Lori Vallow, the so-called “doomsday cult mom” already serving life sentences for the murders of her two children, is now on trial in Arizona for conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. The 51-year-old, who is representing herself, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to murder Charles Vallow and conspiracy to murder her niece’s estranged husband, Brandon Boudreaux.
The trial began on Monday with jury selection in Maricopa County, with opening statements expected next week. The proceedings, overseen by Judge Justin Beresky, are scheduled to run until at least May 9th. The two conspiracy charges will be tried separately before Vallow is returned to Idaho to complete her life sentences.
The charges stem from the death of Charles Vallow, who was shot dead in July 2019, and a drive-by shooting in October 2019 that targeted Brandon Boudreaux, who narrowly survived. Court records accuse Vallow and her brother, Alex Cox, of conspiring in both incidents. Cox is now dead.
Charles Vallow’s sister, Kay Woodcock, expressed relief that the trial is finally underway. “We’ve waited over four horrific years for her to face trial of murdering my sweet, kind, generous, loving and dearest brother Charles Vallow,” she wrote on social media. Woodcock, also the grandmother of Vallow’s slain son JJ, added: “Another huge step forward! We are grateful those justice wheels do indeed turn.”
The Arizona charges are part of a wider saga that began in 2019 with the disappearance of Vallow’s children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, 7. Their bodies were found buried in the backyard of Vallow’s current husband, Chad Daybell, who is on death row after being convicted of murder. Text messages presented at Vallow’s Idaho trial suggested the couple sought to remove “obstacles” – including their spouses and her children.
Vallow was extradited to Arizona in 2023 after being convicted in Idaho of murdering her children and conspiring to kill Daybell’s former wife, Tammy Daybell. She cannot be released on bail as she is held on extradition warrants. Once the Arizona cases conclude, she will return to Idaho to serve out her life sentences.
