Lori Vallow Waives Extradition From Hawaii To Idaho

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The mother of two missing children will be heading back to Idaho after she unexpectedly waived extradition from Hawaii.

It was a surprise reversal from the request for an extradition hearing during Lori Vallow’ last court appearance.

Defense Attorney Craig De Costa told the judge Wednesday Vallow was not disputing she is the person charged by the state of Idaho.

“She would like to expedite her return there so that she can defend herself against these false accusations,” he said.

“The next step will be agents from the state of Idaho coming to Kauai to pick her up and transport her back,” Kauai County prosecutor Justin Kollar said after the hearing. “We’re just grateful that our chapter in this saga is coming to an end and… hopefully justice will prevail in the larger case.”

JJ Vallow, age 7, and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, age 17, still not been seen since September. Vallow was ordered by an Idaho court to produce the children to show they were safe in November.

Lori Vallow stayed mostly silent as her attorney Craig De Costa tried to convince the judge to reduce her bail from $5 million.

“I have never seen a class B felony case where bail was set at over $1 million,” De Costa said. “What we’re here for today is to ask this court to treat Lori the same as anyone else that comes before this court facing class B felonies.”

Vallow was arrested a week earlier in Hawaii and faces several charges including two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of children.

“The $5 million was appropriate at the time and remains appropriate today,” Kollar said.

He argued Vallow has a history of defying court orders – pointing to child custody cases in 2009 and 2011.

De Costa pushed back, arguing that, “Bringing up something that’s nine years old… I don’t think that’s important and should be ignored by the court.”

The defense attorney also argued Vallow was not a flight risk and would be more than willing to pay a lower bail amount and pay her own way back to Idaho to face charges.

“She’s not a flight risk just because Idaho decided to file charges after she had already gone through with a previously planned move,” he said.

“This case is extraordinary, especially given the fact that the very same day investigators went to her house, she dug out to Hawaii,” Kollar noted in court.

In the end the judge stood by her earlier decision, saying, “Bail is confirmed at $5 million.”

“Well, we think the judge made the right decision,” Kollar said after the hearing. “She’s facing some extremely serious charges you know, with the possibility of, of course, more to come.”

The judge asked Kollar to request that Idaho send agents to pick up Vallow, “as soon as possible.”

A status hearing was scheduled for March 4, in case there are any problems with plans to return her to Idaho.