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Lori Vallow Daybell told an Arizona judge that Jesus Christ would free her from prison. She told Keith Morrison on Dateline that she'd be exonerated and might go on Dancing With the Stars afterward. She told the Idaho court at sentencing that no one was murdered. Three juries across two states convicted her. She has never absorbed a single verdict.The Idaho Supreme Court has scheduled her appeal for November 2 in Boise. Her attorney Craig Durham has five constitutional claims, and the strongest involves the removal of her hired lawyer Mark Means over a conflict tied to co-defendant Chad Daybell. The state has a recorded jail call where Chad called Means “my attorney” and documented evidence that Chad arranged and paid for the representation. If the court finds the removal was wrong, the conviction falls without any additional proof of harm.Lori spent 353 days too incompetent to stand trial, moved the case across the state, and then filed a speedy-trial claim over the delay. She represented herself in two Arizona conspiracy trials in 2025, picked up two more life sentences, and is currently housed at the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center. Even if the Idaho Supreme Court reverses every conviction, the Arizona paper doesn't move. She's not leaving.Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel.https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!:https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallow #LoriVallowDaybell #TrueCrimeToday #TrueCrime #IdahoSupremeCourt #ChadDaybell #TyleeRyan #JJVallow #Dateline #TrueCrimePodcast
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Lori Vallow Daybell has been convicted in three separate trials across two states and has never once acknowledged that anyone was harmed. At her Idaho sentencing in 2023, she told the court that Jesus Christ knows no one was murdered. On Dateline in 2025, she told Keith Morrison she'd be exonerated and offered to go on Dancing With the Stars. In two Arizona trials where she represented herself, she smiled at jurors and told them to protect her from the state. Two more convictions. Two more life sentences.On November 2, the Idaho Supreme Court hears oral arguments on her appeal. Her attorney Craig Durham has one claim with real teeth: the judge removed her hired lawyer Mark Means in December 2021 over a conflict with co-defendant Chad Daybell. If that removal was unconstitutional, the conviction falls automatically. The state says Chad called Means “my attorney” on a recorded jail call, paid for the representation, and shared privileged information. Lori was incompetent and couldn't waive the conflict.Even a complete reversal sends her back to trial, where two Arizona convictions now make the state's evidence stronger. The door she's trying to open leads to a smaller room. She dies in custody either way. But she told Morrison that Jesus visits her cell and showed her the future. That's the woman asking this court for relief.Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel.https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!:https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallow #LoriVallowDaybell #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #IdahoSupremeCourt #ChadDaybell #TyleeRyan #JJVallow #Dateline #TrueCrimePodcast
Demise Of the Daybells | The Lori Vallow Daybell & Chad Daybell Story
Lori Vallow Daybell has told every courtroom, every camera, and every interviewer the same thing: she's getting out. She told Keith Morrison on Dateline that Jesus showed her the future and she was not in prison. She told an Idaho sentencing judge that Jesus Christ knows no one was murdered. She told Arizona jurors their job was to protect her from the state. She offered to go on Dancing With the Stars after her exoneration.On November 2, the Idaho Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the legal version of that belief. Her attorney Craig Durham filed five constitutional claims. The strongest: the judge removed her hired lawyer Mark Means over a conflict tied to co-defendant Chad Daybell, and if the removal was wrong, the conviction falls automatically. The state has a recorded jail call where Chad called Means “my attorney” and evidence that Chad arranged and paid for the representation while they were co-conspirators in capital murder charges.Three juries across Idaho and Arizona have convicted her. She spent 353 days in state hospitals too incompetent to stand trial, then filed a speedy-trial claim over the delay. She represented herself in two Arizona conspiracy trials, picked up two more life sentences, and Judge Beresky told her she should never be released. Even if the Idaho Supreme Court reverses everything, those Arizona sentences don't move. The cage is sealed. But the woman inside it is still telling everyone who'll listen that Jesus is coming to open it.Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel.https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!:https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallow #LoriVallowDaybell #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #IdahoSupremeCourt #ChadDaybell #TyleeRyan #JJVallow #Dateline #TrueCrimePodcast
Alex Cox was Lori Vallow Daybell's older brother and one of the central figures surrounding the deaths of her children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. Cox had already drawn scrutiny before the children disappeared because he shot and killed Lori's estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019, claiming self-defense. Prosecutors later portrayed Cox as fiercely loyal to Lori and deeply influenced by the apocalyptic religious beliefs she shared with Chad Daybell. Witnesses testified that Lori and Chad convinced Cox that he had a divine mission to protect Lori, and Zulema Pastenes, whom Cox married shortly before his death, said he eventually worried that Lori and Chad were setting him up as the “fall guy.” Cox died of what authorities ruled natural causes in December 2019, before he could be charged or questioned further about the children's deaths.Suspicion surrounding Cox's role in Tylee and JJ's murders was driven largely by cellphone data and the timeline of the children's final known movements. Tylee was last verifiably seen on September 8, 2019, during a trip to Yellowstone with Lori, JJ and Cox; the next morning, Cox's phone placed him for hours on Chad Daybell's property near the area where Tylee's remains were later found. JJ was last seen alive on September 22, when witness David Warwick said Cox carried the sleeping boy into Lori's apartment; the next morning, Cox's phone again placed him at Daybell's property, and investigators later alleged that Cox transported JJ's body there. JJ was found wrapped in plastic and duct tape, while Tylee's remains had been burned and dismembered. Cox was never tried, so his precise role was never adjudicated in court, but prosecutors in Lori and Chad's cases treated him as a key participant in the conspiracy and disposal of both children.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Alex Cox was Lori Vallow Daybell's older brother and one of the central figures surrounding the deaths of her children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. Cox had already drawn scrutiny before the children disappeared because he shot and killed Lori's estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019, claiming self-defense. Prosecutors later portrayed Cox as fiercely loyal to Lori and deeply influenced by the apocalyptic religious beliefs she shared with Chad Daybell. Witnesses testified that Lori and Chad convinced Cox that he had a divine mission to protect Lori, and Zulema Pastenes, whom Cox married shortly before his death, said he eventually worried that Lori and Chad were setting him up as the “fall guy.” Cox died of what authorities ruled natural causes in December 2019, before he could be charged or questioned further about the children's deaths.Suspicion surrounding Cox's role in Tylee and JJ's murders was driven largely by cellphone data and the timeline of the children's final known movements. Tylee was last verifiably seen on September 8, 2019, during a trip to Yellowstone with Lori, JJ and Cox; the next morning, Cox's phone placed him for hours on Chad Daybell's property near the area where Tylee's remains were later found. JJ was last seen alive on September 22, when witness David Warwick said Cox carried the sleeping boy into Lori's apartment; the next morning, Cox's phone again placed him at Daybell's property, and investigators later alleged that Cox transported JJ's body there. JJ was found wrapped in plastic and duct tape, while Tylee's remains had been burned and dismembered. Cox was never tried, so his precise role was never adjudicated in court, but prosecutors in Lori and Chad's cases treated him as a key participant in the conspiracy and disposal of both children.