Law&Crime Sidebar - 7 Most Powerful Moments from Lori Vallow Daybell's Dramatic Sentencing

Episode Date: July 31, 2023

Save 10% on your entire POM Pepper Spray order by using code LAWCRIME10 at http://bit.ly/3IGNFxvShe was called an adulteress, monster and “the most hated woman in America” — then — Lori Vallow Daybell spoke out before learning her fate, claiming “Jesus Christ” knows the truth about her. The “doomsday cult” mom is responsible for the murders of two of her children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, and her prophet husband’s late wife, Tammy Daybell. The Law&Crime Network’s Jesse Weber breaks down the seven most power moments from the convicted killer’s sentencing hearing.Listen to Law&Crime's Sidebar Podcast on Apple & Spotify:Apple: https://apple.co/3wMgRgBSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3wITe7b Hosts:Jesse Weber: https://twitter.com/jessecordweberAngenette Levy: https://twitter.com/Angenette5LAW&CRIME SIDEBAR PRODUCTION:YouTube Management - Bobby SzokePodcasting - Sam GoldbergVideo Editing - Michael Deininger Guest Booking - Alyssa FisherSocial Media Management - Kiera Bronson#Florida #Bodycam #LawAndCrime STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoFor Licensing Inquiries, Please Contact: [e-mail]&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeLAW&CRIME NETWORK PODCASTS: https://lawandcrime.com/podcasts/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of this Law and Crimes series ad-free right now. Join Wondry Plus in the Wondery app Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Agent Nate Russo returns in Oracle 3, Murder at the Grandview, the latest installment of the gripping Audible Original series. When a reunion at an abandoned island hotel turns deadly, Russo must untangle accident from murder. But beware, something sinister lurks in the grand. views shadows. Joshua Jackson delivers a bone-chilling performance in this supernatural thriller that

will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don't let your fears take hold of you as you dive into this addictive series. Love thrillers with a paranormal twist? The entire Oracle trilogy is available on Audible. Listen now on Audible. I have always mourned the loss of my loved ones and I have lost many in this mortal world. However, I know that more than most people. I know where they are now and what they're doing. I know how wonderful heaven is, and I'm homesick for it every single day. That was Lori Vallow Daybell addressing the court at her sentencing. We break down some of the most compelling moments of the hearing,

including emotional victim impact statements and some choice words from the judge. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. Introducing the next generation of pepper spray. Meet Palm, a new maximum strength self-defense product with a patented modular design, revolutionizing the self-defense industry. Whether you're carrying the unit on your keys, snapping the unit on your backpack, your keychain, or carrying the unit in your pocket.

Palm is the perfect everyday carry accessory. Palm's patented flip-top safety prevents any accidental misfire and its maximum strength formula provides you with the necessary range and capacity to bring peace of mind to you and your loved ones. Quality, safety, performance, peace of mind. Learn more at palmpepper spray.com. Yes, as you just heard, that was Lori Vallow Daybell speaking to the court about her children

that she was found guilty of killing. The 49-year-old Idaho mother was convicted by a jury of her peers of murdering and conspiring to murder her two children, seven-year-old J.J. Valo and 16-year-old Tiley Ryan, and also the conspiracy to commit the murder of 49-year-old Tammy Daybell, the deceased wife of her husband and co-defendant Chad Daybell.

Now, while the bodies of her children were found on Chad's property, he's facing similar charges, by the way, he's going to be tried at a later date. Tammy, it was initially believed, died in her sleep from natural causes, but a further investigation revealed that she had been murdered, that she died by asphyxiation at the hands of another. Chad and Lori were apparently having an affair. They got married just two weeks after Tammy's death. That was an important piece of evidence in this case. And there was a ton of evidence, including recordings that were played throughout the trial, where Chad and Lori believed that they were spiritual beings and that people around them, such as JJ and Tiley, were, quote,

dark spirits. Now, ultimately, Lori Valade Bell killed her own two children. And so far, it seems that she has shown no signs of remorse. Keep that in mind as we talk about her sentencing hearing. What punishment should she face? That's the question. question at this sentencing hearing. Well, on Monday, at this sentencing, a wave of emotions filled that courtroom. And that is because the victim impact statements were read aloud. Now, victim impact statements are the chance for people who are close to the victims to speak to the court about the loss that they suffered as a result of these crimes. The judge takes all of this into consideration to then determine the severity of the sentence. It's kind of a balancing test

of weighing mitigating factors versus aggravating factors, and those statements are an important part, but also during sentencing hearings, the defendant has the option to speak to the court as well. Lori Valdebel, she did just that. And I got to say, I wasn't that surprised as to what she said. I just was so disturbed. Jesus knows me, and Jesus understands me. I mourn with all of you who mourn my children.

