DAYBELL MURDERS: The Case Against Lori Vallow & Chad Daybell

Lori Vallow Daybell will be subject to additional mental health evaluations before her legal proceedings in Arizona can move forward. Judge Justin Beresky issued the decision during a hearing, keeping a Rule 11 competency evaluation in place despite objections from her defense team.  

The evaluations are part of Daybell’s ongoing legal troubles in Arizona, where she faces conspiracy to commit murder charges tied to the deaths of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and her former nephew-in-law, Brandon Boudreaux.  

Daybell was extradited from Idaho to Arizona a year ago. In Idaho, her mental health had previously delayed her trial after she was found incompetent in 2021 and required treatment at a mental health facility. Although she was later deemed fit for trial, her competency was questioned multiple times during the Idaho proceedings.  

In the recent Arizona hearing, Daybell’s new defense attorneys, Pamela Hicks and Robert Abernathy, argued to withdraw the Rule 11 evaluation motion filed by her former counsel. Hicks stated, “She has sufficient mental capacity to understand the nature of this dispute, and there has been no history of irrational behavior.”  

However, Judge Beresky decided the evaluation should proceed, citing its importance in ensuring the fairness of the legal process. “We’re going down a rabbit hole,” said Abernathy, as Daybell nodded in agreement. “If she doesn’t want to talk to the doctors, she doesn’t have to talk to the doctors.”  

Despite the defense’s objections, prosecutors in Maricopa County successfully requested that Daybell speak with an additional expert. Judge Beresky maintained the Rule 11 process, ordering further evaluation.  

During the hearing, Daybell also expressed her interest in representing herself in the Arizona case. When asked by Beresky about her past competency determinations, Daybell responded, “Not to my understanding. My understanding was the judge did the same thing you did in an abundance of caution and I came out competent.” She detailed her experiences in Idaho, noting she underwent “competency classes, meeting with doctors, and many, many evaluators.”  

Her legal defense is now preparing for the next steps as Daybell undergoes further assessments. The next court hearing is set for Dec. 5, where the findings from the evaluations may shape the trajectory of the case.  

# LoriVallowDaybell #ArizonaCase #Rule11 #CompetencyEvaluation #TrueCrime #JusticeSystem #ConspiracyCharges  

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Lori Vallow Daybell, convicted in Idaho of murdering her two children and now facing charges in Arizona, caused a significant delay in her legal proceedings when she refused to be transported to court for a Rule 11 competency hearing. The hearing was scheduled to assess her mental fitness for trial in connection to the death of her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, and an attempted murder charge involving her ex's nephew, Brandon Boudreaux.

Vallow Daybell, a former Chandler resident, was found guilty in 2023 for the deaths of her 7-year-old son, Joshua "J.J." Vallow, and her 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan. Their bodies were discovered in her Idaho backyard in 2020. She is serving a life sentence without parole and was later extradited to Arizona after Governor Katie Hobbs approved the transfer. In Arizona, she is accused of conspiracy to commit murder in Charles Vallow's July 2019 shooting and suspected of attempting to kill Boudreaux.

The delay arose during Thursday’s hearing when Vallow Daybell did not show up for the scheduled court session. Her defense initially sought to have the competency hearing concluded based on a report from Dr. Michael McGady. However, Commissioner Travis Marderosian expressed hesitation, stating he usually requires the defendant’s presence for such decisions. He was willing to consider an exception if the prosecution agreed.

Maricopa County prosecutor Katie Staab argued that without a second competency report from Dr. Camille Hernandez, they could not move forward. Dr. Hernandez had been unable to complete her assessment due to Vallow Daybell's refusal to participate. “I just want it to be clear for the record that the state is not employing a delay tactic in not stipulating to one report,” Staab said. “We need Dr. Hernandez to be able to offer an opinion for the purposes of the record, especially if the defendant is trying to represent herself.”

Vallow Daybell's mental competency has been questioned in the past. In her Idaho case, she underwent almost a year of treatment before being deemed fit for trial. In Arizona, the matter of her mental fitness became relevant after her original defense team requested a Rule 11 evaluation. The situation shifted when she later expressed a desire to end those proceedings and represent herself.

