PHOENIX — A jury has found Lori Vallow Daybell guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her former husband, Charles Vallow. The verdict was delivered on April 22, 2025, following a trial that revealed a complex narrative involving doomsday beliefs, financial motives, and familial betrayal.
The prosecution argued that Daybell conspired with her late brother, Alex Cox, to kill Vallow so she could collect on his life insurance policy, which was valued at $1 million, and marry her then-boyfriend, Chad Daybell, an Idaho author known for writing religious novels about prophecies and the end of the world. Prosecutor Treena Kay stated during her closing argument, "What we see is a very planned out, premeditated murder."
The jury began deliberating on April 21, 2025, and resumed their discussions on April 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Arizona time. Closing arguments had taken place on Monday, where Daybell, who chose to represent herself, did not call any witnesses or present evidence in her defense. Instead, she maintained that her estranged husband's death was not a crime, describing the incident as a tragedy. "Don’t let them turn my family tragedy into a crime," she implored the jury.
The case against Daybell centers around events that transpired at her home in Chandler, Arizona, in July 2019. According to the prosecution, Cox shot Charles Vallow after Daybell claimed he had chased her with a bat. Cox, who later died from what medical examiners determined was a blood clot in his lungs, had initially told police that he acted in self-defense.
In a recorded conversation played for the jury, Daybell was heard discussing the life insurance policy, indicating that she believed she was the beneficiary. During this conversation, she referred to the incident as an accident. This recording, along with testimony from family members and first responders, painted a picture of a calculated plan to eliminate Vallow.
Adam Cox, another brother of Lori Vallow Daybell, testified that he had no doubt his siblings were involved in Vallow's death. His testimony revealed that prior to Charles's death, he and Vallow were planning an intervention to help Lori return to their shared faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He recounted that Lori had expressed beliefs that her husband was no longer living and that a zombie was inhabiting his body.
Charles Vallow had filed for divorce just four months before his death, citing his wife's erratic behavior and her claims of having lived multiple lives on other planets. He alleged that she threatened to ruin him financially and even kill him, prompting him to seek a voluntary mental health evaluation for her.
As the trial concluded, the jury faced the daunting task of deliberating the evidence presented over the past two weeks. The prosecution's case was built on the assertion that the murder was premeditated, driven by greed and a desire for a new life with Chad Daybell. In contrast, Daybell's defense hinged on her claim that the shooting was a tragic consequence of self-defense.
Daybell is already serving three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of her two youngest children and for conspiring to murder a romantic rival in Idaho. If convicted in this Arizona case, she could face an additional life sentence.
The trial regarding Charles Vallow's death is just one of two criminal proceedings facing Daybell. She is scheduled to go on trial again in early June 2025 for conspiring to murder Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of her niece, Melani Pawlowski. This upcoming trial is expected to further illuminate the dark and convoluted web of relationships and motivations that have characterized Daybell's life.
The verdict in this case has drawn significant media attention, not only due to the sensational nature of the allegations but also because of the broader implications regarding mental health and the influence of extreme beliefs on behavior. With the jury's decision now delivered, the focus shifts to the potential ramifications for Daybell and her family.
As the legal proceedings continue, many are left wondering about the impact of these events on the communities affected by the tragedies surrounding Lori Vallow Daybell. The case serves as a stark reminder of how personal beliefs and financial motivations can intertwine, leading to devastating consequences.
