Lori Vallow’s story is one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent history, involving a bizarre combination of doomsday prophecies, murder, and betrayal.
Lori Norene Cox was born on June 26, 1973, in San Bernardino, California. Raised in a Mormon household, Lori’s early life seemed relatively ordinary. She married young and went on to have several marriages, with her third husband, Joseph Ryan, being the father of her daughter, Tylee Ryan. By all signs Lori was a devoted mother who was active in her community and church.
However, Lori’s personal life was quite different. Her marriage to Joseph Ryan was filled with legal battles over the custody of Tylee, and Lori accused him of abusive behavior during their marriage. In 2004 they divorced and Joseph passed away in 2018 under mysterious circumstances. Lori went on to marry Charles Vallow in 2006, adopting his son, JJ Vallow, who had autism and required special care. Despite the ups and downs in her relationships, those who knew her described Lori as a loving mother.
Dark Beliefs
Lori’s life began to take a darker turn when she became involved with Chad Daybell, an author of apocalyptic-themed books based on Mormon beliefs. Daybell had written numerous novels about the end times. By 2018 Lori had immersed herself in these beliefs and her fascination with doomsday prophecies grew.
Chad Daybell believed that he had been chosen to lead a select group of people into the apocalypse, which he predicted would happen soon. He spoke about “zombies” and “dark spirits,” claiming that people could become possessed, and that the only way to save their souls was through death.
Lori’s obsession with Chad’s teachings grew more intense after they began having a romantic relationship in 2018, despite both being married to other people at the time. Chad’s wife, Tammy Daybell, and Lori’s husband, Charles Vallow, were obstacles to their marriage but those obstacles wouldn’t last long.
The Death of Charles Vallow
Charles Vallow, Lori’s fourth husband, grew increasingly concerned about Lori’s mental state as her involvement with Chad deepened. Charles believed Lori had become dangerous telling friends and family that she was making increasingly bizarre statements about being chosen to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Christ. Lori also told Charles she was a “translated being” who no longer needed to eat or sleep and that Charles was possessed by a dark spirit named “Ned Schneider.”
In early 2019 Charles filed for divorce fearing for his safety and that of their children. In divorce documents he claimed that Lori had threatened to kill him and had become obsessed with doomsday beliefs. He also sought protection for JJ and Tylee, as he feared Lori’s newfound beliefs could put them in danger. Despite these warnings, Lori continued her relationship with Chad and her extreme beliefs, eventually leading to the death of Charles.
On July 11, 2019, Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, during an altercation at Lori’s home in Chandler, Arizona. Alex claimed self-defense, saying Charles had attacked him. However, the circumstances of the shooting were suspicious, especially given the tension between Lori and Charles leading up to his death. Despite these suspicions, the case was initially closed as self-defense, allowing Lori to continue her life with Chad.
The Disappearance of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow
Shortly after Charles’s death Lori and Chad’s relationship became more public and Lori relocated to Rexburg, Idaho, to be closer to Chad. In September 2019, Lori’s children, Tylee Ryan (16) and JJ Vallow (7), disappeared. Despite growing concerns from family members, Lori claimed they were safe and staying with friends or relatives.
Tylee was last seen on September 8, 2019 during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park. JJ, who had been attending school in Rexburg, was last seen on September 23, 2019. Shortly after, Lori withdrew him from school, claiming she would homeschool him. However neither child was seen again.
As months passed without any credible sightings of the children their extended family became increasingly worried. JJ’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, were particularly vocal in raising concerns, filing a missing persons report in November 2019. The investigation that followed would reveal a disturbing pattern of lies and cover-ups on Lori’s part.
When authorities questioned Lori about the whereabouts of her children she and Chad repeatedly lied claiming that the children were staying with friends or relatives. But every lead investigators pursued turned out to be a dead end. By January 2020, Lori and Chad were officially named persons of interest in the disappearance of Tylee and JJ. The couple’s bizarre behavior and Lori’s continued refusal to disclose the children’s location intensified suspicions.
The Death of Tammy Daybell
Amid the investigation into the children’s disappearance another death occurred that raised red flags. Chad’s wife, Tammy Daybell, died suddenly on October 19, 2019, just weeks after Lori’s children were last seen. Initially Tammy’s death was attributed to natural causes and no autopsy was performed at the time. However, as suspicions about Chad and Lori grew investigators revisited Tammy’s death.
Chad had married Lori just two weeks after Tammy’s death, raising questions about his involvement. Additionally, in the weeks leading up to her death, Tammy had reported strange incidents, including someone attempting to shoot at her and suspicious activity around her home. In December 2019, authorities exhumed Tammy’s body for further investigation, suspecting foul play. While the results of the autopsy were initially kept confidential it later became clear that Tammy had not died of natural causes.
Chad and Lori’s whirlwind marriage coming so soon after Tammy’s death and the disappearance of Lori’s children, led to increasing media attention and public outrage. The couple’s continued silence and refusal to cooperate with investigators only fueled speculation about their involvement in the deaths and disappearances.
The Discovery of the Children’s Remains
In June 2020, after months of searching, investigators made a horrific discovery. The remains of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow were found buried on Chad Daybell’s property in Rexburg, Idaho. The discovery confirmed the worst fears of the children’s family and the public. The details of how the children died were harrowing — Tylee’s remains had been dismembered and burned, while JJ had been found wrapped in plastic and bound with duct tape.
The discovery of the children’s bodies was the turning point in the case, leading to Chad Daybell’s arrest on charges of concealing evidence and tampering with human remains. Lori, who had already been arrested earlier in February 2020 on charges of desertion and nonsupport of her children, now faced even more serious charges. The discovery of the children’s bodies shattered any remaining doubt about Lori and Chad’s involvement in their deaths.
Lori and Chad’s Arrest and Charges
Following the discovery of the children’s remains both Lori and Chad faced a slew of criminal charges. Lori was initially charged with felony child abandonment, but after the discovery of the bodies, her charges were upgraded to conspiracy to commit murder, as well as first-degree murder. Chad faced similar charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder in the deaths of Tylee, JJ, and his wife Tammy.
According to court documents Lori and Chad believed that both Tylee and JJ had become “zombies,” possessed by evil spirits, and that the only way to save their souls was through death.
In addition to the murder charges, both Lori and Chad faced accusations of insurance fraud and financial crimes. Lori had collected Social Security benefits on behalf of her children after their deaths, while Chad had received life insurance payouts following Tammy’s death.
As of 2024, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell are both awaiting trial on multiple charges, including murder, conspiracy, and fraud.
In May 2023, Lori Vallow was convicted on all counts, including the murders of her children. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During the trial, the prosecution laid out the deeply disturbing nature of Lori’s actions, driven by her fanatical beliefs and her desire to be with Chad at any cost. The defense attempted to argue that Lori had been manipulated by Chad and that her mental state was compromised, but the jury found her fully responsible for the murders.
That is the horrific story of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell.
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