The backyard of a quiet home in Salem, Idaho, shouldn't be a graveyard. But in June 2020, that is exactly what investigators found when they started digging into the soft earth on Chad Daybell’s property. They found 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. It was the end of a nationwide search and the beginning of a legal saga that exposed a world of "zombies," doomsday prophecies, and cold-blooded murder.
Honestly, the Chad Daybell Lori Vallow case is one of those stories that feels too weird to be true. You have a self-published author of apocalyptic fiction and a former "supermom" who somehow convinced themselves that the people they loved most were possessed by dark spirits. They didn't just believe the world was ending; they started "clearing" the path for it.
The Doomsday Connection
Chad Daybell was a gravedigger once. He knew how to move earth. Later, he became an author, writing about near-death experiences and the end of times. Lori Vallow was a fan. She had been reading his books and eventually met him at a religious conference in 2018. They hit it off instantly.
But there was a problem. They were both married.
Lori was married to Charles Vallow. Chad was married to Tammy Daybell. Within a year, both of those spouses would be dead. Charles was shot by Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, in what was first called self-defense. Then Tammy died in her sleep—initially attributed to natural causes, though we later found out she was asphyxiated.
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People often ask how it got this far. It was the "zombie" thing.
Lori and Chad developed a rating system for people. You were either "light" or "dark." If you were dark, a demon had taken over your body. You were a "zombie." According to their twisted theology, the only way to save the soul was to kill the body. It sounds like a bad movie plot, but they took it as gospel.
Why Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Still Matter
You might think the story ended with their arrests, but the legal fallout has stretched into 2026. This wasn't just about a couple of fringe believers; it was about the systematic failure to protect children and the terrifying power of shared delusion.
- The Idaho Trials: In 2023, Lori Vallow Daybell was found guilty of murdering her children and conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell. She got life without parole.
- The Death Penalty: Chad's trial in 2024 ended differently. He was convicted on all counts, including the first-degree murder of Tammy, JJ, and Tylee. The jury didn't hold back. He was sentenced to death.
- The Arizona Fallout: Even after the Idaho convictions, Arizona wanted their turn. In 2025, Lori faced charges for conspiring to murder her late husband Charles and her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. She was found guilty again. More life sentences.
As of January 2026, the appeals are churning through the system. Idaho prosecutors just recently filed a 59-page brief to the State Supreme Court to uphold Lori’s sentence. They’re swatting away claims that her rights were violated while she was in a mental health facility. Chad is also sitting on death row, his own appeals pending.
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What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that Lori was just a victim of Chad’s "brainwashing." While Chad provided the script, Lori was the director. Prosecutors argued she was driven by "money, power, and sex." She kept collecting Social Security benefits for her kids long after they were buried in Chad’s yard. That isn't a delusion. That's a motive.
Another thing? The role of Alex Cox.
Lori's brother was the "hitman" for this duo. He did the dirty work. He shot Charles. He was likely there when the kids died. But he died of "natural causes" (blood clots in his lungs) the day after Tammy Daybell’s body was exhumed. He took a lot of secrets to his grave.
The Survivors and the Damage Left Behind
The real tragedy is the family left in the wake. Colby Ryan, Lori’s oldest son, has been vocal about the betrayal. He lost his siblings and his stepfather to his own mother's greed. During the 2025 sentencing in Arizona, he told the court that Lori herself was the "family tragedy."
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It’s hard to wrap your head around the callousness. While the children were missing, Chad and Lori were getting married on a beach in Hawaii, dancing and playing the ukulele. They told neighbors they didn't have any minor children.
Actionable Insights for Following the Case
If you’re trying to keep up with the latest updates or understand the complexity of the Chad Daybell Lori Vallow saga, keep these points in mind:
- Check the Idaho Supreme Court Docket: Both are currently in the appeals phase. Lori’s team is arguing five different constitutional violations, but the state is fighting back hard as of early 2026.
- Understand the Competency Stays: Lori was found incompetent twice, which delayed the trial by 353 days. This is a major point in her current appeal, though experts say it’s unlikely to get her a new trial.
- Look at the Financials: This wasn't just a religious "cult" thing. The insurance payouts and Social Security fraud were central to the prosecution's case. Follow the money to find the truth.
- Distinguish Mainstream Beliefs from Fringe: The LDS Church has distanced itself from Daybell’s "Seven Gatherers" ideology. It’s a classic example of how fringe groups twist established theology to justify violence.
The cameras in the courtroom might eventually fade, but the impact of this case on Idaho and Arizona law—and the lives of the Woodcock and Ryan families—will remain for decades. We are watching the final legal gasps of a couple who thought they were gods, only to find themselves at the mercy of a very human justice system.
Next Steps for Tracking Progress
To stay updated on the status of the appeals, monitor the Idaho Department of Correction's public records for Chad Daybell's housing status and the Idaho Supreme Court's "Cases of Interest" page for oral argument schedules regarding Lori Vallow Daybell.