Lori Vallow Daybell Convicted in Arizona Murder Conspiracy

Categories: Arizona Breaking NewsArizona State News

A tense moment in the courtroom during legal proceedings against a high-profile case.

News Summary

Lori Vallow Daybell has been found guilty of conspiring to murder her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, by an Arizona jury. The verdict follows her ongoing legal issues in connection with the deaths of her children. Vallow Daybell, who represented herself during the trial, is expected to receive another life sentence. The jury deliberated for three hours before reaching a decision. Her conviction adds to her already lengthy sentencing in Idaho for previous murder charges. A separate trial is scheduled for June regarding a conspiracy charge related to another attempted murder.

Arizona – Lori Vallow Daybell was found guilty by an Arizona jury of conspiring to murder her estranged husband, Charles Vallow. The verdict was announced on April 21, 2025, following about three hours of deliberation in the Maricopa County Superior Court located in Phoenix. With this conviction, Vallow Daybell is expected to receive yet another life sentence, adding to the three life sentences she is already serving in Idaho for the separate murders of her two youngest children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as for the killing of a romantic rival.

Prosecutors argued that Vallow Daybell was driven by financial motives, with the intent to claim approximately $1 million from her husband’s life insurance policy. Additionally, her desire to marry Chad Daybell, a man she was romantically involved with, further fueled her alleged intentions to eliminate Charles Vallow.

The shooting of Charles Vallow took place in July 2019 at his estranged wife’s home in Chandler, Arizona, and was reportedly assisted by Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox. The court proceedings revealed that both Vallow Daybell and Cox were under the belief that Charles had been possessed by a “dark spirit.” Throughout the trial, Vallow Daybell represented herself, maintaining a mostly stoic demeanor during the reading of the verdict.

Post-verdict, juror Victoria Lewis indicated that Vallow Daybell’s choice to defend herself might have adversely affected her case. Among the defense’s claims was the assertion that Alex Cox had acted in self-defense during the confrontation, alleging that Charles attacked them with a baseball bat. Vallow Daybell further made unorthodox claims, suggesting that Charles embodied the traits of a “zombie.”

In the aftermath of her conviction, Vallow Daybell is scheduled to face another trial in June regarding a separate conspiracy charge connected to a failed murder plot against her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. This ongoing case is complicated by the bizarre religious beliefs that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell espoused, which included viewing their children as “zombies” and Vallow Daybell’s self-identification as a goddess tasked with preparing for an apocalyptic event.

The background of the case stretches back to notable prior events, including Vallow Daybell’s trial in Idaho that concluded in May 2023, resulting in her conviction for the murders of her children. Throughout those proceedings, details regarding her extreme religious convictions and familial dynamics were revealed, painting a picture of tragic family disputes rather than a straightforward murder case.

Alex Cox, Vallow Daybell’s brother who was believed to be involved in Charles Vallow’s shooting, passed away from a pulmonary embolism in December 2019 and had not faced any charges related to the incident. Lori Vallow Daybell’s sentencing in Arizona remains pending as she prepares for her upcoming trial related to the charges against Boudreaux.