‘Doomsday mom’ receives two more life sentences for conspiracy to kill husband, niece’s ex-husband

PHOENIX (ABC4) — The Idaho mom convicted of killing her two children, conspiracy to kill her husband, conspiracy to kill her new husband’s wife, and conspiracy to kill her niece’s ex-husband was sentenced for two of those guilty verdicts, received earlier this year.

On April 22, Vallow Daybell was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to murder her late husband, Charles Vallow. Months later, on June 12, she was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to murder her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux.

Today, she stood before the judge who presided over both of those trials, Judge Justin Beresky. Vallow Daybell elected to represent herself during both trials and has previously accused Judge Beresky of being biased against her, requesting a new trial.

Judge Beresky sentenced Vallow Daybell to serve two life sentences in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years, to be served consecutively with each other and her previous sentences. A lifetime injunction was also ordered for Boudreaux and Charles Vallow’s family members that prevents her from ever contacting them again.

In July 2023, Vallow Daybell was sentenced for murder and conspiracy to murder her children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ashlyn Ryan, 16, as well as conspiracy to murder Chad Daybell’s wife, Tammy Daybell. She was ordered to serve five life sentences in prison for her role in their deaths.

What was said during sentencing

“While she’s been in custody, she had agreed to speak to the media four times, and she has again spouted off that this is a family tragedy,” Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Treena J. Kay stated. “A tragedy is a disastrous event, calamity, or misfortune.”

Treena Kay stated that a family tragedy is not something committed intentionally, with the help of an accomplice, to commit first-degree premeditated murder, or conspiring with others to kill. Although Vallow Daybell calls it a tragedy, Treena Kay states, she shows through her actions that she is a cold-blooded killer.

“This defendant damaged every one of Charles’ family members and friends when she helped orchestrate his murder,” Treena Kay stated. “…Brandon survived his attack, but he suffered for months, fearing he would be killed.”

Treena Kay recommended running Vallow Daybell’s sentences for her role in Charles Vallow’s murder and attempted murder of Boudreaux consecutively, meaning that her life sentences would be served one after another instead of simultaneously.

Vallow Daybell addressed the court during her sentencing. She thanked her investigator and paralegal for helping her. Vallow Daybell went on to say that she had learned a great deal about the court system and discovered that it is impossible for defendants to act as their own defense. She stated that she was not allowed the same rights as an attorney and spoke about mistreatment while in jail.

“Although we miss our loved ones, and I do too, I assure you that they are busy, and happy, and peaceful [in heaven],” Vallow Daybell said. “Whether I’m given five life sentences or seven life sentences, I will continue to uplift those around me.”

Judge Beresky corrected Vallow Daybell a few times while she spoke of conviction and sentencing statistics. During his statement, he stated that Vallow Daybell did not tell the truth about the statistics or her belief that she could not get a fair trial.

“You’ve shattered lives, you’ve undermined trust, you’ve sowed fear in the minds of many,” Judge Beresky stated. He addressed Charles Vallow’s family and shared in their grief, stating that the two had shared a birthday. Judge Beresky said he will always remember Charles Vallow on their birthday.

“The impact of your manipulation has been devastating, insidious, and far-reaching, and perhaps still unknown… You preyed on the vulnerability of those around you,” Judge Beresky stated. He stated that the world will never know whether she had a role in Alex Cox’s death, due to the burdens she placed on him.

Judge Beresky told Vallow Daybell that she should never be released from prison and that eventually she will fade into obscurity. He agreed with the requested aggravating factors from the prosecution — that she had committed the offenses for monetary gain and had caused extreme distress to Boudreaux and his family.

A total of $267,000 was ordered for restitution based on her crimes. Vallow Daybell was given two life sentences, with the possibility of parole after serving 25 calendar years. Protective orders were also created for Charles Vallow’s surviving family members as well as Boudreaux, meaning she cannot contact them for the rest of her life.

The murder of Charles Vallow

Prosecutors made the case that Vallow Daybell worked alongside her brother, Alex Cox, to premeditate the homicide of Vallow. According to testimony from witnesses, Vallow had discovered that Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell were having an affair. He changed his life insurance beneficiary to his sister, Kay Woodcock.

Vallow arrived in Arizona the day before his murder to hold an intervention with Vallow Daybell about her religious beliefs straying from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her brother, Alex Cox, was supposed to meet with him and her other brother, Adam Cox, but instead went to Vallow Daybell’s home.

The next morning, July 11, 2019, according to Vallow Daybell, Vallow came to pick up JJ, and a fight broke out. Following this, Alex Cox shot Vallow twice, causing his death, according to police. Vallow Daybell tells police she fled the house immediately after.

911 would not be called for over 40 minutes, according to cell phone data collected from Vallow and Alex Cox’s phones.

“Lori had told people that Charles was no longer living… that there’s a zombie living inside of him. And Alex didn’t respond to any of my text messages when I was supposed to be with him. And he was at that house that morning,” Adam Cox, Vallow Daybell’s other brother, testified during the trial. “All these things added up… no doubt in my mind that they killed him.”

What happened to Brandon Boudreaux

Just a few months after Charles Vallow’s murder, someone shot at Boudreaux from the window of a Jeep as he was driving home from the gym. Boudreaux narrowly avoided being struck by the bullet, and it hit his car a few inches above his head.

According to prosecutors, Boudreaux’s wife at the time, Vallow Daybell’s niece, had begun following her aunt’s religious beliefs and attending religious meetings hosted by Vallow Daybell. She allegedly referred to Boudreaux as another dark person, similar to how she viewed Charles Vallow.

Investigators found that the Jeep used in the drive-by shooting belonged to Vallow Daybell, and prosecutors argued that she loaned it to Alex Cox. Messages from a burner phone indicated that they had worked together to plan the attack and invent an alibi that would make it seem like Alex Cox was in Idaho during the shooting.