and Tammy. Jesus Christ knows the truth of what happened here. Jesus Christ knows that no one was murdered in this case. Accidental deaths happen. Suicides happen. Fatal side effects from medications happen. I have a different perspective in life. life because in 2002, when I was pregnant with Tiley, I died in the hospital while in labor with

her. They tried to stop my labor. They put me on the table and they put something in my IV, and I felt my spirit falling to the floor. I was standing near my pregnant body, watching the doctors try to revive me, which took them a few minutes. In that time, my sister Stacy was standing to my left. I turned to hug her and was surprised that her spirit was as tangible as a physical body because I knew I was in spirit and she was in spirit. She said she needed to show me some things and we went to heaven. I later returned to my body. Because of this experience, I have access to heaven and the spirit world. Since then, I have had many communications from people now living in heaven, including my children, Tiley Ashland, and Joshua Jackson. Now, this is consistent with what

we've learned about Lori during the course of this trial with her bizarre religious beliefs, very consistent with what she said to her son and sister on jailhouse phone calls, where it's almost like a religious justification for what happened to the kids and Tammy. But like she did on the calls and like she did here, she never outright says what happened to them, right? She talks about how this wasn't murder. And what was it? Was it an accident? What are we not understanding? What is she insinuating? Because as you'll hear from the rest of her statement, it sure sounds like heaven is a great place, but she claims that she's mourning. It's inconsistent because listen to what she says. next. We chose to come to earth as mortals. Heaven is more wonderful than you can possibly

imagine. I do not fear death, but I look forward to it. I do not want to return to my body when I was out of it. Even though my son Colby, who I adored more than anything, was only six years old at the time and I was about to give birth to this new baby girl that I wanted so badly. I was a young mother, and you would think I wouldn't want to leave my children. But as I stood in heaven, I did not want to go back. I thought they would be fine without me because I was peaceful and I was happy and I was home. But then I was told by Jesus that I needed to go back and complete things that I had covenanted or promised to do before I was born.

This caused me a lot of distress because I knew heaven was my real home. And I only wanted to be there. I was free from pain, emotional and physical. But then I was shown how I would help my children and others in the future. So ultimately, I did agree to go back to my body. Here's the truth. We may never get an answer as to why she did this. That's a real possibility.

This may be the closest to that, though. Maybe a confession. You know, she talked about how Tiley was in pain at one point in her life. She was suffering from pancreatitis. So was death a way to alleviate that pain? And when she talks about welcoming death and how great heaven is, it's maybe not only saying, well, it was my job to make sure the kids and Tammy reached heaven, but also maybe should she be on suicide watch?

I have to wonder if that's a consideration after what she's saying. But also, from a legal point of view, there is no insanity defense in Idaho. If there was, or this had occurred in a different state, I sure do wonder if a jury would have said she was insane because it seems like she really didn't appreciate what she did was wrong. She lives in this kind of warped world. Because if she's really believing what she's saying here, this is next-level stuff.

It's really hard to grasp. and then listen to what she says about the kids and what they're up to right now. One of the times that Tyler came to me as a spirit after she died, she said, she commanded me and she said to me, stop worrying, mom, we are fine. She knows how I worry and how I miss her. The first time JJ visited me after he passed away. he put his arm around me and he said to me he didn't do anything wrong mom i love you and i know you

loved me every minute of my life j j j j joshua jackson was an adult spirit and he was very very tall when he put his arm around me He is busy. He is engaged. He has jobs that he does there. And he is happy where he is. His life was short. But JJ's life was meaningful. JJ was a wonderful person and touched the lives of everyone. And I adored him every minute of his life. My beautiful children, Tiley Ashland and Joshua Jackson, rest safely this day in the arms of Jesus. My wonderful friend Tammy Daybell rests safely this day in the arms of Jesus and I look forward to the day when we are all reunited and I too will rest with them

in the arms of my Jesus. That is so chilling. The spirit's coming to visit her? Tammy is her friend. The kids are happy in heaven. Tell her not to worry. I've actually seen this similar kind of reasoning cases of

parents killing their children. It's frightening. It really is. But here's something to think of, too. If she really believes that they're happier in heaven and heaven's the place to be, why did she marry Chad and look so happy in those wedding photos and vacationing in Hawaii? If Earth is really this bad place, reality is so bad, I don't know. Does she really think that, you know, she has to live to free other people? I can't begin to fathom that. this or understand this. I don't want to get into that world. It's just so disturbing. We heard, as I mentioned, victim impact statements. Again, the chance for loved ones to explain to the court the impact these deaths have had on their lives. And as I mentioned, Lori was found guilty for the

