Lori Vallow Daybell: Tense moment as 'Doomsday Mom' was thrown out of courtroom

The second and final Arizona trial of Lori Daybell, the so-called "Doomsday Mom," resumed in a Phoenix courtroom on Friday.

The backstory:

Daybell is accused of conspiring with her late brother, Alex Cox, in the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux, who was once Daybell's Nephew-in-law.

Boudreaux was shot at outside his Gilbert home in October 2019. While Boudreaux was not hit, the incident is linked to a series of deadly events in Idaho, including the murders of Daybell's two children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy.

In April 2025, Daybell was also found guilty of plotting the fatal shooting of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in Chandler.

What Happened Today:

During a portion of the trial proceedings on Friday, Daybell was removed from the courtroom after an intense exchange with the judge.

"We'll have a very short hearing. OK. If you're going to introduce how you have great character and good character, we're going to have a short hearing on what evidence that they can bring in to rebut that character, which could include being convicted of four murders," Judge Justin Beresky told Vallow during a hearing.

Judge Beresky was seen standing when he spoke with Vallow during that exchange.

"You don't need to yell at me, either," Daybell said at one point during the exchange. "You are, and you do not need to talk to me that way. I'm very courteous. I'm very courteous to you."

"No," Judge Beresky retorted. "You have been nothing near courteous to me during the course of these proceedings. Talk with your advisory counsel about the rest of your cross. We're going to resume in 15 minutes."

What Happened Yesterday:

On Thursday, both sides presented their opening statements. Prosecutor Treena Kay did not hold back.

"This defendant, Lori Vallow Daybell, has been charged with conspiracy to commit the first-degree murder of Brandon Boudreaux on October 2nd of 2019. The evidence in this case will prove to you beyond reasonable doubt that this defendant conspired with Alex Cox and others to kill Brandon," Kay said at one point. "At the end of this trial, the state will ask you all to hold this defendant accountable and find her guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder."

Just like in her first Arizona trial, Daybell is representing herself. She was met with multiple objections during her opening statement.

"I want you to look carefully and determine if this event was a crime at all. Did a shooting actually occur? Only Brandon claims that it did. Only Brandon names me and Alex," Daybell said at one point.

Boudreaux, Daybell's ex-nephew-in-law, took the stand. He was emotional at times, saying Daybell influenced his then-wife Melani Pawlowski to divorce him over false allegations.

"I texted Lori and Charles, and tried to call both of them to discuss it with them because I wanted them to understand the gravity," Boudreaux said. "This is my family. This is my kids. Changes the rest of their lives, you know? It's not just whatever was going on for those two." 

What you can do:

You can watch live coverage of the trial on FOX 10's YouTube channel.

Lori Vallow-Chad Daybell casePhoenixNews