Closing arguments are set to take place Monday afternoon in the Arizona trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, who is facing charges related to the conspiracy to murder her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in suburban Phoenix. Known for her doomsday religious beliefs, Vallow Daybell has opted to represent herself in court and indicated last week that she plans to rest her case without calling any witnesses or presenting evidence. If she sticks to this plan, closing arguments will commence following a seven-day trial period during which jurors heard from prosecution witnesses.
The prosecution asserts that Vallow Daybell conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to murder Charles Vallow at her home in Chandler, Arizona, in July 2019. Their motive, according to prosecutors, was to allow her to collect on his life insurance policy and marry Chad Daybell, her then-boyfriend, who is an author known for writing religious novels focused on prophecies and apocalyptic themes. Cox, who claimed he shot Charles Vallow in self-defense during the incident, passed away five months later due to what medical officials determined was a blood clot in his lungs. His self-defense account has since been scrutinized. Vallow Daybell has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her.
If found guilty, Vallow Daybell could face a life sentence with no possibility of parole until she has served at least 25 years. During her opening statement for this trial, she claimed that Charles Vallow chased her with a bat and that her brother Alex acted in self-defense when he shot Charles after she exited the premises. Notably, Vallow Daybell has already been convicted in a separate case in Idaho for the murders of her two youngest children and for conspiring to kill a romantic rival, which has resulted in a sentence of life imprisonment.
Last week, Adam Cox, another brother of Vallow Daybell, testified for the prosecution, asserting his belief that both Vallow Daybell and Alex were responsible for Charles Vallow's death. He further stated that the killing occurred just before he and other family members were planning an intervention aimed at bringing Lori back into their shared faith within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Adam testified that prior to the incident, his sister expressed to others that her husband was no longer alive and that a zombie had taken residence within his body. Charles Vallow had filed for divorce just four months before his death, alleging that Lori had become fixated on near-death experiences and claimed to have lived multiple lives on other planets. He accused her of threatening to ruin him financially and even kill him, ultimately seeking a voluntary mental health evaluation for Vallow Daybell.
The ongoing trial about Charles Vallow's murder represents the first of two criminal proceedings against Vallow Daybell in Arizona. She is scheduled to face another trial in early June on charges related to conspiring to murder Brandon Boudreaux, who is the ex-husband of her niece, Melani Pawlowski.