Police: Mother Of Missing Idaho Children Not Cooperating, Flees State With New Husband
Dec 30, 2019, 5:40 PM | Updated: May 31, 2024, 5:35 am
FILE: Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell
REXBURG, Idaho – Officials with the Rexburg Police Department said the mother of two children who were last seen in September has left the state with her new husband and refuses to cooperate with law enforcement agents.
Police also said Monday that they have information indicating the mother, Lori Vallow, knows the location of 7-year-old Joshua Vallow and his sister 17-year-old Tylee Ryan or knows what has happened to them.
“We publicly call on Lori Vallow/Daybell and Chad Daybell to do the right thing and come forward with the information they have about the location and welfare of Joshua and Tylee,” Rexburg police said in a statement. “This entire investigation could have been avoided if Lori and Chad had simply been honest with law enforcement.”
Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan were reported missing on Nov. 26 and had not been seen since September, according to officials.
Police believe the two children’s lives are in danger.
Lori Vallow’s husband, Chad Daybell, was being sought for questioning by police after his previous wife, Tammy Daybell, was found dead on Oct. 19 in Fremont County.
Authorities said they deemed Tammy Daybell’s death suspicious and exhumed her remains on Dec. 11.
Police said Vallow and Chad Daybell lied and told witnesses that Tylee had died a year before her biological father’s death and Daybell later said Vallow had no minor children.
Vallow has refused to cooperate with police and the couple “abruptly” left their home and fled the area, according to police.
“It is astonishing that rather than work with law enforcement to help us locate her own children, Lori Vallow has chosen instead to leave the state with her new husband,” Rexburg police said.
Police said they’ve made no progress despite receiving hundreds of tips and asked anyone with information to continue to contact police.
No charges had been filed as police said their primary focus is to locate Joshua and Tylee.
“…Charging decisions will be made in due course based upon the evidence available.” Rexburg police said. “If we find that harm was done to these children within our jurisdiction, we will prosecute whoever caused that harm.”
