Your mother unfortunately passed away when you were young. Melani: My mom got really sick a couple years after having me. She almost died having me because she had a deep vein thrombosis blood clot. And the Cox side doesn't really have great genes. My grandpa's had cancer and blood clots, and initially my grandfather was told by the police that Alex - they thought a lung clot was the reason for his death initially. So that's what we thought this whole time. I think my parents had a rough time when my mom got really sick with type 1 diabetes and gastroparesis. She didn't have the ability to absorb nutrients and was in and out of doctors and hospitals, and I think it was hard on my dad. I know there was some infidelity on his part, and they tried to work through things, and they just couldn't make it work. I spent a lot of time in the Cox home. Barry and Janis, my grandparents, lived in California, and I lived with them for a while. My mom was sick and I remember my dad traveling a lot for his job, and my mom finally felt like she was healthy enough when we moved to Seattle, and my dad got a job there. It was just me, my mom and dad. My mom couldn't have any more kids. When I was 6, I can remember the night my dad took me and said, "We're going to go get gas," and we never came back. We left my mom there, and he turned the power off. He took all her credit cards, her planner and just left her there. She was really sick to the point she couldn't really take care of herself. We hid out in a hotel for a couple months, and that started a nasty custody battle between them. I remember just being quiet and not really understanding what was going on. I just remember not seeing my mom a lot, but she fought as much as she could. I grew up with my dad and then later my stepmom when my dad got remarried. I heard all manner of things about the Coxes, but my dad kind of cut off communication with them. My mom later passed away when I was 9. Lori was the one that called and told me the news. She said, "Your mom's in a coma and she's probably not going to make it." I remember that phone call and I've always loved and trusted. Lori. She's always been somebody that has so much unconditional love and no judgment, no drama, and I admire her so much. I don't think I would have wanted to have that phone call by anybody else to have to give me that news. I remember flying up with my dad, who took me to see my mom last time in hospice. She passed, and my dad didn't let me talk or see any of that side of the family. I didn't know why other than he was saying all sorts of things about them. Finally, when I was 15, I found my uncle Adam (a radio DJ). I think I Googled him on the computers in high school, and I found him, and he was one of my favorite, favorite people in my life. I remember growing up and connecting all the ties from age 9 to 15. For all those years, they didn't have me, and they tried sending packages, and my dad would return them. I never understood why I just felt something off in my heart, but I have no judgment or resentment on why my dad did the things he did. I wish to this day he would just say it for what it is and be real about it because that's how we grow. Eaton: So did Lori somewhat raise you after your mother passed? Melani: Mainly my Grandma Janis. Lori was young and busy with her life, but she would take me and go do fun things. Also my aunt Summer and my uncle Adam. I wasn't super close with Alex. ... But they were so important in my life. I didn't know that my dad had been telling everybody, "Hey, your mom died of anorexia," and she was mentally ill and basically made himself look like a hero. I have all of her medical records and all the court documents. It's hard seeing the same patterns that happened to my mom now happening in my life where my kids are taken away from me wrongfully and things are said about me that aren't true - but my kids know who I am. My own father is helping my ex-husband right now, and they've had my kids at their house and don't tell me. I have bullying text messages from my dad, and that's upsetting. I feel like you should love your kid no matter what. If all these false claims were true - if I was crazy or in a cult or done something horrible - shouldn't they just reclaim me with kindness as their daughter and love me anyway? It's absolutely heartbreaking that I don't have a good relationship (with them) right now where I feel like I can keep them close in my life. I'm kind of just loving them from a distance and letting everything play out. I don't judge anyone for all the things they're scared of or confused about. This case is heavy, and it's unlike anything - I never thought this would be our lives. It's unreal. Eaton: There have been reports that Lori may be somehow tied to your mother's death - that she may have been the first victim. Can you address that? Melani: She died of natural causes. It's on her death certificate. She had type 1 diabetes and gastroparesis. She went to every type of doctor, and I think she got tested for everything. It was so clear she was far from anorexic. My dad ran with that story, and it's hurtful and untrue, and she's not here to tell that truth. Reading through court documents, there's so many things he could have said because we're real and open about our family and we make mistakes. It was mostly just lies about everything. That's similar to what's happening in my family court case - the same pattern. I think we go through these things to learn experience and seeing that same exact thing happened now in my life, it's too ironic it's the exact same patterns. EastIdahoNews.com will post the rest of the interview Monday including questions about JJ and Tylee, Lori and Chad, the Pawlowski's religious beliefs and why they are speaking out now. === 101. Medical examiner says Alex Cox had blood clots in his lungs and died of natural causes === Published: Fri, 08 May 2020 17:00:15 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=433234 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com GILBERT, Arizona – Alex Cox, Lori Vallow Daybell’s brother, had blood clots in his lungs, high blood pressure and died of natural causes. That's according to a report released Friday from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner. Cox, 51, was found unresponsive on his bathroom floor and pronounced dead at the hospital Dec. 12, 2019. The medical examiner has been working on the case for months and on Friday released a seven-page report, along with a four-page toxicology summary, in relation to the investigation. Maricopa County Medical Examiner Lesley Wallis said Cox died of bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli, meaning blood clots got wedged into arteries of his lungs. Wallis determined atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, meaning plaque buildup in the arteries leading to high blood pressure, also contributed to his death.

What the report says

The medical examiner's report shows detectives wrote that Cox complained of shortness of breath and chest pain for about a week before being found unresponsive. On Dec. 12, he was found unconscious in his bathroom surrounded by feces, according to a 911 call obtained by EastIdahoNews.com. First responders were called and rushed Cox to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. READ | The medical examiner and toxicology reports on Alex Cox Cox’s wife of two weeks, Zulema Pastenes, told investigators he had no prior medical history and did not take any regular medications, according to the report. Cox weighed 227 pounds and was 6’ 1.” He appeared relatively healthy on the outside but when the medical examiner opened up Cox’s body, it was a different story, according to the report. Inside Cox’s lungs were arteries clogged by blood clots and other arteries had a severe buildup of plaque, leading to high blood pressure. Wallis also found non-cancerous tumors inside his liver, an enlarged prostate and a polyp in the digestive tract. The medical examiner performed extensive tests including a toxicology report, which showed caffeine and a drug called Narcan in his system. First responders give Narcan to non-responsive people to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

What could this mean

Dr. Burton Bentley II, an emergency physician and CEO of Elite Medical Experts in Arizona, told EastIdahoNews.com there are five options for a manner of death: In the case of Cox, the medical examiner determined the death was due to natural causes. “So they likely opened him up, they saw bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli (blood clots) and they had no other more probable cause of death,” Bentley said. “Likely the toxicology screens and things were negative and there was enough of an embolic effect (blood clots) as to make that the most probable cause.” Bentley's company is involved with thousands of cases around the world and realizes some may question how blood clots could have killed Cox. “People who form clots usually have a reason,” Bentley said. “They’ve either had a prior clot, or they have a clotting disorder... or they have an acute attributing factor.” Those factors could include prolonged periods of immobilization, such as those who had recent surgery, a long airplane ride or a lengthy road trip, according to Bentley. He did say the blood clot killing Cox could not have happened at the hands of someone else. “Homicide was not chosen as a manner of death,” Bentley said. “They are saying specifically this is not a homicide and this did not occur with the evidence that they have at this time. The objective evidence would, to a reasonable degree of medical probability, lead the medical examiner to conclude that this is natural.” At the bottom of Cox’s medical exam report, Wallis included how the opinions “are amendable to change should new, reliable and pertinent information come to light.” "The next step for the Gilbert Police Department detectives assigned to the case will be to review the autopsy report in its entirety," said Gilbert Police spokeswoman Dani Covey. "This case is still active at this time."

Why such a deep look at Alex?

Alex Cox is Lori Vallow Daybell's brother and admitted to shooting her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in self-defense last July. Months later Cox moved to Rexburg and rented a townhome in the same complex as Daybell and her two children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. The children disappeared in September and Cox was seen in the last known photos of Tylee at Yellowstone National Park. Surveillance video obtained by EastIdahoNews.com show him visiting a Rexburg storage facility in October with his sister and by himself several times. Video in November shows him opening a storage unit with Chad Daybell, Lori's new husband. Cox was never charged with any crimes but a private investigator believes he fired a shot at Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Lori Daybell's niece, Melani Boudreaux. Gilbert police are still investigating, according to Covey

Family reacts

Alex’s family issued a statement to EastIdahoNews.com through their attorneys, Robert Jarvis and Garrett L. Smith. It reads: Alex’s widow, Zulema Pastenes, along with his mother,Janis Cox, sister Summer Shiflet, and his niece, Melani Pawlowski are pleased to see the report confirms what they knew and maintained since Alex’s death on December 12, 2019. In interviews with many news agencies, the family stated numerous times what they knew to be true—Alex’s death had no sinister aspect. With a degree of vindication, the family hopes that the confirmation of this truth will help all to step back, take a breath, and allow the truth to unfold through the process. Rampant rumors of evil plots and conspiracy robbed the family of their time to grieve the loss of their husband, son, brother, and uncle. Even so, the family finds comfort in the medical examiner’s finding that Alex Cox died of natural causes. === 100. READ: The medical examiner and toxicology reports on Alex Cox === Published: Fri, 08 May 2020 15:02:18 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=433258 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner released its report Friday into the death of Alexander Cox. The manner of death was natural. The cause of death was bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli with atheroschlerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. RELATED | Alex Cox died of natural causes, according to medical examiner Here are the findings along with the toxicology report. === 99. Deputy AG calls request of Daybells' attorney a 'fishing expedition' === Published: Thu, 07 May 2020 15:12:55 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=433008 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Defense attorney Mark Means addresses Judge Michelle Mallard during Lori Vallow Daybell's second bond reduction hearing at the Madison County Magistrate Court on May 1. | John Roark, Pool photo
ST. ANTHONY -- The Idaho Attorney General's office is asking a judge to deny a request from Chad and Lori Daybell's lawyer to release information on the death of Tammy Daybell. Tammy, who was married to Chad, died suddenly on Oct. 19 at her Salem home. Investigators have called the death suspicious, and her body was exhumed from the Springville Evergreen Cemetery in Utah in December. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told EastIdahoNews.com on Thursday that his office is still awaiting results from Tammy's autopsy. Fremont County Prosecutor Marcia Murdoch requested the AG's assistance last month. The agency agreed to take over the case and revealed both Chad and Lori are under investigation for conspiracy, attempted murder and/or murder in connection to Tammy's death, according to a letter first obtained by EastIdahoNews.com.
Chad and Tammy Daybell | Facebook
Chad married Lori in Hawaii within weeks of Tammy’s death. He has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. RELATED | Attorney general takes over murder, conspiracy investigation in Daybell case Mark Means, an attorney for the couple, subpoenaed the entire case file, but on Wednesday, the Attorney General's Office asked Judge Michelle Mallard to quash the request. "The investigation remains ongoing," Deputy Attorney General Kristina M. Schindele wrote in court documents. "To date (May 1), this office has not received the completed investigation. Rather, this office has received one succinct summary related to the investigation as well as drafts of some legal process that has yet to be finalized." Chad and Lori have not been charged in Fremont County, but Means is representing Lori on two counts of felony child abandonment in Madison County. Her children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, have been missing since September, and she refuses to say what happened to them. RELATED | Lori Vallow Daybell to remain in jail on $1 million bail In supporting documents, Schindele calls Mean's request a "fishing expedition," and that information is "quite unrelated" to the missing kids. "Dissemination of such privileged information would harm the ongoing investigation," Schindele wrote. "Defendant (Lori Daybell) seeks information that will permit her to invade law enforcement’s investigation and likely impede their efforts. Such conduct simply cannot be permitted." Murdoch also filed a motion asking Mallard to quash Means' requests, and the Fremont County prosecuting attorney is defending her decision to involve the state attorney general. "After talking with various prosecutors (including some of the most experienced prosecutors in the state) and numerous law enforcement officers about the facts of this case and after considering the other cases that are currently pending in Fremont County, I determined it was best for the county to turn the case over to the Idaho Attorney General's Office," Murdoch says in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com. "They are aware that if our office can be of any help to them, we are willing to help however we can. This wasn't a decision taken lightly or without great consideration to all the needs of Fremont County." It's unknown when Mallard will rule on the motion. The existence of the criminal investigation does not necessarily mean charges against the couple are forthcoming. === 98. Lori Daybell's mother and sister believe children are still alive, say Lori would not harm them === Published: Wed, 06 May 2020 08:40:21 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=432845 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Lori Vallow Daybell's mother and sister believe Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan are still alive, but they are unsure where the missing children are. The duo spoke about the case publicly for the first time in an interview with CBS News Wednesday morning. They say Daybell has never showed resentment for the kids, who have not been seen since September. "She's invested her whole life in those children," said Janis Cox, Daybell's mother. "We know there's another whole side to this - we just don't know what it is. But we know her." Cox says she is "positive without any doubt" that Daybell did not harm JJ and Tylee. The mother is charged with two counts of desertion and nonsupport of a dependent child and is in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. Media outlets around the world have been covering the case for months. "I have to see my family slaughtered on the news every day. This mob mentality calling for Lori be hung in a public square basically is what it feels like," said Summer Shiflet, Daybell's sister. When asked why they have not asked Daybell where the children are, Shiflet said they are not able to. "She can't tell us. She's in jail. Everything's recorded. She can't discuss anything about the case," she said. Watch the entire report in the video player above and click here for the comprehensive coverage on the Daybell case. === 97. How EastIdahoNews.com tracked Lori Vallow Daybell from Hawaii to Idaho === Published: Sat, 02 May 2020 08:33:15 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=432456 By EastIdahoNews.com staff Dateline NBC aired a new two-hour episode Friday night focused on Chad and Lori Daybell, her missing children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and new developments that have happened over the past few months. Show producers posted a clip online featuring correspondent Keith Morrison interviewing EastIdahoNews.com reporters Nate Eaton and Eric Grossarth about how they learned Lori Daybell's transportation details when she was extradicted to Rexburg from Kauai. "The day Lori decided to waive extradition and come back to Idaho, I get a message from someone who said, 'I know Lori Daybell's flight plans,'" Eaton said. "She sends me an itinerary that says Kauai to L.A., Kauai to Seattle, Seattle to Boise. I thought, 'That's a very unusual way to get to Rexburg.'"
Grossarth became involved the night before Daybell landed in eastern Idaho. He discovered a law enforcement plane was scheduled to leave Boise March 5 at 2:30 p.m. and land in Rexburg at 3:11 p.m. While over a dozen media outlets gathered at the Madison County Jail waiting for Daybell to arrive, the EastIdahoNews.com team was at the Rexburg airport as she exited the airplane with handcuffs on. Watch the interview below to hear all the details. You can watch the entire Dateline NBC episode here. === 96. Lori Vallow Daybell to remain in jail on $1 million bail === Published: Fri, 01 May 2020 12:17:45 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=432414 By Carter Williams, KSL.com & Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG (KSL.com) -- Lori Daybell will remain held in an Idaho jail on a $1 million bond, a judge decided Friday afternoon following a spirited argument by Daybell's attorney seeking to reduce bail based on an accusation that authorities improperly recorded his phone conversations with Daybell. Daybell’s attorney, Mark Means, also asked the court to consider a “reasonable” bond amount of $100,000 to $250,000 in light of the economic situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following more than two hours of arguments, Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to support the motion and denied the request. "I cannot find any good cause to reduce the bond further than it already has," she said. "I would advise Mr. Means consult with local defense attorneys who I’m sure have come up with alternatives during this time … about ways to surmount any virus problems at the jail in regards to communicating with clients." Daybell, wearing a protective face mask due to COVID-19 precautions, looked down as the ruling was made. She was arrested in Hawaii in February after a monthslong investigation into the disappearance of her two children, Joshua “J.J.” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, from Rexburg. The two still have not been found after going missing last September. Daybell was charged in Madison County with two counts of desertion and nonsupport of a dependant child. She is seeking a reduction in her $1 million bond during her hearing Friday. It was previously reduced from $5 million in March. The majority of Friday's hearing focused on Means’s motion to seek a reduction in bond in relation to an accusation that authorities improperly recorded calls he made with Daybell, who is referred to in court documents as Lori Vallow. In an affidavit filed in Madison County court, Lt. Jared Willmore of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that two calls were recorded on March 31 and deleted. One call lasted a minute while another lasted nearly a half-hour, Willmore said. “I immediately found it strange that the calls had been recorded because I had turned off the recording on March 30th specifically for the same defendant and her attorney. I also found it strange because I knew her attorney was aware the recording could be turned off in the visitor center. I called Telmate and informed them that the 28-minute phone call needed to be removed from our records,” Willmore wrote in the affidavit.
Defense attorney Mark Means addresses Judge Michelle Mallard during Lori Vallow's second bond reduction hearing at the Madison County Magistrate Court on Friday, May 1, 2020. | John Roark, Pool photo
Means argued that the recordings should not have occurred in the first place and that there may have been another recording that existed. He added what was discussed during the calls was meant to be confidential and that the recordings create a distrust that meetings before trial will remain confidential. “I was repeatedly told it wasn’t recorded, it wasn’t going to be recorded, the recordings were off,” he said. “So I relied on that representation to have that communication. My gut was ‘I think they recorded it.’” Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood countered by calling the Means’ motion “problematic” and also “an issue that doesn’t exist.” Wood added there is a notice that calls may be recorded by a third party when someone makes a call and that there was evidence Means knew that the calls might be recorded. "We have a document, sworn under penalty of perjury, that can only be read one way. Then when you look at the facts, (the motion) is clearly so out of line with the facts," Wood said. Following a 10-minute recess and a 20-minute rebuttal period, Mallard concluded there wasn’t sufficient evidence to support the claim made against the state. Before making a ruling, she also pointed out that the incident happened during Idaho’s stay-at-home order related to COVID-19. That order meant the best way for attorneys to reach their clients was through the phone to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which ultimately led to the complaint in the motion.
Judge Michelle Mallard denies Lori Vallow's bond reduction at the Madison County Magistrate Court on Friday, May 1, 2020. | John Roark, Pool photo
She continued by saying there wasn’t enough evidence that proved what the Means’ complaint said nor was there evidence that Daybell’s rights were being violated. “In this case, I don’t really see an impact on Ms. Daybell’s constitutional rights with the jail process,” Mallard said. “The sheer volume of evidence that needs to be digested by Ms. Daybell and her attorney does make it difficult with her being in jail but there are other people in jail right now that have defenses they have to go through with their attorney — certainly not with the volume, I’m sure, but they are still there.” Following the hearing, Means spoke with a handful of reporters outside the courthouse and said it is unlikely that Daybell will be able to post bond. "There is not a lot of goodwill for her as she's sitting in the Madison County Detention Center right now," Means said. "There are not a lot of people that are willing to step up and participate or put their name down on a co-sign sheet to help acquire a million dollars for the bond." Means said he could not discuss Daybell's missing children and when asked why his client does not reveal their location, he declined to comment. Daybell's preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled to begin on July 9. === 95. Chad and Lori Daybell now have the same attorney and documents show history of financial troubles === Published: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 16:01:44 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=432080 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Daybell looks down at a plastic bag containing cash while with her husband Chad Daybell in Hawaii. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
REXBURG -- Chad Daybell has dropped his attorney and is now being represented by the same lawyer his wife, Lori Daybell, is using. The change in legal counsel comes as newly uncovered court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com show a history of financial troubles Chad and Lori experienced separately long before their marriage. Mark Means has been Lori Daybell's attorney since March 4 and confirmed with EastIdahoNews.com Wednesday that he is now representing Chad. Rexburg attorney Sean Bartholick had been Chad's attorney since December but says as of this week, they are no longer working together. The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Chad and Lori Daybell have been under investigation since Lori's two children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, disappeared in September. In January, EastIdahoNews.com found the couple living in a gated community in Kauai and after police seized their vehicle to conduct a search warrant, Lori was seen holding a plastic bag full of cash. The couple seems to have been living off $430,000 police say Chad received in life insurance payouts after his late wife, Tammy Daybell, died under suspicious circumstances in October 2019. The Attorney General's Office is now investigating Chad and Lori for possible involvement in Tammy's death. While the couple received a large amount of money, court records indicate they both experienced financial hardship long before they knew each other. Lori filed for bankruptcy in Texas in 2005 following a divorce from her third husband, Joseph Ryan. Chad and Tammy filled for bankruptcy while living in Utah in 2008. Both parties had extensive amounts of debt exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the time of her filing, Lori was working as a hairstylist and said she had $723,815.45 in liabilities owed to creditors. Of the money owed, Lori and Joseph jointly owed $99,003.89 in federal and county taxes. There was also extensive amounts of credit card debt totaling over $17,000. Between 2003 and Aug. 2005, Lori claimed she made $41,000 but noted in court documents that she needed to make at least $74,400 a year to cover the expenses of her and her two children. At the time, Tylee and Lori's oldest son, Colby Ryan, lived with her and Lori was collecting $1,500 in child support from Joseph. The family was living in a new 4,400 square foot home valued at $710,000. After Joseph and Lori split up, she moved into a $1,900-a-month rental.
Lori Vallow Daybell's monthly budget when she filed for bankruptcy in 2005, according to court documents.
Chad and Tammy Daybell's debts came from a different source - their struggling publishing company. At the time of their 2008 bankruptcy filing, the couple owed at least $202,732.10 to over 60 creditors - most of which were tied to Spring Creek Book, the publishing company. Chad had self-published around 20 of his books at the time. Chad and Tammy claimed those books provided an "annual income of approximately $2,000; however, this decreases every year." The couple made a combined monthly income of $3,930.25 from their publishing company, Chad working as a part-time gravedigger and Tammy employed part-time at the school district. The mortgage on their home was valued at $135,900. Both bankruptcies were eventually finalized and years later, Chad and Lori met and were married within weeks of Tammy's death. The couple has now hit another financial roadblock - posting $1 million bail to get Lori out of the Madison County Jail. She's charged with two counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. Means plans to go before Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard Friday at 2 p.m. to ask for bail to be lowered again. EastIdahoNews.com will stream the hearing live. === 94. Vallow Daybell bond hearing to proceed, preliminary hearing postponed === Published: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 08:04:54 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=432042 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- After being postponed twice, a bond hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell will proceed Friday afternoon in Madison County. The rescheduling comes after the Idaho Supreme Court issued an Emergency Reduction Order due to coronavirus. Courthouses have been operating at reduced levels and limited hearings have been held since March. Daybell will appear in person but access to the 2 p.m. hearing will be extremely limited. Members of the public will not be permitted inside the Madison County Courthouse due to COVID-19. Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard has authorized EastIdahoNews.com to live stream the proceedings for the public and media outlets across the country.
While the bond hearing will proceed, Mark Means, Daybell's attorney, has asked for her preliminary hearing to be continued. It was originally scheduled for May 7 and 8. Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood has agreed to the continuance and a new date has yet to be set. Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for updates on the case. Past stories can be found here. === 93. Dateline NBC airing new 2-hour program on Daybell case, including first interview with Melani Pawlowski === Published: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:34:40 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=431994 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Dateline NBC will air a two-hour program Friday with new information and interviews in the case of two missing Rexburg children. Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, have not been seen since September. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, is in the Madison County Jail on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. The Idaho Attorney General's Office is investigating Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, for the death of Tammy Daybell, Chad's wife who died suddenly in October. The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Dateline aired an episode about the investigation on Feb. 14. Since then, there have been numerous developments and EastIdahoNews.com has been working with NBC producers and correspondent Keith Morrison on the upcoming program. "It’s a shocking story and a remarkable story," Morrison tells EastIdahoNews.com. "I’ve seen public interest in cases before but this really is far more than anything I’ve seen in a very long time - since maybe Michael Jackson or OJ Simpson." Morrison interviewed several people who are closely tied to Lori and Chad, including Lori's niece Melani Pawlowski and her new husband Ian. The couple has not spoken publicly about the case but sat down with Dateline for hours and no questions were off the table. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE AND THE LATEST NEWS ON THE DAYBELL CASE Melani's husband, Brandon Boudreaux, was shot at Oct. 2 in Gilbert, Arizona. Investigators believe Lori's dead brother, Alex Cox, may have been the shooter. After Brandon and Melani divorced, she quickly married Ian and moved to Rexburg. "Melani essentially appeared to want to present that all is fine," Morrison says of the interview. "She acted like, 'I don’t know of any problems whatsoever. We were all just doing our own thing and anything that seemed suspicious was merely a coincidence.' She's a sweet, very attractive young woman who looks at you with big eyes and says it’s absolutely the truth. The viewers can look at it and see what they think." During the show, Morrison explores Chad and Lori's religious beliefs, including reports the couple thought JJ and Tylee had become "dark" and were "zombies." Ian Pawlowski allegedly wrote about the bizarre beliefs the night he married Melani and she explained what Chad and Lori had told her. She also reportedly expressed that Brandon had been possessed by a demon or "another dark entity." RELATED | Zombies, shootings, dark beings: What new court documents suggest about Lori Daybell "There are all these people who surround Chad and Lori who appear to be part of this group," Morrison says. "When you hear people talk seriously about evil spirits inhabiting their spouses or members of their family, or people becoming zombies and needing to be eliminated, you’re getting into some serious stuff. And those are the kinds of materials we have found ourselves dealing with over this period of time." Watch our interview with Morrison in the video player above to learn more about the program. It will air on KPVI Friday, May 1 at 8 p.m. MST. The episode will be posted online a few days after it premieres on television. === 92. $100 million GoFundMe claiming to be set up by Chad Daybell is fake === Published: Fri, 24 Apr 2020 08:52:20 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=431477 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- A $100 million GoFundMe campaign claiming to organized by Chad Daybell was fake and has been taken down. The fundraiser appeared online this week and was meant to raise "legal fees" for Lori Vallow Daybell, according to the campaign's page. The organizer was listed as Chad Daybell, Lori's husband. As of Thursday night, $10 had been donated to the fund but hours later the page was taken down. "It should be clear that Mr. Daybell did not set up the page...and that any funds which were donated (if any) were not sent to or received by Mr. Daybell," Sean Bartholick, Daybell's attorney, said in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com. It's unclear who set up the fundraiser but dozens of people reached out to EastIdahoNews.com this week asking it was authentic. We contacted members of the Daybell family who told us Chad Daybell was unaware the campaign even existed. Lori Vallow Daybell is being held in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. She is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. The latest news on the Daybell case can be found here. === 91. Chad Daybell and 47 others may be called as witnesses in Lori Daybell's court hearings === Published: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:23:34 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=431235 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell in Hawaii in January 2020. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
REXBURG -- Chad Daybell may be called to take the stand at his wife's preliminary hearing next month, according to newly filed court documents. Lori Vallow Daybell is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. The charges stem from the disappearance of her children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. On Monday, Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood submitted a list of 48 witnesses who could be called to testify at Lori's preliminary hearing, jury trial and other court proceedings. In addition to Chad, the list includes: The court filing came in response to a request for discovery from Lori's attorney, Mark Means. Next to Chad's name, Wood pointed out that under Idaho Rules of Evidence, Chad cannot claim husband and wife privilege, meaning the information the couple shared together in conversations is not confidential. SEE THE ENTIRE LIST OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES HERE Wood specifically mentioned a subsection that communications related to the children in a criminal or civil action concerning the "physical, mental or emotional condition of or injury to a child, or concerning the welfare of a child including, but not limited to the abuse, abandonment or neglect of a child," are not exempt from disclosure. In the disclosure, Wood also said his office is compiling financial records which will be handed over to Means. Wood's office also gave the Rexburg Police Department case report, cellphone data and other electronic evidence to the defense. While Wood did provide several items of evidence, he disputed others requested by Means and wrote some information is not required to be given under Idaho Criminal Rule - including requests that were "overly broad and vague."

Death investigations

Earlier this month, Means asked that prosecutors hand over toxicology and autopsy reports for two of Daybell’s former husbands, Charles Vallow and Joe Ryan, along with her brother, Alex Cox. Additionally, he asked for the same reports on Tammy Daybell, Chad's late wife. "The requested items are outside the care and custody of the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office and the deaths of the above-mentioned individuals are irrelevant to the desertion of the minor children," Wood wrote in his response. "Further, the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office has no jurisdiction over the investigation of the deaths of any of the mentioned individuals." Means has also sent subpoenas to the Fremont County Prosecutors Office and the Idaho Attorney General's Office for information related to the death of Tammy Daybell. The agencies are investigating Chad and Lori for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to the death of Tammy. It remains unclear what information Means retrieved from the subpoenas, but court records indicate the subpoenas were returned Tuesday. In addition to the autopsies, Means requested the names of all investigating authorities and the communication made during their investigations. Wood denied the request and said his office does not need to collect evidence for the defense.

New demands for information

In an additional subpoena filed by Means, he demanded the Madison County Sherriff's Office hand over the entire file regarding the communications of Lori Daybell while in the Madison County Jail. Earlier this month, the Meridian-based attorney argued COVID-19 measures implemented at the jail infringe upon his client's constitutional rights. “Upon arriving at said Detention Center, I was required, with no attorney/client option, to the sole option of communicating with my client in the public visitor meeting room, wall of glass between attorney and client, over a recorded telephone line,” Means wrote. “I was told that the ONLY way that my client could review documents was to pass possibly sensitive documents/records by and through a Detention Center Officer from the public (my side) room ‘…round and about…’ through multiple security doors to the inmate (client’s side). All of which would be out of sight of the Attorney and Client.” Means subpoenaed the records, included deleted and partial files related to Lori and her stay at the jail. He also demanded the names of all sheriff office employees who have had involvement with Lori The subpoena notes the information must be provided by May 8. Daybell is scheduled for a bail reduction hearing on May 1 at 2 p.m. === 90. Bond hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell postponed again due to COVID19 === Published: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 13:25:46 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=431197 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- A bond reduction hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell has been postponed a second time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing was originally scheduled for April 17. It was postponed until April 24 but has now been pushed back to Friday, May 1 at 2 p.m. The rescheduling comes due to a continued extension of the Idaho Supreme Court’s Emergency Reduction Order as a result of the coronavirus. Courthouses are currently operating at reduced levels due as limited hearings are being held and public access is extremely restricted. Daybell is being held in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. She is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court.
Daybell's children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, have been missing since September. She was arrested Feb. 20 in Kauai, Hawaii on $5 million bail and extradited to Idaho where Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins lowered her bond to $1 million on March 6. One week later, Eddins stepped down after Daybell’s attorney, Mark Means, requested the judge remove himself. Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard is now presiding over the case and Means has made two motions for a bond reduction hearing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Daybell on May 7 and 8. It's unclear if it will be postponed due to coronavirus issues. All stories related to the Daybell case can be found here. === 89. Lori Daybell's attorney demanding extensive list of information related to death investigations === Published: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 13:31:28 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=430611 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell a March court appearance. | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
REXBURG -- The attorney for Lori Vallow Daybell sent several subpoenas Thursday to authorities and companies in connection to death investigations tied to the mother of two missing kids. The request for documents and information came from defense attorney Mark Means. The subpoenas were sent to the Idaho Attorney General's Office, the Fremont County prosecutor, US Bank, Google and JP Morgan Chase, the operator of Southwest Airlines' credit cards. He wants responses to the subpoenas by May 6. Daybell is being held in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. She is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. The charges come in connection to the disappearance of her two kids, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. They have been missing since September. Means ordered the Idaho Attorney General's Office and Fremont County Prosecutor to produce the entire case file in regards to the investigation of Chad and Lori Daybell for conspiracy, attempted murder and murder in connection to the death of Chad's late wife, Tammy Daybell. Tammy died suddenly under suspicious circumstances on Oct. 19, 2019, just weeks before Chad and Lori's wedding on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Investigators exhumed Tammy's body in December 2019 from a Springville, Utah cemetery and officials are awaiting the results of her autopsy. Means is asking the Fremont County Prosecutor and Attorney General for exams including autopsies conducted on Tammy since her death. It is not the first time Means asked for such information. He did so in a request for discovery to the Madison County Prosecutor earlier this month. On July 11, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed her husband, Charles Vallow, in Chandler, Arizona. In a subpoena sent to Google, Means asked the technology company to supply everything related to Vallow's Gmail account from Jan. 1, 2016 to present. The Meridian based attorney also asked US Bank and JP Morgan Chase for extensive monetary records on Vallow. Police in Arizona are still investigating his death. The next hearing for Lori is scheduled for April 24 where Means plans to ask for a lower bail. When authorities arrested Lori in Hawaii on Feb. 20, she was booked on $5 million bail. She was extradited to Idaho where Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins lowered her bond to $1 million on March 6. One week later, Eddins stepped down after Means requested the judge remove himself. Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard is now presiding over the case and Means has made two motions for a bond reduction hearing.

