'Cult mum a real narcissist convinced murdered kids were zombies', says author

16 April 2023 , 09:21

774 0

The long-awaited trial of the so-called "Doomsday cult mum" Lori Vallow Daybell has finally begun, as she comes to court charged with murdering her two "zombie" children.

The disturbing mystery of the alleged murders of her two children and the obscure religious scheme that her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, ran, has captivated a nation and was the subject of a hit Netflix show, Sins of Our Mother.

Depictions of the 49-year-old woman's profile vary from an evil, ruthless monster to an unstable, easily manipulated woman.

The case attracted major attention and publicity since the disappearance of the kids and then the shocking discovery of their remains in Daybell's property in Idaho in 2020.

Her story became even more complex with at least two more alleged murders involved - that of her husband, Charles Vallow, and the wife of Chad Daybell, Tammy Daybell, with which Lori is also charged.

Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe

Three years later, starting this week, all eyes are on the Ada County courthouse in Idaho, as jurors and the public await to see and listen all about how Lori ended up tied in this tragedy.

What can the mother, who is accused in the murders of her own two children, Tylee, 17, and JJ, seven, really be like?

'Cult mum a real narcissist convinced murdered kids were zombies', says author

Lori Vallow Daybell, left, and author John Glatt, right, who spoke to The Mirror

"I'm not sure she was an evil person. She may have been very easily manipulated," true crime author John Glatt told The Mirror.

Mr Glatt dived deep into the perplexing story of Lori Vallow Daybell and researched the cult that Chad Daybell was running. He interviewed as many close ones of the couple as he could to compile their twisted tale, which he shared with the world in his latest book, The Doomsday Mother, published by Mirror Books.

Asked how he feels now that the trial has finally kicked off, Mr Glatt said: "I am very much looking forward to seeing what evidence the prosecution has because they have been so tight-lipped about everything over the past four years.

"How do they think [the alleged murders were] done? We don't even know, in fact, how the two children died..."

The tragic children JJ, seven, and Tylee, 17

Mr Glatt begins by pointing out that Lori Vallow Daybell has exhibited signs of incompetency, having been declared incompetent to stand trial twice in the past.

He told The Mirror: "It's pretty amazing to be accused of killing your husband, and your two children, and then behave in the manner that Lori Vallow Daybell has, such as giggling and wearing a lot of makeup, including bright red lipstick, which she has apparently prepared behind bars."

The author suggests that her strange behaviour indicates that she is completely removed from the gravity of the situation.

"She had very low self-esteem, although she was a real narcissist. She was always trying to impress people," he said. "She likes to present this fully beautiful package, but I think underneath she was very, very insecure."

Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex

Chad Daybell appears during a court hearing (AP)

This is why, according to the author, Lori became so caught up in Chad Daybell. "He made her feel like she was special. More than special - a goddess!"

Mr Glatt claimed: "And then, Chad wanted to be with Lori and thought of the children as impediments. Like they were in the way, and he really wanted to try and get rid of them, so he told Lori that they were zombies, in fact.

"And as they were zombies, the only way they could attain godliness was to actually murder their physical bodies, so their spirits could be free.

"And I think Lori and perhaps her brother, Alex Cox, who the police believe did the actual murders, thought they were actually doing a favour to the children."

Lori Vallow Daybell glances at the camera during her hearing in Rexburg, Idaho., on March 6, 2020. (AP)

According to Mr Glatt, even before she met Chad, Lori had a "strong belief in the spirit world", and even believed she had been in contact with her deceased elder sister, Stacey.

The author noted that Lori believed that she talked to Stacey all the time and that she even thinks that Stacey has a sense of humour similar to that of her own daughter.

He stressed that the defendant's beliefs are "pretty strange", implying that they are outside the norm of what most people believe or consider to be rational.

"Lori struggled with different husbands, and was always marrying up," Mr Glatt said. "She was always looking for a better life and was very good at using people and then discarding them when she decided they couldn't help her anymore."

(Rexberg Police Dept/ Handout)

Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow at Yellowstone National Park with Lori's brother, Alex Cox (FBI)

Lori also had a very troubled childhood, with one of the most disturbing issues being her relationship with her brother, Alex Cox.

In his book, Mr Glatt made a revelation about Vallow Daybell's teen years shedding light on the traumatic experiences Lori was forced to undergo.

In an interview with one of Lori's best friends from high school, she revealed a disturbing incident that happened when the two girls were around 12-years-old.

According to the friend, during a sleepover, Lori confided in her that her brother, Alex, was trying to have sex with her, and she "didn't know what to do".

(AP)

The friend recalled that they hugged but didn't tell anyone, as she didn't know how to approach the subject, and the incident was never mentioned again.

Mr Glatt notes that the friend wishes she had told her mother, who was a teacher at the time, and wonders if reporting it could have changed the course of events.

But what if the opposite happened? What if nobody had stopped the Daybell couple? Could there have been more alleged victims?

(Tony Blakeslee/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Mr Glatt replied: "Actually there was an attempted assassination. Lori's niece, Melani Pawlowski, was involved in the cult. She moved to Rexburg to be with them (Lori and Chad) and her husband, Brandon Boudreaux was very sceptical about it.

"And just before the actual murders of the children, somebody took a shot at him in his Tesla and just missed him. Police believe it was Alex who was in fact trying to assassinate him too. So he was very lucky to have got away with it."