The Unraveling of Lori Vallow Daybell
Mar 12, 11:00 AM
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Lori Vallow Daybell has spent years spinning her own version of events, but in an Arizona courtroom on Tuesday, the judge wasn’t buying it. Already convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murders of her two children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and for conspiring to kill her husband’s first wife, Tammy Daybell, Lori is now facing more charges—this time in Arizona. She’s accused of murdering her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and conspiring to kill her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. And if Tuesday’s hearing was any indication, things aren’t exactly going in her favor.
Lori, representing herself, started by asking the judge to ban cameras from the courtroom, arguing that the media coverage of her case has been “inherently prejudicial.” She specifically called out Court TV, claiming their coverage has falsely shaped public perception and turned her into some kind of spectacle. Judge Justin Beresky listened but made it clear he was leaning toward allowing a single camera with restrictions—no zooming in on notes, just a straightforward courtroom feed.
Then Lori moved on to jury selection, requesting that potential jurors be questioned individually instead of in groups. She claimed her previous trial in Idaho required screening nearly 2,000 jurors and worried that people would try to get on this jury just for the attention. The judge didn’t seem convinced that a change was necessary but took her concerns under advisement.
One of the biggest blows to Lori’s defense came when she tried to introduce statements from her brother, Alex Cox, as evidence. Cox, who shot and killed Charles Vallow in 2019, initially claimed self-defense, but Lori wanted his statements admitted in court. The judge shut that down quickly, ruling that not only were the statements hearsay, but Lori—having been convicted of conspiring in Cox’s actions—was legally prohibited from using his words as evidence in her defense.
Lori also pushed for additional evidence from the prosecution, demanding access to certain police recordings and conversations that she claimed exist. The judge told prosecutors to check again but made it clear that if they said they didn’t have the material, he couldn’t force them to produce it.
Then came the issue of time. With jury selection set for March 31, Lori reminded the court that her speedy trial deadline was May 11 and insisted that the trial needed to move forward within that time frame. But Judge Beresky overruled her, waiving the deadline over her objection and pointing out that both sides had acknowledged the impossibility of trying two complex cases at once.
The next hearing is set for March 18, where both sides will argue over remaining issues, including whether Lori can bring in a digital forensics expert for her defense. But after Tuesday’s hearing, one thing is clear—Lori may be running the show in her own mind, but in court, she’s losing control fast.
#LoriVallow #DoomsdayMom #TrueCrime #Justice
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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
Lori, representing herself, started by asking the judge to ban cameras from the courtroom, arguing that the media coverage of her case has been “inherently prejudicial.” She specifically called out Court TV, claiming their coverage has falsely shaped public perception and turned her into some kind of spectacle. Judge Justin Beresky listened but made it clear he was leaning toward allowing a single camera with restrictions—no zooming in on notes, just a straightforward courtroom feed.
Then Lori moved on to jury selection, requesting that potential jurors be questioned individually instead of in groups. She claimed her previous trial in Idaho required screening nearly 2,000 jurors and worried that people would try to get on this jury just for the attention. The judge didn’t seem convinced that a change was necessary but took her concerns under advisement.
One of the biggest blows to Lori’s defense came when she tried to introduce statements from her brother, Alex Cox, as evidence. Cox, who shot and killed Charles Vallow in 2019, initially claimed self-defense, but Lori wanted his statements admitted in court. The judge shut that down quickly, ruling that not only were the statements hearsay, but Lori—having been convicted of conspiring in Cox’s actions—was legally prohibited from using his words as evidence in her defense.
Lori also pushed for additional evidence from the prosecution, demanding access to certain police recordings and conversations that she claimed exist. The judge told prosecutors to check again but made it clear that if they said they didn’t have the material, he couldn’t force them to produce it.
Then came the issue of time. With jury selection set for March 31, Lori reminded the court that her speedy trial deadline was May 11 and insisted that the trial needed to move forward within that time frame. But Judge Beresky overruled her, waiving the deadline over her objection and pointing out that both sides had acknowledged the impossibility of trying two complex cases at once.
The next hearing is set for March 18, where both sides will argue over remaining issues, including whether Lori can bring in a digital forensics expert for her defense. But after Tuesday’s hearing, one thing is clear—Lori may be running the show in her own mind, but in court, she’s losing control fast.
#LoriVallow #DoomsdayMom #TrueCrime #Justice
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
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