St. Anthony, Idaho – Lori Vallow Daybell was sentenced to multiple life terms in prison without the possibility of parole for the deaths of her two children and her husband’s previous wife, a case that captured national attention when her children vanished nearly four years ago.
Vallow Daybell was convicted in May for the murders of her children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, as well as conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Tammy Daybell. The judge ordered consecutive life sentences for the individual murder charges due to the separate times the crimes occurred.
During her sentencing, Vallow Daybell claimed a near-death experience allowed her to communicate with the “spirit world.” She asserted that her children and Tammy Daybell were happy in heaven, as they had communicated with her after their deaths.
Judge Steven W. Boyce pointed out that Vallow Daybell’s last mental health evaluation indicated she suffered from “hyper religiosity” and an “unspecified personality disorder with histrionic and narcissistic features.” However, she refused to comply with court-ordered screening that might have impacted her sentencing.
Revealing a troubling background, prosecutors described Vallow Daybell as a determined woman who would go to great lengths to achieve her goals, even resorting to deceit and evasion during police investigations and court orders. Her attorney maintained that she was a caring mother whose interest in biblical prophecies about the apocalypse led her down a tragic path.
The search for Tylee and Joshua began in November 2019, after family members raised concerns about their sudden disappearance. It was later discovered that their remains were found on Chad Daybell’s property in Fremont County, Idaho. Investigations revealed gruesome details: Joshua was buried in a pet cemetery, while Tylee’s remains were tragically dismembered and burned in a fire pit.
The case took a darker turn when Tammy Daybell was found deceased in 2019. It was initially believed to be from natural causes, but an autopsy later confirmed her death as a homicide, leading to suspicions against Vallow Daybell and her current husband, Chad Daybell.
Chad Daybell, a writer of doomsday-themed fiction, is awaiting trial on similar murder charges. The complex web of events also involved Vallow Daybell’s former husband’s tragic death and the subsequent suspicions surrounding her involvement with her current husband.
As Vallow Daybell’s family members expressed their anguish and loss in court, the emotional impact of her actions reverberated throughout the community. Her son, Colby Ryan, mourned the loss of his siblings and the inability to share his life with his loved ones, highlighting the lasting devastation caused by Vallow Daybell’s choices.
The sentencing marked a somber conclusion to a case that unfolded over several years, shedding light on the depths of human tragedy and the consequences of unchecked wrongdoing. The implications of Vallow Daybell’s actions continue to haunt those affected by the heartbreaking events, leaving scars that may never fully heal.