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the disturbing case of Lori Vallow Daybell, the Idaho mother whose apocalyptic religious beliefs concealed the murders of her own two children. For months, nine-year-old JJ Vallow and seventeen-year-old Tylee Ryan were missing, and Lori offered the world nothing but shifting stories and eerie calm. Behind her, an inner circle of relatives, self-styled prophets, and her new husband had convinced each other that the people closest to them were consumed by evil spirits, and that removing them was salvation, not murder. But beneath the couple's Rexburg property, the truth was buried in shallow graves. Candice examines how doomsday theology, love bombing, and a trail of sudden deaths built the psychological architecture for one of the decade's most chilling family crimes, and why, even after conviction, the full scope of what ""Doomsday Mom"" believed still unsettles investigators.Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Zulema Pastenes, who had been one of Lori Vallow Daybell's close friends and later married Lori's brother Alex Cox, gave jurors an inside look at the increasingly radical belief system surrounding Lori and Chad Daybell. Pastenes testified that Lori claimed to have visions, communicate with heavenly beings and occupy an unusually high spiritual position, while Chad introduced ideas about reincarnation, “light” and “dark” spirits, zombies and the need to remove evil from people. Pastenes said she initially believed much of what Lori and Chad taught because she trusted them and viewed them as spiritually gifted. She described how the group participated in “castings” intended to drive evil spirits from people and said Chad's teachings included the idea that spirits could be attached to bodies by cords that had to be severed. Pastenes also testified that Lori told her Charles Vallow's death had been orchestrated by God and was part of events that needed to occur before the Second Coming.Her testimony became even more important when she described Alex Cox's relationship with Lori and Chad. Pastenes said Alex would do almost anything Lori asked and increasingly relied on Lori and Chad for direction, even quitting his job and moving to Rexburg after they urged him to do so. She testified that shortly before Alex died in December 2019, he told her he was worried Lori and Chad were making him the “fall guy.” When she pressed him to explain what he had done, Alex refused to give a direct answer and instead said, “Either I am a man of God or I am not.” Pastenes also described Chad predicting that JJ Vallow would die young and testified about teachings that portrayed the destruction of a zombie's body as necessary to prevent another dark spirit from entering it. Taken together, her testimony gave prosecutors a firsthand witness who could show how the group's bizarre religious ideas evolved into a system that dehumanized people, justified death and placed Alex Cox in the role of Lori and Chad's intensely loyal enforcer.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Zulema Pastenes, who had been one of Lori Vallow Daybell's close friends and later married Lori's brother Alex Cox, gave jurors an inside look at the increasingly radical belief system surrounding Lori and Chad Daybell. Pastenes testified that Lori claimed to have visions, communicate with heavenly beings and occupy an unusually high spiritual position, while Chad introduced ideas about reincarnation, “light” and “dark” spirits, zombies and the need to remove evil from people. Pastenes said she initially believed much of what Lori and Chad taught because she trusted them and viewed them as spiritually gifted. She described how the group participated in “castings” intended to drive evil spirits from people and said Chad's teachings included the idea that spirits could be attached to bodies by cords that had to be severed. Pastenes also testified that Lori told her Charles Vallow's death had been orchestrated by God and was part of events that needed to occur before the Second Coming.Her testimony became even more important when she described Alex Cox's relationship with Lori and Chad. Pastenes said Alex would do almost anything Lori asked and increasingly relied on Lori and Chad for direction, even quitting his job and moving to Rexburg after they urged him to do so. She testified that shortly before Alex died in December 2019, he told her he was worried Lori and Chad were making him the “fall guy.” When she pressed him to explain what he had done, Alex refused to give a direct answer and instead said, “Either I am a man of God or I am not.” Pastenes also described Chad predicting that JJ Vallow would die young and testified about teachings that portrayed the destruction of a zombie's body as necessary to prevent another dark spirit from entering it. Taken together, her testimony gave prosecutors a firsthand witness who could show how the group's bizarre religious ideas evolved into a system that dehumanized people, justified death and placed Alex Cox in the role of Lori and Chad's intensely loyal enforcer.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.
The phone call between Lori Vallow Daybell and her surviving son Colby Ryan showed just how far removed Lori remained from the established evidence surrounding the deaths of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. During the jailhouse conversation, Colby finally confronted his mother about how his siblings died, and Lori offered a version investigators said was incompatible with the evidence: she suggested Tylee had accidentally smothered JJ while trying to keep him quiet and then killed herself afterward. Colby rejected that explanation outright, saying his sister did not kill JJ and accusing Lori of unfairly putting the blame on Tylee. Melanie Gibb's Dateline interview provided an equally damaging window into Lori's behavior during the children's disappearance. Gibb described Lori and Chad Daybell as mutually destructive, saying they had “deception in them” and were exceptionally comfortable lying. She recalled the moment Lori told police JJ was staying with her, even though he was not, and said she realized Lori and Chad were trying to use her as cover. Gibb later secretly recorded Lori insisting JJ was “safe and happy” when authorities now know he was already dead.True-crime author John Glatt, who wrote The Doomsday Mother, viewed the case as one of the most disturbing he had ever covered. Glatt said that after writing roughly two dozen true-crime books, little compared with the brutality of what happened to Tylee and JJ and the deaths surrounding Lori and Chad. He was particularly struck by Lori's behavior immediately after Charles Vallow was shot by her brother Alex Cox, pointing to body-camera footage in which Lori appeared relaxed enough to joke with police less than an hour after her husband had been killed. Glatt also emphasized the importance of Chad's elaborate “light” and “dark” belief system and the way those ideas became intertwined with Lori's worldview. Taken together, the Colby call, Gibb's account and Glatt's assessment painted a remarkably consistent picture: Lori did not simply become caught up in bizarre religious ideas, but repeatedly lied, manipulated people around her and continued constructing alternative explanations even after overwhelming evidence established what happened to her children.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
The phone call between Lori Vallow Daybell and her surviving son Colby Ryan showed just how far removed Lori remained from the established evidence surrounding the deaths of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow. During the jailhouse conversation, Colby finally confronted his mother about how his siblings died, and Lori offered a version investigators said was incompatible with the evidence: she suggested Tylee had accidentally smothered JJ while trying to keep him quiet and then killed herself afterward. Colby rejected that explanation outright, saying his sister did not kill JJ and accusing Lori of unfairly putting the blame on Tylee. Melanie Gibb's Dateline interview provided an equally damaging window into Lori's behavior during the children's disappearance. Gibb described Lori and Chad Daybell as mutually destructive, saying they had “deception in them” and were exceptionally comfortable lying. She recalled the moment Lori told police JJ was staying with her, even though he was not, and said she realized Lori and Chad were trying to use her as cover. Gibb later secretly recorded Lori insisting JJ was “safe and happy” when authorities now know he was already dead.True-crime author John Glatt, who wrote The Doomsday Mother, viewed the case as one of the most disturbing he had ever covered. Glatt said that after writing roughly two dozen true-crime books, little compared with the brutality of what happened to Tylee and JJ and the deaths surrounding Lori and Chad. He was particularly struck by Lori's behavior immediately after Charles Vallow was shot by her brother Alex Cox, pointing to body-camera footage in which Lori appeared relaxed enough to joke with police less than an hour after her husband had been killed. Glatt also emphasized the importance of Chad's elaborate “light” and “dark” belief system and the way those ideas became intertwined with Lori's worldview. Taken together, the Colby call, Gibb's account and Glatt's assessment painted a remarkably consistent picture: Lori did not simply become caught up in bizarre religious ideas, but repeatedly lied, manipulated people around her and continued constructing alternative explanations even after overwhelming evidence established what happened to her children.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.
