Latest news with #doomsday
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Washington Post
‘Doomsday' killer Lori Vallow Daybell receives two more life sentences
Lori Vallow Daybell, an Idaho woman already convicted of the murders of her two youngest children, received two further life sentences for conspiring to murder her fourth husband and the niece of her ex-husband. The sentences, announced Friday, follow two separate trials in Arizona this year and bring an end to the legal cases against Vallow Day, who was convicted in Idaho in 2023 of murdering her 7-year-old son, JJ Vallow, and her daughter, Tylee Ryan, who was almost 17. She had also been found guilty of conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, the first wife of her husband Chad Daybell. An author of self-published apocalyptic novels, Chad Daybell was convicted last year of all three murders and sentenced to death. Prosecutors alleged that the couple justified the killings through 'doomsday' religious beliefs and bizarre ideas about cleansing 'zombie' spirits. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Justin Beresky told Vallow Daybell at her sentencing Friday that she should 'never be released from prison.' 'You've not victimized just a single victim, but many. You've shattered lives,' he said. 'The amount of contemplation, calculation, planning, manipulation that went into these crimes is unparalleled in my career,' Beresky added. Vallow Daybell's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was fatally shot in July 2019. The couple were estranged at the time. Vallow Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, told police that he acted in self-defense, according to records published by KUTV in Salt Lake City. Cox had not been charged in the killing before he died in December 2019. But prosecutors said Vallow Daybell was motivated by her husband's $1 million life insurance policy and her wish to marry Chad Daybell. Adam Cox, the brother of Vallow Daybell and Alex Cox, testified during the trial that he believed his sister was behind Vallow's killing; she was convicted in April. The second trial involved the alleged attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux, the former husband of Vallow Daybell's niece, who was shot at from a vehicle in October 2019. His former wife, Melani Pawlowski, had been attending religious meetings with her aunt and suggested that they stockpile food for the end of the world, Boudreaux said earlier in the trial, the AP reported. In both cases, prosecutor Treena Kay said in court Friday, Vallow Daybell 'twisted religion and fashioned it as a justification for her actions. The reality is that this defendant is the same as every other murder defendant.' Kay argued that Vallow Daybell was motivated by money in the attack on Boudreaux, as she said it was with Charles Vallow. But in this case, the beneficiary would have been her niece. In court Friday, Boudreaux spoke of the impact of the shooting and said he was scared to live with his children for months after he was shot at. 'The betrayal by someone connected to my family has left me battling overwhelming emotions over the years. I felt fear, paranoia,' he said. 'I lived with constant vigilance, loneliness, regret, sadness, depression, anger, heartache and embarrassment.' Boudreaux said that he had decided to forgive Vallow Daybell but that he had 'never seen any remorse or acknowledgment from Lori or any of her conspirators.' Vallow Daybell, who represented herself at both trials, gave a rambling statement to the court in which she did not admit any wrongdoing, saying: 'Losing those close to you is painful, and I acknowledge all of the pain and I do empathize. I feel it, too. If I was accountable for these crimes, I would acknowledge it and I would let you know how sorry I was.' Vallow Daybell's son Colby Ryan told the court Friday that Charles Vallow 'cared for his family. He took care of our family and he made sure we had a good life. He was a very generous man.' 'Not only are my father, sister and brother gone, but so is my mother,' he said, adding that he had to 'fight to stay alive after the pain. There are no words for what I've experienced, and I had to choose to fight and stay alive'
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Lori Vallow Daybell stoked tensions with judge in her Arizona murder conspiracy trials
Moments before the Idaho mother with doomsday beliefs was given two more life sentences in prison, she complained about jail conditions and the legal system, saying the rules of evidence do not allow two sides of the story. Judge Justin Beresky abruptly interrupted, saying: 'Actually, they do.' It was a moment that further highlighted the tension between Lori Vallow Daybell, who represented herself in two murder conspiracy cases in Arizona, and Beresky, who pulled no punches when the time came for him to address the court. Beresky said Vallow Daybell was not truthful when she claimed she was prevented from telling her side of the story and was unable to get a fair trial. The media attention she craved, he said, will fade into obscurity now that her trials are over. 