Lori Vallow Daybell, the “Doomsday” mom accused of killing her two children because they were “zombies” with “dark spirits,” was denied her request to leave the courtroom for the remainder of day two of her murder trial. As graphic details were given about the discovery of the remains of 16-year-old Tylee and 7-year-old JJ in the backyard of the Idaho home she shared with husband Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow appeared uncomfortable and requested to leave. Her lawyer, Jim Archibald, told Idaho District Court Judge Steven Boyce that Vallow “wishes to waive her presence as the testimony for the remainder of the day.” However, Judge Boyce rightly refused.
- Vallow couldn’t deal with the emotional testimony being given. Rexburg Police Department Det. Ray Hermosillo had taken to the stand on Tuesday to share the details of his discovery of the children’s remains. And while Vallow didn’t want to be reminded of what she’d done to her kids, Judge Boyce insisted she be present and listen. “Walking through the rule, presence is required … at every stage of the trial, including the impaneling of the jury and the return of the verdict,” he told her, per the New York Post.
- While the court could have allowed her request, Boyce wasn’t inclined to do so. “I do think this court has the authority to override that request of the defendant to voluntarily excuse herself from certain portions of the trial and not others,” he said. “I am denying her request to excuse herself.” Given the horrific nature of the accusations against her, that seems only fair.
- JJ and Tylee Vallo faced horrific deaths. Det. Hermosillo detailed finding JJ with his pajamas “soaked with decomposition” when he was dug up from Chad Daybell’s backyard. He “still had on his pull-up nighttime diaper” and “his ankles are also bound with duct tape.” Meanwhile, Tylee was discovered with her hands cut off.
- The Lori Vallow murder trial is only going to get more intense from here. Given that this harrowing testimony from Det. Hermosillo came only on day two of the trial, it’s likely that far more upsetting details are still to come. The 49-year-old pleaded not guilty to two charges of first-degree murder. Her husband, Chad Daybell, is also facing first-degree murder charges for the death of his ex-wife, Tammy Daybell. He has also been accused of insurance fraud in relation to a policy he’d taken out on Tammy.