Lori Vallow Daybell's road to radicalization appeared to unfold gradually, moving from conventional religious belief into an increasingly extreme apocalyptic worldview that eventually placed her inside Chad Daybell's orbit. Daybell was already immersed in doomsday theology, near-death experiences and claims of supernatural insight, and after the two met, Vallow increasingly embraced his ideas about spiritual warfare, reincarnation and the imminent end of the world. Together they began categorizing people as “light” or “dark,” and according to testimony, those judged sufficiently dark could be described as possessed or as “zombies” whose spirits had been displaced. Friends and family later described Vallow as becoming more consumed by those beliefs, while her marriage to Charles Vallow deteriorated. Charles told police in early 2019 that Lori believed she was a translated being chosen for a divine mission and had threatened to kill him if he interfered with that mission. Prosecutors later argued that the religious system she shared with Daybell became a framework through which people who stood in their way could be stripped of ordinary human identity and recast as spiritually corrupted enemies.By 2019, that belief system had moved well beyond eccentric spirituality and into a justification for violence. Charles Vallow was labeled as possessed by a spirit called “Ned” before he was shot and killed by Lori's brother, Alex Cox. Later, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow were described as zombies before they disappeared and were ultimately found buried on Chad Daybell's property, while Chad's wife Tammy was also characterized as spiritually dark before her death. Prosecutors argued that religion, money and personal desire became intertwined: eliminating spouses and children removed obstacles, opened the way for Lori and Chad to be together and allowed access to insurance proceeds and government benefits. A jury ultimately rejected the idea that these beliefs excused what happened and convicted Lori of murdering her children and conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, while Chad was later convicted as well. Judge Steven Boyce summed up her descent at sentencing by saying she had gone down a “bizarre religious rabbit hole,” and even after conviction Lori continued insisting that nobody had actually been murdered.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Chad Daybell was an Idaho author and self-styled religious visionary whose apocalyptic beliefs became central to the case involving Lori Vallow Daybell and the deaths of her children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, as well as Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell. Before the murders, Daybell wrote books about near-death experiences, the end times and preparing for societal collapse, and he claimed to receive spiritual visions and revelations. After meeting Lori in 2018, the two developed an increasingly extreme belief system involving reincarnation, “light” and “dark” spirits and the idea that some people had become “zombies” after evil spirits displaced their souls. Prosecutors argued that those beliefs were not just eccentric theology but a framework Lori and Chad used to dehumanize people who stood in their way. Tylee, JJ, Charles Vallow and Tammy Daybell were all described in this spiritual language before their deaths or disappearances.Daybell's role ultimately moved far beyond that of a religious influence on Lori. Prosecutors said he conspired with her and her brother Alex Cox to kill Tylee, JJ and Tammy so that he and Lori could be together and benefit financially from insurance and other assets. Tylee and JJ's remains were discovered buried on Daybell's property in June 2020, and evidence at trial included texts, phone data, financial records and testimony about the couple's beliefs and relationship. A jury convicted Daybell in 2024 of murdering Tammy, Tylee and JJ and of conspiracy and insurance-fraud-related charges, and he was sentenced to death. His case became one of the starkest examples of how an increasingly radical religious worldview, personal ambition, money and a secret romantic relationship converged into a series of murders.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Chad Daybell was an Idaho author and self-styled religious visionary whose apocalyptic beliefs became central to the case involving Lori Vallow Daybell and the deaths of her children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, as well as Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell. Before the murders, Daybell wrote books about near-death experiences, the end times and preparing for societal collapse, and he claimed to receive spiritual visions and revelations. After meeting Lori in 2018, the two developed an increasingly extreme belief system involving reincarnation, “light” and “dark” spirits and the idea that some people had become “zombies” after evil spirits displaced their souls. Prosecutors argued that those beliefs were not just eccentric theology but a framework Lori and Chad used to dehumanize people who stood in their way. Tylee, JJ, Charles Vallow and Tammy Daybell were all described in this spiritual language before their deaths or disappearances.Daybell's role ultimately moved far beyond that of a religious influence on Lori. Prosecutors said he conspired with her and her brother Alex Cox to kill Tylee, JJ and Tammy so that he and Lori could be together and benefit financially from insurance and other assets. Tylee and JJ's remains were discovered buried on Daybell's property in June 2020, and evidence at trial included texts, phone data, financial records and testimony about the couple's beliefs and relationship. A jury convicted Daybell in 2024 of murdering Tammy, Tylee and JJ and of conspiracy and insurance-fraud-related charges, and he was sentenced to death. His case became one of the starkest examples of how an increasingly radical religious worldview, personal ambition, money and a secret romantic relationship converged into a series of murders.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.
Lori Vallow Daybell's road to radicalization appeared to unfold gradually, moving from conventional religious belief into an increasingly extreme apocalyptic worldview that eventually placed her inside Chad Daybell's orbit. Daybell was already immersed in doomsday theology, near-death experiences and claims of supernatural insight, and after the two met, Vallow increasingly embraced his ideas about spiritual warfare, reincarnation and the imminent end of the world. Together they began categorizing people as “light” or “dark,” and according to testimony, those judged sufficiently dark could be described as possessed or as “zombies” whose spirits had been displaced. Friends and family later described Vallow as becoming more consumed by those beliefs, while her marriage to Charles Vallow deteriorated. Charles told police in early 2019 that Lori believed she was a translated being chosen for a divine mission and had threatened to kill him if he interfered with that mission. Prosecutors later argued that the religious system she shared with Daybell became a framework through which people who stood in their way could be stripped of ordinary human identity and recast as spiritually corrupted enemies.By 2019, that belief system had moved well beyond eccentric spirituality and into a justification for violence. Charles Vallow was labeled as possessed by a spirit called “Ned” before he was shot and killed by Lori's brother, Alex Cox. Later, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow were described as zombies before they disappeared and were ultimately found buried on Chad Daybell's property, while Chad's wife Tammy was also characterized as spiritually dark before her death. Prosecutors argued that religion, money and personal desire became intertwined: eliminating spouses and children removed obstacles, opened the way for Lori and Chad to be together and allowed access to insurance proceeds and government benefits. A jury ultimately rejected the idea that these beliefs excused what happened and convicted Lori of murdering her children and conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, while Chad was later convicted as well. Judge Steven Boyce summed up her descent at sentencing by saying she had gone down a “bizarre religious rabbit hole,” and even after conviction Lori continued insisting that nobody had actually been murdered.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.
Lori Vallow Daybell's appellate attorney wants the Idaho Supreme Court to erase every conviction or order a new trial. The state's 59-page response says she built the very problems she's complaining about. She was found incompetent twice — 353 days in state hospitals — and then filed a speedy trial claim over the delay she caused. She moved to change venue and then argued the timeline violated her rights.The appeal's strongest claim involves her defense attorney Mark Means. Chad Daybell arranged and paid for Means while they were co-conspirators in a capital case. A recorded jail call captured Chad calling Means "my attorney." The judge removed Means for a documented conflict. Durham argues the removal process was unconstitutional because it happened in a courtroom Lori wasn't allowed into while she was too sick to understand what was happening.The oral arguments are set for November 2 at the Idaho Supreme Court in Boise. This hearing is standard under Idaho appellate rules, not a special grant. Lori Vallow Daybell won't attend. She is serving seven life sentences across Idaho and Arizona, and even if every Idaho conviction is reversed, two Arizona life sentences remain untouched. The families of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow are watching the system work through a process that cannot free her.Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292 Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1 Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallow #LoriVallowDaybell #TrueCrimeToday #TrueCrime #IdahoSupremeCourt #ChadDaybell #TyleeRyan #JJVallow #Appeal #TrueCrimePodcast
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Lori Vallow Daybell is serving seven life sentences for murdering her two children and conspiring to kill three other people. She believed her children were zombies whose souls had been taken over by dark spirits. She told an Arizona judge Jesus would free her from prison. Her appellate attorney Craig Durham has filed five constitutional claims with the Idaho Supreme Court, and the centerpiece is what happened to her defense attorney Mark Means.The state has documented evidence that Chad Daybell arranged and paid for Means to represent Lori. In a recorded jail call, Chad called Means "my attorney." Co-conspirators in a capital case cannot share a lawyer. The judge removed Means for the conflict, and Durham argues that removal violated Lori's constitutional right to the attorney of her choice — an error that could erase the conviction without any proof of harm.The state used Lori's incompetency to explain the trial delays, to justify holding hearings without her, and to block her from choosing her own lawyer. Durham says you can't use someone's illness against them in three different directions. Oral arguments are November 2 in Boise. Even a complete reversal leaves two Arizona life sentences untouched. She's not walking out of prison.Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292 Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1 Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallow #LoriVallowDaybell #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #IdahoSupremeCourt #ChadDaybell #TyleeRyan #JJVallow #Appeal #TrueCrimePodcast
Demise Of the Daybells | The Lori Vallow Daybell & Chad Daybell Story
Lori Vallow Daybell's children were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in Rexburg, Idaho. Their mother was convicted unanimously and is serving seven life sentences across Idaho and Arizona. She told an Arizona judge she believed Jesus would free her from prison. Her appellate attorney Craig Durham has now filed five constitutional claims with the Idaho Supreme Court — and the most aggressive ask on the table is complete dismissal of every charge.The state's 59-page response systematically dismantles each claim. On speedy trial, Lori was found incompetent twice — 353 days of delay she caused. On due process, the state argues the hearings were in Chad Daybell's case, not hers. On the attorney removal that anchors the entire appeal, the state has a recorded jail call where Chad Daybell called Lori's lawyer "my attorney" and documented evidence that Chad arranged and paid for the representation.The oral arguments are set for November 2 in Boise. Lori won't be in the room. The hearing is a standard procedural step under Idaho law, not a signal from the court. And even if her attorney wins every argument, she's still serving two consecutive life sentences in Arizona that nothing in Idaho can touch.Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292 Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1 Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallow #LoriVallowDaybell #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #IdahoSupremeCourt #ChadDaybell #TyleeRyan #JJVallow #Appeal #TrueCrimePodcast
Remember Lori Vallow Daybell? Her murder case was all the news in 2024, and she was convicted of killing her two children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan. She was also found guilty of conspiring to murder her husband's first wife. Well now, the Idaho Supreme Court has set a date for her appeal: November 2nd. There have been a lot of questions about this impending appeal, so KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas breaks down the appeal and the process for our listeners.
