Phoenix, Arizona — Lori Vallow Daybell, whose radical religious beliefs underpinned a series of grave crimes, was found guilty Tuesday of conspiring to murder her estranged husband. The conviction adds to her extensive legal woes, as she is already serving multiple life sentences in Idaho for the deaths of her two children and a woman in a separate case.
Jurors in the Maricopa County courtroom delivered the guilty verdict after roughly three hours of deliberation. Vallow Daybell, who faces another possible life sentence, won’t be sentenced in Arizona until her trial for another alleged murder conspiracy concludes.
The prosecution argued that Vallow Daybell, with assistance from her brother Alex Cox, orchestrated the July 2019 murder of Charles Vallow in Chandler, a suburb of Phoenix. Their alleged motive intertwined financial gain through Charles’s life insurance and Lori’s union with Chad Daybell, an author of doomsday-focused religious novels.
Chad Daybell is also behind bars for life, following his role in the deaths of Vallow Daybell’s children — 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan — and his previous wife, Tammy. The couple claimed the children were ‘zombies’ and that Lori was a divine figure destined to bring about the apocalypse, as stated by Idaho authorities.
Representing herself in court, Vallow Daybell remained composed as the verdict was announced, although occasionally glancing at the jury members. Juror Victoria Lewis spoke to the media, noting Vallow Daybell’s demeanor did not aid her defense, often appearing disengaged and frivolous throughout the trial.
During her self-representation, Vallow Daybell contended that Charles had attacked her with a bat, leading to her brother fatally shooting him in what she claimed was self-defense. She described the incident as a tragedy rather than a crime. Unfortunately for her defense, Alex Cox, who could have corroborated her version, died five months after the shooting from a pulmonary blood clot.
Outside the courthouse, Charles Vallow’s siblings expressed their relief and satisfaction with the jury’s decision. Kay Woodcock, Charles’s sister, delivered a stern message to Lori, emphasizing the jury’s role in unveiling the truth.
Last week, another twist came when Adam Cox, Lori’s brother, testified against her, corroborating the prosecution’s narrative. Adam highlighted the disturbing descent of his sister into dangerous ideologies, noting plans to confront Lori about her beliefs right before Charles’s murder.
According to Adam, Lori had begun asserting that Charles was actually a zombie and that she had lived many past lives on different planets. Just months before his death, Charles had sought a divorce, alleging Lori’s strange obsessions and direct threats against his life.
Lori Vallow Daybell’s legal battles continue as she is set to face trial soon in an alleged plot to kill Brandon Boudreaux, the former husband of her niece, who survived the attempted murder.