RELATED LINKS

READ | Subpoena for State of Idaho Office of Attorney General READ | Subpoena for Fremont County Prosecutor READ | Subpoena for Southwest Airlines / JP Morgan Chase Á Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC JPMS READ | Subpoena for US Bank READ | Subpoena for Google, Inc. === 88. Bond reduction hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell postponed due to COVID19 court order === Published: Tue, 14 Apr 2020 16:54:14 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=430214 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNew.com REXBURG -- The hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell to request a lower bond will now happen April 24, a week later than originally scheduled. The change was announced Tuesday after the Idaho Supreme Court extended its Emergency Reduction in Court Services and Limitation of Access to Court Facilities order until April 22. The order has been in place since March 26. Daybell is being held in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. She is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. She along with her new husband, Chad Daybell, are also under investigation for conspiracy, attempted murder and/or murder by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, according to a letter obtained on Friday by EastIdahoNews.com. The letter was a response to Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Marcia Murdoch’s request that the AG assist in the investigation of Tammy Daybell’s death. Lori Daybell is the mother of Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who have been missing since September. She was arrested Feb. 20 in Kauai, Hawaii on $5 million bail. She was extradited to Idaho where Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins lowered her bond to $1 million on March 6. One week later, Eddins stepped down after Daybell’s attorney, Mark Means, requested the judge remove himself. Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard is now presiding over the case and Means has made two motions for a bond reduction hearing. Courthouses in Idaho are currently operating at reduced levels due to the Supreme Court order in relation to the spread of COVID-19. Only limited hearings are being held and public access is extremely limited. The order could be extended again if Gov. Brad Little alters his stay-home order. The hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Madison County Courthouse. === 87. READ: Fremont County Prosecutor's request to AG for help with Daybell case === Published: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:12:58 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=430061 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Marcia Murdoch
RELATED | Fremont prosecutor asked others to help in Daybell case before going to AG === 86. Fremont prosecutor asked others to help in Daybell case before going to AG === Published: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:11:25 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=430051 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com ST. ANTHONY -- The Fremont County prosecuting attorney asked two other county prosecutors to take over the Tammy Daybell death investigation, but both told her they could not. That's when Marcia Murdoch went to the Idaho attorney general and requested help, according to an email obtained by EastIdahoNews.com. Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell are being investigated for conspiracy, attempted murder and/or murder in connection to Tammy's death, as first reported by EastIdahoNews.com Friday. Murdoch sent an email to Deputy Attorney General Colleen Zahn on April 7. Part of it has been redacted as the document is part of an active investigation. "I have reached out to (Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney) Danny Clark, and he has told me that he cannot take over the Daybell case," Murdoch wrote. "I also have reached out to Jan Bennetts, Ada County prosecuting attorney, and requested her office take over the case. She has told me she is not able to take the case because of their lack of resources." READ: Fremont County Prosecutor’s request to AG for help with Daybell case Murdoch asks the AG to take over because her office "does not have the resources or the experience to handle the case." It appears the attorney general had denied an earlier request to take the case, and Murdoch asks Zahn to reconsider. Zahn responded April 9 and wrote the attorney general’s office would provide prosecutorial assistance without local prosecutor involvement, and the attorney general will take charge of the case. “All decisions regarding the case shall be the responsibility of the AG,” the letter states, but Fremont County will pay for all associated costs. READ: Letter from attorney general about Fremont County Daybell case In her letter, Murdoch does state that if the AG doesn't have the resources to handle the case, both offices could approach the U.S. Attorney's Office for help. "I will tell you that when I went to a meeting in Utah last month, an attorney from the Pocatello USA's office was present and willing to assist," Murdoch wrote. "I did want to at least give you this information so you were aware of it in considering your office's ability to proceed forward with charges." Tammy, who was married to Chad, died suddenly on Oct. 19 at her Salem home. Investigators have called the death suspicious, and her body was exhumed from the Springville Evergreen Cemetery in Utah in December. Detectives are still awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports, Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries tells EastIdahoNews.com. Chad has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. He married Lori in Hawaii within weeks of Tammy’s death. The attorney general's investigation does not necessarily mean charges will be forthcoming. In a separate case, Lori is being held in the Madison County Jail on two counts of felony child abandonment regarding her missing children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. They have not been seen since September, and Lori and Chad refuse to tell law enforcement where the children are. === 85. No, Lori Vallow Daybell is not being released from jail due to COVID-19 === Published: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 16:08:31 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=430048 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell leaves her initial court hearing on March 6 in Madison County. | Pool photo
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell is not being released from jail Thursday because of COVID-19 despite what a British tabloid is reporting. The Sun posted a story online Monday stating Daybell "prepares to walk free" April 16 due to coronavirus fears. Sgt. Isaac Payne, a spokesman for the Madison County Sheriff's Office, says COVID-19 would not be a reason for the jail to release Daybell. In fact, no inmates have been let out because of the virus, according to Payne. Daybell is scheduled for a bond reduction hearing Friday before Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard. Procedural details are being worked out as courthouses are operating at reduced levels due to COVID-19. It's possible the hearing will be live-streamed so only essential personnel are in attendance. The mother of Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who have been missing since September, was arrested Feb. 20 in Kauai, Hawaii on $5 million bail. She was extradited to Idaho where Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins lowered her bond to $1 million on March 6. One week later, Eddins stepped down after Daybell’s attorney, Mark Means, requested the judge remove himself. Mallard is now presiding over the case and Means has made two motions for a bond reduction hearing. If Daybell is able to post bail, her residential address will be sealed due to a motion filed by Means and signed by Mallard Thursday. RELATED | Bondsman who met with Lori Daybell describes challenges of posting bail Over the past month, Daybell has contacted multiple bail companies but none have agreed to work with her and she remains locked up. EastIdahoNews.com broke the news Friday that Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, are under investigation by the Idaho Attorney General for conspiracy, attempted murder and/or murder in relation to the death of Tammy Daybell, Chad's first wife. Chad and Lori have not been charged in Fremont County and the case is separate from Lori Daybell's Madison County charges. === 84. Attorney General takes over murder, conspiracy investigation in Daybell case === Published: Fri, 10 Apr 2020 17:05:20 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=429655 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
ST. ANTHONY -- Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell are being investigated for conspiracy, attempted murder and/or murder by the Idaho Attorney General's Office, according to a letter obtained Friday by EastIdahoNews.com. The letter from Deputy Attorney General Colleen Zahn is in response to Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Marcia Murdoch's April 7 request that the AG assist in the investigation of Tammy Daybell's death. Tammy, who was married to Chad, died suddenly on Oct. 19 at her Salem home. Investigators have called the death suspicious, and her body was exhumed from the Springville Evergreen Cemetery in Utah in December. Detectives are still awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports, Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries tells EastIdahoNews.com. RELATED | Tammy Daybell reported a masked man shot at her with a paintball gun 10 days before her ‘suspicious’ death
Chad and Tammy Daybell | Facebook
Zahn writes the attorney general's office will provide prosecutorial assistance without local prosecutor involvement, and the attorney general will take charge of the case. "All decisions regarding the case shall be the responsibility of the AG," the letter states. RELATED | Life insurance increase, quick burial and other ‘weird’ things Chad Daybell’s friends noticed Fremont County will pay for all costs associated with the case other than the salaries of AG personnel involved. The letter was written and signed by Zahn and accepted and signed by Murdoch on Thursday, April 9. Humphries and a spokesman for the attorney general's office had no comment on the letter. Murdoch did not respond to EastIdahoNews.com. READ: Letter from attorney general about Fremont County Daybell case The investigation does not necessarily mean charges will be forthcoming. Chad has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. He married Lori in Hawaii within weeks of Tammy's death. In a separate case, Lori is being held in the Madison County Jail on two counts of felony child abandonment regarding her missing children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. They have not been seen since September, and Lori and Chad refuse to tell law enforcement where they are. Sean Bartholick, Chad's attorney, had no comment on the attorney general's letter, and Mark Means, Lori's attorney, has not responded to EastIdahoNews.com.

VISIT OUR DAYBELL SECTION HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY

=== 83. READ: Letter from attorney general about Fremont County Daybell case === Published: Fri, 10 Apr 2020 17:03:23 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=429702 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Photo courtesy KIVI
RELATED | AG takes over murder, conspiracy investigation in Daybell case === 82. Bond reduction hearing scheduled for Lori Vallow Daybell === Published: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 12:54:47 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=429541 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- A hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell to request bond reduction has been scheduled for April 17. Daybell is being held in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. She is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. The mother of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who have been missing since September, was arrested Feb. 20 in Kauai, Hawaii on $5 million bail. She was extradited to Idaho where Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins lowered her bond to $1 million on March 6. One week later, Eddins stepped down after Daybell's attorney, Mark Means, requested the judge remove himself. Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard is now presiding over the case and Means has made two motions for a bond reduction hearing.
Courthouses in Idaho are currently operating at reduced levels due to a Supreme Court order in relation to COVID-19. Only limited hearings are being held and public access is extremely limited. The order expires April 15, two days before Daybell's hearing, but could be extended if Gov. Brad Little alters his stay-home order. The hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Madison County Courthouse. === 81. READ: Lori Daybell's attorney's request for discovery and bond reduction, Prosecutor Rob Wood responds === Published: Tue, 07 Apr 2020 16:37:40 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=429300 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com RELATED STORY | Lori Daybell’s attorney asks for autopsy reports, disputes jail visiting procedures and wants bail lowered === 80. Lori Daybell's attorney asks for autopsy reports, disputes jail visiting procedures and wants bail lowered === Published: Tue, 07 Apr 2020 16:28:00 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=429265 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell in a Rexburg Courtroom | EastIdahoNews.com file photo
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell's attorney is asking the Madison County Prosecutor's Office to hand over multiple documents, including autopsy reports for Tammy Daybell, Charles Vallow and others. In a request for discovery, defense attorney Mark Means asked for all items related to investigations involving his client. Daybell is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. The charges are related to the disappearance of her children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, who haven’t been seen since September. READ THE COURT DOCUMENTS HERE

Discovery request

In the newly filed documents, Means asks Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood for the toxicology and autopsy reports for two of Daybell's former husbands, Charles Vallow and Joe Ryan, and her brother, Alex Cox. Daybell's attorney also requested the same reports related to the death of Tammy Daybell, the late wife of Chad Daybell. Tammy's Oct. 19 death has been called suspicious and Chad married Lori weeks later. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told EastIdahoNews.com Tuesday that his office had not received the results of Tammy's autopsy. Means is also requesting the names of all investigating authorities and the communication they made during the course of their investigations. He is asking for two years' worth of emails from Lori's computer, social media postings, dating and romantic website information along with all financial records. Included in the request are records from Lori telephone, laptop and other items, saying they belong to her. In the request, Means asked for all documents, recordings, written evidence, photographs, videos, records, reports, text, emails, financials and other information related to a lengthy list of individuals, including Kay and Larry Woodcock (JJ's grandparents), Brandon Boudreaux (Lori's former nephew-in-law) and others. Means asked for the discovery to be provided to his office within 15 days. The request comes after the attorney already received 1,600 pages of documents and records along with 14.6 gigabytes of photos, videos and other electronic information in preparation for Lori's preliminary hearing on May 7 and 8. Means said that number will likely increase to over 10,000 pages and more than 200 gigabytes of files.

Bail reduction request

In a separate motion filed Thursday, Means requested another hearing before Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard to reduce Lori's $1 million bail. He wrote that a March 24 request for a bail reduction hearing had been ignored and then, on March 30, he traveled from Boise to Rexburg to visit with Lori at the Madison County Jail. "Upon arriving at said Detention Center, I was required, with no attorney/client option, to the sole option of communicating with my client in the public visitor meeting room, wall of glass between attorney and client, over a recorded telephone line," Means wrote. "I was told that the ONLY way that my client could review documents was to pass possibly sensitive documents/records by and through a Detention Center Officer from the public (my side) room '...round and about...' through multiple security doors to the inmate (client’s side). All of which would be out of sight of the Attorney and Client." Means said what happened was "unreasonable and in direct violation of the Regulations, Law and Constitution of the State of Idaho and the United States of America" and that the procedures prevent him from properly preparing for the preliminary hearing.

Prosecutor responds

In an objection to the bond reduction request Tuesday, Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood responded to Means and said the jail's visitation practices are due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "What was the public visitation center is now being used for attorneys to visit their clients in a safe manner, which does not allow for the spread of the COVID-19 virus into the jail," Wood wrote. Wood admitted the conversation between Lori and Means was accidentally recorded, but jail staff "promptly deleted the recording." He said all recordings in the visiting area have now been blocked to prevent any future accidental tapings. Means originally asked Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins to drop Lori's bond from $5 million to $10,000 on March 6. Eddins lowered the amount to $1 million, and she then asked that the judge be disqualified from the case. "It has been less than one month since the Court reduced the defendant’s bail to $1,000,000.00 and it appears to be an abuse of the Court Rules for the Defendant to disqualify the judge on the case and then to request the same or similar relief so soon thereafter," Wood wrote, before pointing out that Lori's children are still missing. "The defendant has yet to comply with the valid court order to produce her children in the related child protection action," he said. "This court should make obedience to said order or show of good cause for why the defendant cannot obey said order condition for any further bail reduction." As of Tuesday, a bond reduction hearing had not been scheduled. === 79. A year after JJ stayed with them, grandparents have not given up hope === Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2020 08:20:19 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=428534 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- One year ago last week was the last time Larry Woodcock spent an extended time with his grandson. Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, was with his grandfather in Louisiana every day for a week. "It was my last stay with him, and I think back on it often," Woodcock tells EastIdahoNews.com. "I am so thankful I had that week to be with him. It was just he and I, so we could basically do what he wanted to in whatever time he wanted to do it. I thank God for that." He had no idea that six months later, their world would be turned upside down. JJ and his sister, Tylee Ryan, would be at the center of a missing kids investigation, and their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, would be in an Idaho jail on charges of deserting her children.
A billboard in Idaho Falls showing Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
As Woodcock and JJ were together in Louisana, the boy's grandmother, Kay Woodcock, was in Arizona helping her brother, Charles Vallow, prepare for a move to Texas. Vallow was married to Lori at the time, but their relationship was on the rocks, and he had filed for divorce. "We were packing up his house to move back to Houston, and Lori came waltzing," Kay Woodcock recalls. "She just started fussing at him. ... She had her hands on her hips and was saying, 'What are you doing? Why are you moving? Why are you keeping JJ from me?' And it was just on and on." Kay says the two moved into another room and continued to argue. When Lori came out, she walked over, and the women had their last face-to-face conversation. "I said, 'Lori, I’m sorry this has happened with you all,'" Kay says. "She said, 'I just miss you,' and she started with the tears flowing. She never even cried when Charles was talking to her, yet she’s telling me she missed me." Lori eventually moved to Houston with Vallow, and he dropped the divorce case. Kay, who was managing her brother's work accounts, says he gave Lori "the keys to the kingdom." "He happened to be due a huge insurance commission check and sure enough, less than a week after she got to Houston, he got that commission check," Kay says. "That money flew out of that account so quickly. I think there was $9,000 in the checking account, and $6,000 was moved out a day or two after. So that left $3,000, and then a couple days after that, $3,000 went out of it." Kay says Lori was moving the money into separate accounts - some that Vallow did not have access to. She eventually returned to Arizona with JJ and Tylee, and in July, Vallow was shot and killed by Lori's brother, Alex Cox. The next month, Lori moved to Rexburg with the children. JJ and Tylee disappeared within weeks. As police investigated the kids' disappearance and Vallow's death, Kay began discovering things on her own. She knew most of Vallow's account passwords, so she started exploring and discovered some of Lori's online activities. "I remember one day, I stayed right here on my computer for 12 hours. I stopped to eat one time, and that whole day I was on the phone with our private investigator and detectives," Kay says. "I went through every email and every account that I could get into. To think that she never even thought that those emails were going to Charles' Gmail account -- that was pretty shortsighted on her part but that’s par for the course because that's just how she was." On Nov. 8, Kay found a malachite ring had been purchased Oct. 2 on Vallow's Amazon account. It was delivered to Lori's townhouse in Rexburg, and she was wearing the ring in wedding photos taken when she married Chad Daybell in Hawaii. Kay also saw that Lori had searched the internet for beach wedding clothing on Oct. 3. (Chad was still married to his former wife, Tammy, at the time.) RELATED | What an Amazon order reveals about Lori Daybell’s wedding ring The ring purchase was the first time the Woodcocks ever heard of Rexburg, Idaho. They reached out to detectives in Arizona, who then coordinated with the Rexburg Police Department to have a welfare check performed on the children. Within weeks, the case was in the national spotlight, and the grandparents continued to learn more. The most alarming news came when they saw a video of JJ swearing and acting erratically, captured by a neighbor's doorbell camera in Rexburg. He was obviously not on his medication, which helped with his special needs. RELATED | Rexburg doorbell camera shows last known video of JJ Vallow days before he vanished "When I saw the Ring doorbell video – that scared me to death," Kay says. "And then finding out she was telling neighbors that he was her niece's drug baby? Not her son? Oh my God -- that shows me how she was distancing herself from him, maybe make it easier for her to do something to him."
A Ring doorbell camera captured video of Joshua "JJ" Vallow playing with a friend at a Rexburg townhouse. | Courtesy image
Larry adds, "That’s been the lowest point in all of this -- even more hurtful than the death of Charles. How low can you get? I just don’t understand it. ... For her to say that -- it's not the person that has a loving capability of a mother. I don’t understand it, and it was absolutely the lowest point of this entire investigation." Since Lori's initial court appearance March 6, the Woodcocks have returned to Louisana. They plan to come back to Idaho for her preliminary hearing and are following developments on the case from their home. They say they appreciate the work of the Rexburg Police Department and the Madison County Prosecutor's Office and, despite no sign of the children, they believe JJ and Tylee could still be alive. "I’ll hold out hope until they close the door on my casket. I will never, ever give up the hope that JJ will be returned to us," Larry says. Chad Daybell has not been arrested or charged with a crime. The Woodcocks have never met him but say the faster he can "drop Lori like a hot potato," the better his life will be. They hope he will tell authorities where their missing grandson and his sister are. "Chad, you’ve had some time to be away from Lori to visit with your children, to visit with your grandchildren, and you have to look into the mirror and ask yourself, 'Is this worth Lori?' And I can tell you right now not, 'No' but, 'Hell no,'" Larry says. "Where are the children? Where are the children? Where are the children? That’s all we want to know." === 78. Billboards featuring Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, Tylee Ryan go up in Idaho Falls === Published: Mon, 30 Mar 2020 13:40:30 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=428125 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Two billboards featuring Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan have been put up in the Idaho Falls area. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
IDAHO FALLS -- Billboards featuring the photos of two Rexburg siblings missing since September have been put up along US Highway 20 and US Highway 26. Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, disappeared nearly seven months ago. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, is in the Madison County Jail on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children.
A billboard on US Highway 20 in Idaho Falls. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, announced a $20,000 reward in January for information leading to the direct recovery of the children. The billboards display details about the reward and direct people to visit FindJJandTylee.com. The Woodcocks have been working with Cheryl Wheeler, Charles Vallow's ex-wife, in creating the fund and public awareness. Vallow was married to Lori Daybell when he was shot and killed by her brother, Alex Cox, last July.
"We want to reach those people that are maybe driving an 18 wheeler who may have seen something or those people who don’t know the story," Wheeler tells EastIdahoNews.com. "I know it’s a national story but that doesn’t mean everyone has seen it and it's important to use different methods to reach people." Wheeler contacted Lamar Advertising about purchasing billboards weeks ago and was surprised when a company representative said they would donate space on two boards for free. "It's such a tough deal for the family and everyone in the nation is worried about these two kids," says Lamar Advertising District Manager Kent Marboe. "We just decided to help them out. We like doing this as a public service and in situations where people need to get the word out."
A billboard on US Highway 26 in Idaho Falls. | Courtesy Kent Marboe, Lamar Advertising
One billboard is located in Idaho Falls on US Highway 20 - a route drivers take to Rexburg and Yellowstone National Park. Tylee was last seen on Sept. 8 at the park with her mother, Cox and JJ. The other board is along US Highway 26 in Idaho Falls. They will be up for at least two months with the hope that the children will be found. "I’m so grateful to Kent and his company for donating the billboards. We are hopeful this might lead to information that will bring closure to so many," Wheeler says. === 77. What an Amazon order reveals about Lori Daybell's wedding ring === Published: Wed, 25 Mar 2020 10:46:07 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=427404 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell is again asking a judge to lower her $1 million bail as EastIdahoNews.com has discovered new information about events that led up to her marriage to Chad Daybell. Lori remains in the Madison County Jail on two charges of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. Her 7-year-old son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, and 17-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan, have not been seen since September. RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Lori married Chad Daybell on Nov. 5, 2019 in Hawaii - less than three weeks after Chad's 49-year-old wife, Tammy Daybell, suddenly died in her sleep. Wedding photos obtained by Fox 10 Phoenix show Chad and Lori on the beach laughing and holding each other. One picture displays the wedding ring on Lori's hand.
A wedding photo obtained by Fox 10 Phoenix shows Lori Vallow Daybell's wedding ring. | Fox 10 Phoenix
EastIdahoNews.com has learned the ring, a size 4 Sterling Silver Southwestern Style Malachite Gemstone, was purchased on Amazon for $35.99 on Oct. 2, 2019 - 17 days before Tammy Daybell passed away. A screenshot of the order, verified by three people close to the investigation, shows the ring was delivered Oct. 7 to the townhome where Lori was staying on Pioneer Road in Rexburg. The name on the order was Charles Vallow - Lori’s husband who had been shot and killed by her brother, Alex Cox, nearly three months earlier. Sources say Lori continued to use Vallow’s Amazon account after he died.
A screenshot obtained by EastIdahoNews.com shows an order was placed on Amazon for a ring matching the one worn by Lori Vallow Daybell on her wedding day.
A website history on the computer from which the ring was ordered also showed someone searching for wedding dresses the next day, according to sources close to the investigation. Oct. 2 is a significant date in the case because it's the same day surveillance footage shows Lori and a man believed to be Chad Daybell visiting Self Storage Plus in Rexburg. The couple was seen dropping off a tire and rear car seat around 2:30 p.m. Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Lori Daybell's niece, Melani Pawlowski, was also shot at that same day in Arizona. Rich Robertson, a private investigator hired by Boudreaux, believes Cox was the shooter. Cox suddenly died two months later and autopsy results have not been publicly released. Lori's wedding ring is made of malachite - a mineral often called the “stone of transformation.” It’s used in energy healings and was mentioned in a document allegedly written by Melani's new husband - Ian Powlaski. Ian reportedly describes what Melani told him about Lori’s religious beliefs. Under one section he wrote, “malachite is said to have healing properties.” RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell Lori's next court appearance is scheduled for May 7 but in a motion filed Tuesday, Mark Means, her attorney, requested oral arguments before Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard concerning her bail. Means noted that "new facts have come to light" since a previous bond hearing. Mallard recently took over the case after Means requested that Magistrate Judge Farren Eddins step down. Means does not detail the new information in the court filings and a bond hearing had not been set as of Wednesday morning. Chad Daybell has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. === 76. READ: Exhibit from Brandon Boudreaux's court filing === Published: Thu, 19 Mar 2020 18:18:57 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=426825 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com The following is part of a court filing by Brandon Boudreaux in response to a motion by Melani Boudreaux regarding a child custody dispute. Brandon alleges the document was written by Melani's new husband, Ian Pawlowski, after he met with law enforcement officers. This document was found on a computer belonging to Ian, according to multiple sources. Read our complete story here. === 75. Zombies, shootings, dark beings: What new court documents suggest about Lori Daybell === Published: Thu, 19 Mar 2020 18:15:54 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=426819 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com MESA, Ariz. -- Court documents filed this week provide bizarre new details about Lori Vallow Daybell's missing children, her alleged religious beliefs and a shooting in Arizona. There are a lot of characters in this story, so we'll start with a description of who's involved:

Religious beliefs

In his filing, Boudreaux responds to Melani's allegations with multiple exhibits, including receipts, housing contracts, copies of airplane tickets to Idaho and other items. The most alarming details come from what Ian allegedly told his attorneys after meeting with law enforcement officers last fall. The filing does not detail how Boudreaux obtained the document, but three sources tell EastIdahoNews.com they came from Pawlowski's computer. In the filing, Ian explains religious beliefs that Melani allegedly shared with him early on in their relationship in the fall of 2019. One subject was “zombies,” meaning “human bodies that have had their original spirits forced from them and have been possessed by either a demon ... disembodied spirit ... or a worm/slug.” RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan “Spirits can be pushed from their bodies during traumatic events or deadly injury. Spirits pushed out are trapped in limbo as the body they’re tied to is still living but cannot be occupied by them anymore,” Ian allegedly wrote. The document describes the “dark church” with Cain being the first “dark being” to be translated. “(Cain) walks the earth with 50 dark translated beings to prevent/delay the Lord’s second coming,” Ian allegedly wrote, mentioning that two police investigators assigned to the Lori Daybell case are “dark beings.”

READ WHAT IAN PAWLOWSKI ALLEGEDLY WROTE HERE

After Melani told Ian about these and other beliefs, he reportedly wrote that he “tried to keep an open mind. ... The ideas seemed harmless at first, and she sounded pretty certain of some of them. She talked about how she’d learned some of these things in the temple and others from Chad (Daybell) and Lori.” Ian says when he first met Chad and Lori, he didn’t get a bad impression, but they seemed “different.” He describes learning of these new religious beliefs as “fun and exciting ideas,” but many of them felt like they were “ripped straight out of a Dungeons & Dragons manual.”

Boudreaux, JJ and Tylee

Ian admits he and Melani married “faster than any sane couple would,” but they both felt it was right. On their wedding night, Melani began to express concerns about her children. “She explained zombies and her fears about what Chad and Lori stated concerning the original spirits being caught in limbo until the body’s death,” Ian allegedly wrote. “She stated that Brandon had been possessed by a demon or another dark entity sometime after June of this year. She was told either through revelation or by Chad ... that something needed to happen to (Boudreaux) in order for his spirit to progress and for the Lord’s plan to continue. She didn’t take well to the idea of her husband dying as part of the Lord’s plan, but didn’t think action would be taken by anyone.” Ian allegedly states that things became concerning when Melani shared the idea that “Chad and Lori could have directed Al (Alex Cox) to take a shot at Brandon,” but it wasn’t anything she was sure about. In the filing, Ian allegedly writes that he and Melani began discussing JJ and Tylee. At this point, only JJ was considered missing and Ian writes that “Melani had been told by Chad and Lori that their children had been possessed and had become zombies.” “She shared concerns that she’s been told Brandon needed to die and that may indicate that Tylee and JJ needed to die as well,” Ian allegedly wrote. “She told me she was worried that Al may have had to ‘take care’ of the kids. She explained that Al had great faith and never wavered in his trust in the Lord. No task would be too difficult or too great for him.” RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell Ian became severely worried about what he was hearing and spent days trying to reassure himself that everything was fine, according to court documents. In the meantime, Ian's ex-wife had reached out to Boudreaux, and he told her Melani was in a “cult” and that she had tried to have him killed.

Going to the police

Ian’s ex-wife contacted him and expressed her concerns, according to court documents. She said she was going to meet with police, and Ian agreed to go with her. “What I shared with the police were the ideas that Chad, Lori and Alex may have planned shooting at Brandon and that Tylee and JJ may be in serious danger if Melani’s fears have any validity,” Ian allegedly wrote. “If shooting at Brandon was indeed based on the idea that he was no longer actually Brandon and needed to die as part of the Lord’s plan, then the kids' lives could be forfeited based on the idea that they're not really Tylee and JJ anymore.” Ian shared other details, said he would cooperate with police and allowed them to pull data from his phone. He met with officers the next day, and they gave him a recording device to put on his keychain. “My plan was to record anything I thought could help locate Tylee and JJ, locate Chad and Lori and understand what happened when Brandon was shot at,” Ian wrote. “If I thought Chad and Lori were going to be calling, I’d turn on the recorder and just let it run until they’d hung up.” Ian says nothing substantial was ever recorded with Chad and Lori because they never talked about the missing children. On Dec. 19, police searched Alex Cox’s Rexburg townhouse, and Ian says he admitted to Melani that he had spoken with officers. “I didn’t know how she would react, but I couldn’t hang onto the stress anymore. Of course she was hurt, feeling betrayed, but she reassured me that she loves me and that she understands why I did it,” Ian allegedly wrote.

'What-if' scenarios

Over the next week, the couple discussed what Ian had shared with officers and Melani allegedly told him she didn’t have any proof of what she had told him. They agreed her expressions were “what-if” scenarios. “I’m worried that I jumped the gun and have sent the authorities on yet another wild-goose chase along with prompting them to light up the national media with pieces of what I shared,” Ian allegedly wrote. He expressed his frustrations with Chad and Lori fleeing to Hawaii and said he "still had his doubts" about them. “I don’t ever want to have anything to do with those two after this. Melani has been put through the ringer because of their paranoia and now is in the hot seat because I went to the police and tried to help,” Ian allegedly wrote. He concludes his report by saying he will only deal with law enforcement officers going forward if his attorney is present.

Pawlowskis' attorney responds

Garrett Smith, Ian and Melani Pawlowski’s attorney, tells EastIdahoNews.com Melani does not believe the religious beliefs she told her new husband about; rather, she was just informing him of the ideas. Smith says he is working to discover the truth of the new filing “with the same degree of skepticism we've had with everything else Brandon has filed in this case.” “Melani has no knowledge of who shot at Brandon. She has no information of who did it and does not profess to,” Smith says. “She absolutely does not know where JJ and Tylee are. She’s done three interviews with the FBI and she would be in deep waters if she lied to them about that. She is like everybody else. She would love to know where those kids are and she hopes they are safe.” Smith says Melani has not spoken with Lori since she was arrested and has cooperated with law enforcement. She and Ian are working to get custody of her four children. “Melani is a good, kind, decent woman who has devoted her entire life to her kids. It’s an irony to me that while everyone is scouring the countryside for JJ and Tylee, Mel, by a pack of lies, is being denied access to her children,” Smith says. A hearing is scheduled on the custody issue next week in Mesa. Boudreaux declined to comment further on the filing. === 74. Judge removes himself from case as two of Lori Vallow Daybell's attorneys plan to do the same === Published: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:50:52 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=425834 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Video from Friday's court hearing | Jilliana Colina, Pool video
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell's court case will see a new magistrate judge and a change in her legal team after a hearing held by phone Friday afternoon. Earlier this week, defense attorney Mark Means filed paperwork asking that Judge Farren Eddins no longer preside over the case. A reason was not listed. Eddins approved the motion and removed himself from the case. Now court administration will assign a new judge. The move came after Eddins approved the preliminary hearing to be held May 7 and 8 (instead of the previously scheduled March 18 and 19) at the Madison County Courthouse. In court documents also filed earlier this week, Means and Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood requested the proceedings be moved back. RELATED | Preliminary hearing for Lori Daybell likely postponed; attorneys request new judge During the preliminary hearing, Wood will need to prove there is enough evidence on the felony charges for the case to proceed from magistrate court to district court. On the phone at Friday's hearing were Means and defense attorney Brian Webb. During the call, Webb said he and Edwina Elcox planned to withdraw as Daybell's attorneys, leaving Means as sole legal representation.
Lori Vallow Daybell at a March 6 court hearning following extradition to Idaho. Her attornies from left to right, Brain Webb, Mark Means, Edwina Elcox. | John Roark, Pool Photo
For more details on the legal proceedings, listen to the call in the video player above. Daybell remains in the Madison County Jail on a $1 million bond and was not present at the hearing. She is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime, and contempt of court. RELATED | WATCH: Judge reduces Lori Vallow Daybell’s bail amount to $1 million The charges are related to the disappearance of Daybell’s children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, who have not been seen since September. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at (800) THE-LOST. CORRECTION: The initial report listed Brian Webb as the only attorney planning to withdraw. A review of the court proceeding showed both he and Edwina Elcox who work for the same firm plan to leave the case together. EastIdahoNews.com apologizes for this error. === 73. Enhanced video shows who visited Lori Daybell's storage unit the same day her relative was shot at in Arizona === Published: Thu, 12 Mar 2020 14:08:02 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=425585 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Enhanced, higher-quality surveillance footage appears to answer questions about who visited Lori Vallow Daybell's storage unit in Rexburg last year. The video may provide insights into the disappearance of her children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who have been missing since September. She is in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail and charged with two counts of felony child desertion and nonsupport of children, along with several misdemeanors. She rented the unit at Self Storage Plus in Rexburg on Oct. 1. Over the next two months, she and sometimes one or two men visited the locker 10 times. Personal belongings were put into storage, including children’s items, a photo album, blankets featuring pictures of the children and bikes and scooters. RELATED | Lori Daybell abandoned a storage unit in Rexburg full of children’s items The big question is who was with her when she visited the facility Oct. 2.

Meanwhile, in Arizona ...

