BOISE, Idaho (Court TV) – The fifth week of Lori Vallow Daybell‘s murder trial began on Monday at the Ada County Courthouse with the focus on more text messages sent between Lori and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell.
Lori is charged with the murders of her two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and conspiracy in the death of Chad’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. Lori has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Lori Vallow Daybell whispers to her attorney during her trial on May 8, 2023. (Sketch by Lisa Cheney)
Before the jury was in the courtroom, prosecutors told the judge they would call two more witnesses after the current one was done testifying, and asked to introduce additional exhibits. Among the exhibits they have asked to introduce is the entire “James and Elena” story, which was not published but written by Chad for Lori. It is believed to be intended as a metaphor for their own love story.
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FBI Special Agent Doug Hart, who returned to the stand on Monday, led the investigation into Lori’s iCloud accounts and read texts between Lori and Chad into the record.
- July 15, 2019
- Chad (to Lori): I know you won’t get this text for another hour or so but my love for you is overflowing right now. I just want to hold you love endlessly. You are my wonderful best friend that I can’t live without. [Two heart emojis]
- Lori (to Chad): And yet…you are. So sad [Three sad emoji] missing you just landed! Gotta get to work!!
Hart testified that texts sent on July 18 directly refer to Charles Vallow’s life insurance policy. Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Alex Cox, in what the latter claimed was self-defense.
- July 18, 2019
- Lori (to Chad): I just got the letter from the insurance company saying I am not the beneficiary. It’s a spear thru my heart. Who do you think changed it to?? Brandon?? Or probably Kay?? He left nothing for JJ
- Chad (to Lori): Wow. That’s terrible. There is no way to find out?
- Lori (to Chad): I might be able to see when I get his computer on Sunday. I could check the emails I sent to the insurance company. It will show change of beneficiary. He must have done it recently!
- Chad (to Lori): It seems you would have had to agree to the change. Maybe your name was forged. You should have a good paper trail to prove it.
- Chad (to Lori): I love you. This is terrible, but it is probably another step in bringing the Gadiantons, especially Brandon.
- Chad (to Lori): Hmmm. It will be interesting if it got changed after he had two bullets in his chest.
- Lori (to Chad): I talked to the insurance company. He changed it in March…Ned before we got rid of him. They can’t tell me to who of course…I’ll still get the 4000 a month from SS.
- Lori (to Chad): I don’t think it could have. U can’t change it after the death date.
- Chad (to Lori): I have been instructed to focus my efforts on Hillary.
Hart testified that Hillary was a name assigned to the spirit in Tylee’s body, and that Raphael is Chad. Blake is Melani’s son.
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- Lori (to Chad): What’s Blake’s percentage??
- Lori (to Chad): He drew 3 crosses on the wall in his bedroom. We just finished painting over them.
- Lori (to Chad): Like he was marking it for the dark side to find him.
- Chad (to Lori): Blake is at 7. Si I took my sword of light and sliced his aura vertically in several places. You should be able to now rip and burn it.
- Chad (to Lori): I also decreased his pain tolerance. To 1 percent and greatly increased his pain. His desire to depart is at 80 percent.
Hart testified that Rhonda was a name assigned to a dark spirit in Kay Woodcock, Charles Vallow’s sister.
- July 21, 2019
- Lori (to Chad): Found it. Ned gave all of it to Rhonda.
- Chad (to Lori): Glad you found that out.
- Lori (to Chad): It fits. Now she will try to take him. Thx for working on her. Work on me too. Reading all this stuff makes me sick.
- Chad (to Lori): We will work hard on Rhonda when we are together. I will get her numbers as low as I can by Wednesday.
- Lori (to Chad): Good, let’s work on it hard
- July 21, 2019
- Chad (to Lori): James and Elena had agreed to visit the temple the following morning. She returned to the hotel room, and after additional romance on the couch, they calmed their nerves enough to give each other a blessing. As James placed her hands on her head, he connected with Elena’s true eternal self. He knew he was in the presence of an exalted goddess. Who had returned to earth to perform a special mission. This mission included being with him, and they would progress together as translated beings. The full plan wasn’t yet completely clear to him, but the immense power radiating from her confirmed his belief that she was among the great women in the universe…
Hart testified that on July 21, Charles had been dead for 10 days and Tammy was still alive.
Other text messages entered into evidence reference being together someday soon and being together on a tropical island. Lori and Chad were eventually married in Hawaii on November 5, 2019.
