Lori Vallow Daybell: Prosecutor, 'Doomsday Mom' made opening statements

Lori Daybell: Opening statements made in court

With the start of her second and final Arizona trial, both the so-called 'Doomsday Mom' and prosecuting attorney Treena Kay made opening statements in court on June 5. FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum reports.

PHOENIX - The final chapter of the Lori Daybell saga in Arizona got underway on June 5 with opening statements, after a jury was finally seated.

Jury selection was cut short on Monday, when Daybell left court early because she was sick. On Wednesday, however, Judge Justin Beresky ordered the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to bring Daybell from jail to the courtroom.

Ultimately, a jury of eight men and eight women was assembled.

As she did in her first trial, the so-called "Doomsday Mom" is representing herself.

The backstory:

For her second and final trial in Arizona, Daybell is accused of conspiring with her late brother, Alex Cox, in the attempted murder of her ex-nephew-in-law, Brandon Boudreaux.

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:

Prosecuting attorney Treena Kay did not hold back during her opening statement.

"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."

Vallow Daybell, meanwhile, also delivered her opening statement, but objections were raised multiple times during the 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.

Brandon Boudreaux testifies in Lori Vallow Daybell trial; she maintains innocence | On the Record

FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum and Executive Producer George Obi break down opening statements of the final Lori Vallow Daybell trial. The first witness was Brandon Boudreaux, the victim of the case.

During the trial, Vallow Daybell told the presiding judge that she could not get in contact with her case investigator, who had specific documents and exhibits needed to cross Boudreaux. The prosecution, meanwhile, showed the jury evidence of Boudreaux's Tesla, hit once by a bullet in the Gilbert shooting that happened outside his home on Oct. 2, 2019.

During his testimony, Boudreaux was emotional at times, saying Vallow 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.