Tylee Ryan, 17, and J.J. Vallow, 7, disappeared from Rexburg, Idaho in September 2019; their remains were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in June 2020. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, and her new husband Chad Daybell were convicted of murder and conspiracy in connection with their deaths, along with the murder of Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell, and the murder of Lori's estranged husband, Charles Vallow.
Maricopa County Superior Courthouse - Phoenix (49776805898) — Credit: Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0
Tylee Ryan (17) and Joshua "J.J." Vallow (7) were the children of Lori Vallow Daybell, who at the time was married to Charles Vallow (J.J.'s adoptive father) before beginning a relationship with author Chad Daybell. Chad and Lori led a small religious group that came to hold extreme, apocalyptic beliefs, including a system in which people could be labeled "dark" or become "possessed," "zombies" who needed to be removed.
The killings began on July 11, 2019, when Lori's brother Alex Cox shot and killed Charles Vallow at Lori's home in Chandler, Arizona, during a confrontation over custody of J.J. Cox claimed self-defense and was not charged. Lori subsequently moved with her children to Rexburg, Idaho. Tylee was last seen on September 8, 2019, at Yellowstone National Park with her mother, brother, and uncle. J.J. was last confirmed seen on September 22, 2019, when a witness saw Alex Cox carry him upstairs at Lori's home.
In the following weeks, Lori told various people conflicting stories about the children's whereabouts, continued collecting their Social Security survivor benefits, and enrolled J.J. as "homeschooled" without ever producing him. On October 2, 2019, Brandon Boudreaux, the estranged husband of Lori's niece, survived being shot at while driving in Gilbert, Arizona; investigators later tied the vehicle to Tylee. On October 19, 2019, Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell, was found dead at their Rexburg home; her death was initially attributed to natural causes, but an exhumation and autopsy later determined she had been asphyxiated. Chad and Lori married in Hawaii on November 5, 2019, two weeks after Tammy's death.
After police conducted a welfare check for J.J. on November 26, 2019, Lori and Chad gave conflicting and false accounts of his location and left Idaho for Hawaii the next day. Investigation subsequently revealed Tylee was also missing. The case received national media attention, and Lori and Chad were publicly named "persons of interest" in December 2019. Lori was arrested in Hawaii on February 20, 2020, initially on charges of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children.
On June 9, 2020, police discovered human remains buried on Chad Daybell's property in Fremont County, Idaho — Tylee's remains in an area used to bury pets, and J.J.'s remains near a pond. The remains were confirmed as those of Tylee and J.J. Forensic findings indicated Tylee's body had been burned and dismembered, with cause of death undetermined; J.J. had been asphyxiated with a plastic bag and duct tape. Chad was arrested at the scene for obstruction/concealment of evidence. Alex Cox, whom investigators believed had participated in the killings, had died in December 2019 before he could be charged.
On May 25, 2021, Lori and Chad were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the deaths of Tylee, J.J., and Tammy Daybell, along with related theft charges. Tried separately, Lori was found guilty on all counts on May 12, 2023, and sentenced on July 31, 2023, to three consecutive life sentences without parole. Chad was later found guilty of all charges and sentenced to death. Lori was subsequently extradited to Arizona, where she was convicted in connection with the murder of Charles Vallow and the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux, receiving two additional life sentences. Both Lori and Chad have appealed their convictions and sentences.
J.J. Vallow, Brandon Boudreaux, Charles Vallow, Tammy Daybell, Tylee Ryan
Date
2019
Location
Rexburg, Idaho (disappearance location); remains found in Fremont County, Idaho
Case status
solved
Case timeline
2019-07-11
Charles Vallow, Lori's estranged husband, is shot and killed by Alex Cox, who said he acted in self-defense, at Lori's home in Chandler, Arizona.
2019-09-08
Tylee Ryan is last seen alive, at Yellowstone National Park with her mother, brother, and uncle.
2019-09-22
J.J. Vallow is last confirmed seen alive at Lori's home in Rexburg, Idaho.
2019-10-02
Brandon Boudreaux survives being shot at in Gilbert, Arizona.
2019-10-19
Tammy Daybell is found dead at her Rexburg, Idaho home; later determined to have been asphyxiated.
2019-11-05
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow marry in Hawaii.
2019-11-27
Lori and Chad leave Idaho for Hawaii after a police welfare check regarding J.J.
2019-12-12
Alex Cox dies before being charged; death attributed to blood clots and high blood pressure.
