Lori Vallow Daybell trial – live: Chad Daybell’s chilling ‘dream’ revealed in friend’s murder case testimony

Oliver O'Connell and Rachel Sharp

The high-profile trial of “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow continues in Boise, Idaho, where she is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, seven.

Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019. Their bodies were found buried on the property of Ms Vallow’s new husband Chad Daybell in June 2020.

Ms Vallow, 49, is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybell’s first wife Tammy in October 2019.

She has pleaded not guilty in a dramatic case spanning multiple murders, unexplained deaths and cult beliefs.

On Thursday, Ms Vallow’s former friend David Warwick told the court that Mr Daybell claimed he had a dream about Tammy dying “before she turned 50”.

“He said her time was coming up and him and Lori were going to do things they committed to do for God,” he said.

Tammy died suddenly about six months before she would have been 50.

He also testified about the last time he saw JJ alive, saying the boy vanished after Ms Vallow said the seven-year-old had “an episode and knocked over a picture of Christ”.

Key points

Who is doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow?

17:15 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow was once seen as a doting mother.

Now, she is on trial for the murders of her two youngest children and the ex-wife of her new husband Chad Daybell in a chilling case with a doomsday cult at its core.

The 49-year-old mother-of-three is charged with the murders of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, who vanished without a trace in September 2019.

Almost one year later, their bodies were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybell’s property in Idaho.

She is also charged with the first-degree murder of Mr Daybell’s first wife Tammy Daybell who died suddenly one month after the children’s disappearance.

But who really is Lori Vallow and how did she end up here? Read more below:

Lori Vallow: Who is the ‘cult mom’ on trial for her children’s murders?

REMINDER: Court on break

16:30 , Rachel Sharp

Lori Vallow’s trial is on a one-day break on Friday, with testimony set to resume in court on Monday.

Judge Boyce announced on Thursday that the trial will resume at 8.30am MT on Monday, as the case is moving faster than expected.

Follow here to catch up on everything you’ve missed about the bizarre, tragic case so far.

RECAP: What happened in court yesterday? Chad Daybell’s ‘raccoon’ text

15:45 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday, jurors heard about a chilling text Chad Daybell sent to his wife Tammy Daybell on the day after Tylee was last seen alive.

Tylee was last seen on 8 September 2019 at Yellowstone National Park.

On 9 September, Mr Daybell sent his wife this text: “Well, I’ve had an interesting morning! I felt I should burn all of the limb debris by the fire pit before it got too soaked by the coming storms.

“While I did so, I spotted a big racoon [sic] along the fence. I hurried and got my gun, and he was still walking along. I got close enough that one shot did the trick. He is now in our pet cemetery. Fun times!”

Months later, in June 2020, Tylee’s remains were found buried in the pet cemetery on the Daybell’s property.

RECAP: What happened in court yesterday? Chad Daybell’s chilling ‘dream'

15:00 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday, jurors heard about a chilling dream that Chad Daybell claimed he had about his wife Tammy Daybell dying.

Lori Vallow’s former friend David Warwick testified that Mr Daybell told him he dreamt “Tammy was going to pass away by the time she was 50”.

“I asked him how his marriage was with Tammy and if she was a good wife and he said he had no complaints and she was a good wife,” he told the court.

“He said her time was coming up and him and Lori were going to do things they committed to do for God.”

Tammy died sudenly on October 19 2019 aged 49.

She would have turned 50 in about six months’ time.

RECAP: What happened in court yesterday? JJ’s last known sighting

14:15 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday, Lori Vallow’s former friend David Warwick testified about the last time he saw JJ alive.

Mr Warwick said he and his wife Melanie Gibb visited Ms Vallow in Rexburg, Idaho, over a weekend in September 2019.

JJ was there for most of the weekend but then, on the morning they left, was nowhere to be seen.

Ms Vallow allegedly told him that JJ had “an episode and knocked over a picture of Christ”.