'The amount of contemplation, calculation, planning, and manipulation that went into these crimes is unparalleled in my career,' said Beresky, who has been a Maricopa County Superior Court judge since 2017 and has presided over other high-profile cases. Friday's sentencing ended the legal saga of Vallow Daybell, 51, who will likely spend no time in an Arizona prison because she already was serving three life sentences in Idaho for killing her two youngest children and conspiring to kill a romantic rival. In Arizona, she was convicted of conspiring to kill her estranged husband Charles Vallow and her niece's ex-husband Brandon Boudreaux. Charles Vallow was fatally shot, while Boudreaux survived. Vallow Daybell maintained that she did nothing wrong and said the string of deaths were simply tragedies. She turned to her own religious beliefs in saying she believes she is among servants who Jesus is sending into prison to become warriors and who ultimately will be released to serve him. Beresky implied that she got the meaning wrong when she referenced a verse about prisoners going free. 'That is a verse about people that accept Jesus can be in prison and they will go free when they die and go to heaven, but it will take an act of God for you to go free,' the judge said. 'In short, you should never be released from prison.' Vallow Daybell's trials in Phoenix were infused with her religious beliefs, including that people in her life were possessed by evil spirits. She routinely sparred with Beresky, occasionally leaning over to consult with her advisory counsel. Charles Vallow's sister Kay Woodcock praised the judge's demeanor outside the courtroom. 'I don't think we could have had a better judge,' she said. 'He is a better man than a lot of people putting up with her like he did.' Mel McDonald, a retired Maricopa County judge who was not involved in the trials but watched them, said Beresky did an exceptional job of maintaining courtroom decorum and demonstrated extraordinary patience despite obstructive tactics from Vallow Daybell. 'He gives her latitude,' McDonald said. 'But he doesn't let her run wild.' Last month during the trial over the conspiracy to kill Boudreaux, Vallow Daybell falsely accused Beresky of yelling at her after he explained that her efforts to introduce favorable evidence about her character could open the door to jurors hearing about her convictions in Idaho and for Vallow's death. 'You don't need to talk to me that way,' Vallow Daybell said. 'Take her out,' Beresky told a security officer who led her from the courtroom. In defending herself, Vallow Daybell struggled with legal matters that most lawyers consider routine, such as lining up witnesses to testify. She insisted on exercising her speedy trial rights and rejected the judge's offer for later dates, yet complained about not having enough time to prepare. She also tried to get Beresky removed from the case, arguing that he was biased against her. In another moment emblematic of the tensions between judge and defendant, Beresky expressed skepticism during jury selection for her second Arizona trial when she claimed she was too sick to move forward. The proceedings were postponed for the day, but the trial continued with Beresky later saying there was no objective evidence to support her claims.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Lori Vallow Daybell stoked tensions with judge in her Arizona murder conspiracy trials
Moments before the Idaho mother with doomsday beliefs was given two more life sentences in prison, she complained about jail conditions and the legal system, saying the rules of evidence do not allow two sides of the story. Judge Justin Beresky abruptly interrupted, saying: 'Actually, they do.' It was a moment that further highlighted the tension between Lori Vallow Daybell, who represented herself in two murder conspiracy cases in Arizona, and Beresky, who pulled no punches when the time came for him to address the court. Beresky said Vallow Daybell was not truthful when she claimed she was prevented from telling her side of the story and was unable to get a fair trial. The media attention she craved, he said, will fade into obscurity now that her trials are over. 'The amount of contemplation, calculation, planning and manipulation that went into these crimes is unparalleled in my career,' said Beresky, who has been a Maricopa County Superior Court judge since 2017 and has presided over other high-profile cases. Friday's sentencing ended the legal saga of Vallow Daybell, 51, who will likely spend no time in an Arizona prison because she already was serving three life sentences in Idaho for killing her two youngest children and conspiring to kill a romantic rival. In Arizona she was convicted of conspiring to kill her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, and her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Charles Vallow was fatally shot, while Boudreaux survived. Vallow Daybell maintained that she did nothing wrong and said the string of deaths were simply tragedies. She turned to her own religious beliefs in saying she believes she is among servants who Jesus is sending into prison to become warriors and who, ultimately, will be released to serve him. Beresky implied that she got the meaning wrong when she referenced a verse about prisoners going free. 'That is a verse about people that accept Jesus can be in prison and they will go free when they die and go to heaven, but it will take an act of God for you to go free,' the judge said. 'In short, you should never be released from prison.' Vallow Daybell's trials in Phoenix were infused with her religious beliefs, including that people in her life were possessed by evil spirits. She routinely sparred with Beresky, occasionally leaning over to consult with her advisory counsel. Charles Vallow's sister, Kay Woodcock, praised the judge's demeanor outside the courtroom. 'I don't think we could have had a better judge," she said. "He is a better man than a lot of people putting up with her like he did.' Mel McDonald, a retired Maricopa County judge who was not involved in the trials but watched them, said Beresky did an exceptional job of maintaining courtroom decorum and demonstrated extraordinary patience despite obstructive tactics from Vallow Daybell. 