Thursday’s proceedings were meant to facilitate this transition, but the delay in Dr. Hernandez’s report, now expected by December 2, has pushed back the timeline. The court has scheduled a status conference for November 20, with another Rule 11 hearing set for December 5.

This latest development underscores the complexity of Vallow Daybell’s legal battles. Her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, had previously expressed concerns about her mental health in court documents, claiming she was fixated on a biblical doomsday and had threatened his life. Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alexander Cox, shot and killed Charles Vallow in what he claimed was self-defense. Cox later died of natural causes in December 2019.

The saga has been further complicated by her association with Chad Guy Daybell, who was sentenced to death for the murders of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and Vallow Daybell’s two children. Vallow Daybell’s current defense team, the Office of the Legal Defender, has not commented on the recent events.

The case continues to capture public interest as it unfolds, with many watching closely to see how Vallow Daybell’s mental competency and legal defense evolve in Arizona.

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On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into the latest legal wranglings in the Lori Vallow case, where her new defense team is challenging a court-ordered competency evaluation. With a trial date indefinitely delayed, the prosecution and defense clash over the necessity of evaluating Vallow’s mental fitness, adding yet another layer of complexity to this already harrowing case.

Brueski explores the recent attorney shake-up, the ongoing legal battle, and the ripple effects this case continues to have on the justice system and the families seeking closure. Don’t miss this deep dive into the legal and psychological twists that make Lori Vallow’s story one of the most chilling criminal cases in recent history.

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On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into the potential legal whirlwind of Lori Vallow Daybell representing herself in her upcoming Arizona trial. With her past behavior under the spotlight, could self-representation be her boldest—and most dangerous—move yet?

Join us as we explore how this decision could shape courtroom dynamics, legal strategies, and public perception in one of the most high-profile cases of our time.

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Lori Vallow Daybell, widely known as the "Doomsday cult mom," is seeking to represent herself in her upcoming Arizona trial, where she faces charges related to the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. According to court documents, Vallow Daybell filed her request to waive her right to legal counsel on October 16, followed by a motion from her public defender on October 21 to withdraw from the case. However, the judge has postponed making a final decision on Vallow Daybell’s request until she completes a competency evaluation under Arizona's Rule 11 process, which will determine her mental fitness to represent herself in court.

This isn’t Vallow Daybell’s first encounter with mental health evaluations. In February 2023, a psychiatric assessment revealed that she suffers from a “delusional disorder” strongly associated with “hyper-religiosity” and has an “unspecified personality disorder with narcissistic features.” This diagnosis followed nearly nine months spent in an Idaho state mental hospital to restore her competency before her Idaho murder trial, where she was ultimately deemed mentally fit to stand trial. Her case’s frequent delays and unusual twists have kept it in the national spotlight.

During her Idaho trial, where she was convicted of murdering her two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, along with Tammy Daybell, the former wife of her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, prosecutors presented evidence of the couple’s extreme religious beliefs. Testimonies highlighted their shared ideology of "light" and "dark" souls, in which they allegedly believed certain individuals could be “dark souls” possessed by malevolent entities they referred to as “zombies.” Prosecutors argued that these beliefs fueled the pair's actions, asserting that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell killed to remove “dark” souls from their lives, paving the way for their future together.

Chad Daybell, a self-published author of apocalyptic fiction, is currently on death row following his conviction for the same murders in June. Their intertwined beliefs and relationship reportedly began as an affair while both were active in a “Doomsday cult” that held apocalyptic and extreme religious views. The prosecution in Idaho argued that Vallow Daybell and Daybell used these beliefs to justify their heinous acts, leading to an intense media frenzy and public intrigue around the case.

Further adding to the intrigue, a recently released phone call between Vallow Daybell and her oldest son, Colby Ryan, shows her denying responsibility for her children’s deaths. In the call, Vallow Daybell claimed that her daughter, Tylee, accidentally killed JJ and then took her own life. “What if Tylee was holding JJ down and trying to get him not to scream and be loud in an apartment? What if she held him down too long and realized afterward what she had done?” she told Ryan, who responded with shock to his mother’s assertions. Vallow Daybell also claimed to have “run out” of the apartment upon finding her children dead, suggesting that someone else disposed of their bodies.

