'Doomsday mom' Lori Vallow found guilty of murdering her 2 children
The so-called Doomsday mom, Lori Valodabell, was convicted of murder today in the deaths of her two children and of conspiring to murder her fifth husband's first wife. From a belief that Doomsday was coming to claim her children were zombies, the case has garnered national attention and intrigue. KTLA, Samantha Cortese, live in the news center with the details of this grim and disturbing story. Sharon Micah, this case has been under a microscope since the two children went missing. Their mother showed little interest in finding them and following a trial that lasted more than a month. Now we know why. Is Lori Noreen Valodabell not guilty or guilty of conspiracy to commit first free murder of Tylee Ryan and grand theft by deception? Answer, guilty.
Key on six charges, an Idaho jury says 49-year-old Lori Valodabell dubbed the Doomsday mom murdered her children. The country has followed this case for years after Joshua J.J. Valow, seven years old, and Tylee Ryan, who was almost 17, went missing in 2019. Now we know they were killed around the same time. Their remains were found in her husband Chad Dabell's backyard in Idaho. Brian Enten with News Nation was in the courtroom.
He says closing arguments ended with a gruesome reminder. To see a little boy with a disability in his pajamas bound that way with a bag over his head after you've heard all this evidence during the trial to end it that way. You could see the look on the jurors' faces. There was no way to not be totally disturbed and that's the kind of thing that's obviously going to stay with them forever. Shocking details were revealed in this trial including Lori believing her children and husband were possessed. She believed the end was near and she was reincarnated. She used her children's social security benefits from their dead father and ultimately DNA found at the murder scene.
Prosecutors argued the mother killed her children for the money while defense attorneys say she fell under the influence of a cult leader, husband Chad. Lori was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Tammy Dabell, Chad's former wife. Tammy was murdered one month after the children and one month before Lori and Chad got married. Lori's ex-sister-in-law reacted to the verdict. I mean my initial feeling is one of elation. You know it's been a long road to get to this place. It's been you know three and a half years.
So I'm definitely relieved that the jury came back with guilty verdicts on as you said on all six charges. I mean that's the predominant emotion. Lori was also found guilty of grand theft. Despite calls for capital punishment the death penalty was ruled out by the judge in March so Lori faces life in prison. Chad Dabell will go on trial for his involvement in their murders in June of next year. In the new center, Samantha Cortese, KTLA 5 News.
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