'He gives her latitude,' McDonald said. 'But he doesn't let her run wild.' Last month, during the trial over the conspiracy to kill Boudreaux, Vallow Daybell falsely accused Beresky of yelling at her after he explained that her efforts to introduce favorable evidence about her character could open the door to jurors hearing about her convictions in Idaho and for Vallow's death. 'You don't need to talk to me that way," Vallow Daybell said. 'Take her out,' Beresky told a security officer, who led her from the courtroom. In defending herself, Vallow Daybell struggled with legal matters that most lawyers consider routine, such as lining up witnesses to testify. She insisted on exercising her speedy trial rights and rejected the judge's offer for later dates, yet complained about not having enough time to prepare. She also tried to get Beresky removed from the case, arguing that he was biased against her. In another moment emblematic of the tensions between judge and defendant, Beresky expressed skepticism during jury selection for her second Arizona trial when she claimed she was too sick to move forward. The proceedings were postponed for the day. But the trial continued, with Beresky later saying there was no objective evidence to support her claims. ___ Associated Press writers Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Sejal Govindarao in Phoenix contributed.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Associated Press
Lori Vallow Daybell stoked tensions with judge in her Arizona murder conspiracy trials
PHOENIX (AP) — Moments before the Idaho mother with doomsday beliefs was given two more life sentences in prison, she complained about jail conditions and the legal system, saying the rules of evidence do not allow two sides of the story. Judge Justin Beresky abruptly interrupted, saying: 'Actually, they do.' It was a moment that further highlighted the tension between Lori Vallow Daybell, who represented herself in two murder conspiracy cases in Arizona, and Beresky, who pulled no punches when the time came for him to address the court. Beresky said Vallow Daybell was not truthful when she claimed she was prevented from telling her side of the story and was unable to get a fair trial. The media attention she craved, he said, will fade into obscurity now that her trials are over. 'The amount of contemplation, calculation, planning and manipulation that went into these crimes is unparalleled in my career,' said Beresky, who has been a Maricopa County Superior Court judge since 2017 and has presided over other high-profile cases. Friday's sentencing ended the legal saga of Vallow Daybell, 51, who will likely spend no time in an Arizona prison because she already was serving three life sentences in Idaho for killing her two youngest children and conspiring to kill a romantic rival. In Arizona she was convicted of conspiring to kill her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, and her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Charles Vallow was fatally shot, while Boudreaux survived. Vallow Daybell maintained that she did nothing wrong and said the string of deaths were simply tragedies. She turned to her own religious beliefs in saying she believes she is among servants who Jesus is sending into prison to become warriors and who, ultimately, will be released to serve him. Beresky implied that she got the meaning wrong when she referenced a verse about prisoners going free. 'That is a verse about people that accept Jesus can be in prison and they will go free when they die and go to heaven, but it will take an act of God for you to go free,' the judge said. 'In short, you should never be released from prison.' Vallow Daybell's trials in Phoenix were infused with her religious beliefs, including that people in her life were possessed by evil spirits. She routinely sparred with Beresky, occasionally leaning over to consult with her advisory counsel. Charles Vallow's sister, Kay Woodcock, praised the judge's demeanor outside the courtroom. 'I don't think we could have had a better judge,' she said. 'He is a better man than a lot of people putting up with her like he did.' Mel McDonald, a retired Maricopa County judge who was not involved in the trials but watched them, said Beresky did an exceptional job of maintaining courtroom decorum and demonstrated extraordinary patience despite obstructive tactics from Vallow Daybell. 'He gives her latitude,' McDonald said. 'But he doesn't let her run wild.' Last month, during the trial over the conspiracy to kill Boudreaux, Vallow Daybell falsely accused Beresky of yelling at her after he explained that her efforts to introduce favorable evidence about her character could open the door to jurors hearing about her convictions in Idaho and for Vallow's death. 'You don't need to talk to me that way,' Vallow Daybell said. 'Take her out,' Beresky told a security officer, who led her from the courtroom. In defending herself, Vallow Daybell struggled with legal matters that most lawyers consider routine, such as lining up witnesses to testify. She insisted on exercising her speedy trial rights and rejected the judge's offer for later dates, yet complained about not having enough time to prepare. She also tried to get Beresky removed from the case, arguing that he was biased against her. In another moment emblematic of the tensions between judge and defendant, Beresky expressed skepticism during jury selection for her second Arizona trial when she claimed she was too sick to move forward. The proceedings were postponed for the day. But the trial continued, with Beresky later saying there was no objective evidence to support her claims. ___ Associated Press writers Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Sejal Govindarao in Phoenix contributed.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Lori Vallow Daybell receives new life sentences in conspiracy cases, ending "doomsday mom's" legal saga
