Testimonies continue on day 3 of Lori Vallow Daybell trial

PHOENIX — Day three of testimony in convicted murderer Lori Vallow Daybell’s latest trial in Arizona is underway.

She’s accused of conspiring with her brother to kill her former husband, Charles Vallow.  She pleaded not guilty and is representing herself at trial.  

On day two of testimony, the prosecution continued calling more witnesses, including first responders who were called to the scene where Charles Vallow died.  The judge cautioned Vallow Daybell about her commentary during cross-examination, saying it was a form of testimony and it wasn’t allowed.

The trial is set to resume at 10:30 AM local time and we’ll be providing live updates throughout the day.

TUESDAY: Here’s everything that happened on Day 2 of Lori Vallow Daybell’s murder conspiracy trial in Arizona

11:52 AM – Lori comes up for cross-examination.  You can feel the awkwardness in the room. She starts asking Hancock whether she knew Charles was still married.  Hancock testified that she understood Charles was in the process of getting a divorce.  When Lori asks if Hancock dates married men, the state calls objects and calls it harassment.

Lori asks about what they talked about on the date – if they talked about her a lot.

Hancock said, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Lori continues asking questions, ultimately asking about everything Charles said about her.

The judge asks to remove the jury.  Once they leave, he asks Lori if she’s sure she wants Hancock to answer that question because it could “open up a really big door.”

Lori said she’s sure.  They ultimately break for lunch.  Court will resume at 1:30 PM local time.

11:44 AM – Hancock said that she and Charles talked a lot and that he shared the issues he was having with Lori with her.  They met for the first time for dinner the night before he died. She said he was like “a kid in a candy store” about seeing JJ in the morning and taking him to school.

She said they made plans for later in the day on July 11, 2019.  She texted and called him, but he never answered.  She learned on the news in December that he had been shot and killed.  December is when Tylee and JJ were first publicly reported missing and elements of this case started to come together.

11:34 AM – The state calls Nancy Jo Hancock to the stand.  From opening statements, we understand this is a woman Charles Vallow went on a date with the night before he was shot.  Hancock says they met on an LDS dating site.

11:26 AM – Kay asks about the significance of where the bullets were found.  She confirms with Detective Coons that the evidence shows Charles Vallow was shot in the abdomen while he was on the ground.  He says yes.  She ends questioning and goes to get her next witness.

11:08 AM – Prosecutor Treena Kay goes up for redirect, asking Detective Coons a number of questions related to the crime scene. 

10:49 AM – Vallow Daybell continues asking about the floorboard where the bullet (“projectile”) hit.  She seems more exasperated this morning when asking certain questions and dealing with objections.

She asks the detective a series of wrap-up questions, including whether he knew for sure that Alex Cox fired the gun.  He said that was the information that was provided.  Records indicate that Cox said he was the shooter.  She asks again if the detective really knows who shot her husband.  She ends her cross-examination.

10:43 AM – Vallow Daybell asks the detective about the shirt Charles Vallow was wearing.  She said it was bamboo.  She asks if the tight fabric could cause markings and the wound on Vallow’s body.  The prosecutor gives continued objections.  Coons testifies they did not test the fabric of Vallow’s shirt, but that it also did not cause the wound in this case.

10:36 AM – The jury is brought in and retired Chandler PD Detective Daniel Coons is on the stand.  Lori Vallow Daybell continues her cross-examination.  

She starts asking him questions about Charles Vallow’s relationship to Alex Cox.  She asks if he knew they were friends.  The state gives a slew of objections, all are seemingly sustained.

10:30 AM – Lori Vallow Daybell comes into the courtroom with a black blazer, dark pants and purple shirt. Part of her hair is in a high ponytail.  She’s wearing glasses.

Before the jury is brought in, Vallow Daybell makes a motion to strike Detective Coons’ testimony.  She said she didn’t want to argue, just wanted to put it on the record.  

10:11 AM – Members of the media and the public are lined up outside the courtroom.

Vallow Daybell was already convicted in Idaho for murdering her children, Tylee and JJ. She was also convicted for her role in the death of Tammy Daybell, her current husband Chad Daybell’s first wife. 

Chad Daybell was also convicted in Idaho for murdering Lori’s children and his first wife, Tammy.  He was sentenced to death in that state.

Vallow Daybell was extradited to Arizona after her convictions in Idaho in 2023.

Her brother, Alex Cox, can’t be charged in this case because he died in December 2019 before charges were brought in court.

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