Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Case Timeline: A Chronicle of Tragedy and Doomsday Beliefs

Nov 06, 2025 0

In December 2019, the world learned that two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, and his sister, Tylee Ryan, were missing. Since then, a complicated story spanning multiple states and law enforcement agencies has unfolded.

The Vallow-Daybell doomsday murders consist of a series of killings-including child murder, filicide, and spousal murder-committed by an American couple, Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell. Chad and Lori led a Mormon religious sect described in the media as a "doomsday cult."

Below, you can find a timeline leading up to J.J. and Tylee’s disappearance, as well as what’s currently happening with the court case.

Here is a timeline of events in the case.

Today, people know Lori Vallow Daybell as the so-called "doomsday mom," stemming from coverage of her children's disappearance and deaths. She's been called a "monster" and a "cult mom."

Read also: Vallow-Daybell Trial: Key Evidence

The case was set in motion by the children's disappearances. Tylee was last seen alive on September 8, 2019, and J.J. on September 22, 2019.

Pre-2019

1990, March 9: Chad and Tammy Daybell marry in Manti, Utah. The couple raise their family in Springville, Utah, where they establish Spring Creek Book Company, through which Chad published many of his books. The couple have five children before moving to Salem, Idaho, in 2015. Tammy is employed as a school librarian.
2006: Lori Vallow marries her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. She has two children from a previous marriage, Colby and Tylee, who live with the couple.
2006, February: Lori marries Leland Charles Anthony Vallow, who commonly went by the name Charles.
2014: Charles and Lori adopt Joshua “JJ” Vallow, the biological grandson of Charles’ sister Kay Woodcock. The Vallow family moves to Kauai where records show they maintain a small business on the island.
2016-2017: The family moves back to the mainland.
2018, April 3: While living in Arizona, Joseph Anthony Ryan Jr. - father to Tylee and Lori’s third husband - passes away from a heart attack. According to the medical examiner’s report, the cause of death is ruled a heart attack. He is cremated and little other information is available about his death.
2018: Lori appears on a podcast about the second coming of Christ with Chad Daybell and several others to discuss the end of the world and how to “warrior up.” The podcast episode has since been deleted.
2018, Fall: Chad and Lori meet in the fall of 2018 at a religious conference in St. George, Utah. Lori attends a "Preparing a People" event where she met Chad for the first time. Chad claimed to Lori that they had been married in multiple previous lifetimes.
2018, October 26: A felony indictment indicates that on Oct. 26, 2018, Lori and Chad begin discussing their religious beliefs to justify killing Tammy, JJ and Tylee.

2019

2019, January 31: Arizona police body camera footage shows Charles pleading for Lori to receive mental health help at Community Bridges. Officers determined she had a normal state of mind and she was medically cleared by Community Bridges.
2019, February: Charles files for divorce, claiming Lori has begun to view herself as a god and is preparing the world for the second coming of Christ. In court documents, Charles claims that Lori would kill him if he did anything to get in the way of her mission. Charles also says Lori told him she would kill him if he got in her way of performing her mission. Lori goes to Hawaii in February for nearly two months and leaves JJ and Tylee with others. She spends time with friends and is in communication with Chad nearly every day.
2019, Around June: Lori’s niece, Melani Boudreaux, and her husband, Brandon Boudreaux, decide to divorce. Brandon claims Melani is affiliated with similar beliefs as her aunt and has joined “a cult.”
2019, July 11: Charles is killed by Lori’s brother Alex Cox during a confrontation at Lori’s home in Arizona. Alex tells police that Charles came at him with a bat, and he shot him in self-defense. Alex says the shooting was in self-defense.
2019, August: By the end of August, Lori, Tylee, JJ and Alex move to Rexburg, Idaho.
2019, September 3: Lori enrolls J.J. at Kennedy Elementary in Rexburg, where she now lives. Less than three weeks later, J.J. is removed - the school claims that Lori told them that he would be homeschooled. Tylee is never officially enrolled in any schools in Idaho, even though Lori later tells police her daughter was attending BYU-Idaho as a college student.
2019, September 8: Tylee is last seen alive on Sept. 8 at the entrance of Yellowstone National Park, along with Lori, Alex and J.J., according to a photo obtained by the Rexburg Police Department. The FBI asks the public to forward any photos they may have taken in the area at the time to assist with the search for Tylee. Tylee, JJ, Lori and Alex visit Yellowstone National Park. Officials say this is the last time anyone saw Tylee alive. Chad signs an application with Tammy on Sept. 8 to increase her life insurance to the maximum amount allowed on the policy.

