Lori Vallow Daybell is set to appear in court in Arizona on Thursday to be arraigned on two murder charge relating to the shooting death of her fourth husband and an attempt on the life of her niece’s ex-husband.
Vallow Daybell faces conspiracy charges in both crimes, which were carried out by her brother, Alex Cox, before his death in December 2019, as CrimeOnline reported. He reportedly died of natural causes. Cox previously spent 90 days in jail for an aggravated assault against his sister’s third husband, Joseph Ryan, who reportedly died of a heart attack in 2018, although that determination was made after an external examination only.
Vallow Daybell was convicted in Idaho earlier this year of murder and conspiracy to murder in the deaths of two of her children — 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan — and her fifth husband’s first wife, Tammy Daybell. She was sentenced to three consecutive life terms with no chance of payroll and is appealing the conviction.
Chad Daybell, the fifth husband, is awaiting trial, set to begin on April 1, 2024, on the same charges. Cox was also reportedly involved in the deaths of the children.
Court records show that Vallow Daybell’s trial in Arizona is set to begin three days later, on April 4. Pre-trial conferences are set for January 18, February 21, and March 28, according to current court records. Those dates could, of course, change.
Vallow Daybell was extradited from Idaho last week and brought back to Phoenix by Maricopa County deputies in an 18-hour road trip. She was reportedly “very chatty” during the drive, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said.
According to court documents unsealed after her first appearance in Arizona on November 30, Vallow Daybell and Cox are accused of conspiring to kill Vallow, who was shot and killed in July 2019 shortly after Vallow Daybell moved out of their home and just weeks before she married Chad Daybell and the children went missing, KMTV reported. Cox told deputies he killed Vallow in self defense.
Police previously released body camera footage showing Vallow reporting to detectives that he was concerned about his wife’s fanatical religious views and was worried she might try to hurt him or the children. He made several reports to the effect.
The second charge concerns an attempt on the life of Brandon Beaudroux outside his home in Gilbert in October 2019. He was not hurt in the attempt.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Lori Vallow Daybell arrived in Arizona/Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office via KSAZ]