“We went downstairs to say goodbye and Lori was there and she just said that JJ had an episode,” he said.

“She said he was out of control and she could not control him and so she had Alex come get him… She said that he climbed the cabinets and the fridge and the upper cabinets and pushed over her picture of Christ.”

Full timeline of ‘doomsday cult mom’s’ mystery case

13:30 , Rachel Sharp

Rachel Sharp compiled this timeline of the tragic and bizarre case:

Timeline of the Lori Vallow Daybell case

Everything we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell ‘doomsday cult’ murder trial

12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Rachel Sharp delves into the deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies which surrounds Lori Vallow and her doomsday author husband Chad Daybell.

What we know about the Lori Vallow Daybell ‘doomsday cult’ murder trial

Revealed: Vallow’s chilling response to question about missing daughter

12:00 , Oliver O'Connell

A former friend of Lori Vallow has revealed the “cult mom’s” chilling response after being confronted about her missing teen daughter.

Here’s what she said:

Lori Vallow’s chilling response to question about missing Tylee revealed

Vallow ‘upset’ after trial hears grisly details about crime scene

11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

During the first week of testimony, “cult mom” Lori Vallow suddenly left the room where she is standing trial for the murders of her daughter and son after the court heard graphic details on how the children’s remains were recovered in a pet cemetery.

Here’s what happened:

Lori Vallow abruptly leaves court after trial hears grisly details about crime scene

JJ vanished after ‘knocking over picture of Christ'

11:00 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday, Lori Vallow’s former friend David Warwick testified about the last time he saw JJ alive.

Mr Warwick said he and his wife Melanie Gibb visited Ms Vallow in Rexburg, Idaho, over a weekend in September 2019.

JJ was there for most of the weekend but then, on the morning they left, was nowhere to be seen.

Ms Vallow allegedly told him that JJ had “an episode and knocked over a picture of Christ”.

Mr Warwick also told the court that Mr Daybell claimed he had dreamed about Tammy dying “before she turned 50”.

‘You ripped my heart out’ son tells Vallow

10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

On day six of testimony in the trial of “cult mom” Lori Vallow, the jury heard a recording of a phone call between the defendant and her eldest son from the early months of her incarceration.

Colby Ryan, Ms Vallow’s son from her second marriage, was called a witness for the prosecution. He is her only surviving child following the murders of daughter Tylee, 16, and adopted son JJ, 7, in September 2019.

In the emotional call between mother and son, Ms Vallow refused to switch on her camera, while Mr Ryan demanded to know whether Jesus had really told her to murder his siblings.

Read more...

Lori Vallow trial hears gut-wrenching prison call with surviving son Colby Ryan

Court hears Vallow confronted by best friend in secret recording

08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A phone call between “cult mom” Lori Vallow and her former best friend was played in court during her ongoing trial for the murders of two of her children.

Last week, prosecutors played a phone conversation between Mr Daybell, Ms Vallow and her then-best friend Melanie Gibb, who was on the stand testifying for the state. In the early December 2019 call, which she recorded secretly, Ms Gibb delved into the couple’s bizarre cult beliefs and later confronted them for asking her to lie to the police about JJ’s whereabouts.

Andrea Blanco reports.

Lori Vallow confronted by best friend about JJ lies in secret recording

Why is Lori Vallow being tried separately from Chad Daybell?

06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The pair are accused of the same crimes but will be tried separately, Graig Graziosi explains why.

Lori Vallow to be tried separately from husband Chad Daybell over children’s murders

Lori Vallow claims to have an alibi for when her children were murdered, where was she?

04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahead of her trial, the so-called “Doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow offered up an alibi for the murders of her two children, claiming she was somewhere else when they died in her brother’s apartment – and bizarrely adding that her husband and alleged co-conspirator Chad Daybell may or may not have been with her at the time.

Andrea Blanco reports.

‘Doomsday cult mom’ Lori Vallow claims new alibi in murder of her two children

‘Doomsday cult mom’ saw her children’s murders as ‘mercy’, says former friend

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

“Cult mom” Lori Vallow allegedly killed her two children in what she believed was an act of “mercy,” her former friend has said.

