J.J. Vallow.Photo:Rexburg Police Department
Rexburg Police Department
The body ofJ.J. Vallow, son of convicted murdererLori Vallow Daybell, has been released to his grandparents, more than three years after he was found dead in the backyard of his mother’s husband’s Idaho property.
In this case, J.J.’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, are his closest living relatives and will be able to finally lay him to rest.
“The last several years have been filled with pain and grief as we traveled this long arduous road,” the Woodcocks wrote in a joint statementposted to X(formerly Twitter) on Monday. “We have waited and prayed for this day for so long and are immeasurably relieved that JJ will finally be laid to rest.”
“We have spent the past days immersed in the memories of the love and happiness that JJ shined and continues to shine on our life,” the statement continued. “As we reminisce in the joy that JJ filled our life with, our hearts ache for those that love JJ and share in the immense grief and loss of such a beautiful little man.”
Lori Vallow Daybell, the mother of J.J. and his 16-year-old sister, Tylee Ryan, was convicted of their murders in May, along with conspiring to murder Tammy Daybell. Tammy was married to Lori’s fifth husband Chad Daybell for nearly 30 years before her death. Lori has since been sentenced to life in prison and is facing charges in Arizona on a separate case.
From left: J.J. Vallow, Tylee Ryan, and Tammy Daybell.Rexburg Police Department; Tammy Daybell/Facebook
Rexburg Police Department; Tammy Daybell/Facebook
J.J. and Tylee went missing in September 2019. Tammy died in the home she shared with Chad on October 19 of that same year. Two weeks later on November 5, Lori and Chad — an author who wrote about religious doomsday scenarios — married in Hawaii.
Tylee’s manner of death was homicide, but her cause of death was undetermined. Her autopsy took several days because her remains were not found intact.
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The following day, Lori and Chad were charged with multiple charges, including concealment of evidence. In May 2021, they were both indicted on multiple charges in connection with the deaths of the J.J., Tylee and Tammy.
Lori was a follower of Chad’s religious doomsday writings and beliefs, which held that Lori’s children were zombies and Lori was a “goddess,” among other outlandish theories.
Lori Vallow Daybell.Kyle Green/AP
Kyle Green/AP
In opening statements of the weeks-long trial, Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake said the case was about “money, power and sex.”
“Lori used money, power and sex or the promise of those things to get what she wanted,” Blake said.
Chad, 54, will be tried separately in April. He has pleaded not guilty.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear if Tylee’s remains will be released from state custody.
“We are anxious to find out when Tylee too can be laid to rest,” the Woodcocks said in the statement. “Our greatest wish is for JJ and Tylee to be celebrated for the joy and love they brought to this world and for them to finally rest in peace. Only then, will our hearts begin to heal.”
source: people.com
