Judge enters not guilty plea for mom charged in kids’ deaths
FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) - A mother charged with conspiring to kill her children, her estranged husband and a lover’s wife refused to enter a plea to murder and other charges on Tuesday, prompting an Idaho judge to enter a not guilty plea on her behalf.
Lori Vallow-Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, were both at the courthouse in St. Anthony Tuesday for court proceedings.
Currently, the judge is planning to hold Chad Daybell's and Lori Vallow-Daybells's trial in Boise at the Ada County Courthouse.
The county prosecutors are saying it would be too costly to move the trial and would be better financially to stay in Fremont County, but the defense says it's too late.
"The decision is already made," John Prior said."The decision has already been submitted to the Idaho Supreme Court. It's a done deal, and for them to come back and do this, I clearly think it's inappropriate, and I will consider a motion to reconsider. And we shouldn't be having this hearing. And now they're here grandstanding and saying here are the number we going to use."
Judge Boyce said he will issue a written ruling on the matter at a later date.
The children's grandparents say justice is not far off.
"It don't make me any difference, because she's going to have a miserable life, and that's all I ask for. She deserve she deserves everything she gets," Larry and Kay Woodcock said.
Vallow also did not waive her right to a speedy trial which means it has to take place within the next six months.
Judge Boyce set the start date for her trial for October 19.
The couple face numerous charges in the bizarre case, including conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Lori Daybell’s children 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, as well as Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell.
ORIGINAL: We may see a major step forward in the Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow-Daybell murder trial this week.
Judge Steven W. Boyce ordered both to appear in his court Tuesday. Judge Boyce has ordered the hearings not to be streamed live, but a video of the hearings will be uploaded on this page later Tuesday.
Chad appears first at 9 a.m. for a motion hearing. It's to discuss or reconsider the transport or transfer of venue to Ada County. The judge did not make an official ruling but said he'd take it into consideration.
Lori will then appear to be arraigned at 1 p.m.
Both are accused of murdering her children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan in 2019.
Last week, Vallow-Daybell was restored to competency after spending ten months in a mental health facility.
Chad Daybell is also facing first-degree murder charges in the death of Tammy daybell, his first wife.
They have both pleaded not guilty in all charges and are expected to go to trial in January of 2023.