“I wasn’t aware what happened to them after I left that scene,” she added. “Their spirits were gone from their bodies. They were already in heaven.”

The Arizona trial, initially scheduled for February 24, 2025, now hinges on Vallow Daybell’s upcoming mental health evaluation, which will determine if she is fit to represent herself in court. Vallow Daybell, already serving a life sentence without parole in Idaho, continues to captivate public interest as her legal proceedings unfold, marked by extreme religious beliefs, chilling statements, and mounting legal battles.

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On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into Colby Ryan’s raw and emotional reflections on his mother, Lori Vallow Daybell. Colby reveals the latest developments in the case, including Lori’s shocking request to represent herself in court, the legal challenges that lie ahead, and his personal struggles with accepting the choices his mother has made.

As Colby opens up about the emotional toll of growing up with Lori and the impact of her manipulative behavior on his life, listeners are given a rare glimpse into the psychological complexity behind the case. What happens when a son can no longer save his mother—and how does he move forward from the past?

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The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into the latest legal twist in the life of Lori Vallow Daybell, the “Doomsday Mom.” Vallow, already serving life without parole for the murders of her two children and her husband’s first wife, has requested to represent herself in her upcoming Arizona murder trial. With the court delaying a decision pending mental health evaluations, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Tony examines the risks of Vallow’s push for self-representation, the legal complexities involved, and what it means for her future. Is it an act of defiance, control, or a symptom of deeper mental health issues? Tune in as we explore the psychological, legal, and emotional layers of this unfolding case.

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The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into the latest developments in the ongoing legal saga of Lori Vallow. A judge has granted her request for a mental competency evaluation, pushing back her Arizona trial and raising new questions about her ability to stand trial. Vallow, already serving life in prison for the murders of her children and Tammy Daybell, faces additional conspiracy charges in Arizona. We’ll dive into the legal, psychological, and emotional elements of this complex case, offering insights into the impact on victims' families and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

How will Vallow’s mental health evaluation affect her legal battles? What does this mean for the broader implications of mental fitness in criminal trials? Stay with us as we unravel the latest twists and explore the unsettling world of the so-called "Doomsday Mom."

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The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In this gripping and heartbreaking episode of True Crime Deep Dive, we explore the chilling prison phone call between convicted killer Lori Vallow and her only surviving son, Colby Ryan. As Lori continues to cling to her delusional beliefs and bizarre religious convictions, she refuses to take responsibility for the horrific deaths of her children, Tylee and JJ. Instead, she offers unsettling explanations that defy both logic and evidence, claiming divine intervention and a cosmic battle between good and evil.

Through their emotional and tense conversation, Colby desperately seeks answers, trying to understand how the mother he once knew could be responsible for such unimaginable acts. But as Lori spins a narrative of divine purpose, lost spirits, and cosmic missions, the truth remains elusive.

This episode takes listeners deep into the twisted mind of Lori Vallow, where religious fanaticism collides with the brutal reality of her children's deaths. With haunting quotes and chilling moments, this story reveals the tragic descent of a woman lost in her delusions—and the devastating impact it has had on her family.

Prepare for a journey into one of the most disturbing true crime cases, where faith, madness, and murder intertwine in a heart-wrenching tale that will leave you questioning the fine line between belief and delusion.

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The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In this emotionally charged episode we delve into the harrowing phone conversation between Colby Ryan and his mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, posted on Colby’s YouTube channel. As Lori, now in jail and accused of horrific crimes, tries to explain her delusional belief system and her alleged involvement in the deaths of her children, Tylee and JJ, Colby listens in disbelief. We take a deep psychological look at Lori’s detachment from reality, her disturbing claims of divine missions, and the unbearable weight this places on her only surviving son. With Colby seeking answers and Lori offering none that make sense, this episode is a heart-wrenching exploration of a family torn apart by tragedy, deception, and delusion.

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The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com