DAY 9 | LIVE UPDATES: Daybell case resumes as Melanie Gibb gives explosive testimony on the stand

LIVE UPDATES FROM LORI VALLOW DAYBELL’S TRIAL

4:45 p.m. Here are all of the sketches from today. Melanie Gibb, Lori Vallow Daybell, Det. Nathan Duncan and John Thomas.

3:29 p.m. Court is now adjourned for the day. Questions will continue tomorrow with Duncan. If we get the audio of the blessing, I will play it tonight on Courtroom Insider. 7:30 p.m. MT on my Facebook page and the EastIdahoNews.com YouTube page. Plus all the other details from today.

3:28 p.m. Chad ends the blessing and you hear Lori say, “Amen.” Blake has one follow-up question asking if there was a timestamp when the recording was made. It was on Nov. 24, 2019.

3:26 p.m. Chad says Alex now has nine angels assigned to him to watch over him for his faithfulness. Chad blesses Alex with a strong protection against Satan and his followers – Lucifer, Cain, anyone else who comes after him.

3:25 p.m. Chad blesses Alex with strength, power and dominion over the callings he will receive. Chad says Alex is part of a special team of people moving toward translation and the Lord will be with him at all times. Chad says Alex will be a patriarch in his own home and the veil will basically be gone.

3:23 p.m. Chad says Alex will be an angel on earth and will literally glow for those who are allowed to see him. “At the proper time after many years of service in such ways, as the Second Coming approaches, you will know when it’s time to move to the other side. This body that has served you well will lay down one day and your spirit will leave this body. You will be greeted wholeheartedly and welcomed by the Savior himself. You will already know him but that reunion will take place on a greater plane. You will feel the vibration will exceed all. Before the Second Coming appears, your body will rest a day or two and much like himself you will be resurrected.” Chad says Alex will be right at the front of the “amazing kingdom of angels that will sweep the earth” as he’s crying.

3:21 p.m. Chad says Alex will be able to raise vibrations and will be given assignments to go further into the world always serving with a companion and they will communicate with Mother Earth herself. “You will know where to be before natural disasters happen. You will be on location to protect key leaders and to preserve them as you gather little children in your arms saving them from floodwaters.” Chad is choking back his tears and sniffling.

3:19 p.m. Chad to Alex: “You will be known throughout the world for your good-heartedness and your ability to save souls throughout the world through portals. You will be able to gather the souls who come unto Christ. I see you as a messenger of the Lord. Your mission will be go among the people and testify as a prophet.” Chad starts to cry and continues to give his blessing through tears.

3:18 p.m. Chad to Alex: “The Savior is saying unto me well done. Thy soul is cleansed. All is well. You will be a powerful servant. I bless you with the knowledge that you will now forward as a true warrior.”

3:17 p.m. Chad to Alex in blessing: “The lessons you had to learn in your youth have made you a strong, powerful servant of the Lord that could not have happened in a traditional LDS home. You had to go to great depth to achieve tremendous heights.”

3:15 p.m. Chad said Jesus Christ chose Alex and he was right by his sister always. Alex had a humble heart and then was exalted in the fourth creation. Chad says he could have gone on to exaltation with Holly but accepted the SAvior’s invitation one more time to come to this mortal realm to condescend as a God. “You have already assisted us in ways that can never be repaid. You will continue to do so as you move forward in this life.”

3:13 p.m. Chad’s voice is monotone. He tells Alex he is to be a missionary and Chad says he is going to open the portals of time. Chad says in Alex’s previous creations, he was a valiant warrior fighting for truth and righteousness always seeking to do what is right.

3:12 p.m. Blake asks to admit the recording of the blessing. It’s 15 minutes long. We are now hearing the blessing. Chad says the blessing was given in the Church of the Firstborn.

3:09 p.m. Lori’s iCloud account was LORIFORSTYLE. Duncan found a blessing for Alex Cox on the iCloud account. There was an audio recording and a Word document. Chad and Lori were on the recording. The blessing was called a patriarchal blessing. Duncan says those types of blessings are attached to the Mormon religion – the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s a blessing given to any worthy member of the church by a stake patriarch given for guidance through your life. Chad gave Alex Cox the blessing but Chad was not the stake patriarch.

3:09 p.m. Duncan says the call to the funeral home was placed the evening following Charles’ death. The phone number on the call had been confirmed to Chad’s phone. Charles was originally from Louisiana.

3:07 p.m. The funeral director explains all the fees for the transfer of the cremains. Total price is around $2,000. Chad says, “That helps me a lot. I’m going to call one or two others if we come that direction. Thank you so much.”

3:05 p.m. Funeral director now talking with Chad. He says his uncle doesn’t have many relatives. Chad says he’s his nephew and he lives in Iowa. “What the family basically wants is to have him cremated in Chandler and have his cremains shipped to New Orleans and we will deal with his service later.”

3:03 p.m. The operator asks if the person who died is at a nursing home, hospital or residence. Chad says he passed away at a hospital but he doesn’t know the details. Chad says he thinks they are sending him to the medical examiner and then says, “I should have had more information before I called.”

