Solved Murders - True Crime Stories - From Faith to Darkness Lori Vallow, Cult Obsession, Murder, and Missing Kids PART1 #23

Episode Date: November 9, 2025

#horrorstories #reddithorrorstories #ScaryStories #creepypasta #horrortales #truecrime #cultcrime #lorivallowcase #missingkids #obsessionandmurder  From Faith to Darkness Part 1 begins the chilling story of Lori Vallow, whose life spirals from faith to darkness, involving cult obsession, manipulation, and the disappearance of her children. This chapter introduces the background, the key figures, and the early signs of dangerous behavior, setting the stage for a shocking tale of murder, deception, and the horrifying consequences of blind devotion.  horrorstories, reddithorrorstories, scarystories, horrorstory, creepypasta, horrortales, truecrime, cultcrime, lorivallowcase, missingkids, obsessionandmurder, shockingcases, familytragedy, manipulation, darkfaith, crimeinvestigation, realcrime, realhorrorstories, disappearance, twistedobsession  

The tragic morning of July 11, 2019, a family torn apart. It was early in the morning of July 11, 2019, when the police arrived at a woman named Lori's house. What they found inside was something no one could have prepared for. Her husband, Charles, was lying lifeless in the living room. Nearby was Alex, Lori's brother, who had witnessed some of the chaos. But Laurie herself and her children were nowhere to be seen in. inside the house. At that moment, the family was living separately, Charles and Laurie had been having repeated

disagreements over the past several months, to the point where they were considering divorce. Minutes before the police arrived, Lori had been getting her seven-year-old son ready for school. He was lovingly nicknamed JJ after his initials. J.J. was her adopted child with Charles. Her eldest child, a 16-year-old girl named TYY was from a previous relationship, and she was still asleep in the house that morning along with Alex. Charles arrived at the house around 7.30 a.m. He spent a few minutes talking to Laurie while JJ finished getting ready. Once JJ was dressed and ready, the two of them headed

toward the car. But before they could drive off, Charles realized he had left his cell phone on the living room table. He decided to go back inside to retrieve it, and that's when everything escalated. Lorry was standing there with her phone in hand, scrolling through her messages. She knew he had been cheating on her, and the evidence was right in front of her. When Charles saw what she was doing, his face turned bright red. He began shouting uncontrollably, demanding she hand over the phone. Panic and anger flooded the room. Laurie began pacing the living room, phone in hand, checking each conversation one by one. Charles's anger only intensified.

The argument grew louder and more chaotic until Alex and TYY, awakened by the commotion, came to see what was happening. Alex tried to intervene, attempting to separate Laurie from Charles. But T.Y.W. in her own desperate and panicked way, ran to her room and grabbed a baseball bat, aiming to strike her stepfather. Charles reacted immediately, lunging at her and wrenching the bat from her hands. TYY lost her balance and fell to the floor. Alex, seeing this, struggled with Charles, trying to get the bat back.

Laurie screamed for her daughter to run to the car with JJ. TYY-Y bolted, jumped into the car, and locked the doors. Charles, in a fit of rage, struck Alex in the back of the neck with the bat. Alex ran to retrieve a firearm while Laurie attempted to escape. In the chaos, two gunshots rang out. Soon after, Lori emerged from the house and went to the car to console her children. This version of events comes from Laurie's statements to the police, as well as her children's testimonies. But the question remains, was this truly what happened that morning?

Understanding the Family Dynamics To understand this case, we have to look at the structure of this family, a blended family with a complex history. I'll focus only on the most crucial members, because otherwise it gets confusing fast. Laurie Norrin Cox was born in 1973 in Loma Linda, California. She grew up in the Mormon faith and had a strong interest in beauty pageants. She was very successful in them, praised for her beauty and poise. Lori married multiple times throughout her life.

Her first marriage was at 19 to her high school boyfriend, but it ended when she was 22. Her second marriage resulted in a son named Colby. That marriage lasted around three years. By 2001, at age 28, Lori married Joseph, moving in with him along with Colby, who was five years old at the time. Joseph became close to Colby and eventually adopted him. A year into the marriage, Laurie gave birth to a daughter named TYY. Initially, Joseph presented himself as sweet and generous, but over time he became a controlling and abusive husband and father. The marriage lasted roughly four years, ending bitterly with

Lori fighting for custody of Colby and TYY. She won custody, but the trauma left marks. Colby later revealed that Joseph had abused him when he was eight years old. Lori reportedly suffered a mental breakdown at this revelation, and she turned to the church for solace. During these difficult years, Lori grew close to her brother Alex, who took on the role of protector, seeing his sister's struggle firsthand. While Lori claimed Joseph had abused Colby, there's no documentation confirming an official report, and Joseph never served prison time for this alleged abuse. Alex, however, learned about what Joseph did to his nephew and retaliated by attacking Joseph with a stunned gun in the groin. Joseph pressed charges, and Alex served 90 days in jail. Enter Charles.

