'No Remorse': The Trial of Lori Vallow

In this FOX 10 Special, "No Remorse," we're taking you into the trial and eventual conviction of Lori Vallow, the mother who killed her two children and her lover's wife.

Lori lived in Arizona with her children but moved to Rexburg, Idaho after she fell in love with Chad Daybell, an author who wrote about the end of times. By December 2019, her children were reported missing, and it stayed that way for nearly a year.

That's only the beginning.

The kids, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, would later be found dead and buried in Chad's backyard on June 9, 2020, in Salem, Idaho.

In this story, you'll find additional coverage from the documentary that dives deep into the case of Lori Vallow and the tragic murder of her children.

Lori Vallow has been called one of the most hated women in America. Now FOX 10 Investigates brings you inside the trial of the ‘Doomsday Mom’, the extreme beliefs and deadly affair that led to the loss of her two children. FOX 10's Justin Lum reports.

Who is featured in this special? (In order of appearance)

Lori Vallow: The mother of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan
Chad Daybell: A doomsday author and the fifth husband of Lori Vallow
Larry & Kay Woodcock: The grandparents of JJ Vallow
Tammy Daybell: Late wife of Chad Daybell
Vicki Hoban: Tammy Daybell’s aunt
Charles Vallow: Lori's former husband who was shot and killed by her brother Alex Cox
Nate Eaton: East Idaho News Director and reporter
Leah Sottile: Author of "When the Moon Turns to Blood"
Tracy Poff: Woman summoned for jury duty
Tom Evans: Alternate juror
Kirk Nurmi: Former lawyer for Jodi Arias
Rick Alan Ross: Founder of Cult Education Institute
Melanie Gibb: Former friend of Lori Vallow
Zulema Pastenes: Former friend of Lori Vallow
Brandon Boudreaux: Ex-husband of Melani Pawlowski, Lori's neice
Rich Robertson: Private investigator
Ray Hermosillo: Rexburg Police Department Detective
Summer Shiflet: Lori Vallow's sister
Colby Ryan: Lori Vallow's oldest son
Megan Eyden: Lori Vallow's cousin
Dr. Garth Warren: Ada County Coroner
Samantha Gwilliam: Tammy Daybell's sister
Audrey Barattiero: Former friend of Lori Vallow
Jim Archilbald: Lori Vallow's attorney
Judge Steven Boyce: Judge for the case against Lori Vallow
Paul Penzone: Former Maricopa County Sheriff

Lori + Chad

Chad was also a member of the LDS church and a self-published author who wrote doomsday-focused fiction loosely based on church teachings. He married Tammy Daybell in 1990, and they had five kids.

Prosecutors say he met Lori at a conference in Utah in 2018. The two purportedly felt an "instant connection" and claimed they had been married to each other in a past life, according to police records.

Friends of the couple told investigators that the pair shared the same unusual beliefs, including that they could tell if someone had been taken over by an evil spirit.

New documents explain Chad Daybell's religious beliefs

FOX 10 has uncovered e-mails Chad sent to the mother of two missing children with Arizona ties. The e-mails were sent a year before the kids wert missing. FOX 10's Justin Lum reports.

Lori on the run

Lori was first charged with two felony counts of child abandonment, obstruction, solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court.

Once the kids were found on June 9, 2020, she was charged in connection with their murders, as well as her husband's late wife's murder.

Below are several of her mugshots.

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Lori Vallow

Court coverage

After Lori was found guilty on all the counts against her, she spoke directly to the courtroom during sentencing.

"Jesus knows me and Jesus understands me. I mourn with all of you who mourn my children and Tammy. Jesus Christ knows the truth of what happened here. Jesus Christ knows that no one was murdered in this case. Accidental deaths happen. Suicides happen. Fatal side effects from medications happen," Lori said, in part.

Click here to listen to all the court audio files in this case.

Lori Vallow sentenced to life in prison: The latest

Lori faces more charges in Maricopa County

A Maricopa County grand jury indicted Vallow in February 2022 for conspiring to kill her niece's former husband, Brandon Boudreaux. She's also been indicted on charges of conspiring to kill her previous husband, Charles Vallow.

Charles was shot and killed by Alex Cox in July 2019, who claimed it was self-defense.

Lori is being held at a jail in Maricopa County.

What's next for Chad?

Chad's trial begins April 1 for the same murder charges in connection to the deaths of JJ, Tylee and his late wife Tammy Daybell. The state of Idaho is seeking the death penalty if he’s convicted.

Tammy Daybell was initially described as having died in her sleep of natural causes.Since that initial report, a forensic pathologist in Ada County told the court in Vallow’s trial that Tammy died of asphyxiation, and the manner was homicide.