Opening statements began Monday in the long-awaited murder trial ofLori Vallow Daybell, who isaccused of killing her two childrenand her fifth husband’s first wife.
Lori is charged with murder in the deaths of her two children Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan. She is also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of her husband Chad Daybell’s first wife Tammy Daybell.
“Money, power and sex, that is what this case is about,” Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake said during opening statements. “Lori used money, power and sex or the promise of those things to get what she wanted.”
Vallow has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Chad is also charged with murder in connection to Tylee, J.J. and Tammy’s deaths, but will be tried separately.
On Monday, Lori sat in between her defense attorneys Jim Archibald and John Thomas, inside the Idaho courtroom. District Judge Steven Boyce is presiding over the case.
Lori Vallow (center).Lisa Cheney of Boise, Idaho
Among the packed courtroom, Chad’s attorney John Prior and J.J.’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, were in attendance.
During opening statements on Monday, prosecutors showed the jury photos of the shallow grave where J.J. and Tylee’s remains were found.
“What was left of Tylee was found. Charred remains. A mass of bone and tissues. That was what was left of this beautiful young woman,” Blake said. “Her DNA was discovered on a pickaxe and shovel and later found in Daybell’s shed.”
Lori Vallow.Dennis Fujimoto/AP/Shutterstock
Blake also said that when Lori’s children went missing, she didn’t take any steps to find them or post missing person posters.
“J.J. also lost his father,” Blake added. “When he lost his father, he became much more difficult to care for. He was entitled to social security benefits. The defendant didn’t want to have to take care of J.J. anymore, he had money — J.J.’s gone.”
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Judge Steven Boyceruledin March that Vallow, who spent time in a psychiatric treatment facility before being deemed fit for trial, would not face the death penalty in the slayings.
Lori Vallow, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, Tammy Daybell.John Roark/AP/Shutterstock; Facebook (2)
After the children disappeared, Lori and Chad — an author who wrote about religious doomsday scenarios — facedpolice scrutinywhen their pasts revealed a trail of mysterious deaths, including Chad’s wife,Tammy Daybell, who died in October 2019 — weeks after Lori’s children went missing and weeks before Chad and Lori got married.
During Monday’s opening statements, Blakerevealed Tammy’s cause of death, saying that she was asphyxiated and “died at the hands of another.”
“[Lori] will remove any obstacle in her way to get what she wanted and she wanted Chad Daybell,” Blake added.
Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow Daybell.Eric Grossarth/ EastIdahoNews.com
Lori’s trial is ongoing.
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source: people.com
