Lori Vallow-Daybell in court Thursday
FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) - Lori Vallow-Daybell appeared before Judge Steven W. Boyce Thursday in regard to the prosecution's motion to move her trial to January.
You can watch the hearing below.
This is so Vallow-Daybell can be tried at the same time as her husband Chad Daybell.
After the prosecution gave their argument, defense attorney Jim Archibald reiterated what they wrote last week. While she does not waive her right to a speedy trial, she understands a postponement will give her defense more time to get ready.
"Because this issue involves important constitutional and statutory rights, I don't want to attempt to make an oral ruling on the motion today because I want to make sure I apply the proper standard of review and properly balance all of the factors I'm required to under the existing case law to make sure I reach the best decision I can on this," Judge Boyce said. "So I will be issuing a written decision."
Boyce said he doesn't imagine there will be a big delay until the ruling comes out.
We'll keep you updated as soon as it comes down.
Lori Vallow-Daybell's co-defendant and husband, Chad Daybell, is also facing a potential death penalty if convicted. The pair are charged with murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan.
Prosecutors announced their intent to seek capital punishment in Chad Daybell’s case last August, but Lori Vallow-Daybell's case was on hold at the time because she was undergoing treatment at a mental health facility. Lori Vallow-Daybell is scheduled to stand trial in October, and Chad Daybell is scheduled for trial next January.
Idaho law enforcement began investigating the Daybells in November 2019 after extended family members reported the children were missing. The children were missing for several months, during which time police said the couple lied about the children's whereabouts, before their bodies were found buried on Chad Daybell's property in rural Idaho.
Chad and Lori Daybell married just two weeks after his previous wife, Tammy Daybell, died unexpectedly. Tammy Daybell's death was initially reported as “natural causes,” but investigators had her body exhumed after growing suspicious when Chad Daybell quickly remarried.
Lori Vallow-Daybell is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in Arizona in connection with the death of her previous husband. Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Lori Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, who claimed it was self-defense. Cox later died of what police said was natural causes.
Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and a judge entered a “not guilty” plea on Lori Vallow-Daybell's behalf after she stood silent when asked for a plea earlier this year.
Idaho law allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty if they can show certain “aggravating factors” for crimes like murder or conspiracy to commit murder.
