Lori Vallow Daybell Refuses Court Transport, Delays Arizona Competency Hearing

Lori Vallow Daybell, convicted in Idaho of murdering her two children and now facing charges in Arizona, caused a significant delay in her legal proceedings when she refused to be transported to court for a Rule 11 competency hearing. The hearing was scheduled to assess her mental fitness for trial in connection to the death of her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, and an attempted murder charge involving her ex's nephew, Brandon Boudreaux.

Vallow Daybell, a former Chandler resident, was found guilty in 2023 for the deaths of her 7-year-old son, Joshua "J.J." Vallow, and her 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan. Their bodies were discovered in her Idaho backyard in 2020. She is serving a life sentence without parole and was later extradited to Arizona after Governor Katie Hobbs approved the transfer. In Arizona, she is accused of conspiracy to commit murder in Charles Vallow's July 2019 shooting and suspected of attempting to kill Boudreaux.

The delay arose during Thursday’s hearing when Vallow Daybell did not show up for the scheduled court session. Her defense initially sought to have the competency hearing concluded based on a report from Dr. Michael McGady. However, Commissioner Travis Marderosian expressed hesitation, stating he usually requires the defendant’s presence for such decisions. He was willing to consider an exception if the prosecution agreed.

Maricopa County prosecutor Katie Staab argued that without a second competency report from Dr. Camille Hernandez, they could not move forward. Dr. Hernandez had been unable to complete her assessment due to Vallow Daybell's refusal to participate. “I just want it to be clear for the record that the state is not employing a delay tactic in not stipulating to one report,” Staab said. “We need Dr. Hernandez to be able to offer an opinion for the purposes of the record, especially if the defendant is trying to represent herself.”

Vallow Daybell's mental competency has been questioned in the past. In her Idaho case, she underwent almost a year of treatment before being deemed fit for trial. In Arizona, the matter of her mental fitness became relevant after her original defense team requested a Rule 11 evaluation. The situation shifted when she later expressed a desire to end those proceedings and represent herself.

Thursday’s proceedings were meant to facilitate this transition, but the delay in Dr. Hernandez’s report, now expected by December 2, has pushed back the timeline. The court has scheduled a status conference for November 20, with another Rule 11 hearing set for December 5.

This latest development underscores the complexity of Vallow Daybell’s legal battles. Her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, had previously expressed concerns about her mental health in court documents, claiming she was fixated on a biblical doomsday and had threatened his life. Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alexander Cox, shot and killed Charles Vallow in what he claimed was self-defense. Cox later died of natural causes in December 2019.

The saga has been further complicated by her association with Chad Guy Daybell, who was sentenced to death for the murders of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and Vallow Daybell’s two children. Vallow Daybell’s current defense team, the Office of the Legal Defender, has not commented on the recent events.

The case continues to capture public interest as it unfolds, with many watching closely to see how Vallow Daybell’s mental competency and legal defense evolve in Arizona.
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