“It’s too painful” – Lori Vallow-Daybell’s sister testifies
ADA COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Location history was shown from phone associated with Alex Cox, Lori Vallow-Daybell's brother, Chad Daybell and Lori on Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 9, Oct. 18 and Oct. 22 all in 2019.
The significance of these dates can be referenced HERE.
The location history shows Chad and Alex on or near Chad's property on each of the listed dates. Alex, Chad and Lori were in constant communication during this time.
On the morning of Oct. 8 Chad texted Lori saying, "I will call right now from a 401 number." A line opened that same day with a Rhode Island area code. Alex was also seen at or near Walmart in Rexburg in the late afternoon and then was detected at or near Sportsman's Warehouse in Idaho Falls. Alex then arrives at or around Chad's house that evening.
Lori and Chad were texting the day of Chad's former wife, Tammy Daybell's funeral. Lori's phone was in Kauai, Hawaii at this time.
Tylee's phone was last reported used on Dec. 15, 2019, after her death, in Kauai, Hawaii.
Only the location history was shown except for one text message. They did not reveal the content of messages or phone calls exchanged in this piece of evidence.
Then Summer Shiflet, Lori's younger sister, was called to testify. She says she was close with Lori for most of her life. Summer testifies Lori told her that she knew where the kids were and that they "were safe."
The court then got to hear an audio recording of a call between Lori and Summer from June 2020, when Lori was in jail. From what was heard, Summer seems to be crying and in distress throughout the call. Summer is asking Lori what happened with the kids and accuses her of knowing.
"You were dancing on the beach when your kids were in the ground," Summer says, "It's too painful." Summer is then heard screaming at Lori, it's hard to make out what was said.
Lori is calm and denies doing anything to her kids saying she "would love" to tell Summer what's going on, but can't.
Summer says, "Nobody knows except you and the Lord." Lori replies with, "Yea, ask him." Summer begs for an explanation, but Lori doesn't say anything.
Upon cross-examination Lori's Attorney, Jim Archibald, asks Summer if she ever had or taught about her extreme beliefs before 2018, the year she met Chad Daybell. Summer says no and that she couldn't imagine Lori killing her children or conspiring to do so. Her statements echoed what Colby Ryan, Lori's son, said during cross-examination in his testimony.
The court then heard from Rick Schmitt who was formerly with the Rexburg Police Department and helped with some searches in the case.
He revealed Alex would go to the Fremont County Sportsman's Club Shooting Range at least six times. Schmitt believed Alex would use an a fake name of C Quint when he would sign in. This is because Alex's license plate on his car read CP QUINT.
Finishing out the day was FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels who was the team lead in the search of Chad's property. He explains they took between 500 to 700 photos throughout the process.
The court then saw pictures of the excavation of the fire pit and pet cemetery, where they believed Tylee's body was. Before they even started digging, they found a Pura Vida charm bracelet near the fire pit. They also observed the ground near the pet cemetery to be "disturbed."
As they started digging, Daniels says he could smell a body decomposing. They found chunks of bones and skin, later determined to be Tylee's.
They collected shovels, saws and axes from Chad's shed as part of what they believed to be evidence.
Daniels is expected to be back on the stand Wednesday morning to give details on the excavation of JJ's body.