2019, September 9: Phone records show Alex, Lori’s brother, on Chad property around the general area where Tylee’s remains were later found by investigators. Chad texts his wife, Tammy Daybell, telling her that he shot a raccoon and had buried it in the pet cemetery on their property. Chad allegedly texts Tammy saying he shot a raccoon and buried it in their pet cemetery.
2019, October 1: Lori rents a 10x10 storage unit from Self Storage Plus in Rexburg. Surveillance video shows Lori and an unidentified male believed to be Alex visit the unit at least nine times in October and once in November. Lori rents a 10×10 storage unit from Self Storage Plus in Rexburg.
2019, October 2: A gunshot is fired at Brandon Boudreaux, Lori’s former nephew-in-law, who escapes uninjured. The shooter was reportedly driving a Jeep registered to Lori’s Vallow’s now deceased ex-husband, Charles. Brandon returns from the gym to his Arizona home when he is shot at with the bullet missing his head by inches. That same day, Lori purchases a wedding ring on Amazon, later seen on her finger at her beach wedding with Chad.
2019, October 9: Tammy calls police, claiming she was shot at by a man using a defective paintball marker. Tammy calls 911 and says a masked man shot at her in her driveway with a paintball gun.
2019, October 19: Tammy unexpectedly passes away in her sleep at home in Salem, Idaho. No autopsy is conducted. Ten days later, Chad calls 911 and says Tammy passed away in her sleep at their Salem home. Tammy is buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville on Oct. 22 and the family holds a memorial service the following day.
2019, November 5: Lori and Chad get married in Hawaii. Two weeks after Tammy’s death, Chad and Lori are married in Hawaii on Nov. 5.
2019, November 26: Tylee and Ryan’s grandparents, Larry and Kay Woodcock, ask authorities to perform a welfare check on the children, whom they haven’t had contact with in months.Police report they do not see any indication of the children at the townhome on Pioneer Road. Lori tells police J.J. was currently staying with her friend, Melani Gibb, in Arizona. The Rexburg Police Department conducts a welfare check for JJ at the request of his grandparents, Larry and Kay Woodcock.
2019, November 27: The Rexburg Police Department acquire a search warrant to enter Lori and Chad’s home while the couple are not there. There’s no sign of the children or their whereabouts. The next morning, Nov. 27, the Rexburg Police Department serves a search warrant at Lori’s townhouse.
2019, December 1: Court documents reveal that Lori and Chad take an American Airlines flight to Lihue, Hawaii. Court documents indicate that on Dec. 1, Chad and Lori catch an American Airlines flight to Lihue, Hawaii.
2019, December 6: Melani Gibb contacts police and recants her initial statement, saying that Lori and Chad asked her to lie about J.J.’s whereabouts. Melanie Gibb contacts the Rexburg Police Department and tells officers Chad and Lori called her on Nov. 26.
2019, December 11: As deputies continue to investigate Chad, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office finds Tammy’s death to be “suspicious” and have her body exhumed. An autopsy is performed in Utah, but the results still have not been released to the public. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office determines Tammy Daybell’s death is “suspicious” and her body is exhumed on Dec. 11.
2019, December 12: Alex passes away under mysterious circumstances at his home in Gilbert, Arizona. An autopsy later found that he died from natural causes after blood clots were discovered in his lungs. Alex dies in Gilbert, Arizona at age 51.
2019, December 20: The Rexburg Police Department formally announces that J.J. and Tylee are considered missing and that their disappearance could be linked to Tammy’s death. The Rexburg Police Department announces JJ and Tylee are missing.
2019, December 21: Rexburg police now refer to Lori and Chad as ‘persons of interest’ in the disappearance of J.J. and Tylee. Police call Chad and Lori “persons of interest.”
2019, December 30: Rexburg Police issue a news release indicating they believe Lori knows what happened to her missing children and where they are. The Rexburg Police Department issues a news release saying they have information indicating Lori knows either the location of the children or what has happened to them.