A year after the divorce with Joseph, Lori married Charles, the man who would later be found dead in this story. Charles was not originally Mormon but converted to the faith to marry Laurie, making him her fourth husband. At the time of their marriage, Colby was 10 and TYY was 4. Charles also had children from previous marriages, though they were grown and did not live with the family. In 2013, Laurie and Charles adopted JJ, his real name was Jason Jackson. This adoption aimed to give JJ a better life, as he was the son of Charles' nephew, who struggled with substance abuse.

J.J. had been in intensive care for a long period after birth, but thankfully recovered. The morning of the incident. Returning to July 11, 2019, the morning had started like any other, with routines and small chores. Lori was focused on getting J.J. ready, Charles was preparing to take him to school, and the tensions between Lori and Charles were simmering just beneath the surface. The moment Charles returned for his phone, the powder keg exploded. The details Laurie provided to police tell of escalating anger, miscommunication, and panic. But as investigators know, trauma alters perception.

Children's statements, adult recollections, and even sibling interventions must all be interpreted cautiously. TYY's actions, grabbing a bat to defend her mother, added another layer of complexion. It's easy to judge from afar, but imagine a 16-year-old child, caught between parental conflict and fear for her younger brother. Her instincts were protective, impulsive, and raw. Alex, trying to protect both Laurie and TYYY, entered into the fray, resulting in more physical struggle. And when guns were introduced, the chaos became lethal.

Layers of Disfunction Understanding this family requires more than just the events of one morning. Lorry's history of multiple marriages, experiences with abuse, and complicated custody battles shaped the environment in which J.J. T.Y. and Colby were raised. Charles's temper and controlling tendencies compounded tensions. The house was a pressure cooker, a mix of unresolved past trauma, ongoing conflicts, and the ordinary stresses of a blended family. By July 11, 2000, In 2019, the situation was volatile, and small triggers had the potential to erupt into disaster.

The Children's Perspective J.J., the youngest, was just seven. He had no understanding of legalities, past abuse, or adult conflicts. All he knew was fear, the yelling, the shouting, the physicality. TYY, at 16, had a more developed understanding but was still a child, caused. in the middle. Alex, the protective uncle, tried to manage the chaos but was ultimately powerless to control the events. Lorry's perspective, shaped by years of trauma and anxiety over abusive partners, added tension to the situation. She was trying to protect her children

while navigating her own fear. The arrival of law enforcement at the house was both relief and validation, finally, someone outside the family could intervene. aftermath. Police reports corroborated some of Laurie's statements, Charles was deceased, Alex had been injured, and Laurie's children were safe. The legal and investigative process aimed to determine the sequence of events, responsibility, and potential charges. But beyond the facts, the human dimension remained, a mother trying to protect her children, a brother acting out of loyalty, and a child forced into an unimaginable situation. The story of Laurie, Charles, Alex, and the children is a case study in family complexity, trauma, and the tragic consequences of unresolved conflict.

It shows how past abuse, repeated marital failures, and the pressures of blended family life can culminate in moments of extreme violence. Reflection Looking at this story, it's tempting to assign blame to one person to simplify the chaos into a narrative of good versus evil. But real life is messier. Trauma accumulates, stress magnifies, and children are caught in the crossfire. Every member of this family was shaped by past events, and those events influenced decisions, reactions, and the tragic outcome. Laurie's resilience, despite the challenges, is notable.

She navigated multiple marriages, custody battles, and the threat of violence while trying to care for her children. Her history with Joseph, Charles, and Alex illustrates the difficulty of balancing personal safety, familial loyalty, and moral responsibility in high-stress environments. Conclusion The morning of July 11, 2019, represents a convergence of decades-long trauma, family dynamics, and human error. While police reports provide facts, the human story is far more nuanced. It's a story of survival, fear, loyalty, and the fragility of life. The events of that day will forever be etched in the memories of those involved, particularly the children, whose innocence was shattered by circumstances beyond their control.

Understanding this case requires compassion, attention to detail, and acknowledgement of the long history that preceded that fateful morning. It's a sobering reminder that family, while a source of love, can also be a stage for tragedy when past wounds remain unhealed. To be continued.