That morning, in Gilbert, Arizona, Brandon Boudreaux was shot at while driving home from the gym. At the time, he was married to Lori's niece, Melani Pawlowski, and court documents show he had a large life insurance policy and assets totaling more than a million dollars. The bullet missed Boudreaux's head by inches, and police say the person who shot at him was driving a Jeep registered to Charles Vallow, Lori's former husband. At this point, Vallow had been dead for nearly three months, and Tylee routinely drove the Jeep, but she had been missing for about a month. Rich Robertson, a private investigator from Arizona, said police have strong evidence Alex Cox, Daybell's brother, was the driver and may have been the one who took the shot. Arizona police have not confirmed who they believe was driving the Jeep when the shooting occurred. Pawlowski has denied she had anything to do with the attempt on Boudreaux's life, and her lawyers said Cox could not have been in Arizona and Idaho at the same time. RELATED | Niece of Lori Daybell says ex-husband’s claims are false, makes explosive allegations of her own Here's what we see on the video of the Rexburg storage unit that day. Surveillance video shows Daybell driving into the business in her blue Nissan Rogue with a man EastIdahoNews.com originally thought was Alex Cox, her brother. A closer look at enhanced video recently obtained by EastIdahoNews.com shows it likely wasn’t Cox but Chad Daybell, her now-husband, based on the man's walk, looks and mannerisms. Timestamps on the video show a blue Rogue arriving at 1:25 p.m. but the owner of the storage facility says clocks were off by one hour, so Lori actually pulled in at 2:25 p.m. She made her way to the door of the building where her unit was, and two minutes later, at 2:27 p.m., got out of the vehicle with the man we believe is Chad. At 2:29 p.m., he pulled a tire out of the back of the Rogue and rolled it into the storage unit. One minute later, he and Lori carried in what appears to be a removable rear car seat together. They put it in the locker, shut the door and left the facility at 2:32 p.m. The entire visit was seven minutes.
Lori Vallow Daybell and a man who appears to be Chad Daybell enter a Self Storage Plus building in Rexburg on Oct. 2, 2019. | Self Storage Plus

The next day

The next day, surveillance footage shows a second man visiting the storage unit back in Idaho with Lori around 2:11 p.m. This man, likely Cox, walks differently than Chad and carries the tire out rather than rolling it. He also carries the car seat by himself, rather than working with her like the day before. Originally it was thought the vehicle seat could be a tote with something hanging over the end but the enhanced footage appears to clear up the confusion. It's unknown where Lori and Cox took the seat and tire after leaving the storage facility. The tire and the seat are noteworthy because many Jeeps have spare tires on their back doors and the rear window will not open if the tire is attached. When the tire is off, the window opens. It’s possible the tire and seat put into the storage unit the day of the shooting were from the Jeep, and Cox could have been the driver when Boudreaux was shot at.
A man who appears to be Alex Cox carries a tire and car seat out of a unit at Self Storage Plus on Oct. 3, 2019. | Self Storage Plus

Cox's other appearances

That wasn't the only time Cox appeared at Self Storage Plus. On Oct. 6, he returned by himself in his silver pickup truck, and went back five other times that month, including a visit on Oct. 28 with a man who appears to be Chad. Chad's former wife, Tammy, had died nine days earlier, and her funeral was held Oct. 22. Cox and Daybell stayed six minutes and dropped off bikes and other items. Cox can't comment on his visits to the unit, because he died suddenly in December. His death is still under investigation. The last time anyone visited the storage locker was Nov. 24. Lori and Chad Daybell, who had returned to Idaho from their honeymoon, came for four minutes and left the personal belongings of JJ and Tylee. They never returned, and Rexburg Police have seized all of the items from that unit. RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan === 72. Preliminary hearing for Lori Daybell likely postponed, attorneys request new judge === Published: Wed, 11 Mar 2020 17:16:54 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=425416 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood addresses the court during Lori Vallow Daybell's initial hearing on Friday, March 6, 2020. | John Roark, Pool Photo
REXBURG -- The preliminary hearing for Lori Vallow Daybell will likely be postponed until early May and her attorneys are requesting that Judge Faren Eddins be disqualified from the case. Daybell was scheduled to appear for the two-day hearing March 18 and 19 but court documents show Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood and Daybell's attorney, Mark Means, are requesting that proceedings be held May 7 and 8 at the Madison County Courthouse. Means also filed paperwork asking that Eddins no longer preside over the case. A reason was not listed. Daybell remains in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bail. She is charged with two counts of felony child desertion and nonsupport of children, along with several misdemeanors. During the preliminary hearing, Wood will need to prove there is enough evidence on the felony charges for the case to proceed from Magistrate Court to District Court. Rexburg defense attorney Joshua Garner, who is not connected to the case, tells EastIdahoNews.com there could be a variety of reasons for the continuation of the hearing. "The state might need additional time to gather and prepare witnesses, to gather evidence and there could potentially be charges from other jurisdictions that they might know about and they’re trying to consolidate them all together," Garner says. "When it does happen, the state will put on a portion of their case to show probable cause. The defense is there to cross-examine and try to narrow down the issues and find additional information that has not been released." If the case does advance to District Court, Daybell will ultimately face a jury trial unless a plea agreement is worked out. Paperwork regarding the continuance of the preliminary hearing and the motion to disqualify Eddins will likely be signed Thursday. For updates on the case, visit our special Daybell section on EastIdahoNews.com here. === 71. Bondsman who met with Lori Daybell describes challenges of posting bail === Published: Wed, 11 Mar 2020 16:40:48 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=425506 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell leaves the courtroom during her hearing on Friday, March 6, 2020. | John Roark, Pool Photo
REXBURG – Danielle Kingston has owned A+ Idaho Bail Bonds since 2018 and has been a bondsman for 12 years. She’s never helped anyone post $1 million bail and is unaware of any cases in Idaho where an inmate has been able to post that high of an amount. Kingston has met with and remains in contact with Lori Vallow Daybell, who currently sits in the Madison County Jail on two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of her children. "It’s not about the money. I told her I don’t want to write the bond. I’d rather just have this go away if she would provide where the kids are located. If she could provide that assurance and proof of life, this goes away," Kingston tells EastIdahoNews.com. "But she has rights – including her right to bail." RELATED | Lori Daybell remains in jail and may have problems posting $1 million bail Other bond companies have been in touch with Daybell and they are all considering the different risk factors with this particular case. Daybell hasn’t lived in Idaho very long, she failed to comply with a court order to produce Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, her missing children, by Jan. 30, and she is one of the most well-known jail inmates in America right now. “We’ve talked about a number of conditions – having someone from our company with her 24 hours a day, having her cooperate with police, things like that,” Kingston says. “We take this very seriously, and there are a lot of moving pieces involved in this entire thing.” Bond, also known as bail, is money or collateral paid to the court by a defendant to ensure he or she returns for future court dates. Once a bond is set, a defendant has three payment options to get out of jail: cash, collateral or a bail bonds company. If Daybell decides to post bond through a bail bonds company, she would be required to pay 10 percent of the bond amount – $100,000 – along with additional jail and state fees. WATCH: Judge reduces Lori Vallow Daybell’s bail amount to $1 million Jackie Hamilton and her twin sister, Acacia Fisher, own Double Trouble Bail Bonds in Boise and have been following the case closely. “If we posted her bond and she did not show up for court, our company could potentially lose the million dollars if we did not find Lori and bring her back within 180 days to Rexburg,” Hamilton says. “Since this case is so high profile, I wouldn’t want to do it is because I’d be afraid to lose potential clients down the road due to the negative publicity.” Hamilton does not believe Daybell would take off if she gets out of jail because so many people are following the case nationwide. “People are following her everywhere. Her passports are expired. She has to have an ankle monitor which, if she tried to tamper it, sheriff deputies would be at her door before she could get away, so I just don’t think she would have the ability to take off,” Hamilton says. Bond companies usually deal with inmates who aren't in the news but in September 2008, Kingston's insurance company posted bail for Casey Anthony. One month later, the Florida mother was indicted on first-degree murder and other charges in connection to the death of her daughter. She booked into jail without bond and ultimately found not guilty. “Her bond was $500,000 – so it wasn’t even this high,” Kingston says. “If you look at how Casey Anthony’s bond was structured, the condition was she would be released in order to help law enforcement.” Kingston says bond situations can be complex, and it's possible Daybell finds a company to help her get out of jail. In the meantime, Kingston will keep the communication open. “It’s crazy that this is happening in our own backyard,” she says. "Everyone is watching it." === 70. Local company selling 'Where are the kids?' shirts as law enforcement prepares for meeting === Published: Tue, 10 Mar 2020 13:34:51 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=425224 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- "Where are the kids?" The message is appearing on T-shirts, signs and even cupcakes. All of it is about Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan - two Rexburg kids who have been missing since September. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, remains in the Madison County Jail on two counts of felony child desertion and nonsupport of children, along with some misdemeanors. Swanson's All American Sports, an Idaho Falls-based apparel company, announced Monday it will be selling hoodies, sweatshirts and T-shirts with "Where are the kids?" printed on the front. Five dollars from every shirt sold will be donated to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "We have received calls about making the shirts over the last couple of weeks," owner Doug Swanson tells EastIdahoNews.com. "We are lucky enough to work with the kids in our community every day and like everyone out there, we just want to help find Tylee and JJ." Hoodies and sweatshirts are $20, and T-shirts sell for $13. As of Tuesday morning, 10 shirts had been sold and Swanson is expecting many more to be purchased over the upcoming weeks.
Janeese Summers had a shirt designed with the phrase 'Where are the children?' that she wore to Lori Vallow Daybell's initial court appearance Friday. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
One eastern Idaho woman designed her own shirt with the phrase and showed up at the Madison County Courthouse six hours before Daybell's 2 p.m. initial appearance Friday. Janeese Summers was first in line and had a seat in the front of the courtroom for the hearing. "This story has really caught the attention of people worldwide. Besides all the crazy twists and turns, I think the main thing that has drawn so many people's attention is that there are two children who are missing, and the mom won't talk," Summers tells EastIdahoNews.com. "I wanted to have a seat in the courtroom because I have been following this case from day one, and not just because it is local. I'm a crime junkie and sleuth at heart."
People with signs outside the Madison County Courthouse on Friday, March 6. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
As Summers sat inside, several people were outside the courthouse with signs bearing the question. One person even asked a Rexburg grocery store to decorate cupcakes with the 'Where are the children?' phrase complete with orange and white icing - the same colors as Daybell's jail outfit. A photo of the cupcake has been shared thousands of times on social media.
Courtesy photo
JJ and Tylee's whereabouts are at the center of an investigation spanning several states. Tylee was last seen at Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 8, with JJ, Daybell and Alex Cox, her uncle. Last week, the FBI asked visitors who were at the park that day to search through their video and photos for possible images showing the family members or Cox's truck. JJ was last seen in Rexburg on Sept. 23 at Kennedy Elementary School. Daybell withdrew him the next day and said he would be homeschooled. Law enforcement officers from Idaho, Utah, Arizona and the FBI are meeting this week to discuss what's next in the case, three agencies confirmed to EastIdahoNews.com. It's likely public statements will not be made after the meeting, but Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood is preparing for a two-day preliminary hearing where witnesses and evidence will be presented on the charges facing Daybell. The goal for everyone involved is to find JJ and Tylee - and whether it's through cupcakes, signs or shirts, many in eastern Idaho want to do their part. "We are lucky enough to live in a community that comes together when we need it the most," Swanson says. "I hope to see these shirts every place we go." === 69. Lori Daybell remains in jail and may have problems posting $1 million bail === Published: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 10:17:29 -0600 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=425079 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell glances at the camera during her hearing on Friday, March 6, 2020. Watch the conditions of her bond in the video player above. | John Roark, Pool photo
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell remains in the Madison County Jail, but deputies are ready if she can post the $1 million bail. The mother of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who have been missing since September, had her initial court appearance in Idaho on Friday. Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins reduced Daybell's bail amount from $5 million to $1 million and said if she posts bond, she must wear a GPS monitor, sign a waiver of extradition and cannot leave Fremont, Madison, Jefferson and Bonneville counties. "We have the paperwork ready, but so far, nothing has happened. We have done our due diligence as far as getting an ankle monitor, and we are ready if she does find a bondsman," Madison County Sheriff Sgt. Isaac Payne tells EastIdahoNews.com. RELATED | Why people charged with crimes are often released on bond At last check, Daybell was in a smaller segregated portion of the jail but is not in isolation, according to Payne. She can visit face to face with her attorneys and clergy, but all other visits are done through a video chat system. A bond, also known as bail, is money or collateral paid to the court by a defendant to ensure he or she returns for future court dates. Once a bond is set, a defendant has three payment options to get out of jail: cash, collateral or a bail bonds company. If Daybell decides to post bond through a bail bonds company, she would be required to pay 10 percent of the bond amount - $100,000 - along with additional jail and state fees. Two local bond companies tell EastIdahoNews.com they were contacted by Daybell's representatives, but the businesses are declining to work with her. Running a bail bonds company can be risky because if Daybell fails to show up for court, it is up to the company to return her to custody or risk being liable for the entire $1 million. Daybell is charged with two counts of felony child desertion and nonsupport of children, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 18 and 19, where Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood will need to prove there is enough evidence on the felony charges for the case to proceed from Magistrate Court to District Court. EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to Daybell's attorneys (Mark Means and Edwina Elcox) for comment and will update this story if they respond. === 68. WATCH: Judge reduces Lori Vallow Daybell's bail amount to $1 million === Published: Fri, 06 Mar 2020 13:48:24 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424909 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell appeared for her initial court appearance Friday in Madison County. | John Roark, Pool Photo
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell appeared in an Idaho court for the first time on Friday wearing pink handcuffs and red lipstick. She heard the charges made against her and her attorneys argued that her $5 million bail should be lowered. Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins informed Daybell she is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court. The charges are related to the disappearance of Daybell's children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, who haven’t been seen since September. Edwina Elcox, one of three west Idaho attorneys representing Daybell, argued for a bail reduction to $10,000. RELATED | Lori Daybell hires new attorneys and they plan to ask a judge to lower her $5 million bail "Lori is presumed innocent as she stands before the court today," Elcox said. "This is not a loose guideline. It’s a foundational principle of the American criminal justice system."
Lori Vallow Daybell wore pink handcuffs and red lipstick during her initial court apperance Friday. | Pool Photo
She told the judge and the packed courtroom that this was a court of law, not a court of public opinion, and that bail must match the charges Daybell is facing. "Are we going to let our citizens' rights be dictated by what appears in the media?" she asked. "A $5 million bond is unreasonable, it’s astronomically excessive, and it’s a functional equivalent of holding Lori without bond. This is a violation of Lori’s constitutional rights." Elcox reminded the court that in a recent murder case, bail was set at $1 million, and Daybell has never been accused of a violent crime. "It is clear that the government just needed to find a charge that would fit in this case because of all the media attention surrounding this matter," she said. "The last thing that should happen is to allow this case to be tried in the media and to allow public opinion and rampant speculation to dictate how this case proceeds in the criminal justice system."
Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood speaks during Friday's hearing. | John Roark, Pool Photo
Daybell's husband, Chad Daybell, sat behind Lori during the proceedings. Elcox mentioned that Lori would be living with Chad in Madison County and that is not a flight risk. Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood argued for the bond to remain at $5 million. He asserted that Daybell was a flight risk. He drew the court's attention to the fact she quickly left Arizona after the suspicious death of her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, and immediately left Idaho after police attempted to perform a welfare check about the location of JJ and Tylee.
JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan
"The defendant also tried to mislead law enforcement about the whereabouts of her children, and in furtherance of that, she tried to convince a family friend to say the children were with them, even though they weren't," Wood said. Wood said Daybell had a history of defying court orders. The most recent was in January, when Madison County issued a court order for Daybell to return the children to Rexburg. She did not follow that court order, which ultimately led to a contempt of court charge. Wood also revealed that Daybell continued to collect Social Security benefits for both children after she left the state without them. "The most aggravating factor about this case … and the reason there is so much media attention, is because the children are still missing,” Wood said. “The defendant has not only misled law enforcement in their efforts to find the children, but she has completely and utterly refused to aid police in finding the children, even before charges were filed." Following statements by the prosecution and defense, Eddins reduced bail to $1 million. He stipulated that if Vallow does post bond, she must wear an ankle monitor and stay within Bonneville, Jefferson, Madison and Fremont counties. WATCH THE ENTIRE HEARING IN THE PLAYER ABOVE RELATED | WATCH: Lori Vallow Daybell arrives in Rexburg and refuses to answer our questions Media outlets from New York City, Los Angeles, Arizona, Utah, Idaho and other states attended the hearing. The Madison County Sheriff's Office implemented strict security procedures due to the overwhelming interest in this case. Dozens of people, some coming from as far away as Arizona, watched a live broadcast of the hearing inside and outside the courthouse. An impromptu news conference was held afterward with Kay and Larry Woodcock, the grandparents of JJ, and Colby Ryan, Daybell's son.
Colby Ryan, along with Kay and Larry Woodcock, speak with reporters following Friday's hearing. | John Roark, Pool Photo
"I don't care what the judicial system does or doesn't do to Lori," Larry Woodcock said. "But I do care what (has) happened to Tylee and to JJ...It’s not whether I like Lori or whether I like Chad. This is about finding two children. I want everybody to keep that in mind in everything we do. Please - it’s about two children." Ryan, who traveled from Arizona to attend the hearing, says he hopes to speak with his mother and ask her where his brother and sister are. "I want to get in front of her. Obviously she’s my mom and I’m very concerned about my siblings," Ryan said. "My first question is going to be, 'Where are Tylee and JJ?" Kay Woodcock mentioned Hawaiian leis both she and Larry were wearing. A Hawaiian man visiting eastern Idaho gave them to the couple. "His wife made them for us and there is one for JJ and one for Tylee," Kay Woodcock said. "These are so we can give them to (the kids) once we get it back. This is for our support from Hawaii." Chad Daybell quickly left the courthouse out of a back door and refused to answer questions from reporters and others who had gathered around.
A preliminary hearing for Daybell has been scheduled for March 18 and 19 at the Madison County Courthouse. Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood will need to prove there is enough evidence on the felony charges for the case to proceed from Magistrate Court to District Court. WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE HERE
RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan === 67. WATCH: Lori Vallow Daybell arrives in Rexburg and refuses to answer our questions === Published: Thu, 05 Mar 2020 15:48:33 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424799 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Daybell arrives at the Rexburg Madison County Airport on Thursday. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com
REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell arrived in Rexburg via airplane Thursday with an escort of Madison County Sheriff deputies and other law enforcement officers. The state airplane arrived around 3:40 p.m. Daybell and the police team took a commercial flight from Kauai that ultimately landed in Boise. When they arrived in Rexburg, authorities led the handcuffed Daybell to a police vehicle as EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton repeatedly asked her questions concerning the whereabouts of her children. Daybell was then transferred into a white van and taken to the Madison County Jail where she is being processed and booked, according to Madison County Sheriff spokesman Isaac Payne. Dozens of news crews from across the country have been camped out at the facility waiting for Daybell to arrive.
Lori Vallow Daybell is escorted into a police vehicle at the Rexburg Airport Thursday afternoon. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com
For the past two weeks, Daybell has been sitting in a Kauai jail on $5 million bail. She is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment and misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court in the disappearance of her children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. The children haven't been seen since September.
Lori Daybell arrives at the Madison County Jail on Thursday. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell will appear in Rexburg courtroom Friday On Feb. 27, she officially waived extradition and agreed to be transported back to Idaho to face its court system. Daybell is expected to make her initial court appearance at 2 p.m. Friday in the Madison County Courthouse. Three west Idaho attorneys, Mark Means, Edwina Elcox and Brian Webb, will represent Daybell. They filed a motion Wednesday requesting all evidence and discovery in the case, along with a notice that they plan to ask for a lower bail amount during a hearing Friday afternoon. EastIdahoNews.com will be streaming the entire hearing live Friday on our website and Facebook page. Missing kidsCourtesy FBI REXBURG -- The FBI released photos of missing 7-year-old Joshua Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan in Yellowstone National Park from September. The Rexburg Police Department says the last time anyone saw Joshua and Tylee together was at the park Sept. 8, 2019, with their mother Lori Vallow Daybell and her brother Alex Cox, according to court documents. With the release of the photo, the FBI is assisting Rexburg Police in establishing a website for the public to submit photos and videos that may show them at the park. The website is FBI.gov/Rexburg. The group was traveling in a Ford-F150 with Arizona License plate CPQUINT, according to a news release. Joshua was last seen at Kennedy Elementary School on Sept. 23, 2019, in Rexburg Idaho. Daybell is expected to arrive in Rexburg on Thursday following extradition from Hawaii. She's being held on $5 million bail. She is charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, misdemeanor resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at (800) THE-LOST. === 65. Lori Daybell appears in Hawaii courtroom for the last time and will leave for Idaho tonight === Published: Wed, 04 Mar 2020 12:02:31 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424641 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com KAUAI, Hawaii -- Lori Vallow Daybell appeared in a Hawaii courtroom Wednesday morning for the last time and will be on an airplane to Idaho tonight. Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said deputies who are transporting Daybell have arrived on the island and the group is preparing to leave. Craig De Costa, Daybell's attorney, stated that his client does not want to be questioned by law enforcement. "She is invoking her fifth amendment rights to remain silent," De Costa said. "She should not be questioned without an attorney present during the transport, while waiting for the plane or when they land in Idaho." Once Daybell arrives in Madison County, she will have an initial court appearance Friday at 2 p.m. Her attorneys plan to ask Judge Faren Eddins to lower her bail. Missing kids === 64. Lori Daybell hires new attorneys and they plan to ask a judge to lower her $5 million bail === Published: Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:05:48 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424618 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- An attorney from Meridian and two attorneys from Eagle will represent Lori Daybell in the criminal case she is facing in Idaho. Mark Means, Edwina Elcox and Brian Webb filed a motion Wednesday morning in Madison County stating they are serving as Daybell's legal representatives. The attorneys also filed a motion requesting all evidence and discovery in the case, along with a notice that they plan to ask for a lower bail amount during a hearing Friday afternoon. Daybell remains in custody at the Kauai Community Correctional Center on $5 million bail. She is expected to return to Idaho by Thursday and will have her initial court appearance in Madison County at 2 p.m. Friday. Sean Bartholick, an attorney based in Rexburg, is no longer representing Lori Daybell but is reportedly still serving as counsel for her husband, Chad Daybell. The couple has been in the national spotlight since Lori’s children, Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, vanished in September. She is charged with desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation, and contempt. Chad has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. The hearing Friday is expected to be short and Daybell may or may not speak. Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins will then schedule a preliminary hearing within 14-21 days where Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood will need to prove there is enough evidence to advance the case from Magistrate Court to District Court. EastIdahoNews.com will be streaming the entire hearing live Friday on our website and Facebook page. Missing kids === 63. Life insurance increase, quick burial and other 'weird' things Chad Daybell's friends noticed === Published: Wed, 04 Mar 2020 10:26:56 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424559 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Tammy Daybell | Facebook
REXBURG -- Tammy Daybell died in her Salem home on a Saturday. Her viewing was held two days later in Utah, and by Tuesday afternoon, she was buried in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. On Wednesday, a memorial service was held at the Henry’s Fork Stake Center in Rexburg. Many in attendance were alarmed at how fast funeral arrangements had been made and executed - especially considering Tammy's death was unexpected. She was healthy, working as the librarian at Central Elementary School in Sugar City and was actively involved at church. One man who attended the service agreed to speak to EastIdahoNews.com if we did not use his name. He's known the Daybells for years and is in their Latter-day Saint ward (congregation). "It was really weird because the casket wasn't even there. It all came together so quick and felt rushed. There weren't a lot of people at the service," he recalls. The Daybell's children participated in the service and Tammy's husband, Chad, was among the speakers. The closing song was 'Families Can Be Together Forever' and a poem called 'Your Mother is Always With You' was printed in the program. Nine days after Tammy's death, Chad published an essay titled 'Moving into the Second Half of My Life' in the LDS-AVOW (Another Voice of Warning) Global Initiative Newsletter. The first section of his post was sent to EastIdahoNews.com. "My dear wife Tammy passed away in her sleep early Saturday, October 19. When I awoke at around 6 a.m., it was clear she had been gone for several hours," he wrote. "It came as a shock. I couldn't believe I hadn't been awakened somehow, but all indications are that her spirit simply slipped away during the night. Her face looked serene, with her eyes closed and a slight smile. It was devastating to discover her that way, but I'm so grateful that her death was peaceful." Chad praised his wife's faith, "brilliant mind" and said she wore many hats with their publishing company. He then wrote that Tammy conveyed to him "several messages...and I'm in the process of implementing what she has told me to do. She has indicated that my life has two parts that were planned even before I came to earth." READ CHAD DAYBELL'S ESSAY HERE Five days after the post was emailed to AVOW subscribers, Chad married Lori Vallow on a Hawaii beach. Court documents show he received $430,000 in life insurance money after Tammy died. Multiple sources say the funds came from several policies and Chad made "significant" increases to at least one policy before Tammy passed away. Chad and Tammy have five children, including a son who is serving an LDS mission. None of them have spoken publicly about the case involving their father and his new wife, who will arrive in Idaho from Hawaii Thursday. She is charged with desertion and nonsupport of children in connection to the disappearance of 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow. They have not been seen since September. Missing kids A few weeks after Tammy died, a close friend of the Daybell children tells EastIdahoNews.com she had a conversation with one of their sons. She asked that we not use her name but provided verification that the conversation occurred. "We were talking about how his family is doing and he told me his dad remarried," she says. "I thought it was a joke because he kind of laughed about it afterward. I laughed and he said, 'No, I'm serious. My dad went to Hawaii on a business trip and met a widow and they just got married.'" The friend wasn't sure how to respond and sensed the Daybell children were not happy their father had remarried so quickly. "I'll never forget he said, 'My dad's not a bad guy - he's just done some bad things,'" she says. "I remember calling my mom that night and telling her how weird it was that Chad's wife hadn't even been in the ground a month and he's already married again."
Chad and Lori Daybell in Hawaii. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori stayed in Hawaii a few weeks after their wedding but returned to Rexburg mid-November. Police arrived at Lori's townhouse Nov. 26 to perform a welfare check on JJ and officers were told he was with a friend in Arizona, court documents say. The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan “Chad acted as if he didn’t know Lori very well and stated he didn’t know her phone number,” an affidavit of probable cause states. A short time later, Chad tried to drive away but was stopped by a detective and admitted he did know his wife's number. Investigators returned the next day with a search warrant. On Dec. 1, Chad and Lori Daybell caught an American Airlines flight to Lihue, Hawaii without the children. A few days before Christmas, the Rexburg Police Department went public with the case and members of the Daybell's ward were stunned Chad was involved. "It’s so different than how he has ever acted before," one member says. "I think everyone was just caught off guard and couldn't believe it. A lot of people think we were defending Chad in the beginning but it was more about loving and supporting our neighbors in a Christlike way." Lori's and Chad's parents and extended family members have made no public comments about the situation with the exception of Chad's younger brother, Matt Daybell. He sent EastIdahoNews.com a statement in January. "My immediate family has had little association with Chad the last many years due to our concerns with his religious claims and particular books he had chosen to publish, including his own," Matt wrote. "We are deeply saddened at the recent events that have played out the last several months. It is our hope and prayer that JJ and Tylee are safe. We want for the truth to be found - whatever that truth turns out to be. Neither I, nor my wife and children have any more information than what has been reported by the news media. I plead again for Chad to come forward and cooperate with the investigation so that this very difficult situation might be resolved." READ MATT DAYBELL'S ENTIRE STATEMENT HERE Chad has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. He returned to eastern Idaho days ago and is staying with family members. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries tells EastIdahoNews.com investigators are still awaiting Tammy's autopsy results and he hopes they come back soon. As Lori goes before a judge Friday in Madison County, a new chapter in the case begins - a chapter many hope will bring answers. === 62. Lori Vallow Daybell will appear in Rexburg courtroom Friday === Published: Tue, 03 Mar 2020 11:25:00 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424442 By Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell will make her first court appearance in Rexburg on Friday. Trial Court Administrator Tammie Whyte tells EastIdahoNews.com Daybell will appear for a hearing before Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins at the Madison County Courthouse at 2 p.m., where she will be read her charges. EastIdahoNews.com will be streaming the hearing from start to finish. Her next court appearance will be a preliminary hearing, which will happen at a later date. A judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to advance the case from magistrate court to district court at that hearing. Friday's hearing is open to the public. Courtroom etiquette is outlined here. RELATED | Lori Daybell won’t be back in Idaho for ‘a few days.’ Here’s how she’ll spend her time at the Madison County Jail. Daybell waived extradition during a court hearing in Hawaii last Wednesday. She will be brought back to Idaho on charges of desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation, and contempt. Lori Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, have been in the national spotlight since Lori’s children, Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, vanished in September. Chad arrived in Rexburg on Saturday. He has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. RELATED | Chad Daybell returns to Rexburg as Lori Vallow Daybell awaits extradition Officials have released little information about Lori’s extradition, but EastIdahoNews.com has learned she will be on a commercial flight with multiple law enforcement officers. She is currently in the Kauai Community Correctional Center on $5 million bail. === 61. FBI Mobile Command Center arrives in eastern Idaho to assist Rexburg Police with investigation === Published: Mon, 02 Mar 2020 13:04:10 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424311 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- The FBI has sent a mobile command center to eastern Idaho that will help law enforcement as they continue their investigation into the disappearance of Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow. The command center arrived Monday and will be stationed in Rexburg for an indefinite period of time. It's currently parked behind the Rexburg Police Department. "We continue to assist Rexburg Police and our command center is there to provide logistical support," FBI spokeswoman Sandra Barker tells EastIdahoNews.com. Officials have not released any new information on the search for the children, who have been missing since September. Their mother, 46-year-old Lori Vallow Daybell, remains in the Kauai Community Correctional Center on charges of desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. The Madison County Sheriff's Office is making preparations to pick Daybell up this week as she is extradited back to eastern Idaho. Once she is booked in the Madison County Jail, a court hearing will be scheduled where she will appear on the charges. Missing kids === 60. Arizona police investigating 'suspicious' email in connection to Lori Vallow's former husband's death === Published: Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:31:44 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424276 By Garna Mejia, KSL TV CHANDLER, Arizona – Officers with the Chandler Police Department confirmed they are investigating a letter allegedly sent from Lori Vallow to Chad Daybell shortly before her former husband’s death. Arizona police said they’re searching the email for a link to Vallow’s death, which could provide clues in the disappearance of 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, according to KSL TV. Vallow is JJ Vallow’s adoptive father and Ryan’s stepfather. It was shortly after JJ Vallow and Ryan went missing that their mother, 46-year-old Lori Vallow married 51-year-old Chad Daybell. Both of their spouses had also died recently under suspicious circumstances. In a September 2015 post on Daybell’s website, he described what could be considered a happy marriage to 49-year-old Tammy Daybell, focused on the couple’s faith. Pictures showed Chad and Tammy Daybell on their first wedding anniversary, while others featured a smiling, expecting Tammy Daybell and Chad Daybell with one of his children. They were married for 28 years before Tammy Daybell unexpectedly died on Oct. 19, 2019, in Salem, Idaho. An obituary stated Daybell passed away peacefully in her sleep, and she was buried three days later in Springville, Utah. Eleven days after that, Chad Daybell remarried Lori Vallow on Nov. 5 in Hawaii. Vallow’s own estranged husband, Charles Vallow, had recently died on July 11. Charles Vallow had stopped by to pick up JJ Vallow at the Arizona home where Lori Vallow was living with the kids. Police said a confrontation ensued, and Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Lori’s older brother, Alex Cox. Cox claimed he fired in self-defense. Cox died on Dec. 12 under suspicious circumstances in Gilbert, Arizona. Police there are currently investigating his death. Meanwhile, officers with the Chandler Police Department are over the investigation into Charles Vallow’s death. Police confirmed they are looking into the email obtained by KSL TV, which Vallow allegedly sent on June 29 to his other brother-in-law, Adam Cox. Detectives declined to provide further specifics about the email as it is part of their ongoing investigation but did say they consider the letter “suspicious.” Police received the letter shortly after Charles Vallow’s death. “It is suspicious, and it draws various questions that we would need to ask Lori and Tylee and possibly Chad to get to the bottom of it,” said Sergeant Jason McClimans with the Chandler Police Department in a phone interview. In his message to Adam Cox, Charles Vallow claimed Lori Vallow created an email alias for him and used it to send a message to Chad Daybell the day before, inviting him to visit Arizona and write a book. Charles Vallow suspected his wife wrote the letter, pretending to be him. Excerpts from the message said in part: “I would gladly fly you down here early next week ... you could stay in our guest room like before. I hate to take you away from your family, but I would definitely make it worth your time. With Admiration, Charles.” Charles Vallow expressed concern about that message to Adam Cox, saying, “I’m not sure of the relationship with her and Chad Daybell but they are up to something ... She will not explain it ... I am going to send it to Chad Daybell’s wife. Her name is Tammy and I found her email address on their website too ... I’ve got her cell number too.” Chandler police said they are also working closely with the other agencies over the other cases tied to the missing children including the Fremont County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Office, which is over Tammy Daybell’s suspicious death investigation; the Gilbert, Arizona, Police Department, which is investigating Alex Cox’s death; and the Rexburg, Idaho, Police Department and FBI, which are directly over the disappearance of Ryan and JJ Vallow. Chandler police said they’re considering sending detectives to question Lori Vallow after her extradition to Idaho. “I most likely think they will try to interview her again. We would love to sit down and talk to Lori,” McClimans said. It was unclear if Charles Vallow ever contacted Tammy Daybell about the letter. Chad Daybell has not been charged in any of the investigations as of Saturday. Lori Vallow’s extradition is expected this week; she faces two felony charges related to the two children’s disappearance. === 59. Chad Daybell returns to Rexburg as Lori Vallow Daybell awaits extradition === Published: Sat, 29 Feb 2020 11:50:35 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=424123 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell, seen here in this EastIdahoNews.com file photo from Jan. 26, 2020, has returned to Rexburg. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
REXBURG -- Chad Daybell has returned to eastern Idaho as his wife, Lori Daybell, remains in Hawaii awaiting extradition. The couple has been in the national spotlight since Lori's children, Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, vanished in September. The 46-year-old mother is charged with desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. Chad Daybell has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. Multiple people tell EastIdahoNews.com that Chad returned a vehicle to Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Rexburg around 10:30 a.m. He then got into a small blue vehicle with another man who picked him up, according to witnesses. Missing kids Inside Edition featured video of Chad leaving the Lihue Airport in Hawaii Thursday night. Sharon Olson, a woman living in Kauai, tells EastIdahoNews.com she spoke with Chad at the Shared Blessings Thrift Shop around 2 p.m. Thursday as he was donating items. He told her he was coming back to Idaho to support Lori.
Lori Daybell remains in the Kauai Community Correctional Center on $5 million bail. She's expected to be brought back to Madison County next week where she will appear before Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins. Officials have released very little information about Lori's extradition, but EastIdahoNews.com has learned she will be on a commercial flight with multiple law enforcement officers. RELATED | Lori Daybell won’t be back in Idaho for ‘a few days.’ Here’s how she’ll spend her time at the Madison County Jail. Hearing dates have not been set, according to iCourt, but preparations are underway at the Madison County Courthouse for the high-profile case. Once Lori has her initial court appearance, a preliminary hearing will be scheduled within 14 days where Eddins will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to advance the case from Magistrate Court to District Court. === 58. Niece of Lori Daybell says ex-husband's claims are false, makes explosive allegations of her own === Published: Fri, 28 Feb 2020 15:14:09 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423710 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Melani Pawloski, in back with the blond hair, stands behind her attorneys Thursday in Mesa, Arizona, as reporters ask questions. | Courtesy photo
REXBURG -- The niece of Lori Vallow Daybell claims she does not know the location of two missing Rexburg kids, and the statements made by her ex-husband are false. Melani Pawloski appeared in a Mesa, Arizona, court with attorneys Robert Jarvis and Garrett Smith on Thursday afternoon for an ongoing child custody case between her and her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Boudreaux did not attend the closed hearing, and Pawloski did not make any comments to the media. After the hearing, she stood behind Smith and Jarvis outside the courthouse, and her lawyers gave a brief statement after taking questions from reporters. Reporters specifically ask about child custody documents recently filed by Boudreaux that claim Pawloski knows where 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan are. The children disappeared from the Rexburg area in September and have not been seen since. Daybell is currently incarcerated in Hawaii awaiting extradition to Idaho for child abandonment charges in relation to the disappearance. READ: The news release sent by attorneys for the niece of Lori Daybell "I don't know that Melani has an opinion about any of that, other than it's what some people are saying that's what she said," Smith told Fox10 Phoenix. "Here's one of the problems that we have with questions like that. You are taking material that is taken from a divorce pleading filed by an ex who has, as we've seen in this case, motivation to lie, to withhold evidence, to behave in a very bad way." The day before the child custody hearing, Pawloski's attorneys sent a news release to EastIdahoNews.com "strenuously denying" the claims made by Boudreaux in court documents filed last week. Other claims made by Boudreaux include that his ex-wife knows about an attempt on his life in Gilbert, Arizona, on Oct. 2. Boudreaux said a Jeep registered to Daybell's dead husband, Charles Vallow, was used in the shooting. Police in Idaho seized the vehicle. Boudreaux also indicated Pawloski was involved in a religious cult along with Daybell. In response to those claims, Pawloski's attorneys made some serious allegations of their own. First, they said Pawloski has cooperated and provided multiple interviews to the FBI that have lasted several hours. The attorneys also claim Boudreaux has a history of victimizing women, uses "dark and extreme pornography," engages in homosexual affairs and his family participates in coverups related to organized crime. The attorneys say Pawloski confronted Boudreaux with proof of the alleged pornography and homosexual affairs, which caused him to retaliate. RELATED | Lori Daybell’s niece knows where JJ and Tylee are, ex-husband claims in court documents "Boudreaux retaliated with threats to attack her and to take her kids away," Smith said in the news release. "He has carried through with his threats by lying in his court documents. Sadly, and irresponsibly, much of the media has quoted Brandon Boudreaux’s biased, vindictive and fake accusations as truth and fact when they are his resentful, vengeful and dishonest efforts to get full custody of Melani’s children." Following the reported shooting, Boudreaux gained emergency custody of his children in an Arizona court. He fled the state and went into hiding. He said he feared for his life. Since the news broke, Boudreaux has given just one interview with Fox13 News in Salt Lake City.
Melani Pawloski | Facebook photo
Despite having custody, Jarvis says Boudreaux taking the children out of Arizona is unlawful and a violation of a court order. "The Boudreaux family continues to unlawfully keep Melani’s children out of school and in a home with an abusive history,” he said. “Unfortunately, law enforcement has failed to search for the truth and has given into the manipulations of Brandon Boudreaux.” Without offering any evidence of his claims, Smith also accused the Boudreaux family of covering up child molestations, drug addictions, kidnappings, assaults and killings. "Brandon Boudreaux’s family is involved in organized crime," Smith said. "Brandon Boudreaux has plenty to hide. A closer look would reveal many possible sources who would take a shot at him. Melani is not one of them." According to the court documents filed by Boudreaux, Pawloski's new husband, Ian, told investigators his wife and her uncle Alex Cox conspired to kill Boudreaux. Police have not publicly made any indication on who shot at Boudreaux, but private investigator Rich Robertson, hired by Boudreaux, has suggested Cox pulled the trigger. "As I understand it, law enforcement has some pretty good evidence to put Alex at that drive-by," Robertson told EastIdahoNews.com. But if Cox did shoot at Boudreaux, who came to the Rexburg storage unit on the afternoon of Oct. 2 -- the same day -- with Daybell? Surveillance video shows her and another man originally believed to be Cox placing items into the unit. It's this footage that Pawloski's attorneys say proves Cox was not involved in the shooting, which occurred around 9:30 a.m, according to the news release.
Surveillance cameras show what appears to be Lori Vallow Daybell and a man visiting her storage unit. | Self Storage Plus
EastIdahoNews.com reviewed airline schedules and also determined the drive from Gilbert to Rexburg at nearly 14 hours. It would be nearly impossible for Cox to be in both places on that date. Robertson said it likely was someone else at the storage unit that day, though a truck matching the description of Cox's appears on the camera Oct. 6. Cox died under suspicious circumstances Dec. 12, and police are investigating. As to a reason to the shooting, Boudreaux claims in documents that Pawloski hoped to cash in on a life insurance policy upwards of a million dollars to fund a "cult" she became involved with "where numerous members, adults and children alike, have been being killed off like flies.” “Melani has never been associated with a cult,” Jarvis said. “Melani is a lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and her beliefs are consistent with the church. Melani holds close to her belief in a loving God. She loves her children and respects life.” Jarvis said Boudreaux's actions deprive the children of a "necessary relationship with their loving mother." He said everyone is asking where Joshua and Tylee are, but "why is no one asking the same question about Melani’s children?" The Gilbert Police Department told EastIdahoNews.com the investigation of the shooting involving Boudreaux is ongoing. Department spokeswoman Brenda Carrasco said investigators contacted Pawloski, and they haven't identified her as a suspect in the case. "We are unable to substantiate the claims made about Mrs. Pawlowski in the child custody court filings submitted by Mr. Boudreaux," Carrasco said. "Our investigators are continuing to follow up on all leads related to this case." === 57. Lori Daybell won't be back in Idaho for 'a few days.' Here's how she'll spend her time at the Madison County Jail. === Published: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 12:54:18 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423837 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- It's likely the Madison County Sheriff's Office has never had an inmate as high-profile as Lori Vallow Daybell. The 46-year-old mother waived extradition Wednesday afternoon in Hawaii on charges of desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. Daybell’s children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, have not been seen since September. "It takes some planning and time logistically to accomplish this type of transport so it’s going to take a few days, at least, to get her back to Idaho," says Sgt. Isaac Payne, the spokesman for the Madison County Sheriff's Office. "We are going to make sure routes are secured. We always travel with multiple offices and we utilize local and federal agencies to make sure every security measure is taken." Once Daybell arrives at the Madison County Jail, she will be housed with other women. Payne says she will be treated like any other inmate, although extra security measures may be taken for Daybell's safety as it's likely other inmates will know who she is when she arrives. "They all have access to network television, they all watch TV for a great deal of their day so I have no doubt they know who she is," Payne says. "That being said, we don’t segregate people merely based on who they are. We have to be fair and consistent across the board." Missing kids The jail holds a standing headcount for all inmates every day at 7 a.m. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m. and lunch is ready at 11:30 a.m. Another headcount is held in the afternoon and evening with dinner being served at 5:30 p.m. Lockdown occurs at 11 p.m. Inmates are offered an hour of recreational time every day where they can check out books from the jail library or exercise. On weekends, they are welcome to attend religious services held at the facility. "Anyone who has been an inmate says that the hardest thing is the monotony of it but routine equals safety. If we do the same thing every day, there’s a consistency to it," Payne says.
Lt. Jared Willmore shows EastIdahoNews.com what a typical Madison County Jail cell looks like in this Feb. 2019 file photo. | Nate Eaton EastIdahoNews.com
Every inmate has a cellmate, although there are some single cells that Payne says are usually used for those who have special needs. Different areas of the jail can be compartmentalized, so if Daybell needed to be separate from others, deputies could move her to a smaller section. Inmates are only allowed face-to-face visits with attorneys and clergy. All other visits are done through a video chat system with each inmate receiving an hour of free calls each week. Extra visiting time can be purchased by those inside or outside the jail. While she's incarcerated, Daybell will eat "the best jail food in the state," according to Payne. Every meal is handmade on-site and supervised by a licensed nutritionist. "We don’t ship in meals, we ship in ingredients," Payne says. "We have a full-service kitchen and all meals meet nutritional standards. We have homemade bread, fresh fruit and vegetables and even the staff eats the food." The Madison County Jail can hold approximately 100 people and often houses federal inmates. The facility has room for around 20 women but if more space is needed for females, the jail can be reconfigured. As court proceedings begin for Daybell, the national media plans to be in Rexburg and many members of the public may want to observe hearings. Payne says the sheriff's office is prepared and will work to make sure everyone is safe. "Even though we have this high profile case going on, we still want to serve the public. If you have traffic tickets or court fees or need to get a driver's license, we want to make sure we’re still serving the public that way," he says. === 56. Dr. Phil devotes Thursday show to Daybell case === Published: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 11:29:10 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423815 By EastIdahoNews.com staff IDAHO FALLS -- Dr. Phil will devote his show Thursday to the case of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, two Rexburg children who have been missing since September. The sibling's brother, Colby Ryan, will appear on the show, along with JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, and Tylee's aunt, Annie Cushing. "It's a mystery that has America baffled. An Idaho teenager and her younger brother with special needs vanish and haven't been seen by anyone since late September, 2019," a show description reads. "Their mother, Lori Vallow, has been arrested in Hawaii, but isn't cooperating with authorities. Adding to the mystery, four untimely deaths surround Lori and her newest husband, Chad Daybell, yet Lori refuses to say a single word regarding her children’s whereabouts. How could 17-year-old Tylee and 7-year-old JJ have gone missing without a trace? Today, the children's family members speak to Dr. Phil." Dr. Phil airs at 4 p.m. on KIDK Channel 3. Missing kids === 55. Charles Vallow's son speaks out about his dad, his missing siblings and why he is 'pissed off' seeing Lori Daybell === Published: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 09:30:20 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423612 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- One of Charles Vallow's sons says he has not had time to grieve. He has spoken little publicly about what's happening with his family - partially because he's scared, but mainly because he doesn't want the spotlight on himself. In fact, he asked EastIdahoNews.com not to use his real name, so we'll call him Steve in this story. Steve's father, Charles, was shot and killed in Chandler, Arizona, on July 11. Vallow's wife, Lori, did not tell Steve or his brother that their dad was dead until 36 hours later and the shooter was Lori's brother, Alex Cox. "I was initially in disbelief because I had just talked to my dad," Steve recalls. "I was texting him and I remember calling him a couple times the morning he had gotten shot, and he didn't respond. It was really weird. He usually returns calls and texts relatively fast, so something was off." Lori informed Steve and his brother that Charles was dead by texting them a message. A text chain provided to EastIdahoNews.com shows the boys repeatedly asked Lori for information surrounding the death, but she didn't answer their questions and was vague in her responses. READ | The text messages Lori Daybell sent Charles Vallow’s sons after he died Finally, on July 20, Steve texted Lori, "If you won't answer those questions, can we please have his watches and other stuff he always talked about and had around?" Lori responded within an hour and told Steve she would send some items to his house. That was the last communication he has had with his stepmother. "My dad had a collection of watches, very fancy watches. He wore nice watches for years and years so I thought she was going to send me some of them," Steve says. "The package arrived and inside were two cheap Timex watches you'd find at CVS. Anything that was worth money, we didn't get. I'm assuming she sold everything else." Steve says Lori refused to tell them where Charles's body was or if a funeral was planned. Steve and his brother eventually figured out the mortuary where their dad was taken and they walked inside to speak with the funeral director. "He was very shaky and nervous. We asked him for information and he said something like, 'I can’t tell you that. It was requested that I tell you nothing,'" Steve says. A memorial service was arranged, and Lori never showed up. Neither did Joshua "JJ" Vallow, Charles and Lori's 7-year-old son who has been missing since September. Kay and Larry Woodcock, JJ's grandparents, begged Lori to allow the boy to attend, but she ignored their requests. The last time Steve saw JJ was last April. "I loved to hang out and play with him and watch movies and run around. He would call me all the time - something like 15 to 20 times a day - and then it dropped to two to three times a day, and then it just stopped," Steve says. "I figured maybe he’s going to school or something like that. I never thought anything bad was going to happen to him or Tylee." Steve was never close with Lori, even though he spent summers and weekends with her and his dad. He was 10 years old when Lori and Charles got married and describes his relationship with his stepmom as "acquaintances." Her extended family members were always around, which makes Steve wonder why he hasn't heard from any of them since Tylee and JJ vanished. "Nobody has attempted to reach out. It’s weird. Her family was always over, and not a single one of them has said a word except Colby (Lori's oldest son)," Steve says. When Lori and Chad were found in Hawaii last month, Steve wasn't surprised. Lori and Charles lived on Kauai several years ago and Steve spent time with them there. He says he was furious watching video of Lori ignoring questions from EastIdahoNews.com concerning the whereabouts of her children. "She can put on a smile and she’ll make you believe that everything is OK. I’m surprised that she can pretend that things are just fine and dandy, but I thought it was very incredibly insulting," Steve says. "It was ridiculous that she's pretending nothing is happening and she's untouchable. Honestly - it really pissed me off." Lori was arrested in Kauai on Thursday and charged with two felony counts of child abandonment, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. She is being held on $5 million bail. When Steve learned she was in custody, he says it was the "first good news (he has) heard in months and months." He believes additional charges will eventually be filed against her and Chad Daybell, her new husband. He is confident Lori and her brother, Alex Cox, lied about the circumstances surrounding his father's death. They told police Cox shot Charles in self-defense after Charles attacked him with a baseball bat. "I don’t believe any of it. My dad was never verbally aggressive, never raised his voice, never physically threatened anyone or anything like that," Steve says. "He was very good at baseball. He played in college, so if he was going to defend himself, he wouldn’t just tap an aluminum bat on someone’s head on self-defense. The entire story just doesn't make any sense." As if things couldn't get more bizarre, Steve says Alex Cox's sudden death in December was "mind-blowing." "I was much more worried when Alex was alive about my safety. But then we didn’t know if we should feel more or less safe. I don't know what happened to him, but I have a lot of ideas and if they’re possibly willing to take out their own, I have to assume the worst," he says. Steve says whenever he thinks about his father, he becomes sad and then upset. If he focuses on it too long, he ends up in a bad place and he isn't quite sure how to process everything going on. He realizes he may never know the whole story surrounding his dad's death, but he does want answers about Tylee and JJ. He hopes justice is served soon and the children are found. "The truth will come out. They need to be found and Lori needs to be held accountable," he says. "I have been worried about my safety and my family's safety because I don't know how many followers she and Chad have. This needs to end." === 54. READ: The text messages Lori Daybell sent Charles Vallow's sons after he died === Published: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 09:26:33 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423787 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com === 53. Lori Daybell will return to Idaho after waiving extradition === Published: Wed, 26 Feb 2020 17:09:12 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423723 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Watch video of the court hearing above courtesy of KHON 2 News
KAUAI, Hawaii -- In a surprise move, Lori Vallow Daybell waived extradition during a court hearing in Hawaii on Wednesday afternoon. She will be brought back to Idaho on charges of desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. Daybell's children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, have not been seen since September. Daybell appeared for a court hearing and asked Judge Kathleen Watanabe to reduce her bond from $5 million. Her attorney argued that the amount was excessive considering her accused crimes. "Her husband lives here and she has established residency here in the past," Craig De Costa, her attorney, said during the hearing. "She’s more than willing to post bail if reduced to a reasonable amount and actually pay for herself to go back to Idaho and face those charges." Missing kids Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar argued the $5 million bail is more than sufficient and noted Daybell has a history of defying court orders, including child custody cases in 2009 and 2011. "Our position remains that Ms. Daybell certainly is a flight risk, she has resided in numerous states in recent years and is in open defiance to court orders," Kollar said. "She should be remanded without bond but in the alternative, the $5 million was appropriate at the time and remains appropriate today." RELATED | Judge denies Lori Daybell’s request for decreased bond as she fights extradition in Hawaii RELATED | Lori Daybell asks for bond reduction as subpoenas are served in Madison County When Watanabe denied Daybell's request, De Costa said his client wishes to waive extradition and return to Idaho immediately. Daybell had previously fought extradition Friday during a hearing. Law enforcement officers from Idaho will now travel to Hawaii "as soon as possible" and bring Daybell to the Madison County Jail. Specific details on the schedule are being worked out. Chad Daybell, Lori's current husband, did not appear to be in court Wednesday. EastIdahoNews.com will update this story as we learn more. === 52. Lori Daybell asks for bond reduction as subpoenas are served in Madison County === Published: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 21:39:00 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423511 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com KAUAI, Hawaii -- Lori Vallow Daybell will go before a judge Wednesday afternoon and ask to have her $5 million bail lowered. Craig De Costa, an attorney for Daybell, requested a hearing to discuss the matter stating his client is not a flight risk and bail is excessive considering the charges Daybell faces. The mother of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who have been missing from Idaho since September, is in jail on two felony counts of child abandonment, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. Daybell had her initial court appearance Friday in Kauai where her attorney, Daniel Dempey, asked for bail to be lowered to $10,000. The request was denied and Daybell's next court hearing was scheduled for Monday, March 2. She is fighting extradition to Idaho. Court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com show Lori's husband, Chad Daybell, had $152,000 in a First Hawaiian Bank account and prosecutors argue she could leave Hawaii if bail is lowered. “Given the extensive media attention, she is clearly aware that the authorities have prioritized her case. She also has the means to move across an ocean,” Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said in court documents. Daybell will appear in court at 2 p.m. Hawaii time. Meanwhile, the Madison County Prosector's Office issued three subpoenas Tuesday in relation to the case. The owner of Daybell's Hawaii rental home and the Kauai Beach Resort were ordered to turn over "any and all records, documents, reports or other information in your possession which pertain to Lori Norene Vallow...and/or Chad Daybell" from Aug. 1, 2019 until now." Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg was also served with a subpoena for "any and all records, documents, reports or other information in your possession which pertain to J.V. (Joshua "JJ" Vallow)" from July 1, 2019 until now. The records must be delivered to the Madison County Courthouse by 9 a.m. on March 9. Missing kids === 51. Mother shares 'chilling' experience of asking Lori Daybell where her children are === Published: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 07:56:20 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423338 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Ursula Berliner will never forget her encounter with Lori Vallow Daybell. It was short, on an airport shuttle in Maui and an experience Berliner describes as "chilling." The Oregon mother had just landed in Hawaii with her husband and daughter last week when they made their way to pick up a rental car. As they boarded the shuttle, she recognized Lori and Chad from stories she had seen in the news. Lori’s children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and his sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, have not been seen since September. "Chad was really recognizable but Lori looked a lot different than the pictures I had seen," Berliner tells EastIdahoNews.com. "She was dressed in black, heavy clothes and it was 80 degrees outside. She had big bags under her eyes. I had eye contact with her and she just looked like she felt untouchable - like she knew people would recognize her and it didn’t bother her."
Lori and Chad Daybell at a car rental counter in Maui on Sunday, Feb. 16. | Courtesy Ursula Berliner
Berliner said her heart "sank to her legs" and she was concerned the Daybells may be on the run from law enforcement. After getting off the shuttle, she tried to call police but she couldn't get a cell phone signal. The Daybells went inside to rent a vehicle while Berliner remained outdoors with her family. "I had just read that she had been talking to a friend and told her all the speculation around them was media hype that she was waiting for it to die down," Berliner recalls. "I wanted to have an exchange with her where she knew it wasn’t just the media and the police who were watching for them or cared about the children - that there are parents all over, just like me, who see her and are watching her. People who aren’t going to stop looking for the children."
Chad and Lori Daybell renting a car in Maui on Sunday, Feb. 16. | Courtesy Ursula Berliner
Berliner says Lori looked right at her through the glass and Berliner mouthed the words, "I see you. Where are your children?" "I’ll never forget the look on her face. She kind of shrugged and raised the corner of her mouth and eyebrow and she wanted me to know she knows where they are," Berliner says. "I really wanted to say something but it was a scary situation. There’s a lot of death around the case and my husband was really nervous about me making a scene." Berliner and her family got into their rental car and drove away. She sent her photos to the Rexburg Police Department and detectives referenced them in court documents as proof that the Daybells did not have Lori's children with them. Two days after Berliner's encounter, the Daybells returned to Kauai and on Thursday, Lori was arrested on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. "Part of me was hoping I would see them again. I just don’t want them to fall out of view but also I hope I never see them again. It was just an awful exchange with her," Berliner says. Lori remains in the Kauai Community Correctional Center on $5 million bail. Police continue to search for her children and in an affidavit of probable cause released Friday, detectives say Tylee was last seen Sept. 8 at Yellowstone National Park - a fact that brings some comfort to her aunt, Annie Cushing. Missing kids "One of the really pressing questions that I’ve asked throughout this entire thing is when was Tylee last seen," Cushing says. "I’ve asked that question over and over and over...I was glad to have some kind of date stamp. But at the same time, it was clearly a disconcerting thought of her being out at this national park with this cast of characters and just wondering what they had on their minds." Lori married Cushing's brother, Joe Ryan, in 2002. They were "madly in love" and Ryan couldn't wait to be a father, Cushing recalls. Lori was "delightful" and loved being a mother but in 2018, Cushing noticed some serious red flags.
"She was much more fixated on the end times," Cushing says. "In one conversation, she brought it up three different times with what seemed like an increasing sense of urgency. She definitely seemed very scared about the end times and that was when she crossed the line and said, 'I think sometimes it would be better to put my kids in a car and go over the side of a cliff.'" Cushing showed visible shock on her face and Lori immediately walked back her statement - saying she was only joking. But Cushing has never forgotten the conversation. Ryan died of an apparent heart attack in 2018 at age 59. He and Lori had gone through a contentious divorce, according to Cushing, and now she wonders if there may have been more to her brother's death. "I really just go back and forth because on the one hand, it is feasible that he could have died of a heart attack because heart disease does run in our family. At the same time, I have questions about the autopsy," Cushing says. She notes that Ryan's height and build were listed incorrectly and he had been dead around a week before he was found. Cushing will likely never have her questions answered surrounding Ryan's death as he was cremated. He did have a life insurance policy but she is unsure who received the money. "There’s no question in my mind Joe absolutely would have had life insurance and there’s absolutely no question Lori would not have been the beneficiary," Cushing says. "I do wonder if he had it in a trust for Tylee that matured when she turned 17 because JJ was last seen the day before Tylee’s 17th birthday. I have no idea but everything surrounding this whole ordeal seems to be motivated by money." Cushing is confident Lori will face additional charges and she believes others could be arrested in connection to the children's disappearance. Lori is fighting extradition to Idaho and will appear for a court hearing in Kauai Monday. Gov. Brad Little's office is ready to assist in the extradition process. "We don’t have an established timeline – timing depends on the action of local officials," Little's spokeswoman, Marissa Morrison, tells EastIdahoNews.com. "This is a process regularly performed by our office. The circumstances surrounding the extradition process are no different than the numerous cases we handle regularly apart from the overwhelming interest from the media and public." Since Tylee's disappearance, Cushing has become her niece's advocate - putting together her own timeline of the case and speaking out on behalf of the 17-year-old. "It’s just been the most mind-numbing thing to watch," she says, choking back tears. "It’s just the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen play out. I live in New York City and it’s weird to walk by a newsstand and see my family. Yet whatever I’m suffering pales in comparison to what these kids suffered." As for Berliner, she returned home from Hawaii a few days ago and continues to follow new developments in the case. She hopes answers are soon found and justice is served for JJ and Tylee. "Those children are so darling. I hope they’re still alive and they’ll be found but it’s just so heartless and cruel for a mother to neglect them like that," she says. === 50. READ: The court documents filed by the ex-husband of Lori Daybell's niece === Published: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:02:34 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423308 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Court documents filed the day before police arrested Lori Vallow Daybell in connection to the disappearance of her children outline more of the twisted tale. RELATED | Lori Daybell’s niece knows where JJ and Tylee are, ex-husband claims in court documents In the documents, Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Melani Boudreaux Pawloski, alleges she knows more about the case involving the missing kids and the attempt on his life. You can read all of the documents below: === 49. Lori Daybell's niece knows where JJ and Tylee are, ex-husband claims in court documents === Published: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 15:47:21 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423232 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Melani Boudreaux Pawloski | Facebook photo
REXBURG -- The ex-husband of Lori Vallow Daybell's niece says the mother of his children knows the whereabouts of missing 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Child custody documents filed in Arizona by Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Melani Pawlowski, say she became involved in "a cult where numerous members, adults and children alike, have been being killed off like flies." He also claims she knows more about the attempted murder on his life in October due to statements reportedly made by her new husband, Ian, to law enforcement. Police in Rexburg say photos and videos place Tylee's last confirmed sighting on Sept. 8 in Yellowstone National Park. JJ went missing weeks later after last attending school at Kennedy Elementary on Sept. 23. Melani moved to Rexburg and lived next door to the children when they disappeared. READ: The court documents filed by the ex-husband of Lori Daybell’s niece In the documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, Boudreaux claims Melani is under investigation in relation to the disappearance of JJ and Tylee. He calls his ex-wife's knowledge of the whereabouts concerning and lack of cooperation with authorities "daunting." Others involved in the case have also refused to cooperate with law enforcement. According to court documents released Friday, Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, repeatedly lied to others and police about the whereabouts of the children. Boudreaux's attorneys wrote Ian told police that Melani says "sometimes (the) children are full of light and then just like that they go dark." The comment adds to Boudreaux's concern for his children's lives if a court allows his ex-wife to have lengthy unsupervised care of the kids. On Oct. 2, 2019, Boudreaux was in Gilbert, Arizona, and saw a rifle with a silencer pointed out a green Jeep. A bullet missed his head by inches and struck his Tesla. The Jeep was registered to Charles Vallow, the dead husband of Lori Daybell. The car was primarily driven by Tylee, who was missing by the time of the shooting. RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Private investigator Rich Robertson, who was hired by Boudreaux, told EastIdahoNews.com his client believes the shooter to be Daybell's brother, Alex Cox -- the same man police say shot and killed Charles Vallow on July 11, 2019. Cox died in December, and police are looking into his death and are not releasing much information. In the recently filed court documents, Boudreaux also notes another statement reportedly made by Ian implicating his new wife conspired in the attempted hit. Shortly after Ian and Melani Pawloski married on Nov. 30 in Las Vegas, she told him that she conspired with Cox to kill Boudreaux, according to documents. Boudreaux claims Melani "had a million dollars of reasons" to have him killed. He says she "was hoping to cash in on that policy to help support the cult" he believes she is a part of. It's unknown if "that policy" refers to life insurance. RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell It appears Melani has been at least somewhat cooperative with law enforcement following the Dec. 12, 2019 death of Cox. Little surrounding his death is known as police continue to investigate. "Mother only now comes forward as she feels that the suspicious death of her uncle (Alex Cox) who was the shooter in the incident ... has somehow freed her from her role in the attempt on Father’s life," court documents allege. "This is simply not the case." Court documents indicated Melani lives in Rexburg, the central location of the "doomsday cult," after abandoning her children. Sources tell EastIdahoNews.com she and Ian moved from Rexburg on Feb. 15 and are renting a home in the Phoenix area. Lori Daybell remains the only one charged in the twisted web of cases. She faces two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, misdemeanor resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. Whether any charges are pending against Melani for her alleged involvement in the attempted murder of her Boudreaux is unclear. The Gilbert Police Department was unavailable for comment Monday. EastIdahoNews.com will update the story if we receive a response. The only charge Melani currently faces is a misdemeanor trespassing charge in American Fork, Utah. She is accused of going onto Boudreaux's parents' property in November 2019 and demanding to have the kids. Police arrested her that day and she posted the $2,500 bond, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. === 48. A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell === Published: Sun, 23 Feb 2020 14:13:01 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=422466 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com Watch EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton interview "Jessica" in the video player above. In our coverage of Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell and her missing children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, people who have known them say they have extreme religious beliefs and are members of a doomsday "cult." But the nature of the reported cult is hard to define, especially since the Daybells have not spoken to the media. (We have tried.) What we do know is Chad and Lori are or have been members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they are also affiliated with several informal groups whose teachings go contrary to what one would hear in a typical Latter-day Saint congregation. We reached out to several people in east Idaho who were or are part of these semi-secretive groups. Several have agreed to go on the record with their names, and others have agreed on the condition of anonymity, as they are still active Latter-day Saints or fear retaliation from other members of these groups. There doesn't appear to be any sort of formal organization or clear doctrine among these nonconventional groups of Latter-day Saints. In fact, many of the people interviewed by EastIdahoNews.com reported vastly different experiences. None of the members of the groups we spoke with have any idea what might have happened to JJ or Tylee. RELATED: The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan

