Friend testifies Lori Vallow Daybell threatened to kill, cut up and bury her
May 3, 2023, 11:43 AM | Updated: 9:24 pm
BOISE, Idaho – A former friend, in bombshell testimony, said Lori Vallow Daybell threatened to kill, cut up and “bury me where no one would ever find me.”
The testimony of Audrey Barattiero in Vallow Daybell’s murder trial in Boise seemed to shock the defense lawyers, who reminded her in cross examination that the same testimony had not been given during grand jury, pre-trial testimony, where she swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Larry Woodcock reacts to testimony today that Lori’s friend said Lori threatened to kill and bury her “where no one would find her.” #LoriVallowDaybell #LoriVallowTrial @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/qAWU59nbGp
— Lauren Steinbrecher (@LaurenSnews) May 3, 2023
“I was scared because she (Vallow Daybell) said, ‘If you ever tell anyone, I’ll come and find you in the dark night,'” Barattiero said. The shocking revelations came about an hour into her testimony.
Click here for complete coverage of the Lori Vallow Daybell trial
The revelations came after the prosecution was asking her a second set of questions, just as it seemed her time on the stand was about to be concluded. The line of questions came when defense team seemed to be trying to create doubt about her credibility and had asked why she remained friends with the defendant after there had been talk of zombies and getting evil spirits out of people.
Then the prosecution had another chance to question her and in an attempt to counter the defense, Barattiero explained she had been threatened and then specified the threats that coincided with her decision to dissolve their friendship.
This is a former friend. She says in Oct 2019 a week or so after Tammy died, this friend became uncomfortable and wanted to leave Lori’s townhome. I will tweet out a ROUGH log of what she said happened. #LoriVallowTrial #LoriVallowDaybell @KSL5TV
— Lauren Steinbrecher (@LaurenSnews) May 3, 2023
In extensive news print and TV news stories and documentaries about the case, Barattiero’s claims have never been heard before. It was apparent Wednesday, that included the defense team.
Barattiero testified she was staying with Vallow Daybell in Idaho and that night, as she was heading upstairs to pack her bag, Vallow Daybell laughed at her and told her she was trusting, like a child, and threatened her.
The prosecution asked her to focus on the threats.
“She threatened to kill me,” Barattiero said, crying during this portion of her testimony.
Prosecution: “Did she say how?”
“Yes. She said that she would cut me up, and something about she wasn’t in the mental place to do that now, but she would get herself in the mental place to do it … and it would be so messy, with so much blood, and she mentioned bleach, trash bags and she would bury me where no one would ever find me.”
The defense had further redirect and seemed to try to question the validity of the previously unspoken revelation that she had her life threatened, prodding her to repeat the shocking information and grouping fantasy elements like unicorns and rainbows with the statement about cutting her up and putting her in a trash bag.
“Yeah, she mentioned the trash bag,” Barattiero said.
“Why?” the defense asked.
Barattiero said Vallow Daybell brought up being at a scene, watching someone take their last breaths.
Murder victim and Vallow Daybell’s son JJ was found wrapped in plastic bags and buried on the Daybell’s property. Tylee Ryan was found buried near his body, cut up and burned beyond recognition as a human body, as shown in autopsy photos and according to previous testimony from law enforcement officers.
The vocally and visibly upset defense questioned Barattiero how she could expect a jury to believe her when she had previously never said anything of this nature before, because she was scared, and suddenly revealed it in court. Barattiero was asked if she expects the jury to believe she didn’t make the last part up.
Barattiero’s stuck by her claims.
Autopsies offer clues about killing, burial of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow
Before the new revelation, Barattiero had already testified Wednesday to having a close relationship with Vallow Daybell, including spending time with her in Utah, Arizona, Missouri and Hawaii.
Vallow Daybell and her fifth and current husband Chad Daybell are accused of multiple murders, but Vallow Daybell is currently on trial for killing her children Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and for conspiracy to commit murder on Daybell’s late wife Tammy Daybell.
Chad Daybell’s trial will be separate and has been postponed.