Join Chris and Karen as they give you the latest updates on accused killer Bryan Kohberger, accused killer Lori Vallow Daybell, the Mallory Beach wrongful death case and missing mom Dee Warner.Re-upload from 7/30/2023
Watch our blind reaction to Colby Ryan's emotional interview with his mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, as we break down her claims, responses, and the moments that stood out most. In Part Two, we'll examine the second half of the interview in real time, separating verified facts from opinion while discussing what it could mean for the Vallow-Daybell case.Join our squad! Kristi and Katie share true crime stories and give you actionable things you can do to help, all with a wicked sense of humor.Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/q8d35JBvCFollow our True Crime Trials Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeSquadTrialsFollow our True Crime Shorts Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@truecrimesquadshorts-t6iWant to Support our work and get perks like extra content and The Watch Party?www.truecrimesquad.com*Social Media Links*Facebook: www.facebook.com/truecrimesquadFacebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/215774426330767Website: https://www.truecrimesquad.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimesquadBlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/truecrimesquad.bsky.social True Crime Squad on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/5gIPqBHJLftbXdRgs1Bqm1
Watch our blind reaction to Colby Ryan's emotional interview with his mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, as we break down her claims, responses, and the moments that stood out most. In Part One, we'll examine the first half of the interview in real time, separating verified facts from opinion while discussing what it could mean for the Vallow-Daybell case.Video Credit: Scar Wars PodcastJoin our squad! Kristi and Katie share true crime stories and give you actionable things you can do to help, all with a wicked sense of humor.Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/q8d35JBvCFollow our True Crime Trials Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeSquadTrialsFollow our True Crime Shorts Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@truecrimesquadshorts-t6iWant to Support our work and get perks like extra content and The Watch Party?www.truecrimesquad.com*Social Media Links*Facebook: www.facebook.com/truecrimesquadFacebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/215774426330767Website: https://www.truecrimesquad.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimesquadBlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/truecrimesquad.bsky.social True Crime Squad on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/5gIPqBHJLftbXdRgs1Bqm1
In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks to Court TV correspondent Matt Johnson about what it takes to cover high-profile criminal cases and trials, from the Lori Vallow Daybell case and Rex Heuermann to Karen Read and the Delphi murders. Matt explains how deadlines, jury reactions, and the pressure of live television shape the way he turns hours of courtroom testimony into clear, accessible coverage. They discuss the public’s fascination with true crime, investigative missteps, and the emotional weight of sitting near violent offenders, including a moment when Matt says it felt as if “the devil is real, and here he is. Highlights: (0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Matt Johnson to Zone 7 (2:45) Matt’s process for turning complex cases into clear, headline-driven reporting (5:45) The pressure of explaining a full case narrative in seconds on live television (7:15) Matt describes seeing Bryan Kohberger in court and the feeling of being near what he describes as “pure creep and evil” (10:00) The psychological impact of observing defendants like Lori Vallow Daybell during trial (14:30) The Delphi murders, Richard Allen, and how courtroom access, investigative gaps, and missing details shape public trust (18:15) Rex Heuermann, plea deals, and the answers families may never fully receive (20:45) Matt describes Rex Heuermann’s courtroom presence and the unsettling behavior he observed (26:00) The early cases that shaped Matt’s career, including the Turpin family case and Rebecca Zahau (29:30) Matt shares his new YouTube venture: True Crime and Justice with Matt Johnson (31:00) Sheryl closes with a Karen Read quote that captures Matt’s next chapter Guest Bio: Matt Johnson is an Emmy Award-winning crime and justice correspondent for Court TV Network covering major criminal cases and high-profile trials. He hosts the award-winning true crime podcast True Crime Deadline and recently launched True Crime and Justice with Matt Johnson on YouTube Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire. Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a metro Atlanta police department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing. Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. Social Links: Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com X: @ColdCaseTips Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast TikTok: @Sheryl.McCollum Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer’s Daughter, releasing May 12, 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the Bahamas, Michigan man Brian Hooker says his wife Lynette fell overboard while boating with him. Police continue to investigate what happened. In Utah, Tracey Grist stands trial for allegedly masterminding the murder of her son-in-law, who was shot in her home. His widow - Tracey's daughter - is the star prosecution witness. Updates in the Sean "Diddy" Combs and Lori Vallow Daybell cases. Plus, tips from a retired FBI agent on what to do if you are a victim of crime overseas. Help "Missing in America" win a Webby award. Vote here: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/crime-justice Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In the Bahamas, Michigan man Brian Hooker says his wife Lynette fell overboard while boating with him. Police continue to investigate what happened. In Utah, Tracey Grist stands trial for allegedly masterminding the murder of her son-in-law, who was shot in her home. His widow - Tracey's daughter - is the star prosecution witness. Updates in the Sean "Diddy" Combs and Lori Vallow Daybell cases. Plus, tips from a retired FBI agent on what to do if you are a victim of crime overseas. Help "Missing in America" win a Webby award. Vote here: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/crime-justice Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Hello Listeners and Friends,In this installment of In Summation, we discuss the Doomsday Mom, Lori Vallow Daybell, a woman who serves as proof that religious extremism is exceptionally dangerous. These cases have it all, extramarital affairs, assassination attempts, mental disease, fanaticism, money, you name it. And you get TWO cases this time, isn't that grand?Lori Daybell was married 5 times, but only accused of killing one ex-husband, and two of her kids, and her 5th husband's wife, and trying to kill her nephew-in-law, and stealing social security benefits...and possibly even her brother, though evidence linking her to that hasn't been established.This episode is a complicated story of how twisted beliefs can be used to justify truly horrific behavior. Enjoy!
She's been convicted three times. In two states. By three different juries. She's serving seven life sentences. And Lori Vallow Daybell is still trying to find a way out.Her Idaho appeal is now fully briefed and sitting before the state Supreme Court. Five constitutional claims. A fifty-nine-page prosecution response. And a reply brief that tries to repackage the same arguments the state already dismantled. The defense says the court took her lawyer, violated her rights while she was incompetent, let in prejudicial evidence, and denied her a speedy trial. The state says her lawyer had an irreconcilable conflict because he also represented her co-conspirator husband — who paid for the attorney — and that she caused most of the delays herself through competency evaluations and a venue change she requested.Meanwhile, Arizona told its own story. Lori represented herself in two conspiracy trials and lost both. She was convicted of conspiring to kill her ex-husband Charles Vallow and of conspiring to kill Brandon Boudreaux. One jury came back in three hours. The other in thirty minutes. She called no witnesses in either trial. The sentencing judge said her manipulation was unparalleled in his career and told her she'd eventually fade into obscurity.Every appeal claim follows the same playbook — reframe her own decisions as the system's failure. It's the same logic that turned her children into zombies, her husband into a dark spirit, and murder into a religious mission. The audience changed from a circle of believers to the Idaho Supreme Court. The performance hasn't changed at all. Three juries saw through it. The justices will too.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallowDaybell #TrueCrimeToday #ChadDaybell #JJVallow #TyleeRyan #DoomsdayMom #Appeal #IdahoSupremeCourt #MurderTrial #TrueCrime
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Lori Vallow Daybell murdered her children. A jury confirmed it. And now she wants the Idaho Supreme Court to give her a do-over.Her appellate attorney filed five constitutional claims — her chosen attorney was improperly removed, she was denied counsel during a critical hearing, the court acted while she was incompetent, Arizona evidence prejudiced the jury, and her speedy trial rights were violated. The state fired back with a fifty-nine-page rebuttal that leaves nothing standing. Her lawyer had a real conflict — he simultaneously represented her co-conspirator husband, who paid for the representation. Her competency stays consumed 353 days. She requested the venue change that added months. And the Arizona evidence the defense calls prejudicial? Three separate juries have now confirmed it was accurate.But the most damning evidence against this appeal didn't come from any brief. It came from Arizona. Lori represented herself in two conspiracy trials and lost both. She compared conspiracy to Judas in her opening statement and was told she was arguing, not presenting. She confronted the judge and was removed from the courtroom. She presented no evidence, called no witnesses, and maintained her innocence through sentencing — where the judge told her she'd shown blatant disregard for humanity and should never be released.The appeal follows the same pattern as the crimes. Every choice reframed as someone else's failure. Every consequence treated as persecution. At her Idaho sentencing, she said Jesus Christ knows no one was murdered in this case. At her Arizona sentencing, she said if she were accountable, she'd acknowledge it. Seven life sentences later, the performance continues. The justices will see through it.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallow #DoomsdayMom #JJVallow #TyleeRyan #ChadDaybell #TammyDaybell #IdahoAppeal #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #MurderConviction
Demise Of the Daybells | The Lori Vallow Daybell & Chad Daybell Story
The appeal is fully briefed. The Idaho Supreme Court has the case. And every single argument Lori Vallow Daybell's team has raised collapses under the facts.Her appellate attorney Craig Durham filed five constitutional claims — removal of her chosen attorney Mark Means, denial of counsel during a disqualification hearing, due process violations during her incompetency, improper admission of Arizona 404(b) evidence, and speedy trial violations. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Nye responded with fifty-nine pages that dismantle each claim methodically. Means had a documented conflict — he represented both Lori and Chad, who paid for the representation and claimed Means as his attorney in a recorded jail call. The competency evaluations consumed 353 days. The venue change she requested required massive logistical coordination. And the Arizona evidence the defense calls prejudicial has now been validated by three separate guilty verdicts.What makes this appeal impossible to take seriously goes beyond the briefing. While the Idaho appeal was pending, Lori went to Arizona and represented herself in two conspiracy trials. She was convicted of conspiring to kill Charles Vallow and conspiring to kill Brandon Boudreaux. She compared conspiracy to Judas in her opening. She was escorted out of her own courtroom. She called no witnesses and presented no evidence in either trial. The Boudreaux jury deliberated for thirty minutes. Judge Beresky told her at sentencing that her manipulation was unparalleled and that she would fade into obscurity.She now has seven life sentences across two states. She told the Idaho court that Jesus Christ knows no one was murdered. She told the Arizona court that if she were accountable, she'd say so. The appeal is the same pattern — every choice reframed as persecution, every consequence as injustice. The justices have everything they need.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LoriVallowDaybell #ChadDaybell #DaybellCase #JJVallow #TyleeRyan #TammyDaybell #IdahoSupremeCourt #Appeal #DoomsdayMom #CultMom
Lori Vallow Daybell is now asking the Idaho Supreme Court to overturn her murder convictions, arguing that her constitutional rights were violated during the case. In this video, we break down the appeal, the legal arguments behind it, and what this could mean moving forward. Her attorneys argue that the court violated her right to a speedy trial, improperly removed her chosen counsel, and made key legal decisions while her competency was still being evaluated. After one of the most infamous true crime cases in recent history, this appeal could become a major new chapter. Subscribe for more true crime updates, legal breakdowns, and courtroom coverage.
