Judge Rules Lori Vallow Daybell Will Not Face Death Penalty if Convicted of Murder in Children’s Deaths

Lori Vallow Daybell, the woman known as the “Doomsday Mom,” will not face the death penalty if convicted of murder in the deaths of her two children, an Idaho judge ruled today. Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, face multiple counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan.

The children’s disappearance became national news after Vallow and Daybell fled Idaho following police questioning about Tylee’s and JJ’s whereabouts and about the recent death of Daybell’s first wife, Tammy. Attorneys for Vallow filed a motion earlier this month seeking the dismissal of the state’s notice of intent to seek the death penalty, citing media saturation, multiple discovery violations by the government, Vallow’s mental status and other factors.

Vallow is accused of murdering her children – Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, who vanished in September 2019. Together, the couple was raising Tylee Ryan, Lori’s daughter from a previous marriage. JJ had autism and April Raymond, who was Lori’s friend, says Lori was “patient,” an ideal mother for him.

Lori Vallow and Charles Vallow wed in 2006. Friends say it appeared to be a happy marriage. However, in the years since, Vallow has been called a “monster” and a “cult mom.”

The judge’s ruling today means that if Vallow is convicted of murder, she will not face the death penalty. The trial is expected to begin in August 2021.