Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Family Of Idaho Mom Whose Kids Mysteriously Vanished Details Her Bizarre Descent Into Doomsday 'Cult'

Family Of Idaho Mom Whose Kids Mysteriously Vanished Details Her Bizarre Descent Into Doomsday 'Cult'
Rexburg Police Department
Make us preferred on Google

Idaho police and the extended family of two missing children—Tylee Ryan age 17 and Joshua "JJ" Vallow age 7—are looking for the public's help to find them.

According to the children's family, their uncle killed their father after their mother joined a doomsday cult.


Lori Vallow Daybell was married to Charles Vallow when she joined the group Preparing a People according to Charles Vallow's sister.

Kay Vallow Woodcock shared her story on Facebook in the hopes of someone seeing it who could help them find Rylee and JJ.

Vallow Woodcock posted a lengthy explanation on her Facebook page along with the below video:

"This story is about my grandson [nephew] Joshua Jaxon (JJ) Vallow. Born here in Lake Charles, [Louisiana]. My beloved brother Charles and his wife Lori adopted him in 2013."
"He's a beautiful, intelligent 7 y/o with the biggest heart, most beautiful smile & has life challenges of a level 2 boy on the Autism spectrum. Early intervention allowed him to flourish beyond all expectations. Lori was a wonderful, loving, attentive mother. Things started changing over the past 18+ months when Lori began spending all her time with a new religious group, that we refer to as a 'cult'."
"She eventually deserted my brother & JJ for 2.5 months early this year. Charles did his best to save the marriage, of which she had no interest. On July 11, 2019 in Chandler, [Arizona], Charles went to Lori's home (which he paid for) to get JJ & take to school."
"She and her brother Alex were there. Alex shot Charles twice in the chest killing him, claiming self-defense. 4 people were there that day. Lori, Alex and these 2 missing children. Alex mysteriously passed away on 12/12 & these two children haven't been seen since September 23rd."
"Worse still, Lori already remarried and the wife of her new husband Chad Daybell, mysteriously died on October 19th, in Rexburg, [Idaho]. I'm posting this and articles related to the case begging anyone who believes in justice to please share my post."
"Help us shed light on this. Someone out there knows something but doesn't know how all the pieces fit together. Help me connect them with the police so we can bring justice to my brother and the other victims. Please join us in prayer that we find JJ & Tylee alive."
"Anyone with information please call: Rexburg (Idaho) Police Department, at1-208-359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), at 1-800-THE-LOST."

After the death of her estranged husband Charles Vallow, Lori went on to marry self-proclaimed Latter-day Saint prophet Chad Daybell. He authored several books about the end of the world.

According to the Rexberg, Idaho police:

"We know that the children are not with Lori and Chad Daybell, and we also have information indicating that Lori knows either the location of the children or what has happened to them."
"Despite having this knowledge, she has refused to work with law enforcement to help us resolve this matter."

Police are also investigating the death of Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy Daybell, who was found dead in October 2019.

Police confirmed the couple is affiliated with Preparing with People, a group that says its mission is to "help prepare the people of this earth for the second coming of Jesus Christ."

Lori's former husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed in July 2019 by her brother Alex in Arizona. Alex Cox wasn't charged as he claimed it was self-defense. Cox then died in December 2019.

His death is under investigation in Arizona.

Police in Idaho stated:

"Our primary concern at this point is simply locating Joshua and Tylee. Charging decisions will be made in due course based upon the evidence available."
"If we find that harm was done to these children within our jurisdiction, we will prosecute whoever caused that harm."
"We are aware that in the weeks after Tammy Daybell's death, Lori Vallow/Daybell and Chad Daybell told witnesses that Lori's daughter [Tylee] had died a year before the death of her father [Charles Vallow], which is untrue."
"Around that same time Chad told another witness that Lori had no minor children."
"It is astonishing that rather than work with law enforcement to help us locate her own children, Lori Vallow has chosen to leave the state with her new husband."

The children were last seen in September 2019.

Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee RyanNational Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Anyone with information please call: Rexburg (Idaho) Police Department, at1-208-359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), at 1-800-THE-LOST.

The book Doomsday Cults: Death,Destruction and Despair. Inside the World's Most Dangerous Cults is available here.

More from Trending

Elliot Page
Theo Wargo / Staff/Getty Images

Elliot Page Revealed That He's Had No Offers Following His Critically-Acclaimed Performance In 'The Odyssey'—And Fans Are Sounding Off

There can be little doubt that the cinematic hit of the summer was Christopher Nolan's bold new interpretation of Homer's classic The Odyssey, which has gone on to gross over $1.5 billion.

One of the most acclaimed performances among the film's high-profile cast came from Academy Award nominee Elliot Page in the role of Sinon, one of the key players behind the legendary Trojan Horse.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ellen Pompeo
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival

Ellen Pompeo Sparks Representation Debate After Being Cast As Woman With Hearing Loss In New TV Series

Actor Ellen Pompeo has sparked a debate about representation after announcing her next television gig.

Pompeo, best known for her long-running stint as the titular Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy, is set to star in a new medical drama in development at Hulu playing a character with hearing loss.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

It Looks Like Trump's Tacky Monument To Himself In DC May Become A Reality—And People Are Truly Disgusted

Critics pounced on President Donald Trump's latest vanity project after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that excavation will begin for an enormous arch that will bear Trump's name.

Trump has given significant attention to White House renovations and other pet projects around Washington, D.C., since returning to office. Trump's White House renovations have already cost nearly $1 billion, according to one analysis.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kevin Dillon, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Debi Mazar, Doug Ellin, Jerry Ferrara, Rex Lee and Jeremy Piven posing on a red carpet event in front of an "Entourage" step and repeat.
Gregg DeGuire / Contributor/Getty Images

'Entourage' Creator Speaks Out After Debi Mazar Claims Set Became 'Toxic' After Birth Of Her 2nd Child

Loosely inspired by the early days of Mark Wahlberg's rise to fame in Hollywood, Entourage, which Wahlberg executive-produced, was one of the most successful original series ever produced by HBO.

Premiering in 2004, Entourage went on to run eight seasons, and win six Emmy awards, even spawning a film, which premiered on HBO in 2015.

Keep ReadingShow less
Evan Rachel Wood reflects on being recast in Practical Magic 2 after originating the role of Kylie Owens.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images; Courtesy of Warner Bros.

'Practical Magic' Star Evan Rachel Wood Reveals Nobody From Original Film Reached Out To Her Before Her Role Was Re-Cast For Sequel

When Practical Magic 2 was announced last year, fans were ready to head back to the Owens family home—but apparently, not everyone from the original cast got the invitation.

The sequel picks up 25 years after the 1998 cult classic, with Joey King and Maisie Williams taking over as Kylie and Antonia Owens, the daughters of Sandra Bullock’s Sally. The recasting hasn’t exactly worked its magic on everyone, with fans complaining about Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip being replaced in the roles they originated.

Keep ReadingShow less