Andrea Blanco reports.

Lori Vallow saw her children’s murders as ‘mercy’, former friend says

Key revelations from Lori Vallow’s murder trial so far

Friday 21 April 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Rachel Sharp has compiled all the key revelations of the trial so far...

Cult beliefs and charred remains: Key revelations from Lori Vallow’s murder trial

Lori Vallow: Who is the ‘doomsday cult mom’ on trial for her children’s murders?

Thursday 20 April 2023 22:52 , Andrea Blanco

Lori Vallow is a mother-of-three, a former game show contestant, a Mrs Texas Beauty Pageant and a cult follower. But is she also a killer?

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp reports:

Lori Vallow: Who is the ‘cult mom’ on trial for her children’s murders?

Court is adjourned

Thursday 20 April 2023 22:49 , Andrea Blanco

Earlier today, Judge Boyce said the trial will resume on Monday at 8.30 MT, as the case is moving faster than expected.

Prosecution shows video recorded by Det Stubbs

Thursday 20 April 2023 22:45 , Andrea Blanco

Det Stubbs obtained warrants for three apartments in Lori’s complex after his department failed to find JJ.

Inside Lori’s Rexburg apartment, investigators retrieved guns in the garage of the apartment, as well as several Army-grade knives, and empty magazines for various weapons.

Police also found Hazmat-style suits and preparedness bags with emergency kits, a camouflage suit, ammunition, guns, silencers, and black trash bags full of clothes and papers. Toys and items belonging to JJ, including prescription medication, were also found in the search.

Det Stubbs tells jurors about Lori’s false claims

Thursday 20 April 2023 22:24 , Andrea Blanco

When Melanie Gibb failed to answer calls from Arizona police regarding JJ’s whereabouts, Det Stubbs and two other officers returned to Lori’s Rexburg apartment.

Later that day, Ms Gibb reached out to law enforcement and told them JJ was not with her.

Det Stubbs testified that there was no evidence any of Lori’s relatives were trying to kill her to receive life insurance money.

He also told jurors Lori’s claims that Tylee was enrolled at Brigham Young University were false.

Court watches bodycam of Rexburg PD officers confronting Lori

Thursday 20 April 2023 22:08 , Andrea Blanco

Lori told officers with the Rexburg police department that JJ was in Arizona with her friend Melanie Gibb.

She said Kay Woodstock, JJ’s biological grandmother, had been trying to gain access to the little boy and making Lori’s life hard in the process.

In the bodycam, Lori is also heard saying that her brother in Arizona, not Alex Cox, was trying to kill her.

“Not only were we dealing with a situation where one of these individuals was possibly involved in an attempted shooting in Arizona but the individuals were being evasive and lying,” Det Stubbs testified, according to East Idaho News.

Det Stubbs also told jurors that Lori described Chad as ‘Alex’s friend,” but at the time authorities were aware they had married.

Det Stubbs tells court Rexburg PD visited Lori’s apartment in November 2019

Thursday 20 April 2023 21:46 , Andrea Blanco

The Jeep was eventually towed from the parking lot at Lori’s apartment building, but nobody reached out to police about it.

Investigators returned to Lori’s Rexburg apartment for a welfare check on JJ on 26 November 2019.

Chad and Lori seen holding hands in November 2019, court hears

Thursday 20 April 2023 21:17 , Andrea Blanco

Det Stubbs began working on the case in November 2019, when authorities in Arizona requested help from Rexburg PD to seize a Jeep linked to a murder.

The detective said he initially saw no signs of the Jeep but followed Lori and Chad.

“My observations are they were holding hands and at times talking. I witnessed Lori at times placing her hand on his shoulder as they walked toward the store,” Det Stubbs told the court, according to East Idaho News.

Moments ago, the prosecution introduced several exhibits that Det Stubb is expected to touch on during his testimony. They include insurance, credit and business records and hotel receipts.