Extreme Religious Beliefs

"I think 'cult' is such a weird word because it doesn't accurately describe what's happening," a woman we'll call Jessica said. "An 'extremist group' is a better term." Jessica's experience with these groups started when she and her husband moved to eastern Idaho in 2015. A man in their new congregation -- called a ward -- approached her and said he was "spiritually prompted" to offer her a job. She accepted the job and worked at the business, which was out of the man's home. She found her new boss had beliefs that were different than what's typically taught in the church. For example, Latter-day Saints believe God gives people spiritual gifts to help them serve others. The man who hired her took this belief to an extreme. He claimed to have power to see spirits and cast out evil spirits from people. He would counsel with people in his home who were supposedly struggling with evil spirits inside of them, and he would claim to cast the spirits out. She said he wasn't fulfilling a church role or acting in any official capacity. "His friends knew about his spiritual gifts, and they would tell their friends, so it was all word of mouth," she said. "People came to him to be healed." He even appeared to heal Jessica of her celiac, blood sugar and thyroid issues. As a result, she stopped taking all her medications and supplements and ate gluten products again. Her boss's gifts seemed to extend into the digital realm too. Once when the business was having computer problems, he invoked his spiritual power to repair a broken computer server. Other times, if there was a bad internet connection, he might blame it on some sort of spiritual interference. "I knew it was different, but at the time, I wasn't going to judge what works for somebody," Jessica said. "In my mind, I was working there because God wanted me too, and I wasn't going to question God." One area she bonded with her boss over was emergency preparedness. Latter-day Saints are taught people should have a "basic supply of food and water and some money in savings" without going to "extremes" so they can support themselves and those around them in case of disaster or troubled times. So when her employer gave her tickets to a Preparing the People conference in Rexburg on emergency preparation, she was thrilled. Before the conference, her employer introduced her to Chad Daybell, who was helping coordinate the gathering, and Julie Rowe, who was a speaker at the event. Chad was Rowe's book publisher. Both of them professed to have a close connection to the spirit world due to near-death experiences, and both claimed to have spiritual experiences that offered them a glimpse into what they believed was the future, Jessica said. They predicted a foreign invasion of the United States, plagues and massive economic collapse. Chad and Rowe's books were popular among some Latter-day Saints, and Jessica said that among some groups, Chad and Rowe were idolized. She recalls the Rexburg Tabernacle was packed with people on the day of the conference. "The big thing I took away from (the conference) was that from Ucon north, there was going to be a city of light or city of refuge for saints to gather and be protected as the calamities come and things begin to fall," Jessica said. "The thing that surprised me at the gathering is I'd never seen so many people that believed in the idea of tent cities. There were so many people." She said many in the group believed that one day, there would be a "callout." Local leaders would stand up in church and issue a call for all the members that had followed the directive to store up food, to gather it and take it to locations for the building of these tent cities. Jessica and her then-husband took these end-times predictions seriously. The couple cashed out their retirement to buy two large canvas tents and invest in a year's supply of food, charcoal, fuel and a wide variety of survival gear. She estimates they spent between $15,000 to $20,000 on emergency preparation supplies.
"Jessica" and her husband spent $15,000 to $20,000 building up supplies, including a year's supply of charcoal. | Courtesy photo
"We believed there would be a time that we would be called out, and if we weren’t, there would be a time that these items would be needed," she said. Later, stress became a constant companion at her job, and she felt she was approaching a mental breakdown. She went to her employer for advice, and he set her up with a counselor -- not a conventional therapist, but an energy worker who did counseling sessions twice weekly and even had her boss help cast evil spirits out of her. Jessica said the counseling was helpful in that it helped her realize she had experienced some trauma in her life, and some of it was the result of her focused effort to be a perfect Latter-day Saint. That's when she decided to quit her job, end her relationship with the radical group, and leave the LDS Church itself. "During this whole period I was praying, I was seeking support and comfort from God, and so I ultimately decided this was the best thing," she said. This would ultimately lead to divorce with her husband and her leaving her job. She began to see a licensed psychotherapist and started talking about her experience with friends. She came to the conclusion that her experience with the extremist group had been like an abusive relationship. "I sat down with an active LDS friend, and she was dumbfounded by what I told her," she said. "She told me I had been involved in a cult and none of this stuff was OK and that it was abuse. I didn't believe her." She said it wasn't until later that she realized that she had become involved in something that was contrary to what most Latter-day Saints experience or believe. "I didn't know I had been in a cult -- I just thought I was a super faithful member of the church," she said. And years later, after further medical testing, she found her boss hadn't healed her from celiac disease. "I (had) started eating bread again and did an enormous amount of damage to my intestines and to my body," she said. Jessica says she's speaking out to help others in similar situations. "If there is another person in my shoes who is dealing with this and it’s under the guise of spiritual guidance, I want that person to see that they might need to look at things from a different angle," she said. Missing kids

'Living a higher law'

Amber is a Rexburg resident whose marriage recently fell apart partly due to her husband's involvement with a Latter-day Saint extremist group. We've changed her name to protect her identity too. Unlike Jessica, Amber got involved with these groups online, and her experience was quite different. "I was trying to make some friends," Amber said. "Most of my friends from school aren't LDS, so I wanted to make some more spiritual friends that I could discuss the scriptures I was reading with." She was introduced to books on energy healings, visions and prophecies about the Second Coming. Although she wasn't attracted to the beliefs, her husband was. He began going to meetings where like-minded individuals gathered to discuss religion, and Chad attended some of these meetings, she said. "Chad doesn't have a big group of followers in eastern Idaho," Amber said. "He just goes around to little groups and gives testimony, tells his story, and people believe in the visions he's having." One aspect that seemed to fascinate her ex-husband was the idea of multiple mortal probations, Amber said. According to orthodox Latter-day Saint teachings, this life is a test or probation to see if people will live by God's commandments. But both Chad and Rowe have taught that people can essentially be reincarnated and live multiple times -- and have multiple probations -- on earth. (Reincarnation is not accepted Latter-day Saint doctrine.) In some of these groups, tied into this belief is the idea that a man and a woman might be destined to be together, even if that person is married to someone else. Like multiple probations, this is not a Latter-day Saint belief. Contrary to LDS norms, Amber said her husband began to take another married woman to a Latter-day Saint temple to receive revelation from God. Temples are places of worship for Latter-day Saints where members perform marriage ceremonies and do spiritual work. "These people go to the temple and make promises to be together," Amber said. "They pray about it and feel like they are getting answers." In interviews with other former members of these groups, some said things went beyond just temple trips. One east Idaho man, who asked not to be identified, told EastIdahoNews.com that during his time in a group, he was approached by someone who claimed to have received personal revelation that he was supposed to marry the man's wife. (According to the church, personal revelation is meant "to help you with your specific needs, responsibilities and questions" often "through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost" -- and is not generally given in behalf of other people.) Amber said her former husband became convinced he was living a higher spiritual law than other members of the church. "There is a train of thought, that they think that they are living a higher law and are better than anyone else," Amber said. "That they are living the way Jesus wants them to during the Millennium, and if you disagree with their beliefs, they just tell you you don't understand the law or you're not ready."

A concept of 'chosenness'

"The internet has facilitated for these types of groups ... a kind of church-within-a-church sensibility," Utah State University Religion Professor Patrick Mason told EastIdahoNews.com. "They believe they really get it and understand the true church teachings. They are more than happy to go to church with (other) people who are nice church-going folks, but they view these people as not as committed as they are, or as people who just don't get it." Like most major religions, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has seen people with different interpretations on doctrine break off from the main body. Some of these groups don't actually splinter from the church but remain quietly inside, Mason said. "The church doesn't do much to police people's thoughts," he said. "People believe lots of things in the church, and as long as people keep those things more or less to themselves, as long as they publicly express adherence to church leaders, they are allowed to have a pretty wide-ranging set of beliefs." Expressing these beliefs on forums or on social media allows the people to share these beliefs safely, Mason said, without running the risk of being alienated at church or being disciplined by church leaders. "It ... creates a special sense of 'chosenness' within the church, or of being part of an elect or select group of people within the church, and the internet has been absolutely crucial to that," Mason said.

AVOW

The internet appears to have strengthened these groups who appear to operate within various congregations in the mainstream church. One common thread throughout nearly all of our interviews for this story has been the Another Voice of Warning or AVOW website. It's a paid forum site run by Jefferson County resident Christopher Parrett Sr. for Latter-day Saints to have discussions or offer conjecture about their religion. For the most part, that's exactly what it is. The forum covers a variety of topics relating to the church and makes it clear that anti-religion or apostate material or doctrines should not be discussed. Yet plenty of material on the site goes beyond or even contrary to official church teachings and some are substantially different than what most members of the Church believe. A large section of the site is devoted to discussions on emergency preparedness and prophecies, dreams, and visions. Some of the most-read threads on the site are: EastIdahoNews.com reached out to Parrett for comment on the site, and his personal religious beliefs, but our messages were ignored and then posted on AVOW. Many current and former subscribers have reached out to EastIdahoNews.com about the site in recent weeks. Some of them say it is an enlightening place to gain a deeper understanding of their religion, while others such as Jessica and Amber say it is a place where Latter-Day Saint extremists find like-minded people. Most of the people who contacted EastIdahoNews.com did so because Chad was a frequent contributor to the site, where he discussed his near-death experiences and thoughts on the future. He still has a lot of defenders on AVOW, who believe the current stories in the press about him are media sensationalism or a hoax. Julie Rowe, the speaker at the preparedness event Jessica attended, tells EastIdahoNews.com she was introduced to Chad on AVOW, although she has since stopped using the platform. After the death of his previous wife, Tammy Daybell, Chad stopped publishing on AVOW, but had reportedly remained in contact with Parrett. Several weeks ago, Parrett posted the following message on AVOW allegedly from Chad: "Thanks for the update. The issue is that people are linking me to Julie’s (Rowe) beliefs, which I studied but rejected. Lori and I have been absolutely silent for three months. I am constrained by my lawyers from saying more until the legal mess is complete, but be assured I will be back. Hopefully, the subscribers will be there when I can fully return to GRI and tell my experiences. I appreciate your support. Chad." Parrett also posted these messages after a conversation with Chad.
From the AVOW website.
From the AVOW website.