2020

2020, January 3: Authorities search Chad’s home in Salem. Computers, cell phones, journals, documents and medications are taken and sent to an FBI lab for analysis. Local investigators and the FBI serve a search warrant on Chad’s home in Salem on Jan. 3.
2020, January 25: Authorities in Kauai serve Lori a notice stating she must produce her children to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare or to the Rexburg Police Department within five days or face obstruction charges. On Jan. 25, the Kauai Police Department serves Lori with a notice stating she must produce JJ and Tylee to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare or the Rexburg Police Department within five days.
2020, January 30: Lori misses the deadline. The childrens’ grandmother, Kay, holds a news conference expressing her disappointment in Lori refusing to come forward with any details about her childrens’ whereabouts. deadline to produce JJ and Tylee.
2020, February 20: Kauai police arrest Lori on an open warrant issued by Madison County and she is charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. She is also charged with resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. On Feb. 20, police in Kauai arrest Lori on a $5 million warrant out of Madison County.
2020, March 5: Lori is extradited back to Idaho where she makes her initial court appearance the next day, on March 6. Idaho authorities extradite Lori from Hawaii to Rexburg on March 5.
2020, June 9: Rexburg police obtain a second search warrant for Chad Daybell’s home. This time, authorities discover human remains on the property and bring in more equipment to investigate the property. On June 9, the Rexburg Police Department, FBI and Fremont County Sheriff’s Office serve a search warrant at Chad’s home. Chad is taken into custody about a mile from his home.
2020, June 10: Chad makes his initial appearance in court. His bail is set at $1 million. Chad makes his first court appearance on June 10 via video from the jail and bail is set at $1 million.
2020, June 29: Lori is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. On June 29, prosecutors file charges against Lori including two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.
2020, July 15: Lori pleads not guilty to misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court. On July 15, she pleads not guilty to misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court.
2020, August 21: Chad pleads not guilty to all four felony counts against him. Chad is arraigned before District Judge Steven Boyce on Aug. 21.
2020, September 1: Madison County prosecuting attorney Rob Wood asks the judge to combine Lori and Chad’s cases, since the state plans to present the same list of evidence and witnesses against both defendants. Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood files a motion on Sept. 1 asking to combine the cases for Chad and Lori.
2020, September 10: Lori pleads not guilty to the two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. On Sept. 10, Lori is arraigned in District Court where she pleads not guilty to the two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.

2021

2021, May 24: Chad and Lori are charged with the murders of Tammy Daybell, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow. a grand jury indicts Chad and Lori on murder charges.
2021, May 27: Lori’s case is delayed after she is deemed incompetent to stand trial.
2021, June 29: Lori is indicted by an Arizona grand jury on conspiracy to commit the murder of husband Charles. Lori Vallow Daybell was also charged with conspiring to murder Charles Vallow.
2021, August 5: Prosecutors announce they will seek the death penalty against Chad. Prosecutors announce they will seek the death penalty against Chad, NBC News reports.

2022

2022, April 11: Lori is deemed competent to stand trial ABC4 reports following a stay at a mental health facility. She is released back into the custody of the Fremont County sheriff.Judge Steven Boyce ruled Lori Vallow Daybell is now mentally competent to stand trial in the Idaho murder case.
2022, April 19: Lori is arraigned.
2022, May 2: Prosecutors announce they will pursue the death penalty against Lori NBC News reports. Lori Vallow Daybell will qualify for capital punishment if she is convicted at her trial later this year because the slayings were exceptionally depraved and carried out for financial gain, according to court documents filed by prosecuting attorneys from Fremont and Madison counties on May 2.

2023

2023, April 3: Lori’s trial begins at an Idaho courthouse. Chad will be tried separately, however a trial date for his case has not been selected. Attorneys began selecting 18 potential jurors for the trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, charged in what prosecutors say was a doomsday-focused plot.
2023, May 12: A jury found Lori guilty on all counts. She faces life in prison upon sentencing. An Idaho jury found Lori Vallow Daybell, the mom charged with murder in the deaths of two of her children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow, guilty on all charges.
2023, July 31: Lori was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of her two children, Tylee Ryan and J.J., as well as conspiring to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell, her husband’s first wife. Lori Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life without parole, the maximum penalty, on the charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

2025

2025, April 22: Lori Vallow Daybell was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the 2019 killing of her estranged husband in Arizona. Lori Vallow Daybell was found guilty by an Arizona jury of conspiring to murder her estranged husband, Charles.
2025, July 25: Lori Vallow Daybell receives new life sentences Lori Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison on two murder conspiracy convictions in Ar...

Key Figures in the Case

Name	Role
Chad Daybell	Lori Vallow's husband, charged with murder and conspiracy.
Lori Vallow Daybell	Mother of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, convicted of murder and conspiracy.
Tylee Ryan	Lori Vallow's daughter, victim of murder.
Joshua "JJ" Vallow	Lori Vallow's adopted son, victim of murder.
Charles Vallow	Lori Vallow's husband, murdered by Alex Cox.
Tammy Daybell	Chad Daybell's first wife, murdered.
Alex Cox	Lori Vallow's brother, killed Charles Vallow and later died.
Kay Woodcock	Charles Vallow's sister and JJ Vallow's grandmother.

This timeline provides a detailed overview of the key events in the Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow case, capturing the tragic sequence of events and the legal proceedings that followed.

Lori Vallow & Chad Daybell: Unraveling the Dark Secrets Behind the Murders

Read also: The Life of Chad Everett Harris