On Thursday, a lead investigator testified that Charles Vallow changed the beneficiary of his $1 million life insurance policy from Lori Vallow Daybell, his wife, to his sister shortly before he was fatally shot by Vallow Daybell’s brother.
Alex Cox reportedly shot and killed Charles in Arizona in July 2019. Six days after his death, Chandler police Detective Nathan Moffatt said he learned of Charles’ $1 million life insurance policy — that had been changed to make the beneficiary Kay Woodcock.
Woodcock was J.J. Vallow’s paternal grandmother. Charles and Vallow Daybell had adopted J.J. Vallow Daybell and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, are charged with killing J.J., 7, and Tylee Ryan, who is Vallow Daybell’s 16-year-old daughter.
Moffatt alleged that Vallow Daybell attempted to file a claim, but she was denied and never received a life insurance payout from her late husband’s policy.
Moffatt’s testimony corresponded with claims made by Colby Ryan, who is Vallow Daybell’s surviving son and Tylee’s brother. Colby previously testified that Vallow Daybell had complained of money issues after Charles’ death. Weeks after Charles’ death, Vallow Daybell allegedly told Colby that she was not getting any life insurance money.
Colby also testified that Vallow Daybell claimed Charles suffered a fatal heart attack in Arizona in 2019.
Colby recalled how he visited his mother after Charles’ death and Tylee answered the door and hugged him. Colby reportedly saw Cox watching television with a bandage on his hand. Colby asked Cox what happened — and Cox allegedly said that he was struck in the head with a bat and shot Charles.
Cox died, reportedly of natural causes, months later in December 2019. Vallow Daybell is charged in Arizona in connection with Charles’ shooting death.
Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell are also charged with killing Tammy Daybell, who is Chad’s first wife. Like Tylee and J.J., Tammy also died in Idaho in 2019. Vallow Daybell is currently on trial and Chad will stand trial at a later date.
Vallow Daybell’s two children were missing for nine months before they were found buried on Chad Daybell’s property in June 2020. Prosecutors said Tylee — who was dismembered and burned — was located near a burn pit, while J.J. was in a plastic bag wrapped in plastic. His face, arms, wrists, and feet were wrapped with duct tape.
Vallow Daybell said she was with Melanie Gibb, David Warwick, or her husband when her son and daughter died in her brother’s apartment in Rexburg, Idaho. Vallow Daybell allegedly said she was at her residence, also in Rexburg.
Vallow Daybell claimed she was in Hawaii when Tammy Daybell was killed at her husband’s home in Salem, Idaho. Vallow Daybell stated she was with two other people at the time.
Vallow Daybell — who is believed to have been involved in a so-called doomsday cult — allegedly told a friend that her children had become zombies and the only way to exorcise their bodies of evil spirits was to kill them.
Vallow Daybell — who is not facing the death penalty — underwent psychiatric treatment twice before she was deemed fit to stand trial in Idaho. Cameras are not allowed in the courtroom per a court order.
The trial continues.
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[Featured image: TK/TK]