Rexburg Police Detective Dave Stubbs takes the stand

Thursday 20 April 2023 20:58 , Andrea Blanco

Jury hears about ‘raccoon text’ Chad Daybell sent to Tammy Daybell

Thursday 20 April 2023 20:45 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Dean was asked by prosecutors about a text Mr Daybell sent to his first wife just a day after Tylee was last seen alive.

“Well, I’ve had an interesting morning! I felt I should burn all of the limb debris by the fire pit before it got too soaked by the coming storms,” the text, which first became public during a 2020 hearing, read.

“While I did so, I spotted a big raccoon along the fence. I hurried and got my gun, and he was still walking along. I got close enough that one shot did the trick. He is now in our pet cemetery. Fun times!”

The message was sent to Tammy Daybell on 9 September 2019. Tylee’s last sighting was the day before at Yellowstone Park.

The teen was found buried in Mr Daybell’s pet cemetery six months later.

FBI analyst helped retrieve data from devices seized from Chad Daybell’s home

Thursday 20 April 2023 20:32 , Andrea Blanco

Mr Dean first became familiarised with the case in March 2020. He helped seize and analyse devices found in Chad Daybell’s house.

Some of the data he retrieved was linked to communications from Tammy Daybell.

They stopped in early October 2019, about ten days before she died.

New witness: Benjamin Dean, FBI Intelligence Analyst

Thursday 20 April 2023 20:14 , Oliver O'Connell

The prosecution is correct, we are moving through the witnesses at a very fast rate.

Benjamin Dean works in the Salt Lake City Field Office of the FBI on a Criminal Investigation Squad.

His main job is to analyse information and make assessments on specific threats. He reviews information collected by agents in the field looking for trends and patterns in electronic devices.

New witness: Detective Bruce Mattingly, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office

Thursday 20 April 2023 20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The first witness after lunch is Detective Bruce Mattingly of the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

He has been a detective for six years and on 3 January 2020 was involved in a search of Chad Daybell’s home alongside other law enforcement including the FBI.

Electronic evidence was recovered from the house and taken to Salt Lake City for analysis.

No further questions but he remains under subpoena for possible questioning later in the trial.

Court resumes

Thursday 20 April 2023 20:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Steven Boyce and both legal teams huddled to discuss scheduling before the jury is brought back in.

The trial is moving quicker than expected and the prosecution proposes taking tomorrow off. The defence has no objections.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Boyce calls the lunch break.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:48 , Oliver O'Connell

In cross-examination, Rachel Smith says that while the defence team asked about dreams and visions, she wants to talk about reality, and asks who carried JJ to bed.

David says it was Alex.

Asked what Lori said about JJ the next day, he says she told him JJ was out of control and she had Alex get him, because she couldn’t handle him.

No further questions.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:44 , Oliver O'Connell

There is another objection sustained by Judge Boyce during a discussion on the scope and audience of the podcast.

It is reiterated that it was to build faith.

“The whole purpose was to build faith and help identity stumbling blocks to faith, the fruits of faith and how involved our Father in Heaven is with each one of us.”

When David left Lori’s he wanted to visit his son in Pocatello.

Asked if he called the police after not seeing JJ before leaving, he says he saw no reason to do so as Lori was one of the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful woman, but adds that she and Chad were teaching didn’t match their character and he left Rexburg confused.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:39 , Oliver O'Connell

David is asked about the scratch on Chad’s neck and reiterates that he was told JJ did it but he didn’t see it happen.

He also tells the court he wasn’t sure what to believe when Chad said that his wife would soon die.

Asked if he wanted to be part of the 144,000, he says it would be an honour but was not something he was seeking. He then adds that Chad wouldn’t have the authority to gather as that would lie with the prophet of the LDS Church, Russell M Nelson.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:36 , Oliver O'Connell

There is an objection from the state that is sustained and Judge Boyce says that “we are getting away from the evidence”.

