PHOENIX (Court TV) — Lori Daybell is standing trial in Arizona in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.
Lori is already serving a life sentence in Idaho. In 2023, she was convicted of murdering her two youngest children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and conspiring to kill her fifth husband’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. Her husband, Chad Daybell, was convicted of the same charges and sentenced to death.
Lori Daybell delivers her opening statement in his murder conspiracy trial in Arizona. (Court TV)
In Arizona, Lori is acting as her own attorney where, in addition to the conspiracy charge in Charles’ death, she’s accused of conspiring in an attempt to kill her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. The two cases will be tried separately, with the case regarding Charles’ death going to trial first.
Lori married Vallow on Feb. 24, 2006, in Las Vegas. In 2013, the couple adopted JJ from Charles’ sister and her husband, Kay and Larry Woodcock, who were JJ’s grandparents.
In 2016, the couple moved to Arizona, where they settled down with Tylee and JJ. Three years later, Charles filed for divorce, indicating he was concerned about her mental health, according to East Idaho News.
Lori’s older brother, Alex Cox, fatally shot Charles on July 11, 2019, while he was arguing with Lori after picking JJ up for school. Police said during the argument, Alex claimed Charles hit him over the head with a bat. Alex told police that after he was hit in the head, he retrieved a gun from his bedroom and shot Charles in self-defense. In a probable cause statement from the Chandler Police Department, investigators said no emergency aid was provided for Charles, and he was left bleeding on the floor for approximately 43 minutes before calling 911.
A grand jury indicted Lori on the charge of conspiracy to commit murder for the death of Charles.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 5 – 4/14/25
- Proceedings resume Monday, April 14.
DAY 4 – 4/10/25
- VIDEO: AZ v. Lori Daybell, Day 4 | Cult Mom Conspiracy Trial
- Lori’s brother, Adam Cox, described how Charles Vallow had grown increasingly alarmed by Lori’s religious beliefs, including claims that she was becoming an immortal being and that Charles was possessed by an evil spirit named “Ned.” Adam flew to Phoenix in July 2019 to help stage a kind of intervention, but said Alex Cox, who had agreed to host him, suddenly stopped responding. The next day, Charles was dead.
- Sarena Sharpe testified that she attended two spiritual gatherings with Lori Vallow Daybell in late 2018 and early 2019. During these events, Sharpe stated that the defendant expressed spiritual beliefs inconsistent with mainstream LDS doctrine, including a claimed lack of need for repentance. Sharpe further testified that the defendant led a group prayer effort intended to expel an alleged evil spirit from Charles Vallow, whom the defendant described as being possessed and “dark.”
- Kay Woodcock, the younger sister of Charles Vallow and the grandmother of Charles and Lori’s adoptive son JJ Vallow, testified regarding the timeline and deterioration of Charles and Lori’s marriage. She stated that Charles expressed concern for his safety in early 2019 after the defendant abruptly left for an extended period. Woodcock testified that she learned of Charles’s death through a Google search two days after it occurred. She further stated that Lori had Charles cremated and shipped his remains to her office. Woodcock also confirmed that Charles changed the beneficiary of his life insurance policy from the defendant to her in early 2019, and that the defendant later acknowledged this change in a text message expressing frustration.
DAY 3 – 4/9/25
- VIDEO: AZ v. Lori Daybell, Day 3 | Cult Mom Conspiracy Trial
- Daybell repeatedly questioned Chandler PD Detective Daniel Coons about the physical evidence, including whether the floor was tested and whether her husband’s clothing (a $200 bamboo shirt) could have caused “shoring” of the wound.
- Nancy Jo Hancock testified about her brief interaction with Charles Vallow before his death. They met through an LDS dating site in July 2019 and arranged to meet in person on July 10. Hancock described their meeting as friendly, with Charles excited to see his son, JJ, the next day. During dinner, Charles mentioned changing his life insurance beneficiary to his sister, Kay Woodcock, and Hancock advised him to inform Lori. Hancock noted that Charles spoke kindly of Lori, despite their separation. On July 11, Hancock attempted to contact Charles but received no response. She later learned of his death in December 2019, realizing her date with Charles occurred less than 12 hours before he was killed.
- WATCH: Lori Daybell: Did You Talk About Me? Witness: ‘Don’t Flatter Yourself’
- When Lori asked Nancy if she knew Lori wasn’t aware that her husband was on dating sites, Nancy said, “He was under the impression you were having an affair.”
- WATCH: Lori: Did You Know That I Didn’t Know My Husband Was on Dating Sites?
- Christina Atwood discussed several meetings with Lori and other women, during which Lori expressed concerns about Charles being possessed by “dark spirits.” Atwood described a particularly disturbing conversation during a June 2019 gathering, when Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, reportedly said he wished he could kill Charles. Atwood also shared that Lori had mentioned casting out dark spirits from Charles and even drugging him with JJ’s medication.
DAY 2 – 4/8/25
- VIDEO: AZ v. Lori Daybell, Day 2 | Cult Mom Conspiracy Trial
- Capt. Kent Keller (ret.), Chandler Fire Department took the stand.
- Agreed that Charles Vallow was dead before he entered the house.
- Agreed that it was unlikely that anyone had performed CPR on Charles prior to the fire department’s arrival, but does not know for a fact if CPR was or was not given.
- WATCH: Lori Daybell Cross-Examines Fire Captain About the Crime Scene
- Daniel Coons, retired Chandler PD detective.
- Briefly held the baseball bat while on the stand for identification purposes.
- Testified that his opinion is that Charles was lying on the ground when the second shot was fired.
- A great deal of time was spent in silence because crime scene photos were on display.
DAY 1 – 4/7/25
- VIDEO: AZ v. Lori Daybell Day 1 | Cult Mom Conspiracy Trial
- Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Treena J. Kay delivered the State’s open:
- Said Lori Daybell communicated with her brother, Alex Cox, shortly before the killing of Charles Vallow.
- According to Kay, Lori’s motives were financial gain and her new romance with Chad Daybell.
- Kay also explained that Lori claimed Charles was possessed by an evil spirit.
- Said evidence revealed Lori and Alex were determined to eliminate Charles.
- Lori Daybell, pro se defendant, delivered her open.
- Acknowledged she’s charged with conspiracy but said there’s no evidence of an agreement or plan.
- Detailed her marriage to Charles Vallow: They got married in February 2006 (her fourth marriage, his third):
- They had a blended family, raising five children together.
- Both had life insurance policies; Charles purchased policies to the maximum amounts.
- Lori was the sole beneficiary of Charles’ new policy.
- Family relocated to Kauai in 2014.
- Said Charles moved JJ out of his special school during separation, causing distress.
- Described day of Incident (July 11, 2019):
- Charles arrived to to pick up JJ for school.
- Tensions rose, leading to an altercation involving Alex Cox and a bat.
- Alex shot Charles in what Lori described as self-defense.
- Ends her statement by saying self-defense and family tragedies are not crimes, and insisted that having life insurance as a spouse is not criminal and argued that the charges stem from a tragedy, not malice.
- The day’s other witnesses were first responders on the scene: a sergeant, a police officer, and a firefighter/paramedic
