In court on Tuesday, Idaho prosecutors played a video call between Lori Vallow Daybell and her sister after her two missing children were found dead on her husband’s property in 2020.
In a video call from June 2020 — two weeks after J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan’s remains were discovered — Summer Cox Shiflet is heard confronting Vallow Daybell about the slayings. Vallow Daybell, who was jailed at the time, was filmed saying that she was aware Ryan was found buried in a pet cemetery and Vallow was discovered in Chad Daybell’s backyard, according to East Idaho News.
Shiflet goes on to accuse Vallow Daybell of throwing her children out like “garbage.”
Shiflet says, “You went off to Hawaii and were dancing on the beach as the kids were on the ground?!?! You had to know they were there! I don’t understand! They were just little kids! I don’t understand!”
According to East Idaho News, Shiflet tells Vallow Daybell that the entire ordeal — from the children’s disappearances to the discovery of their bodies — has put the family in pain.
Vallow Daybell then asks, “You don’t think I’m in pain?”
“No, I don’t. You were dancing on the beach having a great time!” Shiflet snaps back. “You got wedding pictures while your kids are in the ground.”
Shiflet is heard urging Vallow Daybell to “come up with an explanation” before the call ends, East Idaho News reported.
J.J. and Ryan had vanished in September 2020, nine months before their remains were discovered buried on Chad’s property. Chad is Vallow Daybell’s fifth husband who she married after her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was fatally shot by Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019. Cox is Vallow Daybell’s brother who reportedly died of natural causes in December 2019.
In Arizona, Vallow Daybell is charged in connection with Charles’ slaying. Prosecutors have also implicated Cox in the two children’s slayings in Idaho.
Vallow Daybell is currently on trial for her children’s murders and for killing Tammy Daybell, who was Chad’s wife. Tammy was killed in Idaho in October 2019. Chad is facing the same charges but will stand trial at a later date.
Vallow Daybell is currently standing trial for the three slayings. Chad will stand trial at a later date.
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 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: East Idaho News/Tony Blakeslee/East Idaho News via AP, Pool]
