Arizona grand jury indicts Lori Vallow Daybell for conspiracy to kill ex-husband

An Arizona grand jury on Tuesday indicted Lori Vallow Daybell on one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2019 death of her ex-husband.

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The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office made the announcement on Tuesday, The Arizona Republic reported. The charges stem from a July 2019 shooting incident when her brother, Alexander Cox, reportedly fatally shot Charles Vallow, authorities said.

The charges were submitted Thursday, KNXV reported.

In May, Lori Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, were indicted in Idaho on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of her two children, Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua “J.J.” Vallow, in July 2020. The children were found buried in the backyard of Chad Daybell’s home in Idaho.

Lori Vallow Daybell was ruled incompetent to proceed in that trial and is receiving medical treatment, KTVK reported.

>> Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow Daybell indicted for murder in deaths of 2 children

Police in Chandler, Arizona, previously said that Charles Vallow was a Texas resident who was visiting his estranged wife when the two began arguing on July 11, 2019, the Republic reported. Cox was also at the home and told police he intervened after fearing the fight would become physical, the newspaper reported.

Charles Vallow died at the scene. Cox died five months later from a blood clot, KTVK reported.

In a recording of a 911 call released by Chandler police, Cox said he shot Charles Vallow in the chest with his .45.-caliber gun in self-defense after Vallow struck him in the head with a metal baseball bat, the Republic reported.

>> Lori Vallow Daybell declared unfit to stand trial; new charges filed in Arizona

Police questioned Lori Vallow Daybell and Cox but later released them, according to the newspaper. No criminal charges were filed at the time.

According to the indictment, police said they found evidence that Lori Vallow Daybell and Cox conspired to kill Charles Vallow before the incident occurred.

Lori Vallow Daybell “agreed with Cox that at least one of them or another” would murder Charles Vallow, the indictment said.

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