Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell chose the “most evil” path
GAIL SHORTLAND
There were no signs that Lori Vallow was anything other than a devoted mother, living in Arizona with her family. But years later, she would become known as the “doomsday cult mum” – securing her place in criminal history.
In 2006, Vallow married fourth husband Charles. She had a daughter from her third marriage, Tylee, whom Charles raised as his own, and a son, Colby, from her second.
The couple then adopted a son, Joshua Jaxon, who was the grandson of Charles’ sister. JJ was two and had autism, so he needed extra help, but Vallow was a natural with him.
The change in Vallow began when she started reading books by Chad Daybell, who’d written several fiction books about preparing for the end of the world. He and wife Tammy lived in Idaho with their five children.
Vallow became focused on radical religious beliefs and started communicating with Daybell. In 2018, she met him at a conference and there was an instant connection. Witnesses said they were flirting, and Daybell told Vallow they’d been married in previous lifetimes.
Daybell and Vallow started recording religious podcasts together – and began an affair. Both Vallow and Daybell said doomsday was coming. Vallow’s friends noticed she started talking about zombies – even referring to her husband as a demon – and saying the only way to stop a zombie was to kill the body, as the soul had been pushed out by evil.
By early 2019, Charles was very concerned about Vallow’s behaviour. He went to the police and alleged that Vallow thought she was a god and had threatened to murder him. Weeks later, he filed for divorce, expressing fears for his and the children’s safety.
On 11 July, Charles, 62, went to Vallow’s home in Arizona to pick up JJ for school. Inside, he was shot dead by Vallow’s brother, Alex Cox.
Cox told the police that Charles and Vallow had been fighting and he’d shot Charles in self-defence while protecting his sister. Witnesses backed up their story and no charges were brought against Cox.
ZOMBIE CLAIMS
Two months later, Vallow moved to Idaho with the kids, so she could be closer to Daybell. Cox moved into the same apartment complex.
On 8 September 2019, Vallow took Tylee and JJ to Yellowstone National Park with Cox, where Tylee posed for a photo, but she was never seen again. In the
