Lori Vallow Daybell trial: Case now in hands of jury following closing arguments
PHOENIX - After two weeks of proceedings, the case against Lori Vallow Daybell is now in the hands of the jury, after both sides made their closing arguments on April 21.
It took less than 15 minutes for the jury to say they were going home to rest for the night and get back to deliberations on Tuesday.
The so-called "Doomsday Mom" is accused of plotting the murder of her then-husband, Charles Vallow.
Jury deliberations underway in Lori Vallow Daybell trial
We are on verdict watch as jury deliberations are underway in the murder conspiracy trial of Lori Vallow Daybell. The so-called "Doomsday Mom" is accused of plotting the murder of her then-husband, Charles Vallow. FOX 10's Justin Lum reports.
The latest:
On April 16, prosecutor Treena Kay rested her case against Vallow Daybell. On April 21, she made her nearly two-hour closing statement to the jury.
She went over several witnesses, reinforcing the motive of money, the affair between Lori and Chad and "twisted religious beliefs."
Kay went through the lack of physical evidence to suggest a fight between Charles Vallow and his then-brother-in-law Alex Cox.
Lori Vallow Daybell trial: Closing arguments made
A jury will continue deliberations over the Lori Vallow Daybell murder conspiracy case on April 22, after closing arguments were made on Monday, April 21. FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum has more.
Lori spoke to the jury for about 20 minutes and did not address her choice not to call 911, suspicious religious texts with her co-conspirators, and she told the jury she and her family had the right to self-defense.
The state objected multiple times to Lori, essentially testifying with her closing arguments, and bringing up her daughter Tylee Ryan and brother Alex Cox, who are both dead.
The backstory:
Per the Associated Press, prosecutors allege that Vallow Daybell conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to kill Charles Vallow.
Charles was Vallow Daybell's husband at the time of his death, and per the AP, prosecutors allege the conspiracy was done so that Vallow Daybell could collect money from Charles' life insurance policy and marry her then-boyfriend, Chad Daybell.
Daybell is described by the AP as an Idaho author who wrote several religious novels about prophecies and the end of the world.
As for Cox, the AP reported that he claimed he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Vallow. Cox died five months after Charles' death.
Vallow Daybell represented herself during the trial
Vallow Daybell, who was already convicted in Idaho of murdering two of her children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and subsequently sentenced to life in prison, represented herself in this trial. She is required to wear a stun belt, which can deliver a sudden jolt in the event of any disturbances.
Dig deeper:
In all, prosecutors called 19 witnesses to testify against Vallow Daybell, including Kay Woodcock, Charles' sister-in-law and the ex-mother-in-law of Vallow Daybell.
On April 16, prosecutors finished off with Chandler Police lead detective Nathan Duncan.
On the same day, the jury saw an overwhelming amount of evidence, such as e-mails, text messages and photos, all presented by a prosecution that was aiming to show that Vallow Daybell conspired with her late brother, Alex Cox, months before Charles was shot and killed by Cox.
The other side:
The defense’s argument has been a narrative of self-defense, but jurors also saw the romantic text messages between convicted murderer Chad Daybell and Lori, at a time when the two were in the midst of an affair.
Lori Vallow Daybell's texts to Chad Daybell seen in court
During Day 6 of the Doomsday murder conspiracy trial in Phoenix on April 16, prosecuting attorney Treena Kay dived into the development of Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell's relationship, during her cross-examination of Chandler Police Detective Nate Duncan. Kay asked Duncan if the two's relationship became more open after Charles Vallow died, and Duncan affirmed.
Vallow Daybell was originally expected to introduce evidence on her behalf or testify. However, she said on April 16 that she will rest her case.
While Vallow Daybell didn't announce her decision in front of a jury, the announcement nevertheless appeared suddenly. She also said the state did not present sufficient evidence.
Big picture view:
The trial was not without its moments.
On April 7, Kay objected four times throughout Vallow Daybell's opening statement.
On April 9, Vallow Daybell asked Nancy Jo Hancock, a woman who went on a date with Charles the night before he was shot and killed, about whether they spent the night talking about her.
"Are you trying to tell me and this jury that you went on one date with my husband, and he told you all the details of our lives?" Vallow Daybell asked.
"I'm telling you the truth, and that's what I know," Hancock replied.
"So you spent your whole date getting to know each other, talking about me?" Vallow Daybell asked.
"Don't flatter yourself," Hancock retorted. "No. We did not spend the whole time talking about you."
On re-direct from Kay on April 10, Vallow Daybell's brother, Adam Cox, 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."
On the same day, Charles' sister, Kay Woodcock, recounted the moment she found out her brother was dead.
'It was horrible': Kay Woodcock breaks down in court
It was an emotional 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 appeared to go back and forth during cross-examinations with law enforcement witnesses.
What's next:
The jury gets back to deliberations on April 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Per the AP, Vallow Daybell could face a life sentence without the possibility of release until serving at least 25 years if she is convicted.
As noted above, Vallow Daybell has already been sentenced to life in prison without parole in Idaho for JJ and Tylee's deaths.
What you can do:
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