Archibald asks David to explain the difference between a nightmare and a vision. Warwick says a vision is when you’re being shown things in the future but you’re not seeing yourself - someone else is presenting it. David says his visions come from angels under God.

He is then asked about the nightmare he had while staying at Lori’s home.

David describes it as “adversarial” and coming from somewhere in the direction of the devil.

After waking from the nightmare Melanie had wanted Chad to give him a blessing — he says she was just trying to help.

Chad never came over.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:31 , Oliver O'Connell

Archibald asks about the conference David was attending on the Rexburg trip. He replies it was a Book of Mormon conference, though not one sponsored by the LDS church, rather it was organised by someone associated with the Preparing a People organisation — a private group.

Asked about the podcast, David says it was not a moneymaking venture but instead was designed to build faith.

David says he has spoken at PAP events and shared about his “dreams and visions”, adding that he doesn’t call himself a “visionary” but others have called him that.

“I don’t call myself anything.”

He explains about his visions of “secret combinations” in England, Saudi Arabia, and Washington, DC, as well as visions of Russia and China invading the US, and the US being sacrificed for a one world government.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Defence attorney Jim Archibald begins cross-examination.

He asks if David and Melanie’s divorces from previous marriages had been finalised when they started seeing each other. There is an objection from the state that is overruled and he says his divorce was being finalised and Melanie’s was complete.

They met through shared religious interests which is how he met Lori, Alex, Chad etc. He says Alex was a “fun-loving, humourous guy”.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:18 , Oliver O'Connell

On Sunday 22 September 2019, they recorded the podcast in Lori’s kitchen with Melanie.

JJ was with Alex at his apartment so he wouldn’t interrupt them.

He saw JJ around 10.30pm when Alex came in the front door. JJ was asleep with his head on Alex’s shoulder. He took JJ upstairs and put him in bed. David remembers JJ wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He doesn’t remember seeing Alex leave but thinks he heard the front door open and close.

JJ was staying in Lori’s room and David was staying in JJ’s room. In the early morning hours, David says he had “one of the worst nightmares of my life. It was very real”.

Melanie came in to help him and said she wanted to get Lori to help and came back saying she couldn’t gat any response.

The next morning, David and Melanie went downstairs to say goodbye and Lori told him that JJ had "an episode" and climbed on the cabinets, on top of the fridge, and then knocked over her picture of Jesus Christ.

David says he didn’t see any signs that the cabinets were damaged and there were no marks on the stainless steel fridge. He asked to see JJ so he could give him a blessing but Lori said she had Alex come and get him.

That was the morning of Monday 23 September 2019.

No further questions.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:12 , Oliver O'Connell

David also saw Chad at Lori’s townhome. He never saw him interact with JJ but heard they had a scuffle and his neck got scratched.

David observed that Lori and Chad were affectionate together but he knew Chad was married to someone else. He asked how Chad’s marriage was and he said he had no complaints but her time was coming up and he and Lori had things they needed to do for God.

Chad told David he had a dream three years before that Tammy was going to die by the time Chad was 50.

He again told David he was one of the 144,000 and that’s why he wanted him in Rexburg.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:08 , Oliver O'Connell

David tells the court that later that weekend Alex took him to see 80 acres of land for sale near Chad’s home as David knew an investor who wanted to develop property in Idaho.

Chad and a realtor showed up and asked if he had any questions. He said he didn’t do business on Sundays.

Thursday 20 April 2023 18:02 , Oliver O'Connell

David says he remembered seeing Chad about four times during the trip.

Chad was trying to teach him about the gathering of the 144,000 and Satan’s power to possess people’s bodies.

David told him that Satan does not have that power. He listened but didn’t believe any of it and let Chad know that. Both Lori and Melanie were present.

Chad asked David and Melanie to meet him and Lori at a property next to a church. When there, they started describing a heavenly building next to the church — not a physical building but a spiritual one — he tried to be respectful and follow along with what they were saying, but there was no building there.

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