Preparing A People

Preparing A People is an organization that says its mission is to "help prepare the people of this earth for the second coming of Jesus Christ." On its website, the organization says it doesn’t represent any church or official church doctrines, policies or positions; however, many associated with Preparing A People and those who speak at their workshops are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the past, Preparing A People helped organize conferences for Latter-day Saints in Idaho, Utah and Arizona to hear speakers on a variety of religious topics. Michael James, the website operator, told EastIdahoNews.com in December that Chad was a popular speaker at some of their events, although Preparing A People has since distanced itself from him. "He was one of our best speakers, and people really trusted him, (but) Chad evidently had some strange ideas about things we didn’t know about," James said. "Occasionally, that happens, and when it does, you need to break with them." Rowe, who has also spoken at a PAP event, said Chad and Lori would meet at these events. Preparing a People also hosted a variety of religious podcasts featuring Chad and Lori. Jessica's boss and Rowe each also produced a podcast. PAP has since removed these podcasts. Two members of Lori’s extended family, Kay Vallow Woodcock and Brandon Boudreaux, have spoken to national news outlets about Chad and Lori’s involvement with PAP. Woodcock said Lori’s behavior radically changed after becoming affiliated with the organization. Both identified PAP as a cult, although James said that wasn't true. "I have no idea what Chad and Lori did in their spare time, but Preparing A People is not a cult," James said. "It’s just LDS people that go to conferences."

What we know about Chad Daybell's beliefs

From the time of his Latter-day Saint mission up through his time living in the Rexburg-area, Chad has been well-respected, and described as a thoughtful and spiritual man by many locals. The majority of his associates we reached out to declined to speak on the record, but many told us about the love they had for him, and expressed shock to the recent circumstances. As the owner of Spring Creek Book Company, he published books about his near-death experiences, and he wrote an extensive body of fiction surrounding his beliefs about what the world will be like just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. See his Amazon page here. Rowe said her relationship with Chad began in 2014 when he offered to publish her near-death experiences. She said they shared a belief in visions of the future, multiple mortal probations and in working with people's energy. "We would do energy sessions, and I would talk to him about some of my memories of previous lives, and he would talk to me about his past lives," Rowe said.
Julie Rowe and Chad Daybell
Chad helped Rowe promote her books at speaking events, and the relationship continued for a number of years, but it eventually soured. In 2019, Rowe was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for publicly speaking out against the church, teaching false doctrine, and practicing priestcraft for content in her podcasts and website, she said. Rowe said it's been over a year since she has spoken with him, and although she initially defended him in the missing children case, she has since become more concerned about his actions, and has begun speaking out. She recently gave an in-depth interview regarding her relationship with Chad to Inside Edition. Rowe also clarified that she does not agree with many of the practices referenced in this article, and said she is not a member of these groups. She said she remains a devout believer in the LDS Church and its doctrines. Given that Chad allegedly told Parrett he has now rejected Rowe's beliefs, its not clear exactly what he currently believes.

Lori Daybell's mission

Lori's beliefs are described in divorce documents filed by her former husband Charles Vallow several months before he was killed by Lori Daybell's brother, Alex Cox. The following is an excerpt from court documents filed by Charles Vallow’s attorney on Feb. 15, 2019, as reported by KSTU: Mother (Lori Vallow) has recently become infatuated, at times obsessive, about near-death experiences and spiritual visions. Mother has told Father (Charles Vallow) that she is sealed (eternally married) to the ancient Book of Mormon prophet Moroni and that she has lived numerous lives on numerous planets prior to this current life. Mother also believes that she was married to James the Just in a past life and also lived as Mary French in the 1800s, who was Joseph Smith Jr.'s natural grandmother. Mother also informed Father that she is a translated being who cannot taste death sent by God to lead the 144,000 into the Millennium. Mother believes that she is receiving spiritual revelations and visions to help her gather and prepare those chosen to live in the New Jerusalem after the Great War as prophesied in the book of Revelations. On January 29, 2019, during a phone conversation between the parties and after their physical separation, Mother informed Father that she was a God assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ’s second coming in July 2020 and that if Father got in her way of her mission, she would murder him. The 144,000 people referenced in the documents are drawn from the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Latter-day Saints believe the 144,000 are high priests who will "administer the everlasting gospel" to the world in the last days, according to the church's Doctrine and Covenants. April Raymond, a longtime friend of Lori from Kauai, said that after Lori met Chad, she came to her and said she was helping to gather the 144,000. "The basis seemed to be preparing for the end of times, and they believed that they were part of the 144,000," Raymond said on Dateline. "They (believed) they were here to gather the other members to join them ... she told me she was there because I was one of 144,000, and she was there to gather me and I just said, 'I think I'm not, I'm just not ... I know that I'm not one of those people.'" Jessica said a number of people in the group she was in also said they were among the 144,000.

Dealing with extremist groups

EastIdahoNews.com reached out to the church, but spokesman Sam Penrod declined to comment on the issue. But it's likely that leaders are concerned. MormonLeaks, a transparency website that publishes unofficial church documents, shows local leaders asking general leaders in Salt Lake City for guidance in dealing with members who are preaching things not sanctioned by the church. Read more about the documents here. "A lot of these groups continue to function without much oversight or much discipline from the church, even though we know church leaders know they are there," Mason said. "The general church leadership is concerned about these groups, but they are not quite sure what to do with them or how to rein them in." Mason said the members of these groups are savvy about rooting their unorthodox beliefs in just enough mainstream teachings that they don't call attention to themselves. "They don't openly challenge church leaders," he said. "They get away with a lot because they try to put themselves into the tradition of church leaders, rather than contrary to them. They are skillful in trying to demonstrate that they are not just part of the church, but are actually the real true church." === 47. Rexburg doorbell camera shows last known video of JJ Vallow days before he vanished === Published: Sat, 22 Feb 2020 19:25:04 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423156 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Ring doorbell camera footage shows missing 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow playing outside the townhome he lived at in Rexburg | Courtesy video
REXBURG -- Footage from a Ring doorbell camera shows 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow running outside and playing with a friend days before he disappeared. In the video obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, JJ is seen playing in the yard of his complex on Sept. 17, 2019. He moves toward a neighboring door, activates the camera, and then runs across the yard before entering the townhome rented by his mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, on 565 Pioneer Road. The video was shot nine days after JJ's sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, was last seen at Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 8, 2019 with Daybell, her brother, Alex Cox, and JJ. On Sept. 23, JJ was last seen attending school at Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg. Daybell withdrew him the next day and said she would homeschool him. Daybell was arrested Thursday in Kauai and remains behind bars in the Kauai Community Correctional Center on $5 million bail. She is charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, misdemeanor resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. Rexburg Police wrote in court documents that neighbors told them JJ played with their son multiple times since Daybell moved in with her kids around Sept. 1, 2019. The neighbors told a detective that in late September, a child went to the townhome to ask to play with JJ. Daybell reportedly told the child JJ was not home and went to stay with his grandmother in Lousiana.
Lori Vallow Daybell | Kauai Community Correctional Center
That information proved to be false and investigators have looked for the children since November. The camera also captured Daybell at the door of the townhome with an unidentified woman running through the yard on Oct. 29, 2019, around 2:40 p.m. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at (800) THE-LOST. Missing kids === 46. Judge denies Lori Daybell's request for decreased bond as she fights extradition in Hawaii === Published: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 16:45:03 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423059 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com KAUAI, Hawaii -- The mother of two missing Rexburg kids appeared in a Kauai courtroom Friday to fight extradition and seek a reduction in bail. Hawaii Judge Kathleen Watanabe kept Lori Vallow Daybell's bail at $5 million and set her extradition hearing for March 2. The court hearing followed Daybell's arrest Thursday on two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, and misdemeanor resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. A governor's warrant must be issued to bring her back to Idaho. READ: The documents charging for Lori Vallow Daybell "We have 30 days with a 60 day extension to secure governor’s warrant," Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said in a news conference after the hearing. "We do not hope or expect that it will take that long...The hearing on March 2 will be for the purposes of identifying the person in custody as the name on the warrant that came from Idaho. If that is successfully achieved, she will be commanded to the custody of the Idaho personnel." Daybell's defense attorney, Daniel Hempey, asked for his client's bail to be drastically reduced to $10,000 on the basis that such a high bail doesn’t fit a couple of felony and misdemeanor charges. He told the judge that Daybell lives on Kauai with her husband, Chad Daybell, and has remained in the state since her lawyers made contact with police in January. He addressed the couple’s recent weekend “vacation” to Maui - saying defense attorneys told police they would produce her to law enforcement when they wished to arrest her. “Instead she was arrested and media was calling us all day,” Hempy said. “It seems like it was a made-for-media event at taxpayer expense.” Kollar argued Daybell should be denied bail as child abandonment is a serious crime in Hawaii and there is a risk she might flee. “We are asking that Ms. Vallow be remanded without bail,” Kollar said. “She has already absconded from the jurisdiction where the underlying crime is alleged to have taken place.” Additionally, Kollar that Daybell is a risk to the public and had previously tried to obstruct justice. “She has no ties to this island other than a rented condominium in Princeville,” Koller said. “She apparently has resources to travel and leave.” Court documents indicate Chad Daybell had obtained $430,000 from life insurance on policy his wife Tammy Daybell, who died on Oct. 19, 2019. The death came just two weeks before Chad and Lori Daybell married on the beaches of Kauai. “If ever there was a case suitable, and you know our office doesn’t request this on a regular basis, that a person be denied bail, this is the case that is appropriate for that," Kollar said. Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck said Daybell was arrested without incident Thursday and stressed that his department is not in charge of the investigation. He said she has been booked into the Kauai Community Correctional Center where staff will decide her housing arrangements.
Chad Daybell appeared for his wife's court hearing in Hawaii Friday afternoon.
Chad Daybell, who was in court dressed in a white shirt and tie, was not arrested and isn't facing any criminal charges. Raybuck said he is "free to move about as he pleases." Daybell is scheduled to appear in court again on March 2 in Lihue. WATCH THE KAUAI POLICE NEWS CONFERENCE HERE === 45. Flights, church record changes, warrants and more: Events this week that led up to Lori Daybell's arrest === Published: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 13:05:06 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=423023 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- Lori Vallow Daybell stayed busy in the days leading up to her arrest as law enforcement prepared to take her into custody in Kauai. She and her husband, Chad Daybell, had been living on the island since Dec. 1, according to court documents, and had attended worship services at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But it was only within the past two weeks that Lori officially had her membership record transferred into a new congregation. Local church leaders tell EastIdahoNews.com records of her children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, were not transferred into the ward, and neither were Chad's. On Sunday, Feb. 16, Chad and Lori caught an afternoon flight to Maui. That same day, at least one poster saying 'Where are the Children?' was taped to a sign on Kauai. When the couple arrived in Maui, a woman, who asked to be anonymous, took a photo as Chad and Lori stood at a car rental counter. The woman, who was outside the business, told EastIdahoNews.com that Lori saw her take the picture. The woman says she mouthed the words, “Where are your children?” and Lori responded with a shrug. Missing kids On Tuesday, Feb. 18, Rexburg Police served a search warrant at Self Storage Plus and seized items Lori had left in a unit last October and November. Detectives took a photo album, children's clothing, blankets, sporting gear and other personal things were taken. That same day charges were filed against Lori in Madison County. The couple returned to Kauai from Maui Tuesday afternoon and passengers on the plane say Chad and Lori were holding hands and acting "lovey-dovey." They returned to their condo in Princeville and a neighbor spotted them riding bikes. RELATED | Court documents lay out timeline of investigation, detail last time Tylee and JJ were seen On Thursday afternoon, Kauai Police went to the Daybell's townhome and arrested Lori Daybell on two counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. She was booked into jail on $5 million bond. Lori is scheduled for her first court appearance in Hawaii Friday afternoon. She could waive extradition and be brought back to Idaho to answer for her charges. === 44. READ: The documents charging Lori Vallow Daybell === Published: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 08:58:22 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=422981 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- The Madison County Prosecutors office has filed a criminal complaint and an affidavit of probable cause charging Lori Vallow Daybell in the disappearance of her kids. RELATED | Court documents lay out timeline of investigation, detail last time Tylee and JJ were seen Here are the court documents related to the case.

The criminal complaint

The affidavit of probable cause

=== 43. Court documents lay out timeline of investigation, detail last time Tylee and JJ were seen === Published: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 08:52:29 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=422947 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Vallow Daybell
REXBURG -- Court documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com detail the steps Rexburg Police have taken to locate Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, along with evidence collected and alleged false statements that were made to detectives. The children's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, 46, was arrested Thursday afternoon in Hawaii and is being held at the Kauai Police Department Detention Facility on $5 million bond pending extradition to Idaho. She is charged with two counts of desertion and nonsupport of children, resisting and/or obstructing an officer, solicitation and contempt. In a 14 page affidavit of probable cause filed in Madison County, Rexburg Police Detective Ron Ball notes his investigation began when RPD was contacted by the Gilbert, Arizona, Police Department on Nov. 25. JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, requested a welfare check on their grandson. Missing kids

The initial visit

JJ was last seen alive on Sept. 23 at Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg. The next day, Lori told administrators he would no longer be attending and she would now homeschool him. No requests were made for JJ's transcripts, according to the probable cause. Police went to Lori's home on Pioneer Road on Nov. 26 and met with Alex Cox, Lori's brother, and Chad Daybell, who was outside the residence. "Chad acted as if he didn't know Lori very well and stated he didn't know her phone number," the probable cause states. "Alex told the detectives that (Joshua Vallow) was with his grandma, Kay Woodcock, in Louisiana, which was not likely to be true due to the fact that Kay was the individual who first called in a missing child report to the Gilbert Police Department." Cox told officers Lori might be in apartment 107, but it was vacant. Chad then tried to drive away, and a detective stopped him. Chad told the investigator that the last time he had seen JJ was in apartment 107 in October. He also admitted that he knew Lori's phone number, according to court documents. Police found Lori in her apartment, and she told them JJ was with Melanie Gibb, a friend in Gilbert. Gibb participated as a co-host with Chad and Lori on a Preparing the People podcast. Investigators called Gibb but were unable to reach her. They followed up with Lori, who said that her friend and JJ were at "Frozen 2." Officers told Lori to tell her friend to call them. Rexburg police had not heard from the Gibb that night so they called the Gilbert Police Department. Officers in Arizona went to Gibb's home. She was not there, but they reached her by phone, and she told them JJ had not been there for several months. "On Dec. 6, 2019, RPD was contacted by (Gibb) and informed that both Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow called Melanie on Nov. 26, 2019, at separate times and asked her to tell police that she had (JJ) even though (JJ) was not with her," court documents read. "Melanie informed RPD that she declined Chad's and Lori's requests." Ball writes that the statement Lori made about JJ being with Gibb "delayed the investigation into the whereabouts and safety of (JJ) by requiring us to take time to investigate a lead that was verified as false."

The search

Police served search warrants at Lori and Cox's apartments on Nov. 27. Police believe Lori and Chad left Rexburg the day before and Melanie Boudreaux, a relative, later confirmed that information to investigators. During the search of Lori's apartment, police found an autism medication prescribed to JJ. It was filled in January 2019 and still had 17 pills in the bottle, according to documents. Police verified that the prescription has not been filled in Idaho. Investigators went to Self-Storage Plus that same day and found a variety of JJ's items, as previously reported by EastIdahoNews.com. Lori abandoned the unit and has not paid the required fees since January 2020. Through their investigation, police learned Tylee moved to Rexburg with Lori around Sept. 1 or 2, 2019. Lori said her daughter was attending classes at Brigham Young University-Idaho, but records show she was never enrolled at any BYU campus. Neighbors told officers they witnessed Lori, Tylee and JJ moving into their apartment and saw them a few times in September. "These same neighbors have further informed us ... that one of their children went to Lori's apartment sometime in late September to play with (JJ), and the child was informed by Lori Vallow that (JJ) was not there and that he had gone to stay with his grandma," the affidavit of probable cause says. Police obtained phone records that show Lori, Cox and J.J. went to Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 8. Officers also received a photo of Tylee at the park entrance. "This is the last time we can find any record of T.R. (Tylee Ryan) being with Lori Vallow. We have found no witnesses who can verify they have seen T.R. since Sept. 8, 2019," documents say.

Leaving Idaho

Chad and Lori flew to Kauai on Dec. 1. Police do not believe they have returned to the mainland since that time. The children were not with them and have not been seen by anyone in Hawaii. Lori has not provided police with any information on their whereabouts. "RPD has learned that Lori Vallow used the website www.care.com to find a babysitter for (JJ)," court documents say. "We contacted this babysitter and she informed us that she watched (JJ) on the 19th of September ... The babysitter understood that her employment was to be ongoing. The babysitter reports that on Sept. 24, 2019, she reached out to Lori Vallow, and Lori told her that (JJ) had gone to stay with his grandma for several weeks and that the babysitter's services were no longer needed." Ball notes Lori ignored a Child Protection Action to produce her children in Rexburg by Jan. 30, and there are no other court records establishing guardianship to anyone other than Lori. EastIdahoNews.com was in Kauai when Chad and Lori were pulled over in a black Ford Explorer on Jan. 26. A search warrant was served at the Kauai Beach Resort, and officers took birth certificates belonging to Tylee and JJ, Tylee's financial transaction card, JJ's iPad, another iPad that was logged into JJ's Apple account and JJ's school registration receipts from Kennedy Elementary. Police learned that Tylee's financial transaction card, which was with Lori, had been used since Tylee was last seen. Officers served a search warrant at the condo where Chad and Lori were staying. They found beach chairs, two yoga mats and beach towels, but nothing belonging to children. Two bedrooms were in the unit, but the second room "had no sign of being lived in or otherwise occupied."

Other items detectives learned

Ball notes other items detectives discovered during the investigation, including the fact that Lori sent an email to Dog Training Elite in Arizona regarding JJ's service dog, Bailey. Lori asked about finding another family due to a "change in life circumstances." The dog was picked up on Aug. 30, 2019. Investigators also spoke with Chad Daybell's parents in Springville, Utah, and they told them Chad and Lori told them in November that Lori was an "empty-nester." The sister of Tammy Daybell, Chad's deceased wife, told officers that Chad told them Lori had no juvenile children. "RPD has found no evidence or verification of anyone providing for the housing, food, clothing, education, or medical care of (JJ) since Sept. 24, 2019, and T.R. since Sept. 8, 2019," the probable cause reads.

