Lori Vallow Daybell's brother testifies at her murder conspiracy trial l Day 4
PHOENIX - The Lori Vallow Daybell murder conspiracy trial continued on Thursday in Phoenix after there were some fireworks in the courtroom on Wednesday.
The so-called "Doomsday Mom" is accused of planning the murder of her then-husband, Charles Vallow. Vallow Daybell is representing herself (known in legal language as pro se) in the trial.
What they're saying:
On April 9, a retired Chandler homicide detective took the stand to testify about the shooting death of Charles. He was the fifth witness to testify so far in the trial. During Daniel Coons' testimony, Vallow Daybell questioned the detective about the gun that shot Charles, and whether he believed her brother, Alex Cox, shot him.
Coons' testimony was followed by Nancy Jo Hancock and Christina Atwood. Hancock's testimony contained a rather tense moment between her and Vallow Daybell.
‘Doomsday Mom’ tries to grill Charles Vallow’s last date | On The Record
In a cross-examination of Nancy Jo Hancock, Lori Vallow Daybell was fiery and faced several objections for questions that the prosecution called argumentative and harassment. FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum and Executive Producer George Obi recap the tense moments in the courtroom.
Hancock is the woman who went on a date with Charles Vallow in July 2019, the night before Vallow was shot and killed. During her testimony, Vallow Daybell asked Hancock about that date, and whether Hancock knew that she and Vallow were still married at the time.
"Would you have gone out on a date with him, if he would have said he was married?" Vallow Daybell asked.
"If I would have realized how married he still was, maybe not," Hancock replied. "But, I just met for dinner. I wasn't sleeping with him or anything."
‘Doomsday Mom’ cross-examines her brother
Lori Vallow Daybell's brother testifies at her trial
On Thursday, several key players will be testifying, including Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, Adam Cox, who told the jury he flew into Phoenix right before Charles' death. He said he arrived to help Charles stage an intervention with Vallow Daybell. FOX 10's Lauren Clark reports.
On Thursday, several key players testified, including Vallow Daybell's brother, Adam Cox, who told the jury he flew to Phoenix right before Charles' death. He said he arrived to help Charles stage an intervention with Vallow Daybell.
When cross-examining her brother, Vallow Daybell only asked him a few questions. It appeared she was trying to get the point across that they hadn't seen or talked to each other in years.
On re-direct from prosecutor Treena Kay, Adam said he had no doubt in his mind that Alex and his sister killed Charles.
"No doubt in my mind that they killed him. That's a feeling that I got," he said. "Lori, talking crazy about how she’s a translated being, all these things added up to that moment and that morning."
Adam testified to Vallow Daybell's beliefs in dark spirits, possession, and how she declared herself a celestial being.
"Lori had told people that Charles was no longer living, that some guy named Ned was living inside of his body," Adam said.
Then, Vallow Daybell's former friend, Sarena Sharp, took the stand.
Vallow Daybell asked her, "What did I say exactly about zombies? I want to know the sentence I said to you about zombies."
It sparked a heated cross-examination with several objections and warnings from the judge.
Adam Cox talks about Lori Vallow Daybells religion
Day 4 of the Doomsday Murder trial in Phoenix began with prosecuting attorney Treena Kay's cross-examination of Adam Cox, the brother of the late Alex Cox. During his testimony, Adam talked about some of Lori Vallow Daybell's religious beliefs that are considered to be outside of what is accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Charles' sister takes the stand
'It was horrible': Kay Woodcock breaks down in court
It was an emotion day for the Doomsday Murder trial on April 10, as Kay Woodcock, the brother of Charles Vallow, recounted the moment she learned of Vallow's death. In Arizona, Lori Vallow Daybell is accused of conspiring to kill Charles.
Vallow Daybell also cross-examined Charles' sister, Kay Woodcock.
She recalled the moment she found out her brother was dead.
"I was at a nail salon in Lake Charles. My granddaughter and I. I got a call from his oldest son, Cole, and I said, ‘Hey, what is going on?'" Woodcock recounted.
She said Cole told her he had received a text from Vallow Daybell, saying "dad is dead."
"He was freaking out, and I was like, 'OK, call … just give me a minute. Let me think about this. Let me see, and I'll call you back, I promise, as soon as I can figure this out.' So, I called my husband to tell him, and he said, ‘OK, well, let me …,' I told him what Cole said, and he said, ’Hey, let me call you back in a minute.' So, I was still at the nail salon trying to get out of there. He called, and he said, 'He's dead. I Googled him and he's dead. Alex killed him yesterday.' I mean, that was just like … it was horrible. I was like, ‘Oh, my siblings.' I let them know, and everybody was freaked out. I didn't know what to do," Woodcock said.
Vallow Daybell only asked her former sister-in-law three brief questions in her cross-examination.
The state also brought in more law enforcement investigators to discuss cell phone evidence and latent prints.
‘Did you see with your eyes or hear with your ears …'
Adam was the last person to text Charles on the morning of July 11, 2019.
Text messages reveal Adam told Charles that Vallow Daybell and Alex Cox were "planning something."
Minutes later, Alex shot and killed Charles, claiming self-defense.
Adam told the court he learned about Charles’ death through the internet, and neither Vallow Daybell or Alex told him anything about the fatal shooting.
Lori: "So, Mr. Cox, did you see or hear or personally witness me conspire with my brother Alex Cox to murder my husband Charles?"
Adam: "Repeat that again."
Lori: "Did you see with your eyes or hear with your ears, or personally witness me conspire with my brother Alex Cox to murder my husband, Charles Vallow?"
Adam: "No."
Lori: "Thank you. No more questions."
Lori's oldest son takes the stand
Vallow Daybell's oldest child, Colby Ryan, was in the courtroom on April 10.
"For me, it’s validating. Just because of how I grew up, but it’s hard to watch her talk the way that she talks to other people, it’s hard," he said.
The backstory:
In Arizona, Vallow Daybell is accused of planning the death of her then-husband, Charles Vallow, in 2019. It was allegedly motivated by Vallow Daybell's religious beliefs, and a $1 million life insurance policy that Charles owned.
Charles was shot by Vallow Daybell's late brother, Alex Cox. Cox had said he shot Charles after a fight involving a baseball bat.
Charles Vallow and Lori Vallow Daybell.
Vallow Daybell is also accused of attempted murder in connection with her ex-nephew-in-law, Brandon Boudreaux. The shootings of Charles and Brandon happened within months of each other.
In Idaho, Vallow Daybell was found guilty of killing Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow. She was also found guilty of her role in the death of Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell's first wife. Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison in Idaho.
Chad Daybell, Lori's husband, was convicted of all three murders last year. He was sentenced to death.
What you can do:
Day four of the trial gets underway at 10:30 a.m. on April 10. You can watch FOX 10's full coverage on our YouTube channel.
What's next:
Court resumes on April 14 at 10 a.m.