Lori Vallow Daybell asks Idaho Supreme Court to overturn her murder convictions
Her lawyer argues she was denied a speedy trial and her chosen attorney, and that jurors wrongly heard about Arizona shootings.
The Idaho is scheduled to hear Lori Vallow Daybell's appeal on Monday. She wants the court to reverse her Idaho convictions over the deaths of her two youngest children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and over a conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell, described as a romantic rival.
The children went missing in 2019. Their remains turned up buried on land owned by Chad Daybell, who married Vallow Daybell a few weeks after Tammy Daybell died. Her lawyer makes three arguments.
First, that she was denied a speedy trial. Second, that she was not allowed to keep the attorney she chose, after the trial judge found a conflict because that attorney had represented both her and her husband. Third, that jurors should not have heard about the shootings near Phoenix involving Charles Vallow and Brandon Boudreaux.
Idaho gave her three life sentences. Chad Daybell received a in the three killings. In Arizona she was convicted separately of conspiracy to murder two men, her estranged husband and the former husband of her niece.
The second man survived. She received two life sentences there and has appealed them too. According to Straight Arrow News, Monday's hearing concerns only the Idaho case.
- three life sentences Vallow Daybell's sentences in Idaho — ABC News
- two life sentences her sentences in Arizona — ABC News
Three sides of the story
Liberal2 outlets
Her three legal arguments and the Arizona background
ABC News opens with the scheduled Monday hearing and what she asks: reversal of her convictions in the deaths of JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell. It then sets out her lawyer's arguments on a speedy trial, the choice of attorney and the Arizona shootings. The Independent follows a similar order and notes the lawyer had represented both her and her husband.
Both give detailed background on the Arizona case. They describe how her brother, Alex Cox, shot Charles Vallow in Chandler, with investigators later questioning his self-defense claim. Both also describe the shot fired at Brandon Boudreaux.
They report that prosecutors say she conspired with Cox to collect life insurance money and marry Chad Daybell. ABC says she "holds doomsday religious beliefs" and has claimed evil spirits possessed people around her. The Independent says the same.
Both close on her two Arizona life sentences and her appeals of them.
Center2 outlets
Doomsday mom appeal, hearing limited to Idaho case
Straight Arrow News puts the Monday hearing first and uses the label "Doomsday mom" in its headline. It says she is serving multiple life sentences. It lays out her attorney's arguments on a speedy trial, her chosen lawyer and the jurors' exposure to the Arizona shootings.
Under an "Idaho murders" heading it recounts the children's 2019 disappearance and the 2020 discovery of their bodies on Chad Daybell's property. It adds that she was convicted in 2023 and that Chad Daybell was later sentenced to death. An "Arizona shootings" section attributes the account of Charles Vallow's killing to The Associated Press and says prosecutors identified Alex Cox as the shooter in both incidents.
It notes she has also appealed in Arizona, but says Monday's hearing "concerns only her Idaho case."
- Straight Arrow News: ‘Doomsday mom’ Lori Vallow Daybell appeals murder convictions to Idaho Supreme Court
Conservative0 outlets
Little coverage of the Idaho appeal
Outlets on this side gave the story little coverage.
Which side made the stronger case?
All sources: 4 articles from 4 outlets
Liberal (2)
- ABC News: Lori Vallow Daybell in appeal over killings of 2 of her children, romantic rival
- The Independent (US): Lori Vallow Daybell asks Idaho Supreme Court to overturn convictions for murdering children, rival
Center (2)
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