$20,000 reward offered for information regarding missing Rexburg children
REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Larry and Kay Woodcock, the grandparents of Joshua Vallow, are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17.
Vallow and Ryan have not been seen since September. Police have been looking for the two since Nov. 26 when they received a missing child report. Police are calling Lori Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, “persons of interest” in connection with their disappearance.
During Tuesday's press conference, the couple spoke about their concerns, saying “they’re extremely intelligent children,” and how JJ was developing his own personality. They asked Lori to come forward and “please give them back to us.”
You can watch the press conference below.
"I have a tendency to get very emotional when I talk about the children. I get extremely emotional when I talk about JJ. JJ is my heart, and I am hoping this will allow one person, one person, to simply say I saw him. I know where he is at," Larry said in the press conference.
The Woodcocks also expressed their concern about JJ’s “matted hair” in the reward poster. They say Lori was a hairstylist and JJ’s hair was always cut well. They say the last time they talked to their grandson was a 36 second facetime call on August 10th and called it “awkward.” They say someone seemed to be watching the call and directing him off-screen.
The Woodcocks describe Charles and Lori as devoted parents and are “blown away” by the current situation.
The Woodcocks say they came to Rexburg to speak to FBI investigators about the search for the missing children. They say their talk with an agent was “nothing but encouraging” and are satisfied with the answers they received and didn’t want to put undue pressure on officials at JJ’s school by asking questions of them. Although they say “authorities know a lot more than we know.”
On Dec. 20, police issued a press release saying the children's lives could be in danger. They said they have reason to believe Joshua's adoptive Mother and Tylee's biological mother, Lori Daybell, knows what happened to them.
Police said Daybell has completely refused to assist in the investigation.
Police continued stating, "We know that the children are not with Lori and Chad Daybell, and we also have information indicating that Lori knows either the location of the children or what has happened to them. Despite having this knowledge, she has refused to work with law enforcement to help us resolve this matter."
Police continue to ask people to come forward if they have any other information regarding the location or welfare of Joshua and Tylee.
Police said they have received hundreds of tips but have no progress in finding the missing children.
Daybell's previous wife, Tammy Daybell, was found dead in October. Police first believed her death was from natural causes; however, police have since determined her death may be suspicious. Her remains were exhumed in Springville, Utah to look for more evidence on what caused her death.
Anyone with information about the children or missing adults should contact the Rexburg Police Department at 208-359-3000 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
The Woodcocks launched findjjandtylee.com, a website to aid in the search. They say until somebody tells them differently, they “don’t say the ‘D’ word," and still believe JJ and Tylee are alive.
You can view our previous story HERE.