Why police consider Lori Vallow Daybell a flight risk

In the probable cause, Ball says the Daybells have significant financial resources obtained by at least one life insurance policy on Chad Daybell's dead wife Tammy Daybell. Ball writes at least $430,000 were obtained from the policy following her Oct. 19, 2019 death. Police also write how within days attempting to locate the children in November the couple abruptly left to Hawaii, cutting Lori Daybell's ties to Madison County. "She no longer has a home here and she has abandoned a significant amount of property here," Ball writes. In the court document, investigators point out how Lori Daybell already showed a willingness to ignore the court order given to her in January to produce the kids. Lori is expected to have her first court hearing in Kauai on Friday. She could then be extradited to Madison County, where she will appear before a judge on these charges. === 42. Lori Daybell arrested and will likely have court hearing Friday === Published: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 17:52:36 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=422896 By Nate Sunderland & Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Lori Daybell mugshot. | Courtesy Kauai Police Department
UPDATE: The Kauai Police Department says Lori Daybell was arrested at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. They will be holding a news conference Friday on Lori Daybell's arrest and upcoming arraignment. Prosecutors are working to schedule a court hearing for her, which authorities say will likely take place sometime Friday morning. PRINCEVILLE, Hawaii -- The grandparents of a missing Rexburg boy say they are relieved that the child's mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, was arrested Thursday afternoon in Princeville, Hawaii. "We are elated. We are relieved. We are ready for the next step which for Lori is: where are the kids? Where are the kids? Where are the kids?" Kay Woodcock tells EastIdahoNews.com. Daybell, 46, was arrested on a Madison County warrant that was delivered to her by the Kauai Police Department. She is now being held at the Kauai Police Department Detention Facility on $5 million bond pending extradition to Idaho. Her two children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “J.J.” Vallow, have been missing since September. Daybell failed to comply with a court order to produce her children before authorities on Jan. 30 in Madison County, according to a Kauai Police Department news release. Daybell is charged with two counts of felony desertion of a child, as well as misdemeanor charges of resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt. The complaint filed by the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Vallow abandoned her two minor children, delayed law enforcement’s attempts to locate her children and encouraged another individual to delay law enforcement’s attempts to locate her children. The prosecutor also alleges that Daybell disobeyed a court order to physically produce her children to authorities in Idaho. “First of all, we wish to thank the public for the massive outpouring of concern regarding this case,” Kauai Chief of Police Todd G. Raybuck said in a news release. “We also want to thank everyone for their patience while investigators worked diligently to comprehensively gather everything they needed in order to obtain this arrest warrant.” Lori's husband, Chad Daybell, was not arrested or charged but neighbors say he was questioned by police. Frank Montoya, a retired FBI special agent in charge, tells EastIdahoNews.com it's likely investigators have been planning to arrest Daybell for some time. "They've been working to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. They knew they had one shot at this and want to make sure they have as strong of a case as possible for this warrant process," Montoya says. "This doesn’t mean the investigation is over, but it is just another step in the process. Getting her back here is going to be key to finding out what happened to the children or where the children are." Daybell's attorney, Sean Bartholick of Rexburg, could not be reached for comment Thursday. The maximum sentence on each count of desertion of a child is 14 years in prison. Missing kids === 41. Watch the entire Dateline 'Where Are The Children?' special here === Published: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 07:41:00 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=422602 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Dateline NBC has posted its two-hour "Where Are The Children?" special investigating the case of two Rexburg children who vanished last September. The program originally aired Friday night and was the highest watched Dateline since December 2018, according to Deadline Hollywood. RELATED | Keith Morrison previews Dateline special on Daybell case that is ‘nothing like anything else’ he’s ever seen EastIdahoNews.com worked with NBC News for months on the comprehensive primetime special. It includes an exclusive interview with Lori’s close friend, April Raymond, who revealed to NBC News’ Keith Morrison that Lori is “telling people there’s a lot of media hype around her right now. And she’s waiting for that to die down.” Morrison also spoke with EastIdahoNews.com reporters Nate Eaton and Eric Grossarth, Chad’s friends, Kay and Larry Woodcock, JJ’s grandparents, and others. Watch the entire episode here. Missing kids === 40. Chad and Lori Daybell board another plane and leave Maui === Published: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 18:02:28 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=422550 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell on a flight to Kauai from Maui Tuesday afternoon. | Courtesy photo
MAUI, Hawaii -- Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell are returning to the island of Kauai after arriving in Maui two days ago. Lori's children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and his sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, have not been seen since September. The Daybells, formerly of Rexburg, have been named as persons of interest in their disappearance but have not been charged. They have been living in Hawaii for at least two months. The couple boarded a plane at the Kahului Airport on Tuesday around 2 p.m. Hawaii time. Several passengers and airport employees tell EastIdahoNews.com they were quiet and kept to themselves. Sources say a police officer came to the gate to verify the Daybells were on the flight after they were observed checking in.
Chad and Lori Daybell arrived at the Kauai airport Tuesday afternoon. | Courtesy photo
RELATED | With Chad and Lori Daybell on the move, retired FBI agent explains what could happen next Chad and Lori's presence was immediately known when they landed in Maui on Sunday around 1:30 p.m. A woman who asked to remain anonymous sent EastIdahoNews.com photos of the couple at a car rental counter. They were seen with luggage, and Lori appeared to have "smudged black eyeliner, layers of face makeup and bags under her eyes," the woman said.
Chad and Lori Daybell observed at a car rental counter Sunday afternoon at the Maui airport. | Courtesy photo
"It was a chilling experience to see her in person. I had eye contact with her after I took the photo through the window of Hertz," the woman says. "I wanted to let her know that I saw her, that it's not just the police and media who are watching her because there are parents like me everywhere who care about JJ and Tylee and will never stop looking. ... When she saw me through the glass, I pointed at her and mouthed, 'I see you. Where are your kids?' She looked at me, raised her eyebrows and just shrugged." Missing kids A spokesperson for the Maui Police Department told MauiNow.com they are not involved in any investigations pertaining to Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell. Law enforcement in Idaho and Hawaii are aware the couple is traveling. When the Daybells arrive in Kauai, they will be greeted with at least one poster hanging on a speed limit sign that says, "Where are the Children?"
Courtesy photo
=== 39. With Chad and Lori Daybell on the move, retired FBI agent explains what could happen next === Published: Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:35:31 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=422166 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell are spotted renting a car at the Maui airport. A woman who emailed EastIdahoNews.com this photo asked to remain anonymous. | Courtesy photo
REXBURG -- It has been five months since Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow vanished. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, and her husband, Chad Daybell, have been in Hawaii living in a gated community, staying at different resorts and biking together around the island of Kauai. Multiple sources tell EastIdahoNews.com the couple boarded a plane Sunday afternoon for Maui. It's unknown how long they plan to stay or if they will return to Kauai but law enforcement in Idaho and Hawaii say they are aware of the Daybell's location.
Chad and Lori Daybell refused to answer any questions when approached by EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton in Kauai on Jan. 26. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Frank Montoya worked for the FBI over 25 years and served in a variety of high-profile positions, including the head of national counterintelligence and as the special agent in charge of the Honolulu and Seattle divisions. Montoya oversaw counterintelligence squads and led several national security investigations but says he has never seen a case like this. "This is pretty out there. This is strange and bizarre," Montoya tells EastIdahoNews.com. "When you’re looking at the number of people who are dead that are associated with either individual at the center of this case, and when you consider the missing children and how long they’ve been gone, there’s something very suspicious about their behavior."
Frank Montoya, a retired FBI special agent in charge, speaks with EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton via Facetime from his Utah home. Watch the entire interview in the video player above.
Despite the unusual circumstances, Montoya says police and prosecutors are being careful in how they proceed. While arresting Chad and Lori Daybell may seem like an easy solution, it's not that simple. "The bottom line is what would be the crime? The children are missing but what does that mean? Where are they? If they’re in the care and custody of a family member or friend or somewhere else but they’re still alive, what are we looking at with potential crimes to charge these people with? Maybe child endangerment. Beyond that, at this point, I’m not sure," Montoya says. Lori Daybell was served with a child protection order on Jan. 25 stating she must produce JJ and Tylee to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare or Rexburg Police Department within five days. The notice stated that she could face civil or criminal contempt of court by failing to comply. She never produced the children and the case is sealed, so it's unknown what happened with the court order but Montoya says authorities could use Daybell's non-compliance as leverage. "There may very well be grounds to have her extradited back to Idaho to at least address the question as to where the children are," he says. "But it’s all about patience. There are a lot of jurisdictions involved, there’s a lot of interest in law enforcement to resolve it and they’re going to be putting forth their best effort but patience for the public is key." Montoya finds it unusual that the Daybells are spending their time in "paradise" but is confident law enforcement officers are tracking their every move. The FBI is assisting with the case, meaning local police departments have access to the agency's forensic evidence lab and behavioral science program. While it may appear to the public that investigators aren't doing anything, Montoya says a lot is happening behind the scenes and police are leaving "no stone unturned." "Your biggest fear as an investigator is when the lead well dries up. So keeping it high profile, using the media to promote the investigation, talking to a lot of different jurisdictions - they're doing anything and everything they can do to uncover more leads," he says. The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Montoya says it's important for the public to send in tips, even if they seem insignificant, and to trust the legal process. His experience shows that if the couple eventually decides to cooperate with law enforcement, it will likely be Chad who talks. "I would note in cases like this that it’s the woman who is the hard nut to crack. The husband is usually the one who comes clean first," Montoya says. "It’s frustrating the parents aren't talking, it’s frustrating they’re having a grand old time in Hawaii but maybe at some point, their conscience finally gets to one of them." === 38. Keith Morrison previews Dateline special on Daybell case that is 'nothing like anything else' he's ever seen === Published: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 20:04:32 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=421931 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Keith Morrison has been a news reporter for over 45 years and says he has never seen another story like the Chad and Lori Daybell case. The Dateline NBC correspondent, known for his dramatic delivery of real-life murder mysteries, has been working with his team and EastIdahoNews.com on a two-hour special called "Where Are the Children?" that will air Friday night. PREVIEW | Dateline NBC airing 2 hour special on Daybell case with new footage of couple at Hawaii resort "It’s nothing like anything else. I've been doing this for a long time and this stands alone," Morrison said Thursday afternoon during a FaceTime interview from an edit bay at NBC News Headquarters in New York City. "To make sure we get everything just right, we've had screenings for senior producers and lawyers...and anybody who has seen this for the first time is gobsmacked." Joshua "JJ" Vallow and his sister, Tylee Ryan, have not been seen since September. They were living in Rexburg with their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell. She and her new husband, Chad Daybell, are considered persons of interest in the disappearance. The couple has been in Hawaii for at least two months while police in Arizona investigate the death of Lori's former husband, Charles Vallow, and police in Idaho investigate the death of Chad's deceased wife, Tammy Daybell. Lori's brother, Alex Cox, also passed away in December and an investigation is underway into his death. More on the Daybell case "It’s so disturbing," Morrison says. "When I read Chad Daybell’s book and he described what he called near-death experiences, it’s the kind of thing one hears when these things go bad. I’ve heard a lot and when you begin to hear those kinds of stories, potentially you’ve got some trouble." Morrison interviewed several associates of Chad and Lori. Many are speaking for the first time about unusual behavior they've witnessed in their friends over the years and to raise awareness that JJ and Tylee are still missing. "We've been able to use those people in a way that I think hasn’t been done before. I think we’re able to kind of bring the whole story into one and you’ll see, sort of, from beginning to end everything to do with this story," Morrison says. Dateline was with EastIdahoNews.com Jan. 26 when the Daybells were served search warrants outside a Kauai resort. Cameras were rolling as the couple ignored questions for three minutes. Both news organizations have been working together since December covering this complex story that spans several states. "The relationship we’ve had with (EastIdahoNews.com) has been so helpful. We share materials, share breaks in the story, share ideas. You’ve been tremendous for us," Morrison says. The veteran newsman has visited eastern Idaho several times over the years, most recently for his reports on the Angie Dodge murder case. He's familiar with Idaho Falls and while eating lunch at Great Harvest last week, two women stopped to compliment his work. It likely happens everywhere he goes, and Morrison remains humble about his fame. WATCH | NBC News Correspondent discusses Chris Tapp case, future of journalism "People are very, very nice. It feels like I have friends everywhere," he says with a smile. Dateline NBC will produce follow-up episodes as the case continues to develop. You can watch "Where Are the Children?" Friday at 8 p.m. on KPVI Channel 6. The show will also be posted online here.
=== 37. Grandparents of missing Rexburg boy have little to say after long custody hearing === Published: Wed, 12 Feb 2020 20:40:28 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=421664 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Kay and Larry Woodcock with their attorney, Kyle May, after attending a court hearing to gain custody of their grandson, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, who has been missing since September. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
REXBURG -- After almost two hours in a Madison County courtroom on Wednesday, the grandparents of a missing Rexburg boy had little to say. Seven-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow disappeared in September, as well as his sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Kay and Larry Woodcock, JJ's grandparents, walked into a Madison County courtroom around 4:45 p.m. expecting a short hearing. Kay Woodcock told EastIdahoNews.com earlier that the hearing, which was closed to the public, would allow them to ask for guardianship of JJ if he's found rather than him to be placed into state custody. Nearly two hours later, the couple walked out of the courthouse and gave a brief statement through their Pocatello attorney, Kyle May of May, Rammell & Wells, as no decisions were made. RELATED | Grandparents of JJ Vallow file for guardianship as state agency investigates children’s safety "We had a status conference, really a scheduling conference, in front of the judge today on a guardianship case that has been filed," May said. "A new hearing date is going to be set in the near future ... all it was is just to talk about what the status of the case is, what's happening and when we're going to go and litigate this later on. " More on the Daybell case Also attending the hearing were Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood and two Rexburg Police Department detectives involved in the search for JJ and Tylee. May and the Woodcocks did not respond to questions about the detectives' presence. "That's the only statement that we're going to make today," May said. "All other questions or comments we'll have to answer at a later time." RELATED | Charles Vallow had a $1 million life insurance policy he left to JJ’s grandma, rather than Lori Vallow Daybell
Larry and Kay Woodcock with their grandson Joshua “JJ” Vallow. | Courtesy Kay Woodcock
RELATED | ‘All I want is just to see those children.’ Grandparents announce $20K reward for JJ and Tylee The kids' whereabouts are unknown, and their mother refuses to answer questions from both law enforcement and the media. Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, have been named persons of interest in the kids' disappearance. The couple married on the beaches of Hawaii within weeks of the suspicious death of Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell's former wife. With the hearing Wednesday the question still remains as to the status of a Child Protection Action signed by Idaho Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins. In the order, Lori Daybell had until Jan. 30, to produce Joshua and Tylee to the Rexburg Police Department or the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The order did specify Eddins could hold Lori Daybell in contempt of court and issue a warrant for an arrest. As the case involves a minor, details surrounding the court's actions remain sealed. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children since September is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department, at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), at (800) THE-LOST. RELATED | The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan === 36. Dateline NBC airing 2 hour special on Daybell case with new footage of couple at Hawaii resort === Published: Wed, 12 Feb 2020 14:59:34 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=421706 By EastIdahoNews.com staff IDAHO FALLS -- Dateline NBC will be airing a two-hour special Friday investigating the case of two Rexburg children who vanished last September. EastIdahoNews.com has been working with Dateline for months on this comprehensive primetime special. Both news organizations were in Hawaii when Lori Vallow and her new husband, Chad Daybell, were served search warrants on Jan. 26. EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton questioned the couple for three minutes about the whereabouts of Lori's children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow. Friday's special will feature exclusive footage of Dateline tracking down Lori and Chad at a Hawaiian resort just days after they were questioned by Eaton and the Kauai Police Department. More on the Daybell case "Where Are The Children?" includes an exclusive interview with Lori’s close friend, April Raymond, who revealed to NBC News’ Keith Morrison that Lori is “telling people there's a lot of media hype around her right now. And she's waiting for that to die down.” Watch a preview of Raymond's interview here. Morrison also spoke with Eaton, along with EastIdahoNews.com managing editor Nate Sunderland and reporter Eric Grossarth for the program. The NBC correspondent interviewed Chad’s friends along with Kay and Larry Woodcock, JJ's grandparents. "Dateline NBC: Where Are The Children?" airs Friday at 8 p.m. on KPVI. The episode will also be posted online here.
=== 35. Charles Vallow had a $1 million life insurance policy he left to JJ's grandma, rather than Lori Vallow Daybell === Published: Wed, 12 Feb 2020 09:43:17 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=421631 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com IDAHO FALLS -- Days after Charles Vallow was killed, his wife, Lori Vallow, called his insurance company and asked about his $1 million life insurance policy. The agent told her Charles had changed his beneficiary information and Lori would not be receiving any money. Charles' sister, Kay Woodcock, revealed these new details Wednesday and tells EastIdahoNews.com that in February 2019, five months before her brother died, he came to her to discuss life insurance. "Charles and I had a conversation. He had a $1 million dollar policy with Lori as the beneficiary and he told me he wanted me to be the sole recipient," Woodcock says. "I told him to leave it to his boys but he was worried about what Lori was going to do." Woodcock insisted the money go to Charles' two sons from a previous marriage and his adopted son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow. Woodcock and Charles are siblings. JJ was born to the Woodcock's son and then adopted by Charles and Lori, thus Woodcock is JJ's paternal grandmother. More on the Daybell case JJ and his sister, 17-year-old Tylee, have been missing since September. Lori Vallow and her new husband, Chad Daybell, are considered persons of interest in the case. UPDATED: The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan "(Charles) said, 'Lori doesn't want me anymore. She doesn't want JJ and you'll end up raising JJ so I want you to have the money,'" Woodcock recalls. They never discussed the policy again, but Woodcock confirmed they did receive the money. She said receiving the money was not contingent on having custody of JJ. Charles was shot and killed July 11 and on July 15, Woodcock says Lori called the insurance company. She was denied access to information on the account but two weeks later, Woodcock received a text message from Lori. "It was a photo of the 'change of beneficiary' form that she must have gone digging for," Woodcock says. "It named me as the sole beneficiary and she wrote, 'Five kids and no money and his sister gets everything.'" The five children referred to JJ, Tylee, her son, Colby Ryan and two stepsons. The text message was the last time Woodcock heard from Lori. Over the next few weeks, communication with JJ decreased to the point that Woodcock and her husband, Larry Woodcock, never heard from their grandson. Woodcock says she has not publicly discussed the life insurance policy because she has wanted the focus to be on finding JJ and Tylee. But she believes their disappearance could be tied to the money. "I believe if Charles had left her the million dollars, she would have given JJ back to us and we would be extremely happy," Woodcock says. "I wish he would have because JJ is worth more than anything in the world. She puts a price on people and if they are no longer of value to her, she eliminates them." Lori refused to answer questions when approached by EastIdahoNews.com in Hawaii last month. She has not issued any statements regarding her former husband or the missing children. In December, her attorney, Sean Bartholick said, "Lori Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary. We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor.” He has not issued any further statements. Woodcock believes Lori had her brother, Alex Cox, purposely kill Charles. Police originally said the shooting was done in self-defense, but they are continuing to investigate the death. "To her, it's all about the dollars. It's about the fact we got the money and she did not. She was bound and determined to hurt us and she used JJ. That's been her revenge," Woodcock says. Kay and Larry Woodcock, along with EastIdahoNews.com News Director Nate Eaton, will appear Thursday on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace to discuss more on the life insurance policy and the latest developments in the search for JJ and Tylee. You can listen to the podcast here. === 34. Daybells attend church in Hawaii, ABC News obtains beach wedding photos === Published: Tue, 11 Feb 2020 09:19:14 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=421489 By EastIdahoNews.com staff KAUAI, Hawaii -- Photos obtained by ABC News show Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell smiling, laughing and dancing on the beach during their wedding ceremony in Hawaii. The pictures, shown Tuesday on Good Morning America, were taken in November - weeks after Chad Daybell's wife, Tammy Daybell, died in her Salem home and months after Lori's husband, Charles Vallow, was shot to death by her brother, Alex Cox. Chad and Lori have been living in Hawaii while police in Idaho continue to search for Lori's missing 7-year-old son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, and 17-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan. They haven't been seen since September and investigators believe Lori knows where they are or what happened to them. The couple has attended worship services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kauai for the past two weeks. Members tell EastIdahoNews.com they approached ward leaders and said media reports about them are false and one-sided. ABC News aired footage of them walking into a church building Sunday. Chad and Lori refused to answer questions when EastIdahoNews.com approached them at the end of January after Kauai police served a search warrant on their vehicle and home. They have not been charged or arrested. The latest updates on this developing story can be found here. === 33. Report: Authorities locate phone of Tylee Ryan === Published: Mon, 10 Feb 2020 12:33:51 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=421370 By Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSL.com) -- Idaho authorities have found the cellphone of a 17-year-old girl who, along with her 7-year-old brother, has been missing since September. The latest update in the ongoing, bizarre case of Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, missing from Rexburg, Idaho, was first reported Monday by CBS News. A source close to the investigation told CBS News the phone had been found. The phone allegedly was used several times after Tylee disappeared, CBS News reports. On Oct. 25, a text was sent out from the phone that read "hi. miss you guys too …luv ya." The person who got the text, a friend of Tylee’s, said it didn’t sound like something Tylee sent, CBS News reported. Two small Venmo payments also were sent from the phone to a family member in October, according to CBS News. Lori Daybell, the mother of Tylee and JJ, is believed to have been in Hawaii for the last two months with her new husband, Chad Daybell. The case has attracted public interest and media attention across the country. Both Lori and Chad Daybell have been named persons of interest in the disappearance of the two children, but neither has been arrested or charged. Police say the couple has not revealed any information about where the children are. The Daybells were served with two search warrants last month in Hawaii, according to EastIdahoNews.com. Authorities seized the couple’s SUV and searched a townhome in Princeville, Hawaii. Also last month, Lori Daybell was ordered to produce the children by Jan. 30 or possibly be found in contempt of court. There is still no sign of the children. In another recent development, Lori Daybell apparently abandoned a Rexburg storage unit in November that was full of children's items, photos and clothing. Chad Daybell has self-published several books that detail doomsday scenarios and near-death experiences. Police are also investigating the suspicious death of Chad Daybell's former wife, 49-year-old Tammy Daybell. Police have said they believe her death is related to the disappearance of Tylee and JJ, but have not said how. Lori Daybell's estranged husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed in July by her brother, Alexander Cox, in a family fight. Cox died in Arizona in December. The two deaths are active investigations, according to authorities in Arizona. Other family members have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading directly to the recovery of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. Dr. Oz will air a program Tuesday focusing on the Daybell case, according to EastIdahoNews.com. Kay and Larry Woodcock, grandparents of the children, are scheduled to appear. EastIdahoNews.com News Director Nate Eaton, who has been reporting the case from Idaho and Hawaii, also will appear on the show. === 32. Dr. Oz to air show Tuesday focused on Daybell case === Published: Mon, 10 Feb 2020 10:33:29 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=421322 By EastIdahoNews.com staff
Photos and video courtesy ZoCo Productions
IDAHO FALLS -- Dr. Oz is featuring the latest developments in the case of two missing Rexburg children on his syndicated daytime talk show Tuesday. Kay and Larry Woodcock, the grandparents of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, will appear on the show, along with EastIdahoNews.com news director Nate Eaton. Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi, a former Brooklyn homicide prosecutor, will discuss legal matters surrounding the case and give her opinion on why nobody has been arrested. JJ and his sister, Tylee Ryan, have not been seen since September. Lori Vallow Daybell, the children's mother, and her new husband, Chad Daybell, are considered persons of interest in the disappearance. The couple has been in Hawaii for at least two months. The latest news and information on the case can be found here in a special section on EastIdahoNews.com. Dr. Oz airs at 11 a.m. on KPVI Channel 6. === 31. Daybell family reportedly 'refused' autopsy, according to police recordings === Published: Sat, 08 Feb 2020 09:50:22 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=421210 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- A phone call between an Arizona detective and a Fremont County police dispatcher sheds new light into what happened in the weeks following Tammy Daybell's death. The recording, obtained by Fox 13 Utah, details a 17-minute phone conversation about Daybell's death. The Gilbert, Arizona detective says he is calling for the police report and the dispatcher tells him she was the one who took the original call. “The family did not want an autopsy, so they just went straight to the funeral home and the family refused an autopsy,” she says. The detective responds, “The family said they don’t want an autopsy, therefore… the coroner just signed off, then and there? And then the funeral home took Miss Daybell? Is that how that works?” “Yes,” the dispatcher responds. “That’s, that’s pretty much how it works.” The call does not have a date or time stamp, according to Fox 13. Daybell died at her Salem home Oct. 19. Fremont County Sheriff deputies responded to the scene and Sheriff Len Humphries told EastIdahoNews.com there was nothing suspicious about the situation. RELATED | Sheriff details what happened when deputies responded to Tammy Daybell’s death as Lori Daybell’s son makes a passionate plea "As we do with most unattended deaths, they (deputies) took pictures, looked it over, contacted our detectives," Humphries said. "They contacted the coroner and the coroner responded. The body was transported to the funeral home and the coroner went there also for a further examination. She determined there was nothing out of the ordinary. Humphries said Chad Daybell, Tammy's husband, was acting "like anybody whose spouse had just passed away" and that's why investigators did not suspect anything suspicious.
Within weeks of Tammy's death, Chad married Lori Vallow as detectives in Arizona were in the midst of investigating her husband, Charles Vallow's, death. He was shot by Lori's brother, Alex Cox. Cox died in December and an autopsy is currently being performed on his body. In the call recordings, the Fremont dispatcher is puzzled why an Arizona detective is calling. “So why is someone from Arizona wanting to know?” the dispatcher asks. “That’s crazy.” “Yeah, isn’t it funny how everything ties together?,” the detective answers. “We just have some cases down here, that… that got our attention with Miss Daybell.” RELATED | The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Tammy Daybell's body was exhumed Dec. 11 from the Springville Evergreen Cemetery in Utah. An autopsy is currently being performed and Humphries says the results could be released any day. Click here to read and watch the entire report from Fox 13 Utah. More on the Daybell case === 30. Here's what evidence police are looking for in connection to missing Rexburg kids === Published: Fri, 07 Feb 2020 11:27:55 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=420544 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Police are seen serving a search warrant on Lori Vallow Daybell's Rexburg townhome in November. | Courtesy photo
REXBURG -- Search warrants obtained by EastIdahoNews.com shed some light into what police are looking for in connection to the disappearance of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Investigators obtained the warrants on Nov. 27, for a townhome on Pioneer Road and a Self Storage Plus storage unit rented out to Lori Vallow Daybell, the children's mother. One of the warrants shows investigators were specifically looking for evidence related to the disappearance and welfare of JJ. RELATED | The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan The warrant, filed in Madison County, called for investigators to search the storage unit for JJ. It also specified "any evidence that the boy was residing at any of these residences and/or evidence of foul play or the commission of a crime, and/or evidence of the child’s current location."
RELATED | Lori Daybell abandoned a storage unit in Rexburg full of children’s items Tylee and JJ haven't been seen since September. Lori Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, are considered persons of interest in the children's disappearance. The couple has been in Hawaii for at least two months and has not been arrested or charged.
RELATED | EXCLUSIVE: Chad and Lori Daybell served with search warrants in Hawaii Rexburg police were authorized to collect blood, fingerprints, hair and hygiene products to collect DNA. Investigators also searched for personal items such as toys, clothing and shoes. It's unknown what detectives obtained. More on the Daybell case Search warrants related to the missing kids have also been served in Hawaii and Arizona. According to a redacted police report obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, on Dec. 6, an officer with the Gilbert Arizona Police Department served warrants for the kids' medical records at Gilbert Pediatrics. When the officer arrived at the medical office, investigators initially only planned to gather records for JJ, according to the police report. Just before police left, an employee informed the officer that his sister was also a patient. "She (the employee) inquired if she should prepare those records as well for a separate warrant," the officer wrote. The officer spoke with a detective who decided to also obtain the records of the sister, believed to be Tylee, with a search warrant. The officer returned to Gilbert Pediatrics, retrieved the records and submitted them as evidence. It remains unclear why police want the medical records of the children. In additional documents uncovered by Fox10 Phoenix Reporter Justin Lum, on Dec. 6, investigators also served a search warrant at JJ's former school in connection to the homicide investigation of Charles Vallow, Lori Daybell's previous husband. Among the information investigators wanted was information on JJ's medical conditions, medications, attendance. RELATED | Charles Vallow’s ex-wife had concerns about Lori Daybell over 10 years ago and thinks his shooting death was ‘100% planned’ Medical records are not the only documents detectives are looking for. In the Rexburg search warrant, police are also interested in school records and documents related to state assistance received on behalf of JJ. The warrant details officers could obtain bank records "which may be evidence of payments received on behalf of the child as well as payments or expenses made for the child." During the investigation, police discovered the Daybells married within weeks of the death of Tammy Daybell, the former wife of Chad Daybell. Local law enforcement along with the FBI searched his home in Salem in January. They collected 43 items, including electronic devices. The search warrant in Rexburg also allowed investigators to seize electronic devices.
RELATED | Police conclude search at Daybell home Investigators have not released new details regarding the case as of Friday. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at (800) THE-LOST. === 29. Lori Daybell abandoned a storage unit in Rexburg full of children's items === Published: Tue, 04 Feb 2020 12:08:23 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=420622 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- When Lori Vallow Daybell suddenly departed from Rexburg at the end of November, she left behind a storage unit full of children's items, photos, clothing and other things. Her children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, have not been seen since September. Daybell has been in Hawaii with her new husband, Chad Daybell, for at least two months. Both have been named persons of interest in the children's disappearance but have not been charged. Click here for a detailed look at the case.
The storage unit Lori Vallow Daybell rented at Self Storage Plus beginning Oct. 1, 2019. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Daybell first visited Self Storage Plus on Oct. 1 and signed a $53-per-month rental agreement for a 10x10 unit, according to a contract reviewed by EastIdahoNews.com. Surveillance cameras at the facility show Daybell and a man associated with her visited the unit nine times in October and once in November. Often the man, who appears to be Alex Cox, Daybell's brother, came alone. Security footage shows she only came to the business by herself once -- on the day she signed the contract. Over the next two days, she returned with the man who appears to be Cox. His silver pickup truck is observed at Self Storage Plus on camera multiple times during October.
Surveillance cameras show what appears to be Lori Vallow Daybell and a man visiting her storage unit. | Self Storage Plus
During one visit, a man and woman, who appear to be Daybell and Cox, enter the building containing the storage unit. The man looks both ways as the woman opens the door. He quickly walks in and carries out a heavy object. It's placed in the vehicle outside and the man returns to carry out a tire while the woman closes the door. Between Oct. 6 and Oct. 26, a man, presumably Cox, visits the storage unit alone five times. Cameras show him dropping off a variety of items, including gun cases, and then, on Oct. 28, two men are seen moving bikes into the unit.
Two men are seen moving bikes into the storage unit. | Self Storage Plus
Surveillance video shows visitors to the unit would often place things inside and then remove the same items within days. The last time anyone visits the unit in October is on the 28th. Nobody comes back for nearly a month, but on Nov. 24, Daybell and a man are again seen on camera. They stay for four minutes and leave. Two days later, on Nov. 26, Rexburg Police went to Daybell's townhouse for a welfare check on JJ. The next day, officers served a search warrant at the home and then obtained a search warrant on the storage unit. The warrant called for officers to seize "any evidence that the boy was residing at any of these residences, and/or evidence of foul play or the commission of a crime, and/or evidence of the child's current location." Inside the storage unit, officers found bikes, a scooter, winter clothing, a photo album with pictures of JJ and Tylee, sports equipment, a backpack with JJ’s initials and a jersey with Colby Ryan’s (Lori Daybell's oldest son) name on it. There were blankets showing photos of the children - one focused on JJ, and the other had pictures of Tylee.
A blanket showing photos of Joshua "JJ" Vallow was found inside the storage unit. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
A blanket showing photos of Tylee Ryan was found inside the storage unit. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Detectives photographed everything, and in January, when Daybell’s credit card was declined several times, Self Storage Plus notified the police. Workers say officers have not returned since the end of November. Due to lack of payment, the storage unit and all its contents are considered abandoned. The items are being held at the business pending the outcome of a police investigation, but will ultimately be returned to extended family members. Self Storage Plus employees have reached out to Daybell multiple times but have been unable to reach her, and she has not returned messages. Managers say they are releasing video to EastIdahoNews.com from their security company, Elite Surveillance, in hopes that it will help police with their timeline in events and ultimately lead to the recovery of JJ and Tylee.
A photo album found inside the storage unit. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
A photo album found inside the storage unit. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
A jersey with the name 'Colby' on a jersey found inside the storage unit. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
A BYU backpack with JJ's initials was found inside the storage unit. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
=== 28. Charles Vallow's ex-wife had concerns about Lori Daybell over 10 years ago and thinks his shooting death was '100% planned' === Published: Mon, 03 Feb 2020 08:26:25 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=420317 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Charles Vallow and Lori Vallow Daybell. | Courtesy photo
AUSTIN, Texas -- Cheryl Wheeler will never forget how she found out her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, was dead. It was July 2019 and Cheryl was in her Austin, Texas, home when her 24-year-old son, whose father is Charles, walked into the room. "He had just literally received a text from Lori (Charles' wife) saying his dad was dead," Cheryl tells EastIdahoNews.com. "We were shocked. He tried calling her back, he tried texting, but she would not answer." Text messages obtained by Justin Lum of Fox 10 Phoenix show what Lori allegedly sent to Charles' sons. "Hi boys. I have very sad news. Your dad passed away yesterday morning. I'm working on making arrangements, and I'll keep you informed with what's going on. I'm still now sure how to handle things. Just want you to know that I love you and so did your dad," the first message read.
Charles and Lori Vallow with their children. | Courtesy Kay Woodcock
A group text chain shows Lori was asked multiple questions about Charles' death, but her responses were vague and did not provide answers. Cheryl went online for help. "I checked the medical examiner's webpage and found Charles had been killed the day before, and they had it classified as a homicide," Cheryl recalls. "We further Googled and saw all of the news reports out of Chandler. We found out that Alex (Cox, Lori's brother) had shot him." RELATED | The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Cheryl has closely followed the bizarre events surrounding her ex-husband's wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, and her new husband, Chad Daybell, for several months. She has not spoken publicly until now and says she's doing so to raise awareness that her son's half-brother, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow, and Lori's daughter, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, are still missing.

Meeting Charles

Cheryl and Charles met through mutual friends in 1991. They were living in Austin and were married within a year. "He was very charming and always dressed very nicely. He’s definitely a salesman," Cheryl says. "He helped a lot of people and had a lot of good friends. He came from a big family who was very close, and here was this interesting guy from Louisiana that ended up in Austin." The couple was married 12 years and had two sons. The boys adored their father, and Charles was nicknamed the "Disneyland Dad" because he was so much fun.
Courtesy Kay Woodcock
"He would take them fishing and to campouts and Boy Scouts and just loved doing all that," Cheryl recalls. "Charles was an athlete, but my boys were not into baseball or football. They did rowing and soccer, and he was very, very supportive of all their activities." Cheryl and Charles divorced in 2003. Cheryl remarried, and in 2006, Charles married Lori Ryan in Las Vegas. She had previously been married to Joseph Ryan, and they had Tylee together. They divorced in 2004, and Joseph died of an apparent heart attack in April 2018.

Meeting Lori

Charles was raised Catholic but converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after meeting Lori, a lifelong Latter-day Saint. Cheryl remembers first meeting her at a son's baseball game and thinking she was a nice woman. "We were sitting next to each other and she looked at me and said, 'You probably think I’m an idiot because I’m with your ex-husband,'" Cheryl says. "I found that very funny, but that was the only pleasant moment we ever had in all these years." The women had little interaction, although Cheryl and her husband shared custody of the two boys with Charles and Lori. The boys would spend weekends, summers and alternating holidays with their dad while remaining with their mom the rest of the time. A year after Charles and Lori got married, Cheryl became concerned about Lori's mental state. "She just seemed off. There were a lot of strange goings-on at their home to the point that a judge ordered cameras to be put in their home to protect the children," Cheryl recalls. Nothing suspicious or criminal was ever found on the video footage, Cheryl said, but she said something wasn't right with Lori. During child custody hearings, Cheryl says Lori seemed to enjoy being in court and "all the drama" surrounding it. "Lori was also in a custody battle with Joseph Ryan, and it was so intertwined that the judge combined our cases altogether in the courtroom," Cheryl recalls. "It was quite odd, but she loved it. That's when I learned she doesn’t do what she’s told to do if she doesn’t want to. I saw that a lot in court." After Cheryl and her husband spent thousands of dollars in the custody dispute, they were perplexed when Charles and Lori announced they were moving to Arizona.

Arizona, Hawaii and JJ

Despite the move, Cheryl's sons continued to spend summers with their father and his wife, but the circumstances were unusual. "The way they would describe it is that Dad went to work and Lori would leave. She has never had a job that I’ve known of, other than being a hairdresser before they married, but she would leave and go be with her family or do other things," Cheryl says.
Courtesy Kay Woodcock
Cheryl's sons were in the home with Tylee and Colby Ryan, Lori's son from her second husband, William Lagioia. In 2014, Charles and Lori adopted Joshua "JJ" Vallow from a family member and Cheryl's kids loved spending time with their new half-brother. "My boys adore him. They have funny stories and funny videos with him. He is their brother," she says. Social media posts indicate that sometime in 2014, Charles and Lori moved to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The couple operated a small juice business on the island, according to business records. They moved back to Arizona between 2016 and 2017. When they returned, Charles spent thousands of dollars getting a properly trained service dog for JJ, who has autism. Bailey, a labradoodle, became JJ's best friend, and Cheryl's sons loved spending time with their stepbrother and his dog.
JJ with his service dog, Bailey. | Courtesy Kay Woodcock
"Three weeks after Charles was killed, Lori put the dog up for sale. She listed it for $2,500, and it was so shocking because Bailey was such an important part of JJ's life," Cheryl says. "Fortunately the trainer saw the listing and told Lori she had to give it back to the rescue group. They were able to take him back and re-home the dog to another special-needs boy."

Divorce and death

Charles filed for divorce from Lori in February 2019. In court documents obtained by Fox 10 Phoenix, he claimed she viewed herself as a god preparing for the second coming of Christ. Charles said Lori would kill him if he got in her way of performing that mission. "Charles was a very religious man, and faith is a big thing for him," Cheryl says. "For him to say things got that weird means it was weird beyond what any of us know. Otherwise, he would have probably jumped right in and gone along with it." During divorce proceedings, Lori disappeared in February for nearly two months and took Tylee to Hawaii. They stayed at the Kauai Beach Resort, the same hotel where she and Chad Daybell were stopped Jan. 26, 2020, and served search warrants. Charles ended up stopping divorce proceedings and tried to work things out with Lori. Months later, on July 11, the Chandler Police Department were called after Alex Cox, Lori's brother, shot and killed Charles. Although police are still investigating, detectives initially ruled the shooting as self-defense as Alex claimed Charles hit him with a baseball bat. "Charles was a semi-pro baseball player. If he hit Alex in the head with a bat, he would be dead, but Charles was not a violent person," Cheryl says. "We were married and divorced and not one time, not one second, was he ever physically threatening to me. There are no police records of any domestic violence calls between him and Lori, so to say it was self-defense because he was violent -- it’s just not who he was." Alex waited five minutes to call the police, Cheryl said, and the landlord reports that later in the day a pool party was held at Lori's house. It was so loud, neighbors could reportedly hear it. After Cheryl learned how Charles died, she tried to find funeral information so her sons could honor their father.
Charles Vallow with JJ. | Courtesy Kay Woodcock
"Lori's family scheduled no funeral services -- nothing," Cheryl says. "The Vallow family put together a memorial and Lori sent all of Charles’ ashes. Kay and Larry (JJ's grandparents) begged Lori to have JJ there, but she didn’t let him go to his own dad’s funeral. They didn’t even have an obituary." Cheryl believes Charles' death was "100% planned" and says her ex-husband told people that if something happened to him, Lori was behind it. Since he was shot seven months ago, Cheryl and her sons have not heard from anybody in Lori's family. "They basically grew up with my boys. It is really odd, and it hurt my sons' feelings. I had to explain this is not normal. Normally, family embraces each other and reaches out. No one did and has not to this day," Cheryl says.