3:01 p.m. “We just had a death in the family and we really don’t want anything but a cremation and then to send the cremains to family in Louisiana. Just a simple, nothing other than cremation and sending for a service in Louisiana. Is there any way to know a ballpark price,” Chad says on the call. Chad says his name is Chad Daybell – but then Spells is DABEL. He is asked how he’s related to the person who passed. Chad says, “I’m his nephew.” The operator asks what his uncle’s name is for reference. Chad says, “John Myron Dabel.”

3:01 p.m. Blake asks to admit the call into evidence. It is now being played for the jury.

2:59 p.m. Duncan explains that police in multiple jurisdictions were looking for any information in Jan. 2020 about JJ and Tylee, Tammy Daybell’s death, Charles Vallow’s death and the shooting at Brandon Boudreaux.

2:58 p.m. Duncan says a phone call was placed from Chad Daybell to the mortuary. This is the call he is referring to:

2:57 p.m. Jurors are now back in the courtroom. Blake says the Powerpoint will be revisited tomorrow and she proceeds to question Lt. Duncan. She asks about a call that was placed to a mortuary. The FBI asked Duncan to contact Valley of the Sun Mortuary in Chandler.

2:54 p.m. Prosecutors and defense arguing whether evidence from Arizona can be admitted into evidence. Jurors have not been brought back into the courtroom.

2:51 p.m. Lori just turned around and smiled in our direction before turning back to look at the prosecutors.

2:50 p.m. We are back in the courtroom. Blake says the prosecution will move on to other issues and give the defense tonight to look over the PowerPoint. The presentation will be dealt with tomorrow morning in court.

2:41 p.m. Still in a break. Lori sitting by herself at the defense table shackled to the floor.

2:15 p.m. Thomas objects to having the evidence admitted. The PowerPoint was just put together this week and Thomas isn’t sure what is in it. Boyce is concerned the defense hasn’t had enough time to review it. Blake says the messages in the PowerPoint have been available to the defense. We are taking an afternoon break so Boyce can confer with attorneys.

2:13 p.m. Prosecution asks to admit as evidence a PowerPoint presentation showing information retrieved from Charles’ phone.

2:11 p.m. Duncan says in the weeks and months following Charles’ death, police learned of information that Charles had become a “dark spirit” and there were accusations of infidelity. Duncan looked on Charles’ phone for any details about these things.

2:10 p.m. Duncan says police learned Charles’ phone was the catalyst for an argument between Lori and Chad. Lori took Charles’ phone with her in his rental car. That phone was later returned to the Chandler Police Department where an extraction was done.

2:10 p.m. Duncan recalls looking at data on Charles Vallow’s phone, his iCloud and Gmail accounts, phone records and other electronic info. Duncan also looked at Lori’s iCloud account.

2:06 p.m. Duncan says Charles would have been lying on the ground when the second shot was fired by Alex based on the entry and exit wounds on his body. Duncan says the shooting was considered a homicide. If a shooting is done in self-defense, police can still deem a death a homicide.

2:05 p.m. Duncan says in the living room, there was a tall baseboard and on the east side of the room there was a projectile that was stuck in the baseboard. The projectile and the baseboard were kept as evidence. Alex was then brought back into the home and did a walk-thru to explain to police what had occurred.

2:03 p.m. Charles had abrasions to his knees, Duncan says. There was blood on a faucet inside the house. Duncan saw Charles’ body being removed from the house by the medical examiner.

2 p.m. Duncan says Alex indicated he had given Alex CPR. Duncan says normally when someone is given CPR after being shot, there is more blood because of compressions on the chest but Duncan says there was very little blood.

1:58 p.m. Alex indicated he shot Charles twice in the chest while he was standing. Duncan says there was only one bullet hole initially but next to Charles, there were two 45-caliber shell casings. There was also a bullet next to his left shoulder lying on the ground “which was odd.”

1:57 p.m. Charles had one visible gunshot wound on the left side of his abdomen. There was not much blood present. Duncan says he has never responded to another shooting death with so little blood. There was not any blood spatter.

1:55 p.m. The victim was identified as Charles Vallow. Duncan noticed there was no furniture in the living room and mirrors on the wall, “which was odd.” Charles was laying on his back on the floor on the west of the living room. Charles’ shirt had been cut away from his body. Medical equipment was on his chest that was used to confirm his death, Duncan says.

1:54 p.m. Duncan said a crime scene technician took photos of the scene. Once that is done, the crime scene detective goes through to see what is of evidentiary value. Photos are taken and evidence is seized. Duncan says the body is considered evidence and the Maricopa County Medical Examiners’ Office was called to assist and take control of the body.

1:52 p.m. Back to the police response to Charles’ shooting. Duncan says everyone was assigned a role at the homicide scene like other homicides they respond to. The original lead investigator was Det. Nathan Moffatt. He was then promoted in June 2020 and Det. Duncan became the lead investigator.