April 6th, 2026
Idaho has become America's true crime epicenter—and the state's lawmakers are finally waking up to a disturbing reality. A judge in Bryan Kohberger's case confirmed in November 2025 that under current law, Kohberger could potentially profit from book deals, streaming rights, and paid interviews within just five years of conviction. The judge stated the statute "leaves open the potential for Defendant to receive money from media contracts in the future." For the families of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, that's a nightmare scenario they never should have had to contemplate. This week, State Senator Tammy Nichols introduced legislation to modernize Idaho's nearly 50-year-old Son of Sam law—a statute that hasn't been updated since 1978, when David Berkowitz terrorized New York City and publishers lined up to pay him for his story. The Supreme Court gutted most of these laws in 1991. Idaho never fixed theirs. The new bill addresses digital monetization, streaming platforms, podcasts, and ongoing royalties—none of which existed when the original law was written. It unanimously advanced out of committee for a public hearing. But Kohberger isn't the only case exposing the problem. Lori Vallow Daybell owes over $700,000 in restitution to the families of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan—money she'll never pay. Chad Daybell's self-published doomsday novels may still be generating income somewhere. In this episode, we break down the full history of Son of Sam laws, why the Supreme Court struck them down, how Idaho's current statute fails victims, and what the new legislation actually does. Idaho became a true crime epicenter by accident. What they do next is a choice.#KayleeGoncalves #MadisonMogen #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #SonOfSamLaw #XanaKernodle #EthanChapin #LoriVallowDaybell #TrueCrimeToday #VictimsRightsJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Under current Idaho law, convicted killers like Bryan Kohberger and Lori Vallow Daybell could potentially profit from book deals, streaming rights, and paid interviews within just five years. A judge in Kohberger's case confirmed it in November 2025, stating the statute "leaves open the potential for Defendant to receive money from media contracts in the future." Idaho's Son of Sam law hasn't been meaningfully updated since 1978—before streaming platforms, podcasts, or digital monetization existed. The Supreme Court gutted most of these laws in 1991, and Idaho never bothered to fix theirs. Until now. State Senator Tammy Nichols introduced legislation this week to modernize the statute, addressing the digital media landscape that didn't exist when the original law was written after David Berkowitz terrorized New York City and publishers lined up to pay him for his story. The bill unanimously advanced out of committee for a public hearing. For the families of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, this represents the bare minimum of accountability after losing their children to alleged violence. But Kohberger isn't the only case exposing Idaho's failures. Lori Vallow Daybell owes over $700,000 in restitution to the families of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan—money she'll never pay. Chad Daybell's self-published doomsday novels may still be generating income somewhere. In this episode, we break down the full history of Son of Sam laws, why the Supreme Court struck them down, how Idaho's current statute fails victims, and what the new legislation actually does. Idaho became America's true crime epicenter by accident. What they do next is a choice.#BryanKohberger #SonOfSamLaw #IdahoMurders #LoriVallowDaybell #KayleeGoncalves #MadisonMogen #XanaKernodle #EthanChapin #TrueCrime #HiddenKillersJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
A judge in Bryan Kohberger's case said the quiet part out loud in November 2025: under current Idaho law, Kohberger could potentially profit from book deals, streaming rights, and paid interviews within just five years of conviction. The statute "leaves open the potential for Defendant to receive money from media contracts in the future." Idaho's Son of Sam law hasn't been meaningfully updated since 1978—nearly fifty years ago, when serial killer David Berkowitz terrorized New York City and publishers lined up to pay him for his story. The Supreme Court gutted most of these laws in 1991, declaring them unconstitutional. Idaho never bothered to fix theirs. This week, that finally changed. State Senator Tammy Nichols introduced legislation to modernize the statute, addressing digital monetization, streaming platforms, podcasts, and ongoing royalties—none of which existed when the original law was written. The bill unanimously advanced out of committee for a public hearing. For the families of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, this represents the bare minimum of accountability. The idea that the man accused of murdering their children could one day profit from telling his version of that night is unconscionable. But Idaho has become America's true crime epicenter, and Kohberger isn't the only case raising these questions. Lori Vallow Daybell owes over $700,000 in restitution she'll never pay. Chad Daybell's self-published doomsday novels may still be generating income somewhere. In this episode, we break down the full history of Son of Sam laws, why the Supreme Court struck them down, how Idaho's current statute fails victims, and what the new legislation actually does. Idaho became a true crime epicenter by accident. What they do next is a choice.#BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #SonOfSamLaw #KayleeGoncalves #MadisonMogen #XanaKernodle #EthanChapin #KohbergerCase #VictimsRights #IdahoLawJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Idaho lawmakers are finally acting after a judge confirmed the unthinkable: convicted killers like Bryan Kohberger could legally profit from media deals under the state's outdated Son of Sam law. This week, Senator Tammy Nichols introduced legislation to close loopholes that have existed since 1978 — and the bill unanimously advanced out of committee.The timing couldn't be more urgent. At Kohberger's restitution hearing in November 2025, Judge Steven Hippler noted that Idaho's current statute "leaves open the potential for Defendant to receive money from media contracts in the future." The five-year escrow period means that without pending civil lawsuits, convicted criminals can eventually pocket proceeds from book deals, streaming rights, and paid interviews.The new bill modernizes Idaho's law to address podcasts, streaming platforms, and digital monetization — none of which existed when the original statute was written. It focuses on profit rather than speech to survive constitutional scrutiny, following the model New York adopted in 2001 after the Supreme Court gutted the original Son of Sam laws.This matters for multiple cases. Kohberger owes over $300,000 in fines and fees after confessing to murdering four University of Idaho students. Lori Vallow Daybell owes more than $700,000 in combined restitution for murdering her children and conspiring to kill others. Chad Daybell sits on death row while his self-published doomsday novels may still be generating income. Under current law, the same loopholes apply to all of them.Representative Elaine Price, whose district includes three of the Moscow victims' hometowns, co-sponsored the bill: "Victims should not feel continually victimized." The bill heads to a public hearing next. We break down what it means for these cases — and for victims' families fighting for basic accountability.#TrueCrimeToday #BryanKohberger #SonOfSamLaw #IdahoLegislature #LoriVallowDaybell #ChadDaybell #MoscowMurders #VictimRights #CriminalJustice #BreakingNewsJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
