By Katie McLaughlin
FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (Court TV) — In a major development in the Doomsday Couple case, Lori Vallow Daybell says she has an alibi for when her children were murdered and when her husband’s first wife died, according to newly-released court documents.
In addition, Lori’s defense team is considering working with the defense team of her husband, Chad Daybell, on a possible plea deal.
The couple faces first-degree murder charges in the deaths of two of Lori’s kids — 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan — and for the death of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. Lori and Chad have both pleaded not guilty in connection to those deaths.
Lori’s defense claims she was not present when her children were killed. They claim Lori was living in her own apartment in Rexburg, Idaho, when JJ and Tylee died in the apartment of Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, who also lived in Rexburg.
J.J. and Tylee (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via AP, File)
The documents say Lori was with her friends Melanie Gibb, David Warwick, and/or her husband Chad when the children died. They also state that Lori was in Hawaii with her friends Melani Boudreaux and/or Audrey Barattiero at the time of Tammy’s death at the home of Chad Daybell in Salem, Idaho.
The newly-filed documents also seek permission for Lori to confer with Chad. The request reads:
“Lori and Chad would like to be able to talk together in person and on the phone about their options. The attorneys for the parties will attend any in person meetings and phone conversations, but will not record the conversations and will not use the conversations as evidence.”
The defense’s proactive move of releasing documents claiming an alibi for Lori begs the question: Is this a true alibi?
Lori Vallow Daybell (left) is shown in a March 6, 2020, file photo. Her husband, Chad Daybell, right, listens during his preliminary hearing in St. Anthony, Idaho, on Monday, August 3, 2020. (John Roark/Post Register via AP, Pool)
Logistically, Alex Cox’s Rexburg, Idaho apartment was located across the street from Lori’s. It was previously established that J.J. was last seen in Lori’s Rexburg apartment in September 2019. Lori’s friends were present in her apartment at the time.
Alex Cox died in December 2019 at the age of 51 by what the medical examiner determined to be natural causes.
The bodies of JJ and Tylee were discovered on Chad’s property in June 2020.
Last November, an Idaho judge denied Chad’s request to sever his case from Lori’s. That same month, Lori was found competent to stand trial for the second time, after twice being declared incompetent to stand trial and being committed to a state mental health facility.
As of now, the Daybells are still on track to begin their 10-week trial on April 3, 2023. The pair could face the death penalty if convicted.