conspiracy to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell, her co-defendant's lover's deceased wife. Throughout the trial, it became known that Lori was a serial liar and manipulator. And when Tammy Daybell's sister, Samantha William delivered her statement, that was something she heavily emphasized. We asked what's her name, boy Ryan. That was a lie. That was two husbands ago. So I searched, what happened to your previous husband? She told us that he died from a heart attack. Lie. He died from being shot. I asked, are there children? I was told we will be empty nesters. That's a lie. The police ask us about missing children.

You answer, the children aren't missing. They're safe and happy. It's a lie. Your children, your poor children, were dead and buried on Chad's property. And my sister was told was sick and her health was telling, well, that was a lie. I had seen her with my own eyes two weeks prior. She was very healthy. We have to go through her being disinterred and having an autopsy done.

I was glad to get some answers. and some truth after so many lies. But to find out what we knew in our hearts all along, she had been murdered by those who saw her as an obstacle to a plan. Planned her murder as much as you planned the murders of your own children, your previous husband. Why? Why plan something so heinous?

You could sit there and think, you've never met me, and I don't know you. But I've always been able to tell when I am being lied to, and you are a liar, an adulteress, and a murderer. Because of the choices you made, my family lost of beloved mother, sister, aunt, and daughter. She is irreplaceable. She was 1,000 times a woman you will ever dream of being. Because of the choices you made, we have been hounded by media,

and those who revel on all of the salacious scandal you have stirred up. Because of you and your desire to get what you want at any cost, My family has been ripped apart. And as you heard, these just aren't plain white lies. These are lies about very serious matters. A big theme in this case was how everyone was kept in the dark about these kids and Tammy and what Chad and Lori were up to. And just one more thing on Samantha William.

She also pointed out how her and Tammy's mother was battling leukemia and passed away last month in June after Lori was convicted. So while Tammy's mother got justice for her daughter in a way, Samantha made it clear to Lori about how the past four years took an emotional toll on the family. I mean, she would explain how this trial about the death of her daughter was the last thing her ailing mother had to live through. It was unthinkable.

Now, we also heard from Tammy's aunt, Vicki Hoban, who broke down as she delivered her victim in Pax Day. She was taken from us by murdering thieves. Lori sets here, convicted, and prepped her prison. And let's be honest, the only question left is for how long?

But Tammy was robbed of her entire life. And all of her family robbed. I've ever seen her again. Never will she whisper. joke with a friend and laugh never see another sunrise or a sunset never smell fresh rain nor see her grandchildren stomped through a mud puddle never to hear being called grandma our mom

not another birthday christmas the birth of a grandchild graduation from preschool No, seeing pictures of prom for states or weddings. No searching for something fun to do or growing a garden. Not an easy day. Not an easy day. And in that vein, we also heard from a very notable figure in this case. J.J. Valo's grandmother, Kay Woodcock, her and Larry Woodcock, very outspoken in this case. If anybody's been following it, you know them.

She addressed the court as well. Very emotional. After Lori's third husband, Charles Vallow, this is Kay's brother, after he was killed by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, in July of 2019, police originally ruled that as a self-defense. Now Lori Valadebel is actually charged with conspiracy to commit his murder. Well, Kay and her husband, Larry, they became suspicious of Lori. They believed that she didn't want JJ anymore, and the Woodcocks had nothing but love for their grandson entirely.

they just wanted to keep them safe. Well, Kay Woodcock directed part of her statement at Lori, and she didn't hold back about who she believes Lori is. Lori is undeniably a monster, a monster that has not taken any responsibility or shown an ounce of remorse for her vile actions. She deserves to never again breathe oxygen as a free member of society. Her actions, dismissive behavior,

and disinterest in court proceedings, continue to validate her lack of accountability and remorse or any possibility to be rehabilitated. Lori Cox's daybill is a danger to society. Her body and manipulative mind are weapons used for her selfish greed and satisfaction. We firmly believe that she has zero mental illness that drove her to commit these heinous acts. Rather, she is driven by her greed and need to be the center of attention. Kay Woodcock also spoke about her love for JJ and how he was just an innocent seven-year-old boy.

Before I could take a step, Larry swooped him up in his arms and at 11 months old, JJ wrapped his tiny arms around Larry, laying his head on him. There it was the connection. It was still so strong. We never lost that special connection with JJ. We were always in love comfort and safety. Powerful.