Lori Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison Friday on two murder conspiracy convictions in Arizona, marking an end to a winding legal saga for the mother with doomsday religious beliefs who claimed people in her life had been possessed by evil spirits. Vallow Daybell, already serving life sentences in Idaho in the killings of her two youngest children and a romantic rival, was convicted at separate trials this spring in Phoenix of conspiring to murder her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, and her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. She represented herself, despite not being a lawyer. Authorities say she carried out the plots with her brother Alex Cox, who acknowledged killing Vallow in July 2019 and was identified by prosecutors as the person who fired at Boudreaux months later but missed. Prosecutors say Vallow Daybell conspired to kill her husband so she could collect on his $1 million life insurance policy and marry her then-boyfriend Chad Daybell, an Idaho author of several religious novels about prophecies and the end of the world. They say Boudreaux suspected Vallow Daybell and Cox were responsible for Vallow's death and went into hiding with his children because he feared Cox would kill him. Nearly two years ago, Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in an Idaho prison for killing her children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and conspiring to murder Daybell's wife, Tammy. The children went missing for several months before their bodies were found buried in rural Idaho on Daybell's property. Daybell was sentenced to death for the gruesome murders of his wife, Tylee and JJ. At her Arizona trials, Vallow Daybell argued her brother acted in self-defense when killing Vallow. She also said no evidence showed she conspired with Cox to kill Boudreaux. Vallow Daybell appeared in court Friday in an orange jail uniform as family members called her "evil," "greedy" and a "monster" while describing their grief. The victims' family members sat in the jury box, passing around tissues. Colby Ryan, Vallow Daybell's only surviving child who testified by remote link, described how he "had to fight to stay alive after the pain" of losing his father and siblings. Ryan zeroed in on his mother, who has claimed the Arizona cases were family tragedies that shouldn't have ended up in court. "I believe that Lori Vallow herself is the family tragedy," Ryan said. Charles Vallow filed for divorce four months before he died. He said Vallow Daybell became infatuated with near-death experiences and claimed to have lived numerous lives on other planets. He told police she threatened to kill him and he was concerned for his children. Vallow was shot when he went to pick up his son at Vallow Daybell's home outside Phoenix, police said. Vallow Daybell's daughter, Tylee, told police the sound of yelling woke her up, and she confronted Vallow with a baseball bat that he managed to take from her. Cox told police he shot Vallow after he refused to drop the bat and came after him. Cox died five months later from a blood clot in his lungs. His self-defense claim was later called into question, with investigators saying Cox and Vallow Daybell waited more than 40 minutes before calling 911. Just before his death, Vallow and his wife's other brother, Adam Cox, planned an intervention to try to bring Vallow Daybell back into the mainstream of their shared faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Adam Cox, a witness for the prosecution, testified that his sister told people Vallow was no longer living and that a zombie was inside her estranged husband's body. Gerry Vallow, Charles Vallow's brother, told the judge Friday that Vallow Daybell cheated on his brother with Chad Daybell while she was plotting to kill Charles Vallow. She isn't misunderstood, Gerry Vallow said. "She wrote her own make-believe story, and she wrote it in blood," he said. "She tried to kill Brandon when he started looking like the next available dollar sign." Almost three months after Vallow died, someone fired a shot at Boudreaux from an open window of a Jeep as he was driving up to his home in Gilbert, another Phoenix suburb. It narrowly missed Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Vallow Daybell's niece, Melani Pawlowski. Boudreaux described in court Friday how Vallow Daybell betrayed him and how the attempt on his life caused him heartache and worry about his family's safety. Boudreaux's sisters told the judge that their brother went into hiding with his children. "No one deserves to live a life of fear and trauma," Boudreaux said tearfully. He said he has forgiven Vallow Daybell so he can be a better person but that he wouldn't feel safe if she has freedom. Boudreaux has said Pawlowski aspired to be like her aunt. The two started attending religious meetings together in 2018. Soon after, Pawlowski said they should stockpile food for the end of the world. Prosecutors tied the Jeep to Vallow Daybell and said she loaned it to Alex Cox. The two bought a burner phone used to carry out the attack and tried to concoct an alibi for Cox to make it seem like he was in Idaho at the time, prosecutors said.