The investigation

Alex died Dec. 12 at the age of 52. He was married 10 days before his death and an autopsy is currently underway to determine how he died. Cheryl believes he was poisoned. She also thinks Tammy Daybell, Chad's first wife, was poisoned in her Salem home in October. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries says his office is awaiting results from her autopsy and a cause of death has not been determined. Cheryl did not know JJ and Tylee were missing until news reports began circulating in December. She says the complicated twists and turns of this case have given her family little time to mourn. "It comes in waves. We think it can’t get any weirder, and then we get a phone call," she says. "I think we were numb from November to January. You can't make this stuff up." Cheryl and her family hope JJ and Tylee are still alive and wants everyone to know that Charles was a good, kind man who got tied up with an “evil” woman. “He was a loving person and father and friend. He was always looking out for JJ’s protection. I know autism is difficult to deal with, and for him to have that type of patience is just extraordinary,” Cheryl says. “He was a very, very kind person, and I just wish Lori would have divorced and not had him killed. It’s a huge loss for the family, friends and the kids.” === 27. READ: The court document given to Lori Vallow Daybell involving her children === Published: Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:37:07 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=420179 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com The following is a copy of part of the court order made public involving 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. === 26. Grandparents of JJ Vallow file for guardianship as state agency investigates children's safety === Published: Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:07:01 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=420169 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Larry and Kay Woodcock with their grandson Joshua "JJ" Vallow. | Courtesy Kay Woodcock
REXBURG -- The grandparents of Joshua "JJ" Vallow have filed a petition to obtain guardianship of the 7-year-old missing since September. Larry and Kay Woodcock filed the order Wednesday through Madison County Magistrate Court Judge Faren Eddins. Eddins will now consider the petition and decide what steps to take next. JJ and his sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, have not been seen since September and police believe they are in danger. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, and her new husband, Chad Daybell, left Rexburg "abruptly" in November, according to authorities, and were found by police in Hawaii Sunday. The parents had nothing to say when approached by EastIdahoNews.com and the children were not with them. More on the Daybell case Lori Daybell was given a court order that she must have JJ and Tylee in Rexburg by 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. She did not show up and multiple sources tell EastIdahoNews.com she is still in Hawaii with Chad. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is now conducting an investigation into the children's safety. EastIdahoNews.com obtained a copy of the child protection order, which says the agency has up until Feb. 10 to deliver a report to a judge. If the children are located, the order says they will be placed in the custody of the state agency and then appointed a guardian. The Woodcocks say they want the best for JJ and maintain hope that he and Tylee are still alive. Watch more of what Kay Woodcock had to say during a news conference Thursday:
=== 25. Grandmother says Lori Daybell is a 'monster' after she fails to bring missing children to Rexburg === Published: Thu, 30 Jan 2020 20:34:43 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=420030 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- The deadline for Lori Vallow Daybell to bring her children to Rexburg Thursday passed without any sign of Tylee Ryan or Joshua "J.J." Vallow. Daybell was ordered to have the children appear at the Rexburg Police Department or the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Rexburg by 5 p.m. The mother never showed up, and neither did her husband, Chad Daybell, or the children. The kids have been missing since September and police say Lori Daybell either knows where they are or what happened to them. Investigators tell EastIdahoNews.com the couple has continually lied about the kids’ whereabouts and they refuse to cooperate. RELATED | The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood filed a child protection order Saturday on behalf of 17-year-old Tylee and 7-year-old J.J. Child protection actions are normally confidential and sealed to protect the anonymity of the parties, but a court order allowed Wood to admit to the existence of the document and release a few details.
Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. | Courtesy photos
Wood and the Rexburg Police Department declined to comment Thursday on Daybell's failure to comply with the order and the mother could now be held in contempt of court. A judge could issue an arrest warrant, but it's likely the public will not immediately know what steps will be taken next. More on the Daybell case "While the court did allow us to announce the existence of the case and the order that Lori Vallow produce her children, any and all other documents, hearings, and court filings are sealed and confidential by law," Wood said in a statement Wednesday. "As such we legally cannot comment on any other aspect of the case." While Lori and Chad failed to appear in Rexburg Thursday, J.J.'s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, traveled from Louisiana in hopes of seeing the children. "We’ve had a really rough few weeks and then once we learned about the order being given to her Saturday, that really gave us more hope that at least we’re now seeing things happening," Woodcock tells EastIdahoNews.com. The grandmother says she suspected the Daybells were in Hawaii as the state is Lori's "favorite place on earth" but she wasn't sure until EastIdahoNews.com confronted them Sunday afternoon after they were served with search warrants from the Kauai Police Department. Woodcock hopes that Lori will now be arrested and brought to Madison County for defying the court order. "I would like for her to be in jail until she talks," Woodcock says. "If that’s a month or a year or whatever the situation, she needs to be there until she talks. She’s got to say where they are. She has to."
Kay Woodcock speaks with more than a dozen media outlets Thursday evening during a news conference in Rexburg. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
The case of the missing children has attracted international attention, particularly since Sunday when the couple was located in Hawaii. Over a dozen news outlets attended a press conference in Rexburg Thursday evening where Woodcock expressed her frustration at the Daybell's actions. "How do you not have your child for four months? What kind of a mother does that? The only word that is coming to my mind right now is 'monster' and as much as I loved Lori...all this has just been very disheartening and I have so many questions," Woodcock said. As Rexburg Police decide how to move forward on the missing children's case, Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries tells EastIdahoNews.com his office is still awaiting the autopsy results on Tammy Daybell, Chad's first wife. She died in her sleep in October and investigators have classified her death as suspicious. Humphries does not know when the autopsy will be complete.
=== 24. Still no sign of mother or missing Rexburg kids === Published: Thu, 30 Jan 2020 14:31:16 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=419985 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan
REXBURG -- More than a dozen media organizations descended into Rexburg Thursday for an event, which appears increasingly unlikely to happen. Local and national media are awaiting a 5 p.m. Thursday deadline that was given to Lori (Vallow) Daybell by authorities to return her children to the Rexburg Police Department or Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. If she doesn't she may be found in contempt of court. So far, there is no indication that the children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan are in Rexburg. Additionally, multiple sources in Kauai, Hawaii have told EastIdahoNews.com that Lori Daybell, and her new husband Chad, were seen on the island last night. Read more on the Daybell case Kay and Larry Woodcock have arrived in Rexburg and will be holding a news conference at 5 p.m. The Woodcocks are the biological grandparents of Joshua, who was adopted by Kay’s brother, Charles Vallow. Charles was previously married to Lori Vallow Daybell. Police are calling Chad and Lori persons of interest in connection with the children’s disappearance. Joshua and Tylee were last seen in September and police have said Lori Daybell either knows where the kids are or what happened to them. Police say the Daybells have continually lied about the kids' whereabouts and refuse to cooperate. Both the Rexburg Police and the Madison County Prosecutor's Office have said they will not be releasing a statement Thursday. Lori Daybell was told by a judge to return the children to Rexburg through a child protection order, which is sealed from the public. By law, the prosecutor can't release more information than what has already been released without a judge's permission. EastIdahoNews.com will remain in Rexburg throughout the day and provide updates. === 23. Prosecutor releases statement on court order regarding missing Rexburg kids === Published: Wed, 29 Jan 2020 13:31:18 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=419827 By EastIdahoNews.com staff
Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, left, and Tylee Ryan
The following is a statement from the Madison County Prosecutor's Office regarding the missing Rexburg children and the child protection order that Lori Vallow Daybell must physically produce Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Rexburg or to the Rexburg Police by Thursday. Click here for more on that story. The children have not been seen since September. We are grateful for the concern and attention being shown regarding the location, health and safety of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. We again renew our gratitude for the help received and continue to request that anybody with information regarding the whereabouts of the children come forward. With all the attention paid to this case this week, we would also remind the public and media that child protection cases are sealed and confidential. While the court did allow us to announce the existence of the case and the order that Lori Vallow produce her children, any and all other documents, hearings, and court filings are sealed and confidential by law. As such we legally cannot comment on any other aspect of the case. In the event that information comes forward that would be important for the public to know, we will inquire of the court as to whether that information can be shared. Again, thank you for your attention regarding this matter. We hope and pray that the children will be produced or found and that they are safe and healthy. More on the Daybell case === 22. Neighbor recalls 'guarded' encounter with Daybells; Kauai prosecutor says missing kids have not been in Hawaii === Published: Tue, 28 Jan 2020 13:20:43 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=419596 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com KAUAI, Hawaii -- When Steve Latham meets most of his new neighbors, he finds they're thrilled to be moving into the beautiful Villas on the Prince. The gated community of townhouse condos is on the Prince Golf Course in Princeville, Kauai, and is surrounded by palm trees, walking trails, beautiful fountains and a large swimming pool. Latham has lived here for 10 years and is a real estate agent with Oceanfront Sotheby's International Realty. He meets a lot of people, and when Chad and Lori Daybell moved two houses down from him early last month, he had an interesting encounter.
Steve Latham points to the townhome where Chad and Lori Daybell have been staying.
"About the first week of December, there were some boxes left on their porch, and I believe they were from Idaho," Latham recalls. "I called the Realtor that had the listing, and he told me to put them inside. A few days after that, I saw them pull up and I went over and introduced myself. Their names were Chad and Lori." RELATED | Chad and Lori Daybell have been in Hawaii for a month in gated million-dollar community The couple was polite but seemed "guarded," according to Latham. They didn't open up or share anything about their personal lives but thanked their new neighbor for bringing in their packages. The unit was for sale and had been vacant for some time. The Daybells did not buy the home, Latham said, but signed a contract as long-term tenants. Many homes in the community are used for vacation rentals, but Chad and Lori had more permanent plans. Latham says they bought furniture and had it moved in. But then they vanished. "I don’t think I ever saw them at the pool or anything like that. (The house) seemed vacant most of the time. I didn’t see lights on or anything like that," he says. "I hardly ever saw them at all, and I never saw them with anybody else, so I don’t know if they were living there or not." Latham had no idea Lori's children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, have been missing since the end of September. He did not know Lori and Chad were newlyweds and that Lori's ex-husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed in Arizona by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, last summer. Cox died of an undisclosed cause around the same time Chad and Lori moved to Hawaii. Latham was also unaware Chad's former wife, Tammy Daybell, died in October, and that her death has been deemed suspicious.
Steve Latham speaks about his relationship with the Daybells.
The real estate agent doesn't remember the last time he saw Lori, but he had a brief conversation with Chad on Friday, Jan. 24. The Idaho father told Latham he was leaving because the condo was scheduled to be shown to a potential buyer. EXCLUSIVE: Daybells served with search warrants in Hawaii Two days later, the couple was stopped 16 miles south of the Princeville home at the Kauai Beach Resort. Kauai Police issued a search warrant on their rental SUV and on the home two doors down from Latham's home. Federal law enforcement and officers from eastern Idaho were also on hand.
Kauai Police serve a search warrant on an SUV driven by Chad and Lori Daybell. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
"Our role here on Kauai has been mostly to support and provide logistical help," Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar says. "They’re not currently suspected of committing any crimes here in Hawaii, so our goal has been mainly to assist the mainland authorities and the state and federal authorities." Chad and Lori have also not been charged with any crime in Idaho or Arizona, although the Rexburg Police Department has named them "persons of interest" in the disappearance of the children. Lori Vallow Daybell lived in Hawaii with Charles Vallow years ago, and they ran a juice bar. She has visited frequently, but Kollar says his office was unaware of who she was until they were contacted by Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood a few weeks ago.
Lori Daybell ran a juice business with her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, in this Princeville shopping center years ago. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
"This was not a person who was ever on our radar screen before this situation ever came up," Kollar says. "Anything we can do here to hopefully find out where these kids are or what happened to them, we’d be happy to do." More on the Daybell case Kollar says they have no indication that JJ and Tylee have been in Hawaii recently. They were not with Lori and Chad when officers executed the search warrants Sunday. The day before, Lori Daybell was served a child protection order demanding she bring the children to Rexburg by Thursday, Jan. 30. Although the existence of the order has been made public, most of it is still sealed. That means that any counteractions made by the Daybells' attorney against the order aren't part of the public record. It's also likely only limited information will be available about the outcome of the order after the five-day deadline is up. But there are several possible outcomes. "If they fail to produce the children in the court in Idaho on Thursday or before Thursday, the judge there could issue a warrant for their arrest for either (Lori) or both of the parents," Kollar says. "That would basically go into a nationwide database requesting extradition if that’s what they wanted." Kollar says if the Daybells are arrested, charged and needed to be extradited to Idaho, the process could happen quickly if Chad and Lori cooperate.
Kahai County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar
"The only thing they could contest here in Hawaii would be if they were or were not the people named in the warrant. They could also contest the legality of the arrest. That typically does not happen, but this is a unique case," Kollar says. "They could also demand a governor’s warrant from Idaho." Kollar says in his 11 years as a prosecutor, he's never seen another case like this. And Latham has never had neighbors like the Daybells. He was unaware of the case until he opened the Washington Post on Monday morning and saw their photos. Now he needs some time to process everything he's learned. "I hope everything works out, and I hope what I read is not true," he says. === 21. What do locals in Hawaii know about the Daybell case? === Published: Tue, 28 Jan 2020 07:08:14 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=419643 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com KAUAI, Hawaii -- While many in eastern Idaho have followed the case of Chad and Lori Daybell for the past month, most local Hawaiians we spoke with were unaware of the situation. We visited an outdoor shopping plaza and showed photos of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and his sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, to several shoppers. Not one of them knew who the children were and they had not heard of the Daybells. That changed Sunday night when news broke that search warrants had been served on Chad and Lori Daybell in Kauai. Exclusive EastIdahoNews.com video of Nate Eaton trying to question the Daybells quickly spread across the island and many people approached Eaton Monday mentioning they were now following the case. The interviews above were shot before the warrants were served. More on the Daybell case === 20. Chad and Lori Daybell have been in Hawaii for at least a month in gated million-dollar community === Published: Mon, 27 Jan 2020 22:50:16 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=419576 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com KAUAI, Hawaii – Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell likely spent Sunday night at the Kauai Beach Resort after local police served them with a search warrant and seized their rental SUV. But the Daybells, who have been in Hawaii since mid-December, have been staying at a home in Princeville, a community 16 miles north of the resort where they were pulled over. Many homes in the Princeville Resort, a gated community, cost millions of dollars and Lori Daybell had been renting a unit on Queen Emma’s Drive. Neighbors who spoke with EastIdahoNews.com say they rarely saw the couple and were unaware of the investigation surrounding Lori’s missing children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow. EXCLUSIVE: Daybells served with search warrants in Hawaii
The townhome police searched Sunday night that Lori and Chad Daybell had been renting. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Police have not said if anything was found or taken from the Princeville home or the couple’s SUV. Law enforcement from eastern Idaho remained in Kauai on Monday but declined to release further information on the investigation. Besides the search warrants, Lori Daybell was served with a court order Saturday demanding she have her children at the Rexburg Police Department or Idaho Department of Health and Welfare by Thursday or she could be arrested for being in contempt of court. Sean Batholick, an attorney for Chad and Lori, told EastIdahoNews.com he had no comment on the latest developments. More on the Daybell case It's not clear exactly why authorities chose now to approach the Daybells. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries did confirm the timing of the warrants had nothing to do with the investigation into the death of Tammy Daybell, Chad's former wife. On Sunday, some media agencies reported Chad Daybell's family had been given a copy of Tammy's autopsy report. However, Humphries says the autopsy results are still pending, and that no one has seen them. RELATED: The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Lori’s former sister-in-law, Kay Woodcock, says she had guessed the Daybells were in Hawaii but was not sure until she saw video of EastIdahoNews.com approaching them at the Kauai Beach Resort. It is Lori’s favorite place on the island, according to Woodcock, and in February 2019, Lori and Tylee checked into the resort after Charles Vallow, Lori’s husband, filed for divorce. They stayed for around a month, according to resort workers, and then returned to the mainland. Woodcock was surprised when she learned last summer that Lori was moving to Rexburg. “She is a very cold-natured person. When she moved to Idaho, I thought that was extremely unusual because if it’s below 80 degrees, she’s cold. She’s got a jacket on,” Woodcock tells EastIdahoNews.com. After Lori and Chad were served with warrants Sunday, they refused to answer questions posed by EastIdahoNews.com for nearly three minutes. Lori carried the warrant in her hand along with a gallon-sized Ziploc bag containing a wad of cash.
Chad Daybell walking with Lori Daybell, who is seen carrying a Ziploc bag containing money. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
“Maybe they were headed to the airport to get out,” Woodcock says, wondering if suitcases were in their vehicle. The Daybells kept a low profile on Kauai on Monday, but many people on the island were discussing the case after EastIdahoNews.com's video went viral and multiple news agencies around the world aired the footage. Woodcock and her husband, Larry, booked airline tickets and will be in Rexburg later this week. They hope Lori Daybell shows up with Tylee and Joshua. “The only way we’ve been able to get through this is we have very strong faith in God,” Woodcock says. “We have a very strong support army of friends and family and everybody that has emailed or texted - plus perfect strangers that are so compassionate.” === 19. Lori Daybell must produce children in 5 days or may be found in contempt of court === Published: Mon, 27 Jan 2020 00:21:19 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=419430 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad and Lori Daybell at the Kauai Beach Resort in Hawaii on Sunday. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
REXBURG -- Authorities in Madison County have filed a child protection order on behalf of 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow. The two children have been missing since the end of September. Rexburg police say the children's mother, Lori (Vallow) Daybell, and her new husband, Chad Daybell, refuse to tell them where the children are and have lied to investigators about their location. Police are also investigating the deaths of Chad and Lori's former spouses. On Sunday, Hawaiian law enforcement, in cooperation with federal and eastern Idaho authorities, served search warrants on the couple in Kaua‘i, Hawaii. EastIdahoNews.com has learned that one day before, the couple was also given the child protection order on behalf of the Madison County Prosecutor's Office. EXCLUSIVE: Daybells served with search warrants in Hawaii In a news release, Madison County Deputy Prosecutor Rob Wood said child protection actions are normally confidential and sealed to protect the anonymity of the parties. However, the prosecutor’s office has obtained a court order that allowed them to admit to the existence of the document and to release details about it. The order requires Lori physically produce Tylee and Joshua to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in Rexburg or to the Rexburg Police within five days of being served with the order. The Kaua‘i Police Department served Lori the order in the city of Princeville on the island of Kaua‘i, Hawaii. Wood, in the news release, said Chad was with her when the order was given to them, but that neither of the children were with the parents. Furthermore, authorities say there is no evidence Tylee and J.J. were ever in Hawaii. RELATED: The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan Failure to comply with this order may subject Lori to civil or criminal contempt of court, according to the release. Kaua‘i Police said Lori and Chad have been staying on Kaua‘i for an unconfirmed period of time, according to a Facebook post. They have spent the last weeks coordinating with law enforcement in Rexburg. “KPD’s desire is to continue to assist the Rexburg police in whatever way we can with their efforts to locate the missing children,” Kaua‘i Police Chief Todd G. Raybuck said in a Facebook post. “It’s our sincere hope that the children have a safe return.”
The order also asked the court for permission to alert the public that they are seeking anyone with knowledge regarding location, health or safety of the children. Additionally, the order confirms search warrants were issued for the couple's vehicle, Hawaii home and their persons on Sunday. EastIdahoNews.com was on scene when the Daybells' rental vehicle was seized. Afterward, EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton approached Chad and Lori in the parking lot of the resort. We asked several questions -- including the whereabouts of the children -- and Lori only responded to one. When told people in eastern Idaho and across the country are praying for her missing children, she said, “That’s great.” The Daybells were not arrested Sunday and have not been criminally charged. Police declined to say what they are searching for and if any evidence was found. === 18. EXCLUSIVE: Chad and Lori Daybell served with search warrants in Hawaii === Published: Sun, 26 Jan 2020 21:10:42 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=419407 By Nate Eaton and Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com KAUAI, Hawaii -- Chad and Lori Daybell did not have much to say when approached by EastIdahoNews.com Sunday afternoon in Hawaii after they were served with two search warrants. The couple was pulled over by Kauai Police officers around 3:30 p.m. local time as they were driving a black Ford Explorer along the Kuhio Highway. They entered the parking lot of Kauai Beach Resort, and police served them with a search warrant for their vehicle. Federal and eastern Idaho law enforcement officers assisted, and EastIdahoNews.com was on the scene as Lori Daybell was put into one police SUV and Chad Daybell waited in another. After 30 minutes, a tow truck came and took the SUV. Police then went to the Daybells' townhome in Princeville, Hawaii and executed a search warrant on the property. LATEST: Lori Daybell must produce children in 5 days or may be found in contempt of court
Chad Daybell sits in a police SUV on Sunday afternoon. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
More on the Daybell case The Daybells have been living inside a gated community in Hawaii for several months, according to law enforcement. Lori's children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, have been missing since the end of September. Police say the Daybells refuse to tell them where the children are and have lied to investigators about their location. Police are also investigating the deaths of their former spouses. RELATED: The major players and timeline of events in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan The Daybells were not arrested Sunday and have not been criminally charged. Police declined to say what they are searching for and if any evidence was found, but Lori Daybell gathered belongings from her vehicle, including a large amount of cash in a plastic bag.
Lori Daybell stands with Hawaii law enforcement on Sunday afternoon. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
EastIdahoNews.com approached Chad and Lori in the parking lot of the resort after police finished their on-scene work Sunday. We asked several questions, and Lori only responded to one. When told people in eastern Idaho and across the country are praying for her missing children, she said, "That's great." Law enforcement declined to provide any details about Sunday's operation, but the Madison County prosecutor is expected to release more information Monday about what's next in the case. EastIdahoNews.com will remain in Hawaii and provide additional reports throughout the week. Read past reporting on the Chad and Lori Daybell case === 17. Court docs, body camera detail aftermath of shooting that killed Charles Vallow === Published: Tue, 14 Jan 2020 14:32:17 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=417780 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Alex Cox and Charles Vallow
EDITORS NOTE: This story contains graphic details and video contains explicit language. CHANDLER, Arizona -- More details have been released regarding a deadly shooting in Arizona that is possibly tied into the disappearance of two missing Rexburg kids. Fox10 Phoenix obtained body camera video, a 911 call and dozens of pages of police reports, which detail an argument between Lori (Vallow) Daybell, her then-estranged husband Charles Vallow, and Lori's brother Alex Cox. The argument ended with Charles Vallow being fatally shot. Lori Daybell is now at the center of a multi-state investigation regarding the disappearance of 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow. Lori, and her new husband, Chad Daybell, fled Rexburg in November after police attempted to perform a welfare check on the children. The children have not been seen since September, and the parents are refusing to cooperate with police in locating them. They have also actively lied about their whereabouts, say police. READ MORE ABOUT THE DAYBELL CASE HERE The missing children case is being investigated alongside the deaths of Chad and Lori's former spouses, Tammy Daybell and Charles Vallow. Fremont County has denied EastIdahoNews.com records requests for information about the death of Tammy Daybell. However, Fox10 Phoenix got partially redacted documents about the death of Charles Vallow. According to Fox10 Phoenix, authorities learned about the death of Charles Vallow from a 911 call by Cox on July 11. "I got in a fight with my brother-in-law. and I shot him in self-defense," Cox said in the 911 call. The call was made from a home in Chandler, Arizona right after Cox had fired two rounds into Charles Vallow's chest, which killed him. When police arrived, Cox told police that just prior to the shooting an argument between Charles Vallow and Lori Daybell had occurred. He said that during the argument, Tylee then stepped in to defend her mom with a baseball bat. Charles Vallow then reportedly grabbed the bat from Tylee and began swinging, according to a police report. Cox, who was at the home, then intervened in the struggle. Police reports show he grabbed Charles from behind and they fell to the floor. Cox stood back up and as he turned around he said Charles Vallow hit him in the back of the head with the bat. "So I went to my room and got my gun, 'cause I always carry it," Cox said in body camera video obtained by Fox10 Phoenix. Before shooting, Cox told police he warned Vallow to drop the bat. There is some contradiction between the statement given by Cox and the statement later given by Lori Daybell to the police. Cox said that Joshua, Tylee, and Lori Daybell all left the home before the gunshots, but Lori's statement said when she heard a gunshot she walked from the kitchen to the living room, finding her husband dead, according to Fox10 Phoenix. She then went outside to check on the kids and drove away with them in Charles Vallow's rental car.
At some point in the investigation, Lori Daybell returned to the home, but Fox10 reports the Chandler Police Department redacted the audio from that portion of the video. Tylee is also shown at the scene. Cox and Lori Daybell were detained by police, but were released later that day when the shooting was determined to be self-defense. Following the shooting, neighbors reported a pool party with loud music taking place at the home, according to a public Facebook post by Joe Pongratz, the landlord of the home. Pongratz also wrote in the post that while speaking with Lori Daybell during the days after the shooting, "she never sounded shocked, sad or heartbroken."
Kay Woodcock, the sister of Charles Vallow, said in a news conference last week that the death investigation was a "setup," and Charles Vallow's death was "murder," rather than self-defense. The Chandler Police Department told EastIdahoNews.com the investigation in Charles Vallow case remains open. It has been hampered though, because on Dec. 12, Cox died in Gilbert, Arizona. His cause of death has not been released, pending the results of an autopsy. There are no suspects in his death.
Screenshots of the Facebook post by the landlord Joe Pongratz to the Real Massacre Talk Facebook Group dedicated to the missing kids | Courtesy Real Massacre Talk Facebook Group
=== 16. Grandparents of missing Rexburg boy to appear on Dr. Oz today === Published: Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:17:55 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=417805 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Video Credit: ZoCo Productions, LLC. Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Television
IDAHO FALLS -- The grandparents of missing Rexburg child Joshua “JJ” Vallow are appearing on 'The Dr. Oz' Show Tuesday to discuss the case, their family and what they believe happened to their grandson and his 17-year-old sister Tylee Ryan. Kay and Larry Woodcock are the biological grandparents of 7-year-old JJ, who was adopted by Kay’s brother, Charles Vallow. Charles was married to Lori Vallow Daybell. Police are calling Lori and her new husband, Chad Daybell, persons of interest in connection with the children’s disappearance. In video clips sent to EastIdahoNews.com, Dr. Oz asks Kay Woodcock about Lori's religious beliefs. Dr. Oz: “Here she is a seemingly well adapted mom.” Kay Woodcock: “Yes.” Dr. Oz: “Church goer, married to your brother, and next thing you know she's in some cult. Believing things that most of us don't think are rational.” Kay Woodcock: “Right.” Dr. Oz: “Potential involved in, and bad things happen to the people. They've been four close relatives who've died in the last two years. So how did this all happen? What happened to Lori is the question.” Kay Woodcock: “She got on this path that she started reading Chad Daybell's books, and then I don't know at what point she met him, but that's when she started going of course, and Charles wouldn't go down that path with Lori. She started telling him all these things about being reincarnated, and that she could transport herself. All the time she was getting these visions from God, and telling her what to do.” Last week the Woodcocks traveled from Lake Charles, Louisiana to meet with Rexburg police and the FBI. They announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of JJ and Tylee. The grandparents said until somebody tells them differently, they believe JJ and Tylee are still alive. On July 11, Lori Vallow’s brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Charles Vallow in Chandler, Arizona. Cox told police at the time the shooting was in self-defense. The case is still under investigation. Alex Cox died on December 12 in Gilbert, Arizona. Investigators are not releasing any information about the circumstances surrounding his death, due to an ongoing investigation. Dr. Oz asked Kay Woodcock about Vallow and Cox. Dr. Oz: “The allegations are that Lori and her brother were defending themselves, that your brother was attacking him and going to kill them and it was self-defense when they killed him.” Kay Woodcock: “No, that couldn't be further than the truth. He told us a long time ago, that if anything ever happened to him, it would be Lori and Alex, that it would be them, or one or the other or both. In this case, it was both.” Dr. Oz: “Yet Alex, six months later, last month-” Kay Woodcock: “Yes.” Dr. Oz: “-he died too.” Kay Woodcock: “Right.” Dr. Oz: “Found dead.” Kay Woodcock: “Isn't that amazing? The only other people in that room is Lori. She's the only one standing.” Dr. Oz airs at 11 a.m. on KPVI Channel 6. === 15. Principal offers explanation about why Joshua "JJ" Vallow wasn't reported missing in September === Published: Sat, 11 Jan 2020 11:39:22 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=417436 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Joshua "JJ" Vallow | Courtesy photo
REXBURG -- One of the major questions surrounding the disappearance of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan is why the local school system didn't report them missing last September. Now there is an explanation. The principal of Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg, where Joshua attended, says his mother, Lori (Vallow) Daybell unenrolled him the day after he was last seen on Sept 23. Principal Josh Wilson told EastIdahoNews.com Friday he recalls Daybell coming to the school on Sept. 24, and telling administrators that she planned to homeschool Joshua. Daybell had enrolled Joshua at the school only three weeks prior on Sept. 3.
7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow last attended Kennedy Elementary on Sept. 23, 2019 | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
“It's a common process,” Wilson says. "There was nothing at the time that would cause us any alarm." Wilson said in Idaho if a parent decides to homeschool their child or move they visit the school and fill out the paperwork to disenroll them. Once the child is disenrolled the school is no longer responsible for the situation. “He wasn’t absent for months,” Wilson says. "Once they’re disenrolled we don’t track attendance." Additionally, the Idaho State Department of Education does "not regulate or monitor homeschool education," or require attendance to be taken, according to the department's website. Joshua was not reported as missing until December, when the Rexburg Police Department issued a bulletin asking for any information about the whereabouts of the children. Police had been trying to perform a welfare check, but Lori Daybell and her new husband Chad were refusing to tell police where the children were, and had actively lied to authorities about the children's location, Rexburg Police Chief Shane Turman told EastIdahoNews.com. RELATED | Despite hundreds of tips, investigators say they’re no closer to finding missing Rexburg kids Since then, the parents have ceased speaking with authorities and Lori and Chad have been named persons of interest in connection with the children's disappearance. Joshua's grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock visited Rexburg earlier this week from their home in Louisiana to meet with law enforcement. The couple hoped to gain an understanding of the case and the days leading up to the children's disappearance. The Woodcocks told KPVI they hoped the school would allow a short visit with his teacher of three weeks. "We spoke with the FBI agent that dealt with the school and they were able to answer the questions we had," Kay Woodcock said at a news conference Tuesday. "We didn't want to disrupt the school and they're just getting back." The family also clarified that Tylee graduated from high school early and did not attend school in Rexburg. Investigators have not released a place or time when anyone last saw the teenager. At the news conference, the Woodcocks announced the family is putting up a $20,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to the recovery of Joshua and Tylee. RELATED | ‘All I want is just to see those children.’ Grandparents announce $20K reward for JJ and Tylee Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at (800) THE-LOST. === 14. Chad Daybell's brother issues statement 'pleading' for him to cooperate with investigation === Published: Fri, 10 Jan 2020 11:32:59 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=417353 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Chad Daybell, left, Lori Vallow Daybell, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, Tylee Ryan
REXBURG -- Chad Daybell's younger brother is "deeply saddened" by what has happened over the past few months and has pleaded with Chad to tell authorities where his two missing stepchildren are. Matt Daybell issued his first public statement to EastIdahoNews.com on Friday, saying it represents the views of him, his wife and children, not his extended family or parents. He addressed the circumstances surrounding Chad and his deceased wife, Tammy Daybell. "Due to the circumstances surrounding the unknown whereabouts of (Joshua) "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and the suspicious death investigation of Tammy Daybell, I feel I must make an official statement at this time," Matt Daybell says. Matt and his wife, Heather, have lived in the Rexburg area for more than 15 years. Chad Dayell is his oldest brother, and Matt says they have not directly spoken to each other since Tammy Daybell's memorial service in Rexburg on Oct. 23. "Since that time, I have texted Chad twice. Once, when I heard from a neighbor of his quick marriage to Lori Vallow, expressing to him my shock and dismay at this news," Matt Daybell says. "Second, just recently, pleading with Chad to cooperate with authorities and reveal the whereabouts of his new stepchildren." JJ and Tylee have been missing since September, and their mother, Lori (Vallow) Daybell, and stepfather, Chad Daybell, are refusing to cooperate with police in their attempts to locate the children. JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, announced a $20,000 reward Tuesday for information leading to the recovery of the kids. Matt Daybell tells EastIdahoNews.com he and Chad are five years apart and have not been close since childhood. Tammy Daybell was found dead in her Salem home Oct. 19. Authorities initially thought her death was from natural causes but have since deemed it suspicious and exhumed her remains Dec. 11. Investigators are awaiting results from an autopsy, which they expect to be completed soon. "My immediate family has had little association with Chad the last many years due to our concerns with his religious claims and particular books he had chosen to publish, including his own," Matt Daybell says. "We are deeply saddened at the recent events that have played out the last several months." Chad and Tammy Daybell ran a publishing company that produced his books about end times and Latter-day Saint theology. RELATED | Case of 2 missing kids grows to include deaths, cult rumors Nobody has been charged in connection to the missing children or Tammy Daybell's death. Matt Daybell says he, his wife and children do not know anything more than what has been reported by the media and ask for their privacy at this time. "It is our hope and prayer that JJ and Tylee are safe. We want for the truth to be found - whatever that truth turns out to be," Matt Daybell says. "I plead again for Chad to come forward and cooperate with the investigation so that this very difficult situation might be resolved."

