'Cult mum's' chilling Google searches before 'zombie' kids were murdered
As the trial for 'cult mum' Lori Vallow Daybell continues, the court has heard of chilling internet searches linked to her Gmail account, including life insurance claims for children.
As court resumed on Monday, April 24, following a day's recess on Friday, April 21, jurors were presented with evidence of phone activity and internet searches made by Vallow Daybell - who is accused of murdering her two children, 'JJ' Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16 as well as husband Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy, 49.
The trial, taking place in Boise, Idaho, was moved out of Rexburg where the crimes happened as there was concern that any jurors from the area would have too much knowledge of the case and be biased. Lori Vallow Daybell and husband Chad Daybell were due to be tried together, however a judge made the decision to sever the cases.
One of the last photos of JJ Vallow, left, and Tylee Ryan, middle, taken at Yellowstone National Park, also pictured is Lori Vallow's brother Alex Cox, right (FBI)
Lori Vallow Daybell is facing murder charges for the deaths of JJ and Tylee (Rexberg Police Dept/ Handout)The court heard how 21 electronic search warrants were prepared. Among these were Lori's Verizon phone, emails connected to Lori, Chad and Alex Cox (Lori's brother), 18 phone numbers billed to a PO Box in Sugar City, Idaho in Lori's name, and additional emails linked to Alex found on a phone abandoned at a unit linked to Lori and handed to police by the landlord.
When Lori and Chad were tracked down in Hawaii, Lori was found with 10 devices in her rental car, as well as a notebook which had a whole page of email addresses and phone numbers. Warrants were then issued for all the email addresses.
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The first searches linked to Lori's 'lollytime4ever' Gmail account presented in court show her searching for malachite wedding rings on August 25, 2019, before going on to order two. At this point, Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy, was still alive.
Lori Vallow Daybell became fixated on the teachings of Chad Daybell after they met
Chad Daybell, an author, has been described as a 'doomsday cult leader'She then went on to search for the definition of possessed, how to remove rear seats from a Jeep Wrangler, wedding dresses in Kauai, Hawaii (which was searched the day of Tammy Daybell's funeral), flights to Hawaii with different airlines, and travel to Missouri to visit Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) sites.
The last search is significant as Lori was in Missouri the day Tammy Daybell was shot at, before her death. The searches were made in September, 2019, the same month Vallow Daybell's children, JJ and Tylee, disappeared.
A search result from Chad was also brought up, where he searched the wind direction on September 8, 2019 for the next day. On September 9, Chad Daybell sent his then alive wife Tammy a text saying: "Well, I've had an interesting morning! I felt I should burn all of the limb debris by the fire pit before it got too soaked by the coming storms.
Lori Vallow Daybell with Tylee, whose remains were found on Chad Daybell's property (Chandler Police Dept)"While I did so, I spotted a big racoon [sic] along the fence. I hurried and got my gun, and he was still walking along. I got close enough that one shot did the trick.
"He is now in our pet cemetery. Fun times!"
The following year in June, Tylee's burnt remains were found buried in the pet cemetery on Daybell's property.
Rexburg Police Detective David Stubbs said this search was significant as "that is the day Chad Daybell said he was going to burn limbs and killed a raccoon in his yard."
Lori Vallow Daybell glances at the camera during her hearing in Rexburg, Idaho., on March 6, 2020 (AP)Nicole Heideman of the FBI was asked to review some of the Google searches from both Chad and Lori's accounts.
Searches from Chad's account from October 1, 2018, through to November 28, 2019, included: "when you surprise someone with accusations" on July 9, 2019, and "ssw wind. what is the definition of ssw wind" on September 28 of that year.
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Relevant searches from Lori's account presented by Heideman from March 7, 2019 to December 14, 2019, include: "gerber life policy, life insurance for children - the Grow-Up Plan" on July 21, 2019, "Phoenix pet service, craigslist, sell service dog, Little Angels Service Dogs, Service Dogs for sale, Offerings Phoenix" on July 26, 2019 - thought to be in relation to JJ's service dog which Lori got rid of.
Lori Vallow Daybell with husband Chad Daybell in HawaiiNew photos of Chad and Lori's wedding were also submitted into evidence. Detective Stubbs said they came from a flash drive seized from the couple in Hawaii.
Photos show the couple hugging, wedding photos looking at a beach, photos of hands wearing malachite rings, and a new photo of Lori and Chad in front of a temple.
A series of texts between Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were also shown to the court, dating from immediately after the death of Lori's fourth husband Charles Vallow. They make references to Kauai, as well as "the plan" and their intention to get married on November 5, which they then did.
Vallow Daybell's attorneys have acknowledged her 'eccentric' beliefs, which solidified after meeting author and doomsday cult leader Chad Daybell, however, they have insisted she is a "loving mother" who did not kill her children.
Vallow Daybell has pleaded not guilty to murder, conspiracy and grand theft charges. The trial continues.
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