The case of “doomsday cult mom” Lori Vallow and her husband Chad Daybell—charged with murdering Lori’s two children and Chad’s wife based on apocalyptic religious beliefs—shocked America with its bizarre mix of extremism, deception, and tragedy.
The Missing Children
In September 2019, relatives reported that JJ Vallow (7) and Tylee Ryan (16) hadn’t been seen in months. Lori and Chad fled to Hawaii, refusing to cooperate or produce the children.
The Bodies
In June 2020, police found the children’s remains buried on Chad Daybell’s Idaho property. Both had been there since September 2019.
The Beliefs
Lori and Chad believed:
- They were religious figures preparing for the apocalypse
- People could become “zombies” (possessed by dark spirits)
- Lori was a goddess who’d been reincarnated multiple times
- Those deemed “dark” could be justifiably killed
The Body Count
Suspicious deaths connected to the couple:
- Tylee Ryan (16) - murdered
- JJ Vallow (7) - murdered
- Tammy Daybell (Chad’s wife) - died mysteriously October 2019
- Charles Vallow (Lori’s ex-husband) - shot by Lori’s brother July 2019
- Joseph Ryan (Tylee’s father) - died 2018 (under investigation)
The Trials
- May 2023: Lori convicted of murder, sentenced to life without parole
- May 2023: Chad convicted of murder, sentenced to death
Media Coverage
#LoriVallow dominated true crime social media for years:
- Netflix documentary Sins of Our Mother (2022)
- Dateline NBC specials
- Court TV live coverage of trials
- Podcasts dissecting doomsday beliefs
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