MATT DAYBELL'S ENTIRE STATEMENT

Due to the circumstances surrounding the unknown whereabouts of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and the suspicious death investigation of Tammy Daybell, I feel I must make an official statement at this time. My name is Matt Daybell. My wife is Heather Daybell. We have been residents of the Rexburg area for over 15 years. Chad Daybell is my oldest brother. I have not seen nor directly spoken to Chad since Tammy’s memorial here in Rexburg on October 23, 2019. Since that time, I have texted Chad twice. Once, when I heard from a neighbor of his quick marriage to Lori Vallow, expressing to him my shock and dismay at this news. Second, just recently, pleading with Chad to cooperate with authorities and reveal the whereabouts of his new stepchildren. I have not been close to Chad since childhood. My immediate family has had little association with Chad the last many years due to our concerns with his religious claims and particular books he had chosen to publish, including his own. We are deeply saddened at the recent events that have played out the last several months. It is our hope and prayer that JJ and Tylee are safe. We want for the truth to be found - whatever that truth turns out to be. Neither I, nor my wife and children have any more information than what has been reported by the news media. I plead again for Chad to come forward and cooperate with the investigation so that this very difficult situation might be resolved. My wife and I ask for privacy for us and for our children and will not be giving any further comments at this time. === 13. Case of 2 missing kids grows to include deaths, cult rumors === Published: Fri, 10 Jan 2020 08:47:15 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=417318 By Rebecca Boone, Associated Press BOISE (AP) — Two dead spouses, two missing children and rumors of a cult. Confusion is growing around a series of mysterious deaths and the disappearances of a 7-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl that tie back to a couple who have since vanished themselves. Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan haven't been seen since September. Lori Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, never reported them missing and disappeared soon after being questioned about the children. What has followed is a twisted tale spanning two states that revealed the deaths of both their previous spouses, the couple's doomsday beliefs and children who slowly slipped away from relatives who are desperate to find them. "All I want before I go is just to see those children, and especially — and I'm being greedy — especially my boy JJ. My little man," grandfather Larry Woodcock said Tuesday at a press conference in Idaho announcing a $20,000 reward for information leading to the kids. Wife Kay Woodcock's brother, Charles Vallow, adopted JJ when he was a baby. Charles and his wife, Lori Vallow, also raised Lori's daughter from a previous relationship at their home in suburban Phoenix. Lori Vallow was a hairdresser, always keeping JJ's hair trimmed and styled, Larry Woodcock said. The Woodcocks, who live in Lake Charles, Louisiana, visited their grandson often and shared frequent phone calls and video chats when they couldn't be there in person. "I do know that Lori always had the best, the absolute best interest in heart for JJ. She and Charles were the absolute best parents," he said. But things began to change a few years ago, Kay Woodcock said. Her brother confided that he feared Lori was cheating on him with Chad Daybell, an author of several religious-themed fiction books about prophecies and the end of the world. Charles Vallow eventually filed divorce documents in an Arizona court last February claiming that Lori believed she was a "translated being" and "a god assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ's second coming in July 2020," The Arizona Republic newspaper reported. He also accused Lori of threatening to kill him if he got in her way, prompting him to seek a protection order. "He was highly concerned about it: Her emotional state, her mental state, and the fact that she had made threats about him," Kay Woodcock said Tuesday. "It all culminated into that cult that she's in." Lori Vallow and Daybell did Preparing A People podcasts run by a small multimedia company that says it's not a cult or even a group to join and distanced itself from the couple's beliefs. It advertises its lectures, podcasts and videos as readying people for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Charles and Lori Vallow's divorce was never completed — Charles was killed in July by Lori's brother, Alex Cox. Cox told authorities that the shooting was in self-defense after Charles Vallow hit him with a baseball bat, but the case is unsolved. Whatever the findings, Cox won't stand trial — he died of unknown causes in December. Toxicology results could take weeks. Kay Woodcock said Lori acted strangely when she told the family about Charles' death, not mentioning the cause. A relative had to search Charles' name online to find out he had been shot. "We knew it was a murder, we knew Charles' death wasn't a justifiable homicide," Kay Woodcock said. "It was like they set him up." After the death, Kay and Larry Woodcock said they had a harder time reaching JJ. The once-frequent calls dwindled and grew short. The last one, in August, lasted just 36 seconds and seemed scripted, they said. That month, Lori moved to Rexburg, Idaho, with the kids. It brought her closer to Chad Daybell's hometown of Salem, Idaho, where he lived with his wife, Tammy Daybell. The Daybells ran a publishing company that produced his fiction books about end times and theology around The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as other authors' works. He also spoke at Preparing A People events, hosted by Color My Media. "'Preparing A People' is part of a media company that films speakers on a variety of topics not affiliated with any specific religion," Color My Media owners Michael and Nancy James wrote on the company's website. "It is not a 'group' and is not a 'Cult' or something people join, but has educational lecture events that can be attended or watched on video." They also said they didn't share any of Daybell or Vallow's beliefs "if they are contrary to Christian principles of honesty, integrity and truth or if they do not align with the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Church spokesman Eric Hawkins declined to comment, saying the case doesn't involve the faith. Two months after Lori Vallow moved to Idaho, Tammy Daybell died at her home. She was just 49, and her obituary said she died of natural causes on Oct. 19. Police would later question that and have her body exhumed for an autopsy, whose results have not been released yet. Chad Daybell married Lori Vallow just two weeks after Tammy's death. In the meantime, relatives were growing more concerned about the children. Larry and Kay Woodcock said they were only able to reach JJ a few times after his father died in July. They have left voice messages, emails and texts since August but haven't heard back. Investigators later determined JJ and Tylee had not been seen since September, but Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell never reported them missing. Julie Rowe, a self-described "visionary" and "energy worker" who says she has long been friends with Daybell, uploaded a video on her website defending him and claiming his innocence in the children's disappearances and the death of his previous wife. She said Daybell repeatedly told her he had a vision of Tammy's death. Rowe claimed to have the same vision. "My angels tell me that Chad Daybell is being falsely accused of the suspicious death of his wife," she said in the video. "I have talked to Tammy's spirit." Two days before Thanksgiving, officers visited Lori and Chad to check on the children after getting calls from worried family members. Investigators said the couple claimed JJ and Tylee were visiting relatives in Arizona. After discovering the lie, investigators returned to the home the next day — only to find Lori and Chad had left town. Local, regional and state authorities are still searching for the couple and the children, with help from the FBI. Chad and Lori have been named persons of interest in the children's disappearances. Sheriff's deputies searched Daybell's home last week, removing 43 items including computers, cellphones, medication and journals. An attorney for the couple didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment. === 12. 'All I want is just to see those children.' Grandparents announce $20K reward for JJ and Tylee === Published: Tue, 07 Jan 2020 16:50:32 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416878 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG — The grandparents of a missing Rexburg boy are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of him and his 17-year-old sister. Kay and Larry Woodcock announced the reward during a news conference Tuesday morning. Their grandson, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, and his sister, Tylee Ryan, were last seen in Rexburg in September. The Woodcocks traveled from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and spent Monday in eastern Idaho meeting with Rexburg police and the FBI for six hours. The grandparents say until somebody tells them differently, they believe JJ and Tylee are still alive. "These are beautiful young children. They’re two extremely intelligent young children and we want them back. We want them back in our family," Larry Woodcock said. "We don’t say the 'D word.' We don’t want to and we’re not going to because we truly believe and we hope and pray these kids are alive." The Woodcocks are the biological grandparents of JJ, who was adopted by Kay’s brother, Charles Vallow. Charles was married to Lori Vallow Daybell. Police are calling Lori and her new husband, Chad Daybell, persons of interest in connection with the children's disappearance. Investigators say the couple has repeatedly told lies about the kids and that Lori knows where they are or what happened to them. chad daybell and lori vallow daybell
Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell
During the news conference, the grandparents said they do not know where Chad and Lori are and made an appeal to the children's mother. They said she always had the "best interest at heart for JJ" until things slowly began changing two years ago. “If there is anything that Lori can come forth with and help us, please do it,” Larry Woodcock said. “She knows how much we love these kids, and we want only the best for them. That’s it. It’s that simple. Please give them back to us." The Woodcocks often spoke with JJ and say he loved to Facetime with them. The last conversation with their grandson on Aug. 10 was less than a minute. This did not worry them at the time, as he would often call them briefly. However, since then, they've tried to contact him repeatedly with no success. "We don't know why we weren't allowed more access to him, but we reached out constantly in every way - email, voicemail, text, phone call, whatever - and never, ever got a response so that was very concerning to us," Kay Woodcock said. JJ loves to swim and is hardly afraid of anything in life, Larry Woodcock said. Tylee is a typical teenage girl who graduated early from high school and has a close group of friends. The grandparents have launched the Find JJ and Tylee website in hopes of receiving tips from the public. They support law enforcement's effort to bring JJ and Tylee home and hope the reward will help. "All I want before I go is just to see those children," Larry Woodcock said. "I just want to hear him beat on the drums, I want to hear him say, 'Papa, let's go ride' or 'Let's go to Checkers and let's go get a hamburger.' I'm hoping beyond hope that that happens in the near future." Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at (800) THE-LOST. WATCH THE ENTIRE NEWS CONFERENCE HERE === 11. Sheriff details what happened when deputies responded to Tammy Daybell's death as Lori Daybell's son makes a passionate plea === Published: Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:57:52 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416897 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com FREMONT COUNTY -- Lori Vallow Daybell’s son is making a plea to his mother and telling her to reveal information about his missing sister, Tylee Ryan, and brother, Joshua "JJ" Vallow. "I can’t tell you how hurt and frustrated and confused I am about what’s going on," Colby Ryan said in a video posted on his YouTube channel. "You have the power to end this. You have an opportunity to put this all to rest."
Ryan’s plea comes days after investigators searched Chad Daybell’s Salem home and retrieved 43 items, including computers, electronic devices, journals, cell phones and other things. RELATED | Investigators collect 43 items during raid at Daybell home "There were samples of various things that were taken that will be sent off to labs for further analysis," Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries said when asked by EastIdahoNews.com if items such as hair or personal forensic evidence was seized. "We’re trying to clarify things and figure out what it was that might have happened there." Investigators say they’re no closer to knowing the location of 17-year-old Tylee and 7-year-old JJ. The kids have been missing since September and Lori and Chad are not talking.
Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan
"There is a lot of concern for the safety of the kids," Humphries said. "The information that is coming out of Arizona in reference to deaths of multiple people is concerning." One of the deaths Humphries is referring to is that of Lori’s former husband, Charles Vallow. He was shot and killed in July while picking up JJ from Lori in Chandler, Arizona. Police said he was shot in self-defense and the man who pulled the trigger was Lori’s brother, Alex Cox. Cox died Dec. 12 and the cause of his death has not been released. Tylee’s dad, Joseph Ryan, passed away of an apparent heart attack in 2018. He had been divorced from Lori for some time. Then there’s Chad’s former wife, Tammy Daybell, who died at her home in Salem Oct. 19. "My deputies responded and, as we do with most unattended deaths, they took pictures, they looked it over and contacted our detectives," Humphries says." The detectives had a few questions, they satisfied those, got the information they needed and didn’t see anything that alarmed them."
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell
EastIdahoNews.com asked Humphries if Chad Daybell was acting unusual or suspicious when deputies were at the home. "To my knowledge, he was responding like anybody would whose spouse had just passed away. That’s why the deputies didn’t suspect anything suspicious," Humphries said. A few days later, Humphries said his office was alerted by detectives in Arizona about the other deaths. Tammy’s body was exhumed from the Springville Evergreen Cemetary and an autopsy was performed. Investigators are waiting for autopsy lab results, which could take a few more weeks. One question that has been raised is whether Tammy Daybell had a large life insurance policy. Humphries said he could not comment on that issue but confirmed it is being investigated. "There is some information along those lines that I’m not at liberty to speak about right now," he said. Ten days before Tammy died, she reported pulling in her driveway when a masked man came up and started firing an empty paintball gun at her. In a Facebook post, she said she asked the man what he was doing and he didn't respond. She yelled for Chad to help her and the man took off. RELATED | Tammy Daybell reported a masked man shot at her with a paintball gun 10 days before her ‘suspicious’ death Humphries confirms the Fremont County Sheriff's Office sent a deputy to the Daybell home that evening. "There wasn’t anything there at the time we could do and everybody kind of summed it up as a prank," Humphries said, acknowledging now that the situation was "a red flag." When asked if he thinks the incident is tied to Tammy's death, he responded by saying, "We would like to know." Tammy Daybell's death has been ruled suspicious and Chad Daybell has not spoken to investigators about his wife's death, according to Humphries. "We have been contacted by his attorney a couple of weeks ago," Humphries said. "His attorney was letting us know that any communications would be through him and that there wasn’t any at the time. That has not changed." Sean Bartholick, the Daybell's attorney, declined our request for an on-camera interview but in a previous statement said Chad Daybell was a loving husband and Lori Daybell is a devoted mother. He added, “We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor.” RELATED | Parents of missing Rexburg children issue statement, attorney says they are ‘loving’ and ‘devoted’ Officials are pretty sure Chad and Lori are not in Idaho and neighbors tell EastIdahoNews.com nobody has entered Lori’s Rexburg townhouse for weeks. Toys belonging to JJ sit on the front porch covered in snow.
A soccer ball belonging to Joshua "JJ" Vallow sits on the front porch of Lori Daybell's townhouse. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
Investigators say they will continue to process search warrants and additional subpoenas. They remain hopeful Tylee and JJ will be found. "Certainly we’re all concerned for their safety," Humphries said. "If they would let us know where they're at, let somebody know where they’re at, I don’t think it would be very difficult to prove their safety if they’re ok." WATCH OUR ENTIRE INTERVIEW WITH SHERIFF LEN HUMPHRIES
=== 10. Sheriff's office collects 43 items during raid at Daybell home === Published: Mon, 06 Jan 2020 11:34:20 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416789 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com SALEM -- The Fremont County Sheriff's Office says law enforcement removed 43 items from Chad Daybell's Salem home during a multi-agency raid on Friday. “We are trying to clarify things and figure out what happened there,” Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told EastIdahoNews.com. Humphries said the items included computers, cell phones, journals, documents and medications, which have been sent to forensic experts for examination. RELATED | Police conclude search at Daybell home The results of those examinations are not expected to be available for several weeks, Humphries said. On Friday, Fremont County detectives served a search warrant on the home. They were aided by the Rexburg Police Department and the Forensic Unit from the FBI’s Salt Lake City Office. They spent the majority of the day at the home, before returning it to two of Chad Daybell's sons who live there. The search of the home had to do with both a missing children case and a suspicious death case. Authorities are investigating the disappearance of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Joshua and Tylee have been missing since September, and their mother, Lori (Vallow) Daybell, and stepfather, Chad Daybell, are refusing to cooperate with police in their attempts to speak with the children to perform a welfare check. Investigators are also looking into the suspicious death of Tammy Daybell. She was found dead in the Salem home Oct. 19. Authorities initially thought her death was from natural causes but have since deemed her death suspicious and exhumed her remains Dec. 11. Humphries previously told EastIdahoNews.com investigators are awaiting results from the autopsy, and it could take several weeks before the results are released. See previous stories on the Daybells and the missing children here. === 9. Court documents: Mother of missing Rexburg children believes she is a reincarnated God chosen for Christ's second coming === Published: Sun, 05 Jan 2020 11:40:58 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416724 By Adam Herbets, KSTU SALT LAKE CITY (KSTU) — Family members from Louisiana have flown in to meet with the Rexburg Police Department and FBI to discuss the disappearance of Joshua “JJ” Vallow (7) and Tylee Ryan (17). Kay Woodcock and her husband Larry Woodcock are the biological grandparents of JJ, an autistic little boy who has been missing since September along with his sister. Tylee Ryan’s father, Joseph Ryan, died in 2018 of a heart attack. Police said the children’s mother — Lori Vallow — and her new husband — Chad Daybell — did not report the children missing, instead choosing to flee from Idaho and refusing to cooperate with the investigation. RELATED | Police conclude search at Daybell home “I don’t have any expectations. I’ve never done this before. I have no idea. I just feel like I need to be in Idaho,” Kay Woodcock said. “I’d love (Chad and Lori) to be arrested. Have her in one room and Chad in the other? Absolutely.” “We’ve cried until there’s not much left to cry,” Larry Woodcock said. “The hole that Lori and Chad are digging just keeps getting deeper… If I could just have (JJ) back one time, please God give it to me. One time. If he’s not with us anymore, just tell me that.” Lori Vallow was married to Kay Woodcock’s brother, Charles Vallow. On July 11, Lori Vallow’s brother Alex Cox shot and killed Charles Vallow in Chandler, Arizona. Cox told police at the time the shooting was in self-defense. The case is still under investigation. Alex Cox later died on December 12 in Gilbert, Arizona. Investigators are not releasing any information about the circumstances surrounding his death, due to an ongoing investigation. RELATED | Despite hundreds of tips, investigators say they’re no closer to finding missing Rexburg kids According to court documents first reported by Fox10 Pheonix, Charles Vallow wanted to divorce Lori Vallow because of her newfound religious beliefs. Months before he died, Charles Vallow had serious concerns about the kids’ wellbeing. The following is an excerpt from court documents filed by Charles Vallow’s attorney on February 15, 2019. Mother [Lori Vallow] has recently become infatuated at times obsessive about near death experiences and spiritual visions. Mother has told Father [Charles Vallow] that she is sealed [eternally married] to the ancient Book of Mormon prophet Moroni and that she has lived numerous lives on numerous planets prior to this current life. Mother also believes that she was married to James the Just in a past life and also lived as Mary French in the 1800s who was Joseph Smith Junior’s natural grandmother. Mother also informed Father that she is a translated being who cannot taste death sent by God to lead the 144,000 into the Millennium. Mother believes that she is receiving spiritual revelations and visions to help her gather and prepare those chosen to live in the New Jerusalem after the Great War as prophesied in the book of Revelations. On January 29, 2019, during a phone conversation between the parties and after their physical separation, Mother informed Father that she was a God assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ’s second coming in July 2020 and that if Father got in her way of her mission she would murder him. The next day Father was on a business trip in Houston and during another phone conversation she kept referring to Father as ‘Nick Schneider’ instead of Father’s name. Father asked who Nick Schneider was and Mother told him that Nick was Father’s real name because Nick had killed Father and taken his identity. Mother proceeded to warn Father that she would kill him upon his return home and had an angel there to help her dispose of the body. She also mentioned that she could not trust Father and that she would not only kill him but would destroy him financially. Since that conversation Mother’s communications with Father have been rare and intermittent. RELATED | Parents of missing Rexburg children issue statement, attorney says they are ‘loving’ and ‘devoted’ Kay Woodcock told FOX 13 she and her husband would routinely talk to her brother about whether it’s possible to somehow overcome his wife’s new beliefs and save the marriage. “Charles told me he had recordings of her. He said, 'Nobody will believe me,' and he recorded her one night,” Kay Woodcock said. “Even though it’s deleted, nothing is ever deleted electronically or whatever. However that is ... for her to say she’s a translated being and she is reincarnated? That is scary!” “Some nights he’d call me just crying like a baby, and it hurt my soul,” Larry Woodcock said. Kay Woodcock said she always loved Lori Vallow “as a sister,” but later suspected Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were having an affair based on emails exchanged between the two. Once Lori Vallow met Chad Daybell, Kay Woodcock said she started noticing changes in her sister-in-law’s behavior. Kay Woodcock said the final in-person conversation she had with Lori Vallow took place in 2018, in a car on the way to the airport. At the time, Lori Vallow revealed her marriage to Charles Vallow was her fourth marriage. “She’s a black widow,” Kay Woodcock said. “(Husband) three and (husband) four are dead. Five? He’s next. How he’s gonna go? I don’t know. But I wouldn’t sleep with my eyes closed.” RELATED | Police release photos of mother, stepdad who are now ‘persons of interest’ in connection to children’s disappearance Chad Daybell’s wife, Tammy Daybell, died within two weeks prior to his marriage with Lori Vallow. They had five children together. Medical examiners initially believed Tammy Daybell died from “natural causes” at the age of 49, but her body has since been exhumed in Springville, Utah for further investigation into suspicious circumstances. The Rexburg Police Department has confirmed Tammy Daybell called 911 in the days prior to her death to report a man pointing a “paintball” gun at her. “That wasn’t a paintball gun,” Kay Woodcock speculates. “The fact that he pulled the trigger twice and it didn’t do anything is because it misfired. Otherwise she’d probably have been dead that day.” “What makes me believe that is, first, (the gunman) was totally masked,” Larry Woodcock said. “He was in all black.” Kay Woodcock said she believes the newlywed couple may have taken JJ and Tylee because they were witnesses to the shooting of Charles Vallow. RELATED | Police searching for Rexburg children believed to be in serious danger Although JJ is autistic, family members say he has an incredible memory and reads at a very advanced level for his age. “He was reading at 3. He was doing math at 3,” Larry Woodcock said. “I’d love to take him to Vegas with me!” Anyone who has seen either JJ Vallow or Tylee Ryan since September is asked to call (208) 359-3000 or 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678). === 8. Police conclude search at Daybell home === Published: Fri, 03 Jan 2020 11:10:40 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416543 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com
Photos: Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
SALEM -- A large group of local and federal law enforcement officers executed a search warrant Friday at the Salem home owned by Chad Daybell and his deceased spouse, Tammy. The group of law enforcement, including the Rexburg Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office and the Forensic Unit from the FBI's Salt Lake City Office, arrived at the home early Friday and stayed until 5 p.m. Marked and unmarked vehicles surrounded the rural property at 202 North 1900 East in Fremont County near Rexburg.
Officers spent time in the home and searched a shed on the property. At one point, they used metal detectors, probes and rakes to go over several portions of the yard. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told EastIdahoNews.com that law enforcement recently obtained sufficient probable cause to obtain a search warrant for the home. Officers were searching for forensic evidence such as blood or chemicals, which might shed some light on the Daybell case. "This has been in the works for several days," Humphries said. "When you are doing an investigation, you have to accumulate evidence, and the process takes time." Humphries would not say what the sufficient probable cause was that allowed them to get the warrant but said it is related to both the missing children and suspicious death cases. "It's all related," Humphries said. RELATED | Despite hundreds of tips, investigators say they’re no closer to finding missing Rexburg kids FBI spokeswoman Sandra Yi Barker confirmed to EastIdahoNews.com that the FBI is assisting with the case. "We were contacted by Rexburg Police on Nov. 27," Barker said. "I won't get into details but we are offering investigative, forensic and technical assistance in Idaho and Utah. Today, members of our Evidence Response Team are in Rexburg assisting with evidence collection. Our victim specialist has also been made available to the families of Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan." Police are investigating the disappearance of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Joshua and Tylee have been missing since September, and their mother, Lori (Vallow) Daybell, and stepfather, Chad Daybell, are refusing to cooperate with police in their attempts to speak with the children to perform a welfare check. RELATED | Tammy Daybell reported a masked man shot at her with a paintball gun 10 days before her ‘suspicious’ death Investigators are also looking into the suspicious death of Tammy Daybell. She was found dead in the Salem home Oct. 19. Authorities initially thought her death was from natural causes but have since deemed her death suspicious and exhumed her remains Dec. 11. Humphries previously told EastIdahoNews.com investigators are awaiting results from the autopsy and it could take several weeks before the results are released. Chad and Lori are thought to have been married several weeks after the death of Tammy Daybell. Although both Chad and Lori are people of interest in the missing children case, they have not been charged with any crime. === 7. Grandmother of missing Rexburg boy is praying for him and his sister === Published: Wed, 01 Jan 2020 13:22:22 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416327 By Madeline Holcombe and Lucy Kafanov, CNN (CNN) -- The mysterious disappearance of two children from Rexburg has left family and authorities pleading for their safe return and asking why the siblings haven't been seen in months. Police reported that Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan were missing. Their mother and stepfather are also missing and police want to question them about the children's whereabouts. JJ's grandmother says she prays the children are alive. Kay Vallow Woodcock told CNN on Friday that the family has no indication about their wellbeing, and there are "some days where we hardly function because we're just fearing the worst." Police are looking to question Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow after her children -- 7-year-old Joshua and 17-year-old Tylee -- were reported missing and his previous wife was found dead. The couple "abruptly" left their home when police arrived to serve a search warrant last month. Hagen said they aren't calling Daybell and Vallow suspects. They just want to be assured the children are safe. Their older brother, Colby Ryan, posted a message to YouTube describing how hard it is not to know where his siblings are. "Everybody's focus should be Tylee and JJ, everybody's focus should be figuring out if they're okay, where they're at and how we can make sure that they're safe," he said. While authorities from multiple departments and the FBI have been working through the holidays to gather information on the case, there are still many questions unanswered. What we know Police reported Joshua and Tylee missing in November after learning that they had not been seen or heard from since September. On December 20, police put out a press release and photos of the missing children. Daybell's wife, Tammy, was found dead in her Fremont County home on October 19, according to a release from the Rexburg Police Department. Weeks later, Daybell married Vallow. Authorities conducted a welfare check November 26 and were told by Vallow and Daybell that Joshua, who is adopted and on the autism spectrum, was with a family friend in Arizona. But police then discovered that he was not with such a friend, authorities said. Police returned the day after discovering that Joshua was not where they said he was to execute a search warrant on the home. But when they arrived, they found that Vallow and Daybell "abruptly" left their home and fled the area, police said. The Rexburg police requested FBI assistance in finding Joshua because they said it does not look like the couple took the boy with them. A friend of Tylee's, Vaisia Itaaehau, told CNN affiliate KTSU that she came to know the family well over the years and was shocked to hear about the disappearances. "When I heard that she was missing, all I wanted was the story," Vaisia said. "Just like what happened, all that kind of stuff... where is she?" What we don't know In the search for the brother and sister -- and their mother and stepfather -- more questions have arisen. A week after police requested the public's help finding Vallow and Daybell for questioning, it is still not clear where the couple went. An attorney for the family says he is in contact with them, but does not have information regarding the whereabouts to welfare of the children, according to East Idaho News. "Chad Daybell was a loving husband and has the support of his children in this matter. Lori Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary," Attorney Sean Bartholick told the outlet. "We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor." CNN has reached out to Bartholick for comment. There are also remaining questions over the death of Daybell's previous wife. Authorities initially thought her death was from natural causes, but they have since deemed her death suspicious and exhumed her remains on December 11. Also unclear is the couple's relationship to a website called "Preparing a People." Chad Daybell was linked to the website, which describes itself as "a series of lecture events focusing on self-reliance and personal preparation" featuring several Latter-Day Saints speakers. Publishers of the site, Michael and Nancy James, released a statement Thursday emphasizing that while Daybell, and to a lesser extent Vallow, were featured in the series, neither was an owner nor a founder. Michael and Nancy James did decide to pull content featuring either Daybell or Vallow in light of Tammy Daybell's death and the disappearance of the children. === 6. Mother of missing kids knows where they are or what happened to them, police say === Published: Mon, 30 Dec 2019 17:18:14 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416099 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee Ryan | Rexburg Police Department
REXBURG -- Investigators say the mother of two missing children knows their location or what happened to them, and that they are not with her or her new husband. In a Rexburg Police Department news release, detectives revealed new information Monday about the case and pleaded for Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell "to do the right thing and come forward with the information they have" about 7-year-old Joshua Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, both children of Lori Daybell who have not been seen since September. "We know that the children are not with Lori and Chad Daybell, and we also have information indicating that Lori knows either the location of the children or what has happened to them," the release says. "Despite having this knowledge, she has refused to work with law enforcement to help us resolve this matter. It is astonishing that rather than work with law enforcement to help us locate her own children, Lori Vallow has chosen instead to leave the state with her new husband." On Dec. 20, investigators announced their search for Joshua and Tylee and said their disappearance is possibly related to the Oct. 19 "suspicious" death of Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell's former wife. Lori Daybell's former husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed July 11 in Arizona. Police say Lori's brother, Alexander Cox, pulled the trigger. Cox died Dec. 12, and investigators are looking into his death. "We are aware that in the weeks after Tammy Daybell’s death, Lori Vallow/Daybell and Chad Daybell told witnesses that Lori’s daughter had died a year before the death of her father, which is untrue," the news release says. "Around that same time, Chad told another witness that Lori had no minor children." RELATED | Tammy Daybell reported a masked man shot at her with a paintball gun 10 days before her ‘suspicious’ death Police "strongly believe" Joshua and Tylee are in danger and investigators say they have taken "every step available" to find them, including executing multiple search warrants interviewing multiple sources, and running down every lead.
Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell
"Many people have inquired as to why we have not filed charges yet in this case. Our primary concern at this point is simply locating Joshua and Tylee," the news release states. "Charging decisions will be made in due course based upon the evidence available." The Daybells have been labeled "persons of interest" in connection to the disappearance of the children but have not been charged. Their attorney, Sean Bartholick, did not return immediate requests for comment Monday but in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com on Dec. 23, said Chad Daybell "was a loving husband and has the support of his children in this matter. Lori Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary. We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor." Police ask anyone with information on the children's whereabouts to immediately contact them and made a public appeal for help from Chad and Lori. "We publicly call on Lori Vallow/Daybell and Chad Daybell to do the right thing and come forward with the information they have about the location and welfare of Joshua and Tylee," the news release says. "This entire investigation could have been avoided if Lori and Chad had simply been honest with law enforcement." Joshua is a 7-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 50 pounds. Tylee is a 17-year-old with blond hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. Lori Vallow Daybell is 46 years old, and has blond hair and blue eyes. She weighs 125 pounds and is 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Chad Daybell is 51 years old, and has brown hair and blue eyes. He weighs 230 pounds and is 6 feet, 3 inches tall. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at (800) THE-LOST. === 5. Tammy Daybell reported a masked man shot at her with a paintball gun 10 days before her 'suspicious' death === Published: Mon, 30 Dec 2019 16:00:26 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=416013 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Tammy Daybell | Facebook photo
REXBURG -- Ten days before Tammy Daybell died, a masked man approached and shot at her several times with a paintball gun. She filed a report with the Fremont County Sheriff's Office and a deputy investigated the claim. Daybell passed away Oct. 19 and investigators are calling her death suspicious. A week and a half earlier, on Oct. 9, she went on a neighborhood Facebook group and described what happened as she was getting out of her car. "Something really weird just happened, and I want you to know so you can watch out," Daybell wrote. "I had gotten home and parked in our front driveway. As I was getting stuff out of the back seat, a guy wearing a ski mask was suddenly standing by the back of my car with a paintball gun. He shot at me several times, although I don't think it was loaded. I yelled for Chad and he ran off around the back of my house." RELATED: Police searching for Rexburg children believed to be in serious danger Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries says Daybell called his office and reported the incident. At the time, investigators believed it was likely a prankster and they never found the masked man. "Our deputy went out there and investigated the report but he was unable to find anything," Humphries tells EastIdahoNews.com. Daybell shared in the post that she had "no idea what his motive was, and he never spoke," even after asking him several times what he thought he was doing. "I was about to smack him with my freezer meals from Enrichment tonight when I decided to yell for Chad instead," she wrote.
A screenshot of Tammy Daybell's Facebook post where she writes a masked man attempted to shoot her with a paintball gun just days before her suspicious death. | Real Massacre Talk Facebook Group
Humphries said it would be speculation to comment on whether the incident is tied to the criminal investigation currently underway involving Daybell's husband, Chad Daybell, and his new wife, Lori Vallow Daybell. Investigators originally stated Tammy Daybell died of natural causes but later became suspicious and had her body exhumed from the Springville Evergreen Cemetery on Dec. 11. On Dec. 20, investigators said her death is possibly tied to the disappearance of two Rexburg children last seen in September. RELATED: Despite hundreds of tips, investigators say they’re no closer to finding missing Rexburg kids Rexburg Police have classified Chad and Lori Daybell as "persons of interest" in the disappearance Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Weeks after Tammy's death, Chad married the children's mother, Lori Daybell. Rexburg Police Assistant Chief Gary Hagen told EastIdahoNews.com Friday that investigators want to speak with the parents about the children's whereabouts but that the couple is refusing to cooperate with investigators. Hagen said investigators have received hundreds of tips over the past week but are no closer to finding the kids. RELATED: Police release photos of mother, stepdad who are now ‘persons of interest’ in connection to children’s disappearance Investigators with the FBI, Chandler and Gilbert Arizona Police Departments are also involved with their own investigations. Lori Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, on July 11 in Chandler, Arizona. Cox then mysteriously died on Dec. 12 in Gilbert and police remain tight-lipped about that case. RELATED: Parents of missing Rexburg children issue statement, attorney says they are ‘loving’ and ‘devoted’ No one has been charged in connection to the investigations. Humphries says investigators are awaiting the results of Tammy Daybell's autopsy, which should be completed within the next few weeks. Anyone with information on the masked man with the paintball gun is asked to contact the Fremont County Sheriff's Office at (208)-624-4482.

Information on missing children

Joshua is a 7-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 50 pounds. Tylee is a 17-year-old with blond hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. Lori Vallow Daybell is 46 years old, and has blond hair and blue eyes. She weighs 125 pounds and is 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Chad Daybell is 51 years old, and has brown hair and blue eyes. He weighs 230 pounds and is 6 feet, 3 inches tall. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department, at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), at (800) THE-LOST.
Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan
Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell
=== 4. Despite hundreds of tips, investigators say they're no closer to finding missing Rexburg kids === Published: Fri, 27 Dec 2019 19:52:14 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=415815 By Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Joshua Vallow, left, and Tylee Ryan
REXBURG -- Investigators have received hundreds of possible tips regarding the location of 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. "I don't think we're any closer than what we were two weeks ago ... (and) time is always of the essence in any case, especially something like this," Rexburg Police Capt. Gary Hagen told EastIdahoNews.com on Friday. The tips have been coming in from all across the country since the kids' disappearance was announced last Friday. Hagen says he has a team of eight officers that spend a great deal of time following up and coordinating checks on the credible tips they receive. The department also continues to have regular meetings with the FBI's Salt Lake City office, the Fremont County Sheriff's office, and police in the Arizona cities of Chandler and Gilbert. They are interviewing family and friends, following leads and they continue to monitor the situation. "Every investigative tool out there, we've been using," Hagen said. "Right now, we're just actively seeking those kids and doing follow-ups with all those tips that have been pouring in. Maybe we have a tip in the pile that we are going through and something in five minutes will break." Joshua and Tylee have been missing since September, and their mother, Lori Daybell, and stepfather, Chad Daybell, are refusing to cooperate with police in their attempts to speak with the children to perform a welfare check. RELATED: Police searching for Rexburg children believed to be in serious danger Although they have been named persons of interest in the disappearance of the children, no charges have been filed. Hagen says police still simply want to speak to the parents about the whereabouts of Joshua and Tylee. "We just strongly feel that if the mom and dad felt like or if they knew that the kids were safe, they would show proof of it, but we have yet to see anything," Hagen said. The Daybells have retained Rexburg attorney Sean Bartholick, of Rigby, Andrus & Rigby, to act as their spokesman and legal counsel. Hagen confirms local prosecutors are in talks with Bartholick, but the details of those conversations can't be shared publicly.
Chad Daybell and Lori (Vallow) Daybell
Chad and Lori Daybell are believed to have "abruptly left town" in late November without the children. Police are not sure of their whereabouts, although Bartholick says he is in contact with them. The Daybells have stayed quiet throughout the investigation, only releasing a brief statement to the media through their attorney. “Chad Daybell was a loving husband and has the support of his children in this matter," Monday's statement to EastIdahoNews.com said. "Lori Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary. We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor.” RELATED: Parents of missing Rexburg children issue statement, attorney says they are ‘loving’ and ‘devoted’ On Friday, Hagen did address rumors that cropped up online that this is all related to a child custody battle. "That's what they claim, but we have proved that there is no active custody battle," Hagen said. Police say the last time anyone saw Joshua and Tylee was in Rexburg in September. The Daybells were last seen Nov. 26. RELATED: Police release photos of mother, stepdad who are now ‘persons of interest’ in connection to children’s disappearance

Investigations into spouses' deaths

Investigators also continue to look at connections between the missing children case and the deaths of the Daybells' former spouses. Daybell's first wife, Tammy, was found dead in her Fremont County home on Oct. 19, according to a release from the Rexburg Police Department. Authorities initially thought her death was from natural causes but have since deemed her death suspicious and exhumed her remains on Dec. 11. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told EastIdahoNews.com on Friday investigators are still awaiting results from the autopsy, before they can move forward. It will be several weeks before the results are released. Humphries also said Bartholick contacted his office to notify them that he is representing the Daybells, but Humphries said no other information was yielded from that conversation. Chad and Lori are thought to have been married several weeks after the death of Tammy Daybell. Authorities also continue to look into the death of Lori's former spouse, Charles Vallow, who was shot and killed in July by her brother Alex Cox. Authorities in Maricopa County, Arizona, are investigating that case as well. Police in Arizona have not released any updates as of Friday afternoon. No charges have been filed in either case.

Help finding the children

Joshua is a 7-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 50 pounds. Tylee is a 17-year-old with blond hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. Lori Vallow Daybell is 46 years old, and has blond hair and blue eyes. She weighs 125 pounds and is 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Chad Daybell is 51 years old, and has brown hair and blue eyes. He weighs 230 pounds and is 6 feet, 3 inches tall. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department, at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), at (800) THE-LOST. === 3. Parents of missing Rexburg children issue statement, attorney says they are 'loving' and 'devoted' === Published: Mon, 23 Dec 2019 18:43:32 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=415392 By Nate Sunderland and Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
Joshua Vallow, left, and Tylee Ryan
REXBURG -- A Rexburg attorney representing Chad and Lori Daybell says he is in contact with the couple but has no information regarding the whereabouts or welfare of two of their children -- 7-year-old Joshua Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. The children have been missing from Rexburg since September. On Friday, the Rexburg Police Department announced an ongoing search for the kids and said the parents are not cooperating with officers' attempts to check on the welfare of the children. Both Chad and Lori, whose maiden name is Vallow, have been named "persons of interest" in the children's disappearance. The couple is also connected to two active death investigations involving both of their former spouses -- one in Fremont County and another in Maricopa County, Arizona. However, authorities in both jurisdictions say Chad and Lori are not persons of interest or suspects in those cases. No charges have been filed against Chad or Lori in Idaho or Arizona. So far, Rexburg Police have only indicated they want to talk with the couple to ensure the children are OK. On Monday, attorney Sean Bartholick, of Rigby, Andrus & Rigby, issued the following statement on the Daybells' behalf: “Chad Daybell was a loving husband and has the support of his children in this matter. Lori Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary. We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor.”
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow
RELATED | Police searching for Rexburg children believed to be in serious danger

The Daybells and the Preparing A People group

Family members say Chad and Lori Daybell bonded over some common religious beliefs. Chad is a self-published Latter-day Saint author and owns Spring Creek Books, a publishing company he started with his former wife, Tammy, who died in October. Many of the books he writes or publishes deal with doomsday situations or near-death experiences. In his autobiography "Living on the Edge of Heaven," Daybell describes his two near-death experiences. On his website, Daybell says he's helped "several prominent people publish books about their own near-death experiences." Both Chad and Lori were affiliated with a group called Preparing A People, an organization that says its mission is to "help prepare the people of this earth for the second coming of Jesus Christ." On its website, the group says it doesn't represent any church or official church doctrines, policies or positions; however, many associated with Preparing A People and those who speak at their workshops are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Preparing A People hosts several podcasts, a number of which both Chad and Lori have appeared on together over the past year to discuss their religious beliefs. As of Monday morning, those podcasts were removed and the website posted a statement: "We considered Chad Daybell a good friend, but have since learned of things we had no idea about. ... We did not know Lori as well as we thought we knew Chad," the statement reads. "In light of current concerning media reports and ongoing criminal investigations regarding the recent death of Lori Vallow's previous husband in Arizona, and the sudden death of Chad Daybell's previous wife in Idaho, and with new reports of Lori's missing children and the death of Lori's brother-in-law, and the unknown whereabouts of Chad and Lori, we feel it inappropriate to not (sic) promote any media content that may feature or contain references to either Chad Daybell or Lori Vallow." Michael James, the website operator, says Chad was a popular speaker at some of their events. "He was one of our best speakers, and people really trusted him, (but) Chad evidently had some strange ideas about things we didn't know about," James said. "Occasionally, that happens, and when it does, you need to break with them." Two members of Lori's extended family, Kay Vallow Woodcock of Louisiana and Brandon Boudreaux of Arizona have spoken to multiple national news outlets about Chad and Lori's involvement with the group. Woodcock said Lori's behavior radically changed after becoming affiliated with the group. Both told EastIdahoNews.com they believe involvement with Preparing A People, which they call a cult, led to the suspicious deaths of Chad and Lori's former spouses. "I don't want to attack anyone's beliefs ... but when you look at the fruit that's come from this group and its beliefs ... it certainly, from my mind, doesn't come from God," said Boudreaux. He said his ex-wife, Lori Daybell’s niece, also joined the group. He claims in interviews and on social media that several months ago, someone tried to kill him by shooting at him. James strongly denies the characterization that his group is a cult and says it is offensive to describe it as such. "I have no idea what Chad and Lori did in their spare time, but Preparing A People is not a cult," James said. "It's just LDS people that go to conferences." RELATED | Police release photos of mother, stepdad who are now ‘persons of interest’ in connection to children’s disappearance

Active death investigations

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suspicious death of Chad's former wife, Tammy Daybell, who was 49 when she died. She worked as a school librarian in Rexburg and Sugar City and was found deceased in her Salem home Oct. 19. Her death was believed to be from natural causes, according to a Rexburg Police Department news release, and she was buried shortly after in Springville, Utah. But recently, questions were raised about her death and Fremont County Sheriff's deputies had her remains exhumed Dec. 11. The Utah Office of the Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy, but the results of that investigation have not been released. On Friday, Rexburg police indicated they believed the death was related to the disappearance of Joshua and Tylee, but they did not specify how. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries could not be reached for comment Monday. The Chandler Arizona Police Department is investigating the death of Charles Anthony Vallow, the estranged husband of Lori. On July 11, Vallow was shot and killed by Lori's brother, Alexander L. Cox, in a family fight.
Charles Vallow | Linkedin profile photo
According to Fox10 in Phoenix police in Chandler say first responders found Vallow with two gunshot wounds in the chest. Investigators told reporters the estranged couple began arguing when Cox stepped in, and a physical fight ensued. Vallow reportedly hit Cox with a baseball bat, and investigators believe Cox fatally shot him. Cox died Dec. 12 in Gilbert, Arizona. His death and Vallow's are active cases and are under investigation, the Chandler Police Department told EastIdahoNews.com on Monday. Authorities believe Chad and Lori were married several weeks after the death of Tammy Daybell.

'In pretty serious danger'

Local authorities became involved in the investigation Nov. 26 after out-of-state family members contacted the department requesting a welfare check on Joshua, Lori's adopted son with special needs. Police went to their home at 565 Pioneer Road in Rexburg after relatives said they hadn’t spoken to Joshua since September. The children were not at the home during the check, and Rexburg Police Chief Shane Turman said the parents lied about their whereabouts. “They’ve told us several stories about where the children are, but when we investigate, the children don’t exist where they say they should,” Turman said Friday. “We don’t know where they are at, but we think they are in pretty serious danger.” The next day, Arizona authorities contacted Rexburg Police regarding a cell phone ping at the same Rexburg address, according to a Madison County Sheriff's Office log. The log states it was in relation to a missing child case. Rexburg Police Capt. Gary Hagen told EastIdahoNews.com the call also had to do with the Arizona death investigations. Following the request, Rexburg Police executed search warrants at the home. Investigators determined the Daybells abruptly left the house and city. Police do not believe the children were with them when they took off. Hagen said investigators are unaware of how Daybell and Vallow left Rexburg - whether by car or airplane. "We've been digging into that, and that's still part of the whole investigation," Hagen said.
Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg Idaho where Joshua Vallow was last seen on Sept. 23. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
According to a Rexburg Police news release, Joshua was last seen at Kennedy Elementary School on Sept. 23. Tylee was last seen that month as well. Police did not comment on why the school did not report Joshua's absence and why the children had not been reported missing to any law enforcement agency. Investigators are still searching for any information regarding the children and the Daybells. Joshua is a 7-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 50 pounds. Tylee is a 17-year-old with blond hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. Lori Vallow Daybell is 46 years old, and has blond hair and blue eyes. She weighs 125 pounds and is 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Chad Daybell is 51 years old, and has brown hair and blue eyes. He weighs 230 pounds and is 6 feet, 3 inches tall. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children since September is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department, at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), at (800) THE-LOST.
The townhomes located at 565 Pioneer Road in Rexburg where police conducted a welfare check and served a search warrant in connection to the missing person cases of Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan. | Eric Grossarth, EastIdahoNews.com
=== 2. Police release photos of mother, stepdad who are now 'persons of interest' in connection to children's disappearance === Published: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 16:14:37 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=415294 By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com REXBURG -- The Rexburg Police Department released photos Saturday afternoon of the mother and stepfather of two children who have been missing and are believed to be in serious danger. Lori Vallow is the mother of 7-year-old Joshua Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Vallow recently married Chad Daybell and both are now considered "persons of interest" in connection to the disappearance of the children, according to Rexburg Police Capt. Gary Hagen. Joshua and Tylee have not been seen since September and investigators want to speak with Vallow and Daybell. The parents are no longer communicating with law enforcement. RELATED | Police searching for Rexburg children believed to be in serious danger “They (originally) told us several stories about where the children are, but when we investigate, the children don’t exist where they say they should,” Rexburg Police Chief Shane Turman told EastIdahoNews.com Friday. “We don’t know where they are at, but we think they are in pretty serious danger.” Joshua is a 7-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 50 pounds. Tylee is a 17-year-old with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the children or Vallow and Daybell is asking to call the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000. EastIdahoNews.com is uncovering information about this case and will post an in-depth story early next week. Stay with us for updates. === 1. Police searching for Rexburg children believed to be in serious danger === Published: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:54:47 -0700 Link: https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=415216 By Nate Sunderland, EastIdahoNews.com LATEST UPDATE: Attorney representing parents of missing Rexburg children issues statement, says they are ‘loving’ and ‘devoted’
Joshua Vallow, left, and Tylee Ryan
REXBURG -- Two local law enforcement agencies and the FBI are investigating a possible connection between the death of a Fremont County woman and two missing Rexburg children who are believed to be in serious danger. The Fremont County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of 49-year-old Tammy Daybell. Daybell, who had worked as a school librarian in Rexburg and Sugar City, was found deceased in her home Oct. 19, and her death was initially believed to be from natural causes, according to a Rexburg Police Department news release. She was buried in Springville, Utah, on Oct. 22, but a later investigation by the sheriff's office revealed the death might be suspicious. Read Tammy Daybell's obituary here. The sheriff's office exhumed her remains Dec. 11, and the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy. Rexburg Police Chief Shane Turman tells EastIdahoNews.com that during the investigation into her death, law enforcement was made aware that two Rexburg children, ages 7 and 17, were missing. They also determined that within weeks of Tammy Daybell's death, her surviving husband, Chad Daybell, had married Rexburg resident Lori Vallow, who is the mother of the missing children, according to a news release. It's not clear what the connection is between the two cases. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries declined to comment. No one involved in this case has been charged with any crime, but Turman said the parents have repeatedly lied about the whereabouts of the children. "They've told us several stories about where the children are, but when we investigate, the children don't exist where they say they should," he said. "We don't know where they are at, but we think they are in pretty serious danger." On Nov. 26, Rexburg Police tried to conduct a welfare check on Joshua Vallow, Lori Vallow's adopted 7-year-old special needs son, at their home at 565 Pioneer Road in Rexburg. Relatives outside of Idaho had requested the check because they hadn't spoken to Joshua since September. Rexburg investigators spoke with Vallow and Daybell, who said Joshua was staying with a family friend in Arizona. That turned out to be a lie, Turman said. On Nov 27, Rexburg police executed search warrants at locations in Rexburg associated with Vallow, in an attempt to locate Joshua. As the search warrants were being executed, investigators determined that Vallow and Daybell had abruptly left their home and Rexburg. Police do not believe the children were with them when they left. Turman said they have been in contact with the couple, but authorities do not know where they are, and they continue to be uncooperative. Investigators also determined Joshua last attended school at Kennedy Elementary in Rexburg on Sept. 23. Additionally, investigators learned Vallow has a 17-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan, who was living with Vallow in Rexburg. The teen has not been seen since September either. Investigators have contacted several members of the children's extended family, but no one has been in contact with the children since September. Additionally, the children have not been reported missing to any law enforcement agency. Joshua is a 7-year-old with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 50 pounds. Tylee is a 17-year-old with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children since September is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department, at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), at (800) THE-LOST.