A judge just confirmed what victims' families feared most: under Idaho's current law, Bryan Kohberger could legally profit from telling his story. The same applies to Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell. The statute that's supposed to prevent this hasn't been updated since 1978 — and it shows.This week, Idaho Senator Tammy Nichols introduced legislation to modernize the state's Son of Sam law after the Moscow student murders and the Daybell cult killings put Idaho in the national spotlight. The bill unanimously advanced out of committee. But why did it take this long? And will it actually work?The original Son of Sam laws were born in 1977 when serial killer David Berkowitz was offered a massive book deal within 24 hours of his arrest. New York passed legislation the very next day, and 42 states followed — including Idaho. But the Supreme Court gutted these laws in 1991, finding them too broad to survive First Amendment scrutiny. Most states never fixed the constitutional problems. Idaho was one of them.Today, the true crime industry generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Podcasts, streaming documentaries, and social media monetization didn't exist when Idaho's law was written. The five-year escrow period means convicted killers can potentially receive media profits if victims' families don't file civil lawsuits in time. Meanwhile, Kohberger received over $28,000 in jail donations while families argued in court over who should pay for their daughters' urns.We break down the full history, the Supreme Court decision that changed everything, and exactly what the new Idaho bill does — and doesn't — accomplish. For the families of Kaylee, Maddie, Xana, Ethan, Tylee, JJ, and Tammy, this fight is far from over.#SonOfSamLaw #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #LoriVallowDaybell #ChadDaybell #TrueCrimePodcast #VictimRights #MoscowIdaho #KayleeGoncalves #CriminalJusticeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Idaho prosecutors have responded to Lori Vallow Daybell's appeal with a 59-page filing that systematically rejects every constitutional claim she raised. The convicted child killer argued her Sixth Amendment rights were violated when the court removed her attorney Mark Means. Prosecutors revealed Means simultaneously represented both Lori and her co-defendant husband Chad Daybell — with Chad paying the legal fees and sharing privileged information. That's a textbook conflict of interest, and the court was right to intervene. Her speedy trial claim falls apart under scrutiny: 353 days of delay came from her own competency evaluations, and she requested the venue change that added months to the timeline. The state's brief is blunt — she caused most of the delay, then complained about it. The Arizona evidence she wanted excluded proved the "dark spirit" murder pattern that connected Charles Vallow's death to the killings in Idaho. Same MO, same actors, same financial motive. Forensic testimony established JJ Vallow died of asphyxiation with a plastic bag over his head and duct tape binding his body. Tylee Ryan's remains were burned beyond recognition. Their mother collected Social Security benefits for months after they were dead. Chad Daybell sits on death row. Lori Vallow is serving three consecutive life sentences. This appeal won't change that.#LoriVallowDaybell #ChadDaybell #BreakingNews #TrueCrime #IdahoMurders #Appeal #CultMom #JJVallow #TyleeRyan #CourtNewsJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Lori Vallow Daybell murdered her two children. A jury said so. Now she's arguing that her constitutional rights were violated and she deserves a new trial. Prosecutors in Idaho just filed a 59-page response that tears every single claim apart. Her attorney had an impossible conflict of interest — representing both Lori and Chad Daybell simultaneously while Chad paid the bills. She was found incompetent twice, accounting for nearly a year of delays she's now complaining about. The Arizona evidence she wanted excluded? It proved the entire pattern: Chad declares someone has a "dark spirit," Alex Cox kills them, and Lori collects the insurance money. That's not prejudicial — that's the blueprint. We go through each of her five claims and show you exactly why this appeal has no foundation. Seven-year-old JJ was found with a plastic bag taped over his head, his wrists and ankles bound. Sixteen-year-old Tylee was burned and dismembered. Their mother spent those months in Hawaii, collecting their Social Security checks and marrying Chad Daybell. And now, from a prison cell, she's still playing the victim. The Idaho Supreme Court hasn't scheduled oral arguments yet. But based on the state's devastating response, this appeal is going nowhere.#LoriVallow #ChadDaybell #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #CultMom #JJVallow #TyleeRyan #IdahoSupremeCourt #Appeal #JusticeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
In this episode, we dig into the State of Idaho's official response to Lori Vallow Daybell's Idaho Supreme Court Appeal and we'll break it down in plain English. Lori's appeal raises five issues, and the state argues each one, step-by-step. Let's examine some of the timeline, especially on speedy trial and competency. More proof that the Doomsday Daybell saga isn't about to end very soon. I'm going to end things with what I think Lori Daybell would tell us about this if we could interview her. In fact, I've invited an AI voice to read what I think she might say. Stick around to the end to catch that!#LoriVallowDaybell #LoriDaybell #ChadDaybell #AlexCox #MarkMeans #JamesArchibald #JohnPrior #TyleeRyan #JJVallow #TammyDaybell #CharlesVallow #BrandonBoudreaux #ZulemaPastenes #MelanieGibb #MelanieBoudreaux #IdahoSupremeCourt #BriefOfRespondent #CounselOfChoice #SixthAmendment #AssistanceOfCounsel #DueProcess #FourteenthAmendment #Rule404b #BadActsEvidence #SpeedyTrial #BarkervWingo #IdahoCode193501 #ConflictOfInterest #ConspiracyToCommitMurder========================================https://gamutpodcasts.com/show/gardensofevilinsidethezionsocietycult/========================================20% OFF Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/go/podcast/?ref=profilingevil?xid=8877&utm_source=ProfilingEvilPodcast&utm_medium=podcst&utm_campaign=ProfilingEvil26========================================Email your questions to: ProfilingEvil@gmail.com========================================
The State argues the district court correctly allowed evidence related to the murder of Charles Vallow and the attempted killing of Brandon Boudreaux, not to show criminal propensity, but to establish a pattern, plan, knowledge, and financial motive that closely mirrors the crimes involving JJ Vallow, Tylee Ryan, and Tammy Daybell. Prosecutors emphasize the defense had long-standing access to this evidence, defeating claims of unfair surprise or prejudice.The episode then breaks down Vallow's speedy trial argument using the Barker v. Wingo balancing test. While the length of delay slightly favors Vallow, the State explains that most of the delay was caused by the defense, including multiple competency proceedings and a change of venue. Vallow also failed to show any actual prejudice to her defense.Ultimately, the State asks the appellate court to affirm Lori Vallow Daybell's conviction, arguing that none of the claims raised on appeal warrant reversal. Appeals in Arizona are still expected, meaning the legal process is far from over.ALL MERCH 10% off with code Sherlock10 at checkout - NEW STYLES Donate: (Thank you for your support! Couldn't do what I love without all y'all) PayPal - paypal.com/paypalme/prettyliesandalibisVenmo - @prettyliesalibisBuy Me A Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/prettyliesrCash App- PrettyliesandalibisAll links: https://linktr.ee/prettyliesandalibisMerch: prettyliesandalibis.myshopify.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/PrettyLiesAndAlibis(Weekly lives and private message board)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pretty-lies-and-alibis--4447192/support.
