ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (Court TV) – Lori Vallow Daybell will remain behind bars for the rest of her life, with no chance of parole for her role in the deaths of two of her children along with her fifth husband’s former wife.
Kay and Larry Woodcock, the grandparents of JJ Vallow, embrace each other after Lori gave her victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing of Lori Vallow Daybell at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, Monday, July 31, 2023. Idaho mother Vallow Daybell has been sentenced to life in prison without parole Monday in the murders of her two youngest children and a romantic rival in a case that included bizarre claims that her son and daughter were zombies and that she was a goddess sent to usher in the Biblical apocalypse. (Tony Blakeslee/EastIdahoNews.com via AP, Pool)
Emotions ran high as loved ones read victim impact statements aloud in court on behalf of 7-year-old JJ Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and 49-year-old Tammy Daybell.
READ MORE: Lori Vallow Daybell sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole
Last month, Fremont County District Judge Steven Boyce ruled that only immediate family members of the victims would be permitted to speak at the sentencing hearing.
The following family members spoke on behalf of the victims:
- Colby Ryan: Lori’s oldest son and Tylee and JJ’s old brother
- Kay Woodcock: JJ’s grandmother and JJ’s designated representative
- Summer Shiflet: Lori’s sister and Tylee’s designated representative
- Samantha Gwilliam: Tammy’s sister
Lori Vallow Daybell sits during her sentencing hearing at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, Monday, July 31, 2023. The Idaho mother Vallow Daybell has been sentenced to life in prison without parole Monday in the murders of her two youngest children and a romantic rival. The case has included bizarre claims that her son and daughter were zombies and that she was a goddess sent to usher in the Biblical apocalypse. (Tony Blakeslee/EastIdahoNews.com via AP, Pool)
Other loved ones had expressed interest in speaking on behalf of the victims, but Judge Boyce had to eliminate them because they were not immediate family members. Tammy’s aunt, Vicki Hoban, was granted special permission to speak due to the fact that Tammy’s mother passed away in June; but Lori’s attorneys later argued that an aunt is not a victim under Idaho law, and therefore should not be permitted to speak. Judge Boyce kept his ruling, allowing Hoban to speak at the sentencing hearing.
WATCH: Judge Delivers Stern Address to Lori Vallow Daybell
Lori spoke before Judge Boyce handed down his sentence. The death penalty was not an option, as the judge took that option off the table back in March.
WATCH: Lori Vallow Daybell Talks Heavenly Visits From Slain Kids, Tammy Daybell
J.J. and Tylee (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via AP, File)
Lori, who is being housed at the Madison County Jail, will be transferred to the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction. She will serve out her time at the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center.
WATCH: Lori Vallow Daybell Sentenced
Lori also faces separate charges in Arizona in connection with the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, as well as conspiring to kill her ex nephew-in-law, Brandon Boudreaux.