2019-12-20
Rexburg Police Department announces Tylee and J.J. are officially missing.
2020-02-20
Lori is arrested in Hawaii on charges of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children.
2020-06-09
Human remains, later confirmed as those of Tylee and J.J., are found buried on Chad Daybell's property; Chad is arrested.
2021-05-25
Chad and Lori are indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of Tylee, J.J., and Tammy Daybell.
2023-05-12
Lori is found guilty on all charges related to the killings of Tylee, J.J., and Tammy.
2023-07-31
Lori is sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without parole.
Best coverage
Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
48 Hours / 41 min
Lori Vallow Daybell: Guilty | Full Episode
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Annie Elise / 11 min
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell Update: Pleads Not Guilty, Suspect in ANOTHER murder, NEW details
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48 Hours / 2 min
Cult expert weighs in on Idaho missing children's case
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Dateline NBC / 2 min
Dateline Episode Trailer: Where Are The Children? | Dateline NBC
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Vallow Case Update: Remains of Tylee and JJ Found...
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48 Hours / 21 min
Inside the Lori Vallow Daybell Trial: Opening Statements | "48 Hours" Podcast
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Dateline NBC / 2 min
Dateline Episode Trailer: The Doomsday Files | Dateline NBC
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Coffeehouse Crime / 28 min
The Doomsday Couple: The Unbelievable Case of Lori Vallow And Chad Daybell
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That Chapter / 19 min
The Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Case
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Dateline NBC / 1 min
Dateline Episode Trailer: What Happened to the Children? | Dateline NBC
VIDEO
Kendall Rae / 50 min
Hiding In A Bunker? Turned Into Zombies & Murdered? Where Are The Vallow Children?
VIDEO
Dateline NBC / 1 min
Dateline Episode Trailer: The Trial of Lori Vallow Daybell | Dateline NBC
VIDEO
Dateline NBC / 1 min
Lori Vallow Daybell sits down with Keith Morrison for her first television interview | Dateline NBC
VIDEO
Bailey Sarian / 41 min
Missing Children Uncovers a STRANGE timeline of events. JJ&Tylee Vallow Mystery&Makeup Bailey Sarian
VIDEO
Dateline NBC / 2 min
Dateline Episode Trailer: What Happened to JJ and Tylee | Dateline NBC
VIDEO
That Chapter / 29 min
Catching Up with Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell
People
Chad Daybell
CONVICTED
Found guilty of all charges related to the murders of Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow, and Tammy Daybell; sentenced to death.
J.J. Vallow
VICTIM
Lori Vallow Daybell's adopted son; killed in September 2019; remains found June 9, 2020.
Alex Cox
CHARGED
Lori's brother; authorities believed he participated in the shooting of Charles Vallow, the attempted killing of Brandon Boudreaux, and the deaths of Tylee, J.J., and Tammy; died in December 2019 before he could be arrested or formally charged with murder.
Lori Vallow Daybell
CONVICTED
Found guilty of the murders of Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow, and conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell; also convicted in Arizona for the murder of Charles Vallow and attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux; sentenced to multiple life terms.
Brandon Boudreaux
VICTIM
Survived a shooting attempt on October 2, 2019; Lori was later convicted of attempted murder in connection with this shooting.
Charles Vallow
VICTIM
Lori Vallow Daybell's estranged husband and J.J.'s adoptive father; shot and killed July 11, 2019.
Tammy Daybell
VICTIM
Chad Daybell's wife; found dead October 19, 2019; later determined to have been asphyxiated.
Tylee Ryan
VICTIM
Lori Vallow Daybell's daughter; killed in September 2019; remains found June 9, 2020.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Archival records
archival location
Maricopa County Superior Courthouse - Phoenix (49776805898)
Tylee Ryan, 17, and J.J. Vallow, 7, disappeared from Rexburg, Idaho in September 2019; their remains were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in June 2020. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, and her new husband Chad Daybell were convicted of murder and conspiracy in connection with their deaths, along with the murder of Chad's first wife, Tammy Daybell, and the murder of Lori's estranged husband, Charles Vallow.
Where did the murders happen?
Rexburg, Idaho (disappearance location); remains found in Fremont County, Idaho.
Who was convicted?
Chad Daybell (Found guilty of all charges related to the murders of Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow, and Tammy Daybell; sentenced to death.) and Lori Vallow Daybell (Found guilty of the murders of Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow, and conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell; also convicted in Arizona for the murder of Charles Vallow and attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux; sentenced to multiple life terms.).
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