Lori Vallow Daybell's Jailhouse Interview: A Dateline Exclusive
Convicted murderer Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called "Doomsday mom," granted her first-ever media interview from a Maricopa County jail to Dateline's Keith Morrison. The interview, airing on NBC, delves into the chilling events leading up to the murders of her children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. This exclusive offers a glimpse into Vallow Daybell's perspective, though her claims of innocence clash sharply with the evidence presented at her trial.
A Spiritual Connection and a Deadly Descent
The Dateline special traces Vallow Daybell's life, highlighting her past appearances on "Wheel of Fortune" and in the Miss Texas pageant, before charting her descent into a world of doomsday prophecies and alleged religious extremism. Her meeting with Chad Daybell, a doomsday author, is explored, with Vallow Daybell claiming a profound spiritual connection, stating, "I recognized him spiritually...that we had known each other for eternities." This spiritual bond, however, appears to have coincided with a series of troubling events.
The Deaths of Charles Vallow and Tammy Daybell
The interview details the months leading up to the death of Vallow Daybell's estranged husband, Charles Vallow. Body camera footage reveals Charles's chilling account of his wife's belief that he was possessed. The subsequent discovery of Vallow Daybell's affair with Chad Daybell, and the deletion of an email Charles sent to Tammy Daybell (Chad's then-wife), paint a picture of escalating tensions. Charles Vallow was later shot and killed, with Vallow Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, claiming self-defense. The death of Tammy Daybell, initially ruled as natural causes but later determined to be asphyxiation, further fuels suspicion. Investigators believe Cox played a role in both deaths, along with the murders of the children. Text messages revealed Vallow Daybell referred to Charles Vallow as "Ned" and alluded to getting rid of him before he changed his life insurance policy.
The Disappearance and Deaths of Tylee and JJ
Following Charles Vallow's death, Vallow Daybell moved with Tylee and JJ to Rexburg, Idaho, near Chad Daybell's property. The last known photos of Tylee and JJ are discussed, leading up to their tragic discovery in June 2020. Tylee's remains were found in a fire pit and JJ's in a pet cemetery on Chad Daybell's property. The interview highlights Vallow Daybell's assertion that she wasn't present when her children died, a claim directly contradicted by the evidence presented in her trial and the investigation.
Vallow Daybell's Defiance and Future Trials
Despite her conviction and life sentence, Vallow Daybell maintains her innocence in the Dateline interview, expressing her belief that she and Chad will be exonerated. She even jokes about appearing on "Dancing with the Stars" after her exoneration. This defiant attitude, and her decision to represent herself in her upcoming Arizona trial for the murder of Charles Vallow, underscores the complexity and continuing intrigue surrounding this case. The interview leaves viewers to grapple with her unwavering denial and the devastating consequences of her actions.
Watch the full Dateline interview to form your own conclusions.