In this episode, we continue breaking down the State of Idaho's response to Lori Vallow Daybell's appeal, picking up deep into the brief as the State dismantles claims of constitutional violations.The State argues that Lori Vallow failed all three prongs of the fundamental error test — including claims that her Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated and that her due process rights were ignored while she was deemed incompetent.We walk through why the court says Mark Means had the opportunity to respond but chose not to, why this was not a structural error, and why any alleged error would be considered harmless under existing case law.The episode also dives into the key issue of competency, explaining why hearings held in Chad Daybell's separate criminal case did not violate Lori Vallow's rights — including her right not to be prosecuted while incompetent or her right to be physically present.This section of the appeal gives rare insight into what was happening behind the scenes while much of the case was under seal — and why the State is confident none of these arguments will impact her Idaho conviction.ALL MERCH 10% off with code Sherlock10 at checkout - NEW STYLES Donate: (Thank you for your support! Couldn't do what I love without all y'all) PayPal - paypal.com/paypalme/prettyliesandalibisVenmo - @prettyliesalibisBuy Me A Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/prettyliesrCash App- PrettyliesandalibisAll links: https://linktr.ee/prettyliesandalibisMerch: prettyliesandalibis.myshopify.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/PrettyLiesAndAlibis(Weekly lives and private message board)00:00 – Intro & Where We Left OffRecap of the series and picking back up in the State's response to Lori Vallow's appeal00:55 – Mark Means & Alleged Right-to-Counsel ViolationState argues Means had the opportunity to respond but chose not to02:17 – Fundamental Error Test: “Error Plainly Exists”Explanation of the second prong of the Perry test and why the State says Vallow fails it04:18 – Misuse of Bodenbach ComparisonWhy the Idaho Supreme Court's Bodenbach ruling does not apply here06:34 – Harmless Error vs Structural ErrorState argues this was not a complete deprivation of counsel08:52 – Hearings Focused on Chad Daybell, Not Lori VallowWhy Means' limited role did not violate Vallow's Sixth Amendment rights10:01 – No Showing of PrejudiceState explains why Vallow's arguments are speculative and unsupported11:19 – New Argument: Due Process & CompetencyWhether Vallow's rights were violated while she was deemed incompetent13:04 – Right Not to Be Prosecuted While IncompetentIdaho law on suspension of proceedings and why it didn't apply here16:37 – Separate Criminal Case ExplainedWhy hearings in Chad Daybell's case did not violate Vallow's rights18:55 – Balancing Competing Constitutional RightsCourt's duty to protect conflict-free counsel and fairness of proceedings21:10 – Mark Means' Actions During IncompetencyWhy the court acted quickly to disqualify Means22:33 – Court Left Door Open After Restoration to CompetencyOpportunity Vallow had to revisit issues later24:01 – Right to Be Present at HearingsWhy due process does not require presence in another defendant's case26:24 – Why Vallow's Presence Would Not Have Changed AnythingCompetency, waiver issues, and harmless error analysis29:39 – Failure to Show Error Plainly Exists (Again)State argues tactical decisions undermine Vallow's claims33:03 – Harmless Error Analysis AppliesWhy prejudice cannot be presumed36:14 – Wrapping Up & What's NextPreview of the next episode and appeal timeline going forwardBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pretty-lies-and-alibis--4447192/support.
Part 2 breaking down the state's response to Lori Daybell's appeal motion:The State of Idaho is asking the Idaho Supreme Court to uphold Lori Vallow Daybell's murder convictions and life sentence without parole. Prosecutors argue the trial court acted correctly in all respects and that Vallow's constitutional claims fail.The State says Vallow's original attorney was properly disqualified due to a serious conflict of interest after representing both Vallow and Chad Daybell during the alleged conspiracy. Because Vallow was incompetent at the time, prosecutors argue she could not legally waive that conflict, and the court was right to reject any waiver given the severity of the case.The brief also rejects claims that Vallow's rights were violated when hearings occurred during her incompetency, defends the admission of prior-acts evidence from Arizona to show motive and conspiracy, and argues trial delays were justified and did not violate speedy trial rights. The State asks the court to affirm the convictions .All links: https://linktr.ee/prettyliesandalibisDonate: (Thank you for your support! Couldn't do what I love without all y'all) PayPal - paypal.com/paypalme/prettyliesandalibisVenmo - @prettyliesalibisBuy Me A Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/prettyliesrCash App- PrettyliesandalibisMerch: prettyliesandalibis.myshopify.com - 10% off with code Sherlock10Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PrettyLiesAndAlibis(Weekly lives and private message board)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pretty-lies-and-alibis--4447192/support.
As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit the opening week of one of the most sensational murder trials in America — the Arizona case of Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-proclaimed “Doomsday Mom” now defending herself against charges of conspiracy to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. In this two-part breakdown, Tony Brueski teams up with former prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis and retired FBI Behavioral Analysis Chief Robin Dreeke to unpack the chaotic courtroom drama, bizarre legal strategy, and psychological meltdown that have turned this trial into both a legal cautionary tale and a study in delusional self-belief. In part one, Tony and Eric dissect the prosecution's sharp, disciplined opening statement — a methodical narrative of motive, manipulation, and murder. Prosecutors allege Lori conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to eliminate Charles for a $1 million life insurance policy and clear the path to marry apocalyptic author Chad Daybell. With evidence including religious texts misused to justify killing, texts to Alex invoking scripture (“I will be like Nephi”), and forensic proof that Charles was shot twice — one bullet fired after he collapsed, the state paints a chilling picture of faith twisted into fanaticism. Then comes the chaos. Lori, representing herself, opens with rambling monologues, misplaced objections, and narcissistic cross-examinations that seem designed more to satisfy curiosity than to construct a defense. Her fixation on her late husband's private life leaves jurors bewildered and prosecutors almost amused. As Faddis notes, “It's like watching someone try to build a house without knowing what a hammer does.” Part two turns darker, as Robin Dreeke analyzes the devastating testimony of Alex Cox, now deceased but still very much present in the trial through recordings, statements, and evidence. Dreeke explores how narcissism, shared delusion, and familial loyalty intertwine in Lori's world — and how her brother's past words now serve as the prosecution's most powerful witness. Was Lori's courtroom confidence a sign of faith — or pure delusion? And how does a woman who once claimed divine authority handle being her own undoing?
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit the opening week of one of the most sensational murder trials in America — the Arizona case of Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-proclaimed “Doomsday Mom” now defending herself against charges of conspiracy to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. In this two-part breakdown, Tony Brueski teams up with former prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis and retired FBI Behavioral Analysis Chief Robin Dreeke to unpack the chaotic courtroom drama, bizarre legal strategy, and psychological meltdown that have turned this trial into both a legal cautionary tale and a study in delusional self-belief. In part one, Tony and Eric dissect the prosecution's sharp, disciplined opening statement — a methodical narrative of motive, manipulation, and murder. Prosecutors allege Lori conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to eliminate Charles for a $1 million life insurance policy and clear the path to marry apocalyptic author Chad Daybell. With evidence including religious texts misused to justify killing, texts to Alex invoking scripture (“I will be like Nephi”), and forensic proof that Charles was shot twice — one bullet fired after he collapsed, the state paints a chilling picture of faith twisted into fanaticism. Then comes the chaos. Lori, representing herself, opens with rambling monologues, misplaced objections, and narcissistic cross-examinations that seem designed more to satisfy curiosity than to construct a defense. Her fixation on her late husband's private life leaves jurors bewildered and prosecutors almost amused. As Faddis notes, “It's like watching someone try to build a house without knowing what a hammer does.” Part two turns darker, as Robin Dreeke analyzes the devastating testimony of Alex Cox, now deceased but still very much present in the trial through recordings, statements, and evidence. Dreeke explores how narcissism, shared delusion, and familial loyalty intertwine in Lori's world — and how her brother's past words now serve as the prosecution's most powerful witness. Was Lori's courtroom confidence a sign of faith — or pure delusion? And how does a woman who once claimed divine authority handle being her own undoing?
As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most surreal and unsettling trials in modern American true crime — the Arizona murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called Doomsday Mom who's decided to defend herself in court while accused of orchestrating the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. This episode pulls listeners straight into the Chandler, Arizona home where it all happened: two bullets, one body, and forty-seven silent minutes before anyone called for help. Tony Brueski and Defense Attorney Bob Motta (Defense Diaries) dissect the prosecution's opening narrative — one of delusion, greed, and cold calculation — and the defense's bizarre self-representation strategy that's turning the courtroom into a psychological sideshow. Prosecutors allege Lori conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to kill Charles for a $1 million life insurance payout and to clear the way to marry her apocalyptic “soulmate,” Chad Daybell. The evidence? Texts invoking scripture to justify murder (“I will be like Nephi”), phone records revealing coordination, and chilling forensic details showing Charles was shot twice — the second bullet fired downward after he collapsed. Firefighters testified the scene looked staged: no CPR, no struggle, and an eerily spotless floor. Lori, meanwhile, was running errands — Burger King, Walgreens, dropping off her son — as her husband's body cooled on the tile. But this isn't just about evidence; it's about ego and delusion on trial. Motta breaks down Lori's decision to act as her own lawyer — fumbling through legal jargon, cross-examining witnesses who seem to know more law than she does, and repeatedly trying to exclude “inconvenient” evidence from the record. As he puts it, Lori's courtroom presence is “less Harvard Law, more hostage to her own hubris.” The prosecution, for its part, is playing this round differently — keeping the talk of “zombies” and dark spirits to a minimum while focusing on motive, money, and manipulation. The goal: strip away the spiritual theatrics and reveal the human greed underneath.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most surreal and unsettling trials in modern American true crime — the Arizona murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called Doomsday Mom who's decided to defend herself in court while accused of orchestrating the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. This episode pulls listeners straight into the Chandler, Arizona home where it all happened: two bullets, one body, and forty-seven silent minutes before anyone called for help. Tony Brueski and Defense Attorney Bob Motta (Defense Diaries) dissect the prosecution's opening narrative — one of delusion, greed, and cold calculation — and the defense's bizarre self-representation strategy that's turning the courtroom into a psychological sideshow. Prosecutors allege Lori conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to kill Charles for a $1 million life insurance payout and to clear the way to marry her apocalyptic “soulmate,” Chad Daybell. The evidence? Texts invoking scripture to justify murder (“I will be like Nephi”), phone records revealing coordination, and chilling forensic details showing Charles was shot twice — the second bullet fired downward after he collapsed. Firefighters testified the scene looked staged: no CPR, no struggle, and an eerily spotless floor. Lori, meanwhile, was running errands — Burger King, Walgreens, dropping off her son — as her husband's body cooled on the tile. But this isn't just about evidence; it's about ego and delusion on trial. Motta breaks down Lori's decision to act as her own lawyer — fumbling through legal jargon, cross-examining witnesses who seem to know more law than she does, and repeatedly trying to exclude “inconvenient” evidence from the record. As he puts it, Lori's courtroom presence is “less Harvard Law, more hostage to her own hubris.” The prosecution, for its part, is playing this round differently — keeping the talk of “zombies” and dark spirits to a minimum while focusing on motive, money, and manipulation. The goal: strip away the spiritual theatrics and reveal the human greed underneath.
