They Believed Their Kids Were 'Zombies' — So They Killed Them
The case of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell has captured national attention for its chilling blend of extreme religious beliefs, manipulation, and murder. Once ordinary members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the couple's descent into fringe ideology fueled a series of deaths that shocked the country.
From Faith to Fringe
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell appeared to lead typical lives within their religious community. Lori, a mother of three, was described as a loving parent and devout Latter-day Saint. Chad was an author of religious fiction and ran a small publishing company. But beneath this surface, Chad embraced apocalyptic beliefs, claiming he had special insight into the end times after near-death experiences.
Their paths crossed in 2018 at a religious conference, where Lori quickly became captivated by Chad's doomsday teachings. Friends noticed her personality shift, and her estranged husband at the time said Lori believed she was "a resurrected being — a god" tasked with preparing for Christ's second coming, as reported by CBS News.
KSL5 News reports that together Lori and Chad developed a worldview centered on visions, past lives, and "dark spirits" possessing people, which they claimed gave them divine justification to kill anyone they believed had been turned into a "zombie" — including their own children.
The Path to Violence
The couple's radical beliefs soon had deadly consequences. In July 2019, Lori's estranged husband, Charles Vallow, was allegedly shot and killed by her brother, Alex Cox, during a dispute. Lori claimed Charles was possessed by a demon, an accusation she repeated about her children, 7-year-old J.J. Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan.
In October 2019, Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell, died under suspicious circumstances. Authorities later discovered that Tammy's death, initially ruled as natural, was a murder staged to collect life insurance. Just two weeks after the murder, Chad and Lori married in Hawaii.
Meanwhile, J.J. and Tylee seemingly vanished in September 2019, sparking a months-long search that gripped the nation. Concerned relatives repeatedly pleaded for help locating the siblings. Authorities executed search warrants and followed leads across multiple states, but it wasn't until June 2020 that investigators uncovered their remains on Chad's Idaho property. The discovery confirmed the worst fears of family and law enforcement, marking a tragic end to the extensive efforts to find the children.
Manipulation or Mutual Delusion?
The trials of both Lori and Chad highlighted the dangerous dynamics of their relationship. Prosecutors argued that Chad manipulated Lori, feeding her delusions about her divine mission, and encouraging her to view her family as obstacles to their greater purpose. Text messages between the pair revealed their shared belief that they had been married in a past life as "James and Elena," as reported by CBS News. As Prosecutor Rob Wood told the jury, Chad told Lori she was an "exalted goddess" chosen to lead 144,000 survivors in the apocalypse, according to The Independent.
While Chad's defense portrayed him as a submissive man controlled by Lori, experts and observers pushed back, saying that doesn't align with his religious upbringing. "So here we have a strange dichotomy: a man from a very patriarchal faith saying the women around him controlled him," said one analyst, according to The Independent.
A Tragic Legacy
Both Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell have now been convicted of their crimes. Lori was sentenced to life without parole in 2023, while Chad's trial concluded in 2024 with guilty verdicts on all charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder. In June 2024, an Idaho jury sentenced Chad Daybell to death.
The case has raised uncomfortable questions about how fringe beliefs can spiral into violence. Experts note that while radical ideologies are not uncommon, they rarely turn lethal. "In the United States of America ... We allow for people to have different ideas. That's not a problem. But I think with Chad and Lori at least ... when those ideas turn into the idea that they need to ... commit violence against other people, that's when those ideas really become dangerous," said Patrick Mason, director of Utah State University's Religious Studies program, according to KSL5 TV.
The saga of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell leaves a chilling legacy of how distorted beliefs and unchecked fanaticism can spiral into tragedy. From suburban lives to apocalyptic delusions, their story serves as a reminder of the deadly consequences when radical ideologies and personal ambition converge. The haunting details continue to captivate and horrify, ensuring their crimes won't soon be forgotten.
References: Lori Vallow Daybell: Everything to Know About the Idaho Mom Convicted of Killing Her 2 Kids | The exalted goddess and doomsday prophet: inside the cult-like dynamics of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell | Radicalized Religion: When did Lori Vallow Daybell's beliefs become dangerous? | Who is Chad Daybell? What to know about the "doomsday cult" murder case. | Chad Daybell sentenced to death in triple murder of family