- July 23, 2019
- Lori (to Chad): Good morning missing you. Didn’t sleep much. Need you to check JJ. Weird stuff happened in the middle of the night. It’s like they distracted us with Blake.
- Lori (to Chad) When u get home. Check Tylee. She is being super sweet and helpful and she cleaned her room. She is she got switched. Totally not her
- Lori (to Chad): See if she got switched
- Chad (to Lori): Yes, she was switched. Please let me know when you can talk, and I will explain it.
- July 29, 2019
- Chad (to Lori): One question: Do you want me to cause pain yet to those two 3s you’re riding with?
- Lori (to Chad): Probably hold off on then till we arrive. They will be mistake to deal with. But I’ll text you if they start acting up and we can zap them.
- Lori (to Chad): Miserable, not mistake
- Chad (to Lori): Sounds great. Yes, if they are going to act up, we’ll at least give them a reason to scream. I love, cherish, reassure, and adore you. The wonderful memories just keep coming back. You are mesmerizing. Raphael is one lucky guy.
Hart testified that the message was about hurting children, and said the “3s” referenced in the message were Brighton and Blake, Melani’s sons with Brandon Boudreaux.
FBI Special Agent Douglas Hart testified in the trial of Lori Vallow Daybell on May 8, 2023. (Sketch by Lisa Cheney)
In messages shared with the jury, Chad and Lori also say that Kay Woodcock does not appear “inclined” to share the life insurance money after Charles Vallow’s death, prompting Lori to call Kay and her husband, Larry, “jerks.”
- July 30, 2019
- Chad (to Lori): I got the inspiration to go back to my original death percentages that helped us track Charles, Ned, etc. Tammy is very close. Her percentage has fallen steadily since Hiplos left. It is encouraging!
- Lori (to Chad): What is the percentage now? What is JJ’s too?
- Chad (to Lori): Tammy is at 3. JJ is at 2. Both are being heavily shielded to stop intruders.
- Lori (to Chad): 2 and 3 percent? Not zero?
- Chad (to Lori): I will explain when we talk.
- Lori (to Chad): Ok still feeling hot for you
- Chad (to Lori): Yes, we might need to release a little steam when we talk.
- August 7, 2019
- Lori (to Chad): I love you taking braxy home now. I’ll check on her
- Lori (to Chad): She is asleep. She put a bunch of holes in the walls and doors. Definitely had demons helping her. Probably 1000
- Lori (to Chad): Mel wants us to come up there tomorrow, but I said next Thursday to Sunday. What do u think?
- Lori (to Chad): We r both so tired of taking care of demons. We are weary. Please ask the Lord to take them!
- Lori: (to Chad): We just had a big fight. Probably no go on next week. [two sad emojis]
- Chad (to Lori): My heart is crushed, but I will never stop loving you.
- Chad (to Lori): Missing you. Heading to the girl’s funeral. Emma was her teacher and is one of the speakers. This is very difficult, but I will abide your request to not talk. I hate causing you pain, because I love you more than ever.
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- August 9, 2019
- Lori (to Chad): Can u check Nathan Pacheco. See what level he is. Is he light??
- Lori (to Chad): Also Mike Stroud. Mel g thinks he went dark, but I think he’s light
- Chad (to Lori): I will check those two.
- Chad (to Lori): Any guess on Pacheco?
- Lori (to Chad): Just tell me
- Chad (to Lori): 4.1 dark
- Lori (to Chad): Nope. I get 5.1 light. Part of our team!
- Chad (to Lori): We’ll go with your answer.
- Lori (to Chad): Why what’s wrong with your picker?
- Lori (to Chad): What about Mike Stroud. ? Seriously
- Chad (to Lori): He’s done a great infiltration job.
- August 10, 2019
- Lori (to Chad): Please check JJ. He just woke up saying crazy stuff and won’t go back to sleep. He is talking to Blake. It’s weird.
- Chad (to Lori): JJ is still JJ. I am told his spirit recognized Blake is evil and is unsettled by him.
- Chad (to Lori): I, my love. How is JJ now?
- Lori (to Chad): He’s better. He was just up talking nonsense for like 2 hours last night. I’m sure they were bugging him. Is he at zero yet? I miss you
- Chad (to Lori): Yes, he’s at zero. He probably was partly through the veil, talking to people, both light and dark
- Lori (to Chad): Maybe he was talking to the real Blake
- Chad (to Lori): Yes, that was the real Blake.
