The bizarre cult plot that claimed the lives of “Doomsday Mom” Lori Vallow Daybell’s two children and her husband’s first wife resulted in her being found guilty of murder and conspiracy on Friday.
Just seven hours after the jury’s deliberations in the case began, Vallow Daybell, 49, sat motionless as the verdict was read aloud in the Idaho courtroom.
Vallow Daybell grinned as she spoke with her lawyer before learning her fate.
Additionally, she was found responsible for multiple counts of both grand theft and grand theft by deception.
Prosecutors portrayed Vallow Daybell during the emotional six-week trial as a would-be cult leader motivated by “money, power, and sex” to murder her son Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, in September 2019.
In June 2020, Chad Daybell, a doomsday author, who is Vallow Daybell’s third husband, discovered the children’s remains in his backyard.
Tammy Daybell passed away on October 19, 2019, at their Salem home. Vallow Daybell was also accused of conspiring with Chad to murder her.
After Tammy’s funeral, the couple left for Hawaii, where they got married and stayed for a while before being found by authorities in January.
Rob Wood, the Madison County prosecutor, told the jury that Vallow Daybell continued to make up stories about where her kids were even after she missed the deadline set by the court for their safe return.
The court was additionally subjected to graphic images of the kids’ remains.
Vallow Daybell allegedly killed the kids so that she and Chad could begin a fresh, free life together, according to the prosecution.
The couple planned to “cause pain” to Tylee and J.J. as well as Vallow Daybell’s older son, according to texts that were read in court.
Jim Archibold, her defense attorney, disagreed, arguing that Chad had misled Vallow Daybell with his end-of-the-world teachings.
She desired being with Chad. They were clearly having a relationship…But Lori did not intend to murder her children, Archibold told the court.
Vallow Daybell is not going to be executed in this case because new evidence was found too late to be introduced at trial.
Daybell will face similar charges in a subsequent trial.
The judge announced the verdict and stated that Vallow Daybell would be remanded to custody while awaiting sentencing, even though the hearing’s date had not yet been set.
On Friday morning, Larry Woodcock, Vallow’s grandfather, showed up to court wearing a special t-shirt that read, “World’s Greatest Papa.”
“I’m not the world’s greatest papa… but I hope I was the world’s greatest papa to J.J. and Tylee,” he said to reporters while sobbing.
After Vallow Daybell left the courtroom, Larry and his wife, Kay, were reportedly crying and holding each other close.
Before answering questions, Larry led reporters in a rousing chorus of “We will rock you” outside the courthouse.
I’m kind of at a loss for words for once in my life, he said.
“I want to personally thank each and every juror, and I want to give them each a hug. It was mind-blowing what they experienced and witnessed.
Larry expressed his eagerness to return to court for Chad Daybell’s trial.
Turn out the lights, Larry said when asked by FOX10’s Justin Lum if he had any parting advice for Vallow Daybell. The gathering is over.
The Madison and Fremont County prosecutors said they were “very pleased” with the jury’s verdict in a statement released shortly after the courtroom was adjourned.
They wrote, “We want to reassure each of you that we remain committed to pursuing justice for Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow, and Tammy Daybell,” and said they could not comment further because Chad was still facing charges.