Current:Home > StocksLori Vallow Daybell to be sentenced for murders of her 2 youngest children -VitalWealth Strategies
Lori Vallow Daybell to be sentenced for murders of her 2 youngest children
SignalHub View
Date:2025-04-07 19:52:23
An Idaho mother is set to learn her fate after being convicted in the murders of her two youngest children.
Lori Vallow Daybell will return to court in eastern Idaho's Fremont County on Monday for a sentencing hearing, according to Boise ABC affiliate KIVI-TV. She faces up to life in prison without parole. In March, before the trial began, a judge granted the defense's motion to dismiss the death penalty in her case.
Lori and her husband, Chad Daybell, were both charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the 2019 deaths of her two youngest children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow. The children were last seen alive in September 2019 and were reported missing by extended family members that November. Their remains were found on Chad's property in Fremont County in June 2020, according to authorities.
MORE: Juror in murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell breaks silence
The couple were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Chad's ex-wife, 49-year-old Tamara Daybell, who died of asphyxiation of in October 2019, less than a month before Lori and Chad married. Chad was also charged with his former wife's murder.
Both Lori and Chad pleaded not guilty to their charges. In April, a Fremont County judge allowed their cases to be tried separately, with Lori's first and Chad's expected to start at a later date.
Lori was deemed fit to stand trial last year following a 10-month stint at an Idaho mental health facility. Her defense attorneys had said they did not plan to raise a mental health defense at the guilt-phase portion of the trial.
MORE: Lori Vallow Daybell found guilty in murder of her 2 children
During Lori's six-week trial, prosecutors argued that she and her husband thought the children were zombies and murdered them. Chad has authored many religious fiction books and is Lori's fifth husband. The couple both reportedly adhered to a doomsday ideology, with Lori at one point claiming she was "a god assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christ's second coming in July 2020" and didn't want anything to do with her family "because she had a more important mission to carry out," according to court documents obtained by ABC News.
The defense characterized Lori as a devoted mother who loved her children and Jesus, but that all changed near the end of 2018 when she met Chad.
Prosecutors argued that Lori set a plan for the children's murder in motion in October 2018 "using money, power and sex," and that she and her husband "used religion to manipulate others." Lori was additionally charged with grand theft related to Social Security survivor benefits allocated for the care of her children that prosecutors said were appropriated after they were reported missing and ultimately found dead. Meanwhile, Chad was additionally charged with two counts of insurance fraud related to life insurance policies he had on Tamara for which prosecutors said he was the beneficiary.
MORE: A string of family deaths surround tragedy of Lori Vallow’s children
Prosecutors also shared photographs of Lori and Chad dancing on a beach during their wedding in Hawaii when her children's bodies were buried in his backyard.
In May, a 12-member jury reached a verdict after two days of deliberations, finding Lori guilty on all charges. The defense declined to comment on the verdict at the time.
ABC News' John Capell and Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
veryGood! (47)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- For Novak Djokovic, winning Olympic gold for Serbia supersedes all else
- Robert F. Kennedy in NY court as he fights ballot-access suit claiming he doesn’t live in the state
- The Bachelorette’s Andi Dorfman Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby With Husband Blaine Hart
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- U.S. women cap off Paris Olympic swimming with world-record gold in medley relay
- Yellowstone's Luke Grimes and Wife Bianca Grimes Expecting First Baby
- Head bone connected to the clavicle bone and then a gold medal for sprinter Noah Lyles
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- How often should I take my dog to the vet? Advice from an expert
Ranking
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Christine Lakin thinks satirical video of Candace Cameron Bure's brother got her fired from 'Fuller House'
- Kamala Harris on Social Security: 10 things you need to know
- Ben Affleck Debuts Hair Transformation Amid Jennifer Lopez Breakup Rumors
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Delaware authorities investigate the fatal shooting of a murder suspect by state troopers
- Xochitl Gomez Reveals Marvel-ous Skincare Lessons and Products for Under $5
- Inside Jana Duggar's World Apart From Her Huge Family
Recommendation
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Noah Lyles is now the world's fastest man. He was ready for this moment.
Former NBA player Chase Budinger's Olympic volleyball dream ends. What about LA '28 at 40?
Powerball winning numbers for August 3 drawing: Jackpot rises to $171 million
John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Cat Righting Reflex
Blake Lively Reveals If Her and Ryan Reynolds' Kids Are Ready to Watch Her Movies
Olympic gymnastics recap: Suni Lee, Kaylia Nemour, Qiu Qiyuan medal in bars final