An Idaho woman killed her children and a romantic rival after claiming to be a goddess sent ahead of the apocalypse. Then, the judge threw the book at her.
Recently, Seventh Judicial Circuit Judge Steven Boyce sentenced Lori Vallow Daybell, 50, to three life sentences for the murder of her children, Tylee Ryan, 16, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and her husband Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. After a weeklong trial, Vallow Daybell was found guilty and convicted by a jury of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and grand theft.
“The most unimaginable type of murder is to have a mother murdering her own children, and that’s exactly what you did,” said Boyce, according to The New York Times.
In November 2019, Rexburg Police Department responded to the couple’s residence for a welfare check after the children’s grandparents reported them missing. Due to the defendant and her husband’s lack of concern for the whereabouts of their children, authorities issued a search warrant for the property. In June 2020, investigators found human remains, later identified as belonging to the victims, on 57-year-old Chad Daybell’s property. The defendant and her husband were subsequently arrested and charged with the murders.
During the trial, autopsy reports showed Tylee was stabbed before her body was burnt, while JJ was asphyxiated with plastic wrapped and taped around his head.
Due to the fatal instances surrounding the children, authorities exhumed the body of Tammy Daybell for reexamination. Though her demise was initially ruled as a result of natural causes, it was later determined that she died of asphyxiation.
Investigators believe the motive for the shooting was related to extreme religious views and apocalyptic doctrines involving zombies and casting out demons.
During the victim impact statement, JJ’s biological grandmother Kay Woodcock described the defendant as a greedy individual with the need to be the center of attention.
"Lori is undeniably a monster. A monster that has not taken any responsibility or shown an ounce of remorse for her vile actions. She deserves to never again breathe oxygen as a member of a free society," said Woodcock reported CBS News.
Vallow Daybell remained resolute, not guilty of murder during the entire trial. She claimed the victims visited her and were happy in the afterlife.
Boyce described the defendant as unremorseful and ordered her to consecutively serve all three life sentences.
In addition, the defendant is also facing a murder charge of conspiring with her brother to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and the attempted murder of her niece in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Chad Daybell is currently awaiting trial on the same charges.
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