Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow claimed children were 'possessed by zombies' just hours before remains found
MADISON COUNTY, IDAHO: A chilling phone call was played in court on the third day of Lori Vallow’s murder trial. The call was made between the ‘doomsday cult mom’ and her husband Chad Daybell just hours before police and FBI agents found the bodies of her two children in his yard. Vallow, 49, made the call from Madison County Jail as Daybell, 54, saw investigators dig up his yard before they eventually discovered the badly decomposed bodies of JJ Vallow, seven, and Tylee Ryan, 16.
"I love you so much," Vallow tells Daybell in the call according to Daily Mail. Daybell also gives the cold remark, "I’m feeling pretty calm." JJ and Tylee would be found hours later in shallow graves where they'd been buried after the couple allegedly murdered them. The deranged duo claimed the children were "possessed and zombies".
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Vallow allegedly murdered her children over three years ago after religion made her believe that she would play an important role in a looming apocalypse, during which only 144,000 'chosen' souls would survive. The 49-year-old mother is also accused of conspiracy to murder Daybell's ex-wife Tammy. Daybell, a known apocalyptic author and self-proclaimed prophet, is set to face a separate trial over the killings. They deny the murders.
The chilling call was played by the jurors
After the third day of Vallow’s murder trial got underway, a chilling recording of the call was played by the jurors. Vallow who was being held on child abandonment charges, called Daybell from jail. "Hi baby", Vallow greets Daybell to which her husband, audibly distressed, replies, "They are searching the property... They’re out in the property." "Are they seizing stuff again?", Vallow asks to which he responds, "They are searching." The haunting phone call was previously played during a court hearing for Chad Daybell two years ago.
'I’m feeling pretty calm'
Jurors previously heard about the harrowing details when the police discovered JJ and Tylee’s remains. Daybell. who took his car during the search was asked by Vallow during the call, "What do you want me to do? Just pray?" He replies, "Yeah, pray." Vallow then asks Daybell, "What can I do for you?" Daybell responds, "I’m feeling pretty calm. I would call Mark [Daybell’s son] maybe. Talk with him."
The trial previously heard that Daybell was awoken by the authorities and answered the door while holding a bowl of cereal. The investigators arrived at his house to carry out the warrant which eventually unearthed the bodies. The police sealed off the property and began the search.
'I love you so much'
The call ends as Daybell tells Vallow, "I love you so much." Vallow tells him, "I love you and we’ll talk soon" and says she’ll try to call him later that day. However, investigators were able to catch Daybell who tried to flee the scene in his car "at speed".
Vallow's behavior has shifted throughout the week from initially relaxed to visibly agitated at times. During the opening arguments on Monday, April 10, she was seen exchanging smiles with her defense team. But on Wednesday, the conversations with her legal team appeared more serious. Relatives of Vallow’s ex-husband, Charles Vallow, attended court on Wednesday, including his son and ex-wife. Charles Vallow was shot dead by Vallow’s brother, Alex Cox, in July 2019.
The trial was postponed just after midday. It later emerged one of the prosecution's lead attorneys reported a death in their family. In a statement, the prosecution team said, "The court and defense have been gracious in allowing the prosecution to adjust to this personal situation."