- Lori (to Chad): Do u think there is a perfectly orchestrated plan to take the children? And we just have to wait for it to be carried out?
- Lori (to Chad): I feel lost. Like I should be doing something to help. [Sad emoji]
- Chad (to Lori): There is a plan being orchestrated for the children. I was shown last night how it it together, but it has been taken from my mind of course.
- Lori (to Chad): What should I be doing?
- Chad (to Lori): You are doing everything right, my love. The Lord told me, ‘She is right on track.’ He said to just keep resolving the telestial issues, so you are unencumbered and fully free.
- September 3, 2019
- Alex (to Lori) Network name is anti-laman pw is 2manykids.
- Lori (to Alex): We r trying to get to the bottom of what we need to do to eliminate them completely. I’m sure you will be told also.
- Alex (to Lori): Excellent.
The jury was shown a video of Tylee kissing JJ at Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019, the last known video of Tylee alive. Another video shown to the jury, dated September 22, was the last known video of JJ alive.
This photo provided by the FBI shows Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. (FBI)
Hart testified that on September 24, 2019, Lori told JJ’s babysitter, Sidney, that JJ’s grandparents took him. Hart said there is no evidence to substantiate that claim.
- October 5, 2019
- Chad (to Lori): Hello, sweet angel. Big news about Tammy. Please let me know if you are awake and can talk. I love you [heart emoji and lips emoji]
- Chad (to Lori): The short version is that she has been switched. Tammy is in Limbo and level 3 demonic entity named Viola is in her body. It happened at about 10p.m. and was done by Tammy’s sister [redacted] I always knew was 3D, but it turns out she is multiple creation.
- Chad (to Lori): Not fully sure of the timing for removal, but once her actions verify the differences, I don’t want to wait.
- October 14, 2019
- Lori: Well we did a lot of work today. We got her out but a new one got in. So we are still working on it. Audrey any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated it.
- Audrey: Ok [Surprised emoji with x’s as eyes]
- (unknown): That emoji can be associated with death.
- Melani: Ya, but until that agreement is signed the judge is all subject to change. That’s probably the reason for the dealy
- October 19, 2019
- (unknown): I’m not sure if you heard but Chad’s wife died last night
- Lori: Oh my gosh. I did not hear that. I’m in Hawaii and it’s 6:00 am.
- Lori: Do you know what happened?
- (unknown): Yes, she awoke in the night coughing, threw up, collapsed and passed away.
- Lori: Not fun without you. Can u call me
- Lori (to Chad): How are you doing is the question
- Chad (to Lori): I’m hanging in there. My parents are staying here and we are still getting visitors, but I will call you soon.
- October 23, 2019
- Lori (to Chad): I had a bad dream about Al. Make sure he is still him and protect him
- Lori (to Chad): He would be the one they use to get to us both. All this alone time is not good for him.
- Chad (to Lori): I will try to reach out to him later today
- Chad (to Lori): I just cleared all of Al’s weapons, curses and cords, and filled him with malachite healing balm. I also put angels around him.
- Lori made a note: Alex cox multiple creation 4th creation exalted 9 times Sibling to me 2 times on 4th creation Rose is exalted 3 times Married 3 times on 4th creation and became eternal companions after 4th creation His mission is to help Lori
- November 16, 2019
- Lori (to Melani): Will you do this job if your whole family turns against you ?? This is what the Lord has asked of us.
Hart testified about patriarchal blessings in the LDS faith, which are given to faithful members at one point in their lives to provide spiritual guidance. Hart said the one person called to be patriarch administers the blessings, and that Chad was not authorized to give one. Hart said that Chad delivered a blessing to Alex Cox.
Hart testified that he found no digital evidence that Lori searched for a divorce attorney. He also said that from November 2019-June 2020, while he was overseeing the missing persons investigation and search for Tylee and JJ, there was no evidence that the children were alive or that Lori was looking for them after September.
Lori Vallow Daybell sits at the defense counsel table during a sidebar on May 8, 2023. (Sketch by Lisa Cheney)
During cross-examination, Hart testified that investigators did not contact the bishop or church to verify Chad’s status for a patriarchal blessing. He also testified that there were hundreds of videos found in Lori’s iCloud accounts, which included Lori singing to and playing on the beach with the children. When asked if Lori was a good mother as shown through the texts, Hart testified, “With the exception of what happened to her children, yes.”
