Devendra Kumar
Lori Vallow Daybell, an Idaho mother, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murders of her two youngest children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as her romantic rival, Tammy Daybell. The case was marked by bizarre claims of zombies and apocalyptic themes, which Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, allegedly believed to be true.
Vallow Daybell was found guilty of killing her children and conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, who was Chad Daybell’s previous wife. The husband is awaiting trial on the same murder charges. The case also includes two other charges in Arizona, where Vallow Daybell is accused of conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and her niece’s ex-husband.
During the trial, Vallow Daybell’s only surviving son, Colby Ryan, delivered a statement expressing his grief and loss. “Tylee will never have the opportunity to become a mother, wife or have the career she was destined to have. JJ will never be able to grow and spread his light with the world the way he did,” he wrote. Colby Ryan also spoke about his own grief, saying he has lost the opportunity to share life with the people he loves most.
Tammy Daybell’s sister, Samantha Gwilliam, testified that the family has been left to grieve the loss of their beloved mother, sister, and daughter. “Why? Why plan something so heinous? You are not exalted beings, and your behavior makes you ineligible to be one,” she said, referring to the unusual religious claims. Gwilliam also told Vallow Daybell that she has chosen to forget about her and will never think of her again.
Prosecutor Rob Wood argued that Vallow Daybell’s crimes were motivated by a desire to eliminate anyone who stood in her way, including her children. “A defendant who is willing to murder her own children is willing to murder anyone,” he said. “Society can only be protected from this defendant by a sentence of life in prison without parole.”
The trial also revealed that Vallow Daybell had been committed multiple times for treatment to make her mentally competent for the court proceedings. However, Wood said that there is no evidence that her crimes were affected by her alleged mental illness, which includes delusional disorder with grandiose features. “The evidence is overwhelming that she did know right from wrong,” he said, noting testimony from several people who said she lied to them about the deaths.
The case has left a deep rift in the family, with many relatives struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. As one family member said, “I choose to forget you and as I leave the courtroom here today, I choose to never think of you again.”