Victim Impact Statement. But now after the victim impact statements and the recommendations from the prosecution and the defense, it was all up to Judge Stephen Boyce to deliver this sentence. And you remember when I talked about how he was paying careful attention to what Lori Valo-Daybell was saying and how she really didn't show any remorse? Listen to what the judge had to say. You killed those children, according to the state's theory, and I believe it, to remove them as obstacles and to profit financially.

You justified all of this by going down a bizarre religious rabbit hole, and clearly you are still down there. While you are enjoying your new life in Hawaii, countless law enforcement officers, family members, and volunteers were searching for your children. And I don't think to this day you have any remorse for the effort and heartache you caused for others who looked for your children when you knew where they were and knew they were dead. They were found dead, earned, mutilated, and dismembered,

and buried like animals. After you knew they were dead, you collected public-funded assistance, payments meant for them, and that was blood money you kept for yourself. The crime scene was a horrific thing to have to review. And there's images that I will never get out of my mind. And I'm just looking at the pictures. Law enforcement officers who had to deal with the aftermath of what you did, I'm sure, were traumatized. And I know it was traumatic as well for the jurors who had to sit through and see the photographs of these dead and mutilated and buried children. and it is the most shocking thing really I can imagine is that a mother killed her own children and you simply have no remorse for it even sitting here today there's no remorse for what you did

after all of this evidence through trial you haven't shown any remorse you haven't said you're sorry you haven't done anything to seek leniency from this court there's been a lot of people during trial and here who explain the devastation you're responsible for and you've forever altered the lives not in a good way for many many people destroying family relationships taking people away that were loved cared for and needed yep he really didn't hold anything back and he kind of spoke to what a lot of the people who've been following this trial felt. In fact, our reporter G.G. G.G. McElvey, who was on the ground,

she said that some of the jurors in Lori Valladabelle's case actually attended this sentencing. They weren't required to do so. They're not there to do anything. But they were so touched, apparently, by this case and affected by it, they wanted to see the outcome of their decision, finding Lori Valo DeBel guilty. But like I said, it was up to the judge to deliver this sentence, and here was his decision. The charge you were convicted of the first degree murder of Tiley Ryan, you are sentenced to the custody of the State Board of Corrections to serve the maximum allowed sentence of fixed determinant term of life imprisonment with no possibility of parole. On count four, the charge of the first degree murder of Joshua Jackson-Vallow, you are sentenced to the custody of the State Board of Corrections to serve the maximum allowed sentenced a fixed determination.

life imprisonment sentence with no possibility of parole. I'll next address the three conspiracy counts you've been convicted of. And note under Idaho Code 1817.01, the punishment for those crimes is the same as the underlying offenses you combine to commit. One of the offenses you combined to commit was first degree murder, so those may be punishable also by imprisonment for life. Count one, the conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of Tiley Ryan and grand theft by deception. You're sentenced to the custody of the State Board of Corrections to serve the maximum allowed sentence to fixed determinant term of life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.

Account three, the conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of Joshua Jackson-Vallow and grand theft by deception, your sentence to the custody of the State Board of Corrections to serve the maximum allowed sentenced a fixed determinant term of life imprisonment with no possibility of parole and on count five the conspiracy to commit the first degree murder of tamara tammy daybell your sentence to the custody of the state board of corrections to serve the maximum allowed sentence a fixed determinant term of life imprisonment with no possibility of parole so aside from the financial penalties and the grand theft charges The most serious charges, the murder and conspiracy charges, the judge threw the book at her, the absolute maximum.

And to have these sentences run consecutively, meaning one life sentence after the other, that is a major statement and a major ruling from Judge Stephen Boyce. That means that Lori Valo-Daybell will never walk out of prison a free woman. She will die behind bars. and as a legal matter, after following this trial, I don't anticipate any significant issues for an appeal that would somehow throw these convictions or sentences out. I don't see it.

Now, I will end on a personal note because I've been following this case for the last three or four years, and I will tell you, it has been incredibly difficult to follow. It has been so tough to listen to, hear what happened to these kids, hear what happened to Tammy. It's honestly one of the worst. cases I have ever covered on long crime. So for me, today was a bit cathartic. And in a way, and I believe this, I know that this is a major step forward for the families

and the loved ones of Tiley, JJ, and Tammy. But now we will have to wait and see what happens next because the legal case for Lori's co-defendant and Chad Daybell, that's going to be coming up. That's all we have for you here on Sidebar, everybody. Thank you so much for joining us. Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll speak to you next time. Apple Podcasts or Spotify.