Lori Vallow Daybell: Tense moments in court for 'Doomsday Mom' ahead of 2nd trial
Lori Vallow Daybell's tense day in the courtroom
Things got tense on May 14 during Lori Vallow Daybell's appearance in court ahead of her 2nd and final Arizona trial. FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum has more.
PHOENIX - Things got rather intense at times during Lori Vallow Daybell's court appearance that happened ahead of her second trial in Arizona.
The backstory:
In April, the so-called ‘Doomsday Mom’ was found guilty in April of conspiring with her brother, Alex Cox, to kill Charles Vallow. Charles was Vallow-Daybell's former husband at the time of the murder.
For her second trial, Vallow Daybell is accused of conspiracy as part of a murder plot that targeted her former nephew-in-law, Brandon Boudreaux. The bullets fired during the attempt on Boudreaux's life missed him by inches.
Vallow Daybell called out judge in court
What we know:
In court on May 14, Vallow Daybell took issue with her name being listed on jury questionnaires that are ready to be sent out next week. She claims one of the jurors from her last trial knew of her Idaho case that led to convictions for the murders of Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan in 2019.
"Your honor, in light of the juror misconduct and the alleged juror misconduct, I have to object to us having so much information go out about my personal information in that jury questionnaire. Do you not think that was a problem?" Vallow Daybell asked.
"What personal information?" Judge Justin Beresky asked.
"The state versus Lori Daybell," Vallow Daybell replied.
"That's the name of the case," Judge Beresky said.
"You don’t put that on anyone else's questionnaire. I’m the only person that's ever had that questionnaire ever put out with their name on it. They just don't do it," Vallow Daybell said.
"I do it in every trial I've done," Judge Beresky replied.
"Then the people are just going to Google it, and then we're going to have the same exact problem we had getting a jury for that case. We’re gonna have the same exact problem," Vallow Daybell said.
"Are you done?" Judge Beresky said to Vallow Daybell afterward. "OK. How do we screen for if people have heard about you, if we don't include your name?"
Near the end of the hearing, Vallow Daybell asked Judge Beresky to recuse himself over alleged personal bias.
"You denied every single one of my motions," Vallow Daybell said. "For a year and a half I've been here, every single one of my motions has been denied, and have any of those motions not have merit? You’ve denied every single motion."
"I think I was here this morning about 15 minutes ago, and I granted your motion to meet with your attorneys over the lunch hour. I have granted other motions of yours, OK?" Judge Beresky said.
"This first motion that you've ever granted," Vallow Daybell said.
"File motions that have a legal basis," Judge Beresky replied.
"Do you think none my motions have had merit?" Vallow Daybell asked.
"Not many, no," Judge Beresky replied.
Later, Judge Beresky said "are you done?" to Vallow Daybell once again, while refusing to recuse himself.
Prosecutors list witnesses who could be called
The other side:
On Tuesday, May 15, Arizona prosecutors filed a pretrial statement related to the case.
Prosecutor Treena Kay listed 22 witnesses she could call to testify against the so-called "Doomsday Mom." Seven witnesses are from Gilbert Police, including Ryan Pillar, who testified in the Idaho trials for Lori Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, who is on death row.
Detective Nathan Duncan with Chandler PD just testified in the last Arizona trial regarding Charles Vallow.
What are conditions like for 'Doomsday Mom' Lori Vallow Daybell? Inside look at Estrella Jail
We're getting a look at the housing conditions of convicted killer Lori Vallow Daybell while she spends her days in Maricopa County's Estrella Jail. She's in her cell alone for 23 hours a day.
Rexburg Police Lieutenant Ray Hermosillo will return to Arizona, this time as a witness.
Prosecutors say Cox was instructed by Daybell to drive from Rexburg, Idaho to Gilbert, Arizona, leading to the shooting at Boudreaux’s home. According to police, Vallow Daybell identified Boudreaux as a dark spirit in connection to her religious beliefs.
Lori Vallow Daybell requests new trial claiming juror bias from knowledge of previous convictions
Lori Vallow Daybell, the Doomsday Mom, has filed a motion with the state of Arizona for a new trial in the murder conspiracy of her fourth husband, of which she was found guilty last month.
What's next:
Opening statements are set for June 2 after jury selection, but the State says three witnesses are not available during the first week. Prosecutor Treena Kay expects it to take four to five days to present its case-in-chief.
The sentence range for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder is life without possibility of release after 25 years. But Daybell is already serving three consecutive life terms for murdering her two youngest children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and conspiring in the murder of Chad Daybell’s first wife.