As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit the opening days of one of the most chilling courtroom dramas in modern true crime — the Arizona trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-declared prophet now serving life sentences in Idaho for the murders of her children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and the conspiracy to kill Tammy Daybell. This time, Lori stands accused of murdering her fourth husband, Charles Vallow — and she's decided to be her own lawyer. In this two-part special, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole dissect the emotional and strategic fireworks from both sides of the courtroom, starting with the prosecution's explosive opening statement. Prosecutor Treena Kay laid out a devastating narrative of greed, manipulation, and religious delusion — alleging that Lori orchestrated the deaths of her husband and children to secure life insurance payouts and remove any obstacles to marrying Chad Daybell. Through phone records, witness testimony, and forensic evidence, the prosecution painted Lori as a woman willing to kill for prophecy, power, and profit. Tony and Stacy break down the psychological weight of the prosecution's arguments — from the use of religious ideology as control to the manipulation of her brother Alex Cox, who became her self-proclaimed “angel of death.” They also analyze the jury's visible reactions and the emotional undercurrent of a courtroom haunted by victims' families still seeking answers. Then, in Part Two, the focus shifts to Lori's stunning self-representation — and her surreal decision to stand as both defendant and defense counsel. Lori's opening statement cast herself as misunderstood and unfairly vilified, arguing that her brother acted in self-defense during Charles's death. But Tony and Stacy reveal how Lori's calm, confident demeanor may mask deep narcissism and delusion — a belief that she alone can rewrite the narrative of her crimes. As Tony and Stacy unpack the legal and psychological implications of Lori's “sovereign” defense, listeners gain rare insight into a defendant whose blend of charisma and chaos continues to defy legal logic and human empathy.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit the opening days of one of the most chilling courtroom dramas in modern true crime — the Arizona trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-declared prophet now serving life sentences in Idaho for the murders of her children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and the conspiracy to kill Tammy Daybell. This time, Lori stands accused of murdering her fourth husband, Charles Vallow — and she's decided to be her own lawyer. In this two-part special, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole dissect the emotional and strategic fireworks from both sides of the courtroom, starting with the prosecution's explosive opening statement. Prosecutor Treena Kay laid out a devastating narrative of greed, manipulation, and religious delusion — alleging that Lori orchestrated the deaths of her husband and children to secure life insurance payouts and remove any obstacles to marrying Chad Daybell. Through phone records, witness testimony, and forensic evidence, the prosecution painted Lori as a woman willing to kill for prophecy, power, and profit. Tony and Stacy break down the psychological weight of the prosecution's arguments — from the use of religious ideology as control to the manipulation of her brother Alex Cox, who became her self-proclaimed “angel of death.” They also analyze the jury's visible reactions and the emotional undercurrent of a courtroom haunted by victims' families still seeking answers. Then, in Part Two, the focus shifts to Lori's stunning self-representation — and her surreal decision to stand as both defendant and defense counsel. Lori's opening statement cast herself as misunderstood and unfairly vilified, arguing that her brother acted in self-defense during Charles's death. But Tony and Stacy reveal how Lori's calm, confident demeanor may mask deep narcissism and delusion — a belief that she alone can rewrite the narrative of her crimes. As Tony and Stacy unpack the legal and psychological implications of Lori's “sovereign” defense, listeners gain rare insight into a defendant whose blend of charisma and chaos continues to defy legal logic and human empathy.
As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we turn our focus to one of the most bizarre and psychologically chilling trials unfolding in America: Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-proclaimed prophet who's decided she's the best person to defend herself in court. Already convicted in Idaho for the murders of her two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and the conspiracy to murder her husband's former wife, Tammy Daybell, Lori is now facing justice in Arizona for the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. But this time, there's no defense team to shield her — because Lori fired them. She's representing herself. In this special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott to unpack the chilling psychology behind Lori's decision, exploring how delusion, narcissism, and religious grandiosity collide in a courtroom setting. Lori's behavior — confident, defiant, and disturbingly serene — may seem erratic, but Scott explains how it fits a pattern of pathological self-belief common among cult leaders and high-control personalities. During her recent pretrial hearing, Lori insisted on moving forward with trial despite her own forensics expert not being ready, demanded to exclude incriminating statements from her deceased brother Alex Cox, and even tried to subpoena journalist Nate Eaton — the reporter who's covered her saga from day one. She also hinted at testifying in her own defense, setting the stage for one of the most surreal spectacles in recent legal history. But beneath the theatrics lies a darker psychology. Lori isn't just defending herself legally — she's defending her identity as a “divine messenger.” Scott breaks down how shared psychosis (folie à deux) between Lori and her husband Chad Daybell fueled a belief system that justified murder under the guise of prophecy. Together, they turned apocalypse fantasies into fatal decisions. As jury selection looms and Arizona prosecutors prepare to argue their case, Tony and Shavaun explore whether Lori's self-representation is a strategy, a symptom, or both — and how her religious delusions continue to warp her sense of accountability.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we turn our focus to one of the most bizarre and psychologically chilling trials unfolding in America: Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-proclaimed prophet who's decided she's the best person to defend herself in court. Already convicted in Idaho for the murders of her two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and the conspiracy to murder her husband's former wife, Tammy Daybell, Lori is now facing justice in Arizona for the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. But this time, there's no defense team to shield her — because Lori fired them. She's representing herself. In this special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott to unpack the chilling psychology behind Lori's decision, exploring how delusion, narcissism, and religious grandiosity collide in a courtroom setting. Lori's behavior — confident, defiant, and disturbingly serene — may seem erratic, but Scott explains how it fits a pattern of pathological self-belief common among cult leaders and high-control personalities. During her recent pretrial hearing, Lori insisted on moving forward with trial despite her own forensics expert not being ready, demanded to exclude incriminating statements from her deceased brother Alex Cox, and even tried to subpoena journalist Nate Eaton — the reporter who's covered her saga from day one. She also hinted at testifying in her own defense, setting the stage for one of the most surreal spectacles in recent legal history. But beneath the theatrics lies a darker psychology. Lori isn't just defending herself legally — she's defending her identity as a “divine messenger.” Scott breaks down how shared psychosis (folie à deux) between Lori and her husband Chad Daybell fueled a belief system that justified murder under the guise of prophecy. Together, they turned apocalypse fantasies into fatal decisions. As jury selection looms and Arizona prosecutors prepare to argue their case, Tony and Shavaun explore whether Lori's self-representation is a strategy, a symptom, or both — and how her religious delusions continue to warp her sense of accountability.
Karen Read's retrial is entering its final days, but the drama in the courtroom shows no sign of slowing down. New charges for a former sheriff's deputy in the Betsy Faria case. Updates in the cases of MLB pitcher Dan Serafini and Lori Vallow Daybell. Plus, how jury instructions can make or break a trial. Find out more about the cases covered each week here: www.datelinetruecrimeweekly.com