1:49 p.m. Boyce is back on the bench. Prosecution admits evidence from Lori’s iCloud account.

1:43 p.m. Lori is smiling and laughing with her attorneys during the break.

1:41 p.m. Boyce says a technical legal issue has come up. He needs to go to his chambers for about five minutes so we are in a brief recess.

1:38 p.m. Defense attorneys ask for a sidebar with the judge. Many jurors and people in the gallery stand to stretch their legs.

1:37 p.m. Blake asks to admit CAD — computer-aided dispatch — notes into evidence. Looking at the notes, Duncan says the call came in at 8:36 a.m. and officers were dispatched at 8:37 a.m.

1:34 p.m. Duncan was working on July 11, 2019. He responded to a report of a shooting on Four Peaks Place in Chandler. Alex Cox called the police around 9:30 a.m. and said he had shot his brother-in-law.

1:33 p.m. Lindsey Blake is questioning Duncan. He has been with the Chandler Police Department since June 2000. He has been working in the robbery/homicide unit for nine years.

1:32 p.m. Duncan is sworn in and takes the stand.

1:31 p.m. Next witness is Chandler Police Detective Nathan Duncan.

1:29 p.m. Melanie says she recalls prosecutors telling her that all they asked was for her to tell the truth. Blake says, “Is that what you have done today?” Melanie responds, “Yes.” Blake has no further questions and Melanie Gibb is off the stand.

1:27 p.m. Melanie says Alex was designated as the protector for Lori.

1:27 p.m. Melanie says Lori referred to Tylee, JJ and Charles as a zombie. Lori said Tammy was possessed.

1:25 p.m. Blake asks if Melanie observed a pattern once someone was deemed a zombie. Melanie says yes. If people started questioning Lori or thought something was suspicious, that person became dark or a zombie.

1:23 p.m. Melanie was concerned Chad and Lori would try to accuse her of something. That’s one of the reasons she recorded the phone call. She says at the time she made the call, she no longer believed the things Lori had taught her and that she was teaching false things for her own personal gain.

1:22 p.m. Melanie says four days after Charles died, Lori contacted her.

1:20 p.m. Lori told Melanie that she had been on the earth before. Blake asks if marriages are common in the temple for those who are LDS. Melanie says hi. “Did you want to believe Lori?” Blake asks. Melanie responds, “Sometimes. She’s very convincing.”

1:17 p.m. Melanie says she flew to visit Lori in Hawaii in Feb. 2019. Lori was in daily contact with Chad and she would often sit on the balcony and chat with Chad for a while. They would go to the beach and Lori would talk with Chad on the phone. Tammy and Charles were both alive at this time.

1:16 p.m. Lindsey Blake now follows up with some questions. She asks if there was anything about Tylee’s behavior that was out of the ordinary for a teenager. “If you have teenagers who are ornery and disrespectful, she would fit in that category.” Melanie says Lori was usually pretty calm with Tylee and tried to be friends with her most of the time.

1:15 p.m. Alex never told Melanie where the kids were so Melanie later asked Zulema if she knew where the kids were. Zulema said Alex told her the kids couldn’t be found. John Thomas has no further questions for Melanie.

1:14 p.m. Alex told Melanie that Chad gave him a patriarchal blessing that was very touching. Alex was very emotional about it and felt honored to have the blessing.

1:12 p.m. Melanie says Alex totally bought into the zombie concept. She said to Alex, “Do I know want to know what happened to JJ?” He said, “You don’t. You don’t want to know.” Melanie said Alex then told her that police came and took all his guns and they are “very evil people.” He said police also visited Melani P.’s house and took all her money.

1:11 p.m. Melanie says the idea of having a vibration level high enough to be translated was a new idea to her but vibrations are often used in new-age, energy work type concepts.

1:10 p.m. Thomas asks Melanie if she has any reason to believe Lori was not in Hawaii when Tammy died. Melanie says she had no reason to believe otherwise.

1:10 p.m. Thomas asks who Alma and Joseph Smith are. Melanie says Alma is a prophet in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith translated the book.

1:08 p.m. Thomas asks Melanie who Korihor is. She says he’s an anti-Christ in the Book of Mormon who was struck dumb by a prophet. Melanie says Lori had become an anti-Christ.

1:06 p.m. Thomas asks about dark portals. Melanie says Chad explained to Lori how to make a portal. Lori’s was in her closet and Chad’s was on his bed or in his room somewhere. They could communicate through their portal. You couldn’t physically see them but it was made up in the spiritual realm. Thomas says, “Did you have a portal?” Melanie says, “Oh no.”

1:04 p.m. Melanie says after she recorded the call with Lori and Chad, she contacted Det. Pillar with Gilbert Police and said she would send him the call.

1:04 p.m. Thomas asks Melanie if she and David Warwick ever got married. She says they are married.

1:02 p.m. Melanie says police in Idaho called her twice when they were trying to find JJ. Melanie says she told Gilbert police, “I had him but I don’t have him anymore.” She told Gilbert police that Lori came to pick him up. Melanie says that