Lori Vallow found unfit to stand trial following mental health evaluation
May 27, 2021, 3:13 PM | Updated: May 30, 2024, 12:24 am
REXBURG, Idaho — Lori Vallow Daybell has been found unfit to stand trail after a mental health evaluation deemed her “not competent.”
The announcement came Thursday after Vallow’s psychological well-being was called into question by her attorney.
According to court documents, the court entered an Order of Competency Evaluation for Lori Vallow-Daybell on March 8, 2021.
The evaluation was ordered on the previous case charging Vallow-Daybell with two counts of conspiracy to conceal, alter or destroy evidence in the murders of her children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan.
A licensed clinical psychologist was brought in to perform the assessment.
“The completed assessment determined that at this time the Defendant is not competent to proceed, and recommends restorative treatment,” read court documents.
#UPDATE: Murder charges against #LoriVallow – #Daybell also on pause for deaths of #TyleeRyan #JJVallow & #TammyDaybell. “Case is stayed,” following mental health report for prior charges. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/8gQZ5Mh6La
— Garna Mejia (@GarnaMejiaKSL) May 27, 2021
The state was contesting the findings of the evaluation, according to court documents.
A hearing, not yet scheduled, will be held to determine if the stay in the case will remain.
Also on Thursday, Magistrate Judge Steven Boyce ordered a stay in the murder charges filed earlier in the week by Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake.
Prosecutors have not yet announced if they will pursue the death penalty for the two counts of first-degree murder Vallow-Daybell is facing for the deaths of her children.
On Wednesday, JJ Vallow’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, told East Idaho News they want prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
“We do hope they want a capital case. We want a capital case, absolutely,” said Kay.
Criminal Defense Attorney Greg Skordas, a former Salt Lake County prosecutor, has been following the case closely. He said the next step is to get Lori Vallow-Daybell treatment.
“She could be restored, and the judge has ordered that a restoration process begin, which means that she will be medicated (and) hospitalized,” he said. “She’ll be treated and they will determine at a later day whether her competency to stand trial is in fact restored.”
The Chandler Police Department in Arizona announced on Thursday that their investigation into the death of Charles Vallow, Lori’s third husband, was complete.
Detectives said the investigation was submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office on April 1, 2021 and is currently under review.
A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office told KSL-TV their review was on-going and had no time limit.
The case is being screened 1 count of “conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.”
If they move forward, Skordas said it could go to a Grand Jury.
“There’s also a significant amount of privacy to the grand jury process, so in some cases, that is preferred,” Skordas said.
In July of 2019, Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Charles, alleging self-defense, after witnessing what he said was a confrontation between Lori and Charles.
Skordas said the court proceedings in Idaho will not affect the Arizona case.
In the meantime, Chad Daybell’s proceedings are moving forward. His arraignment has been set for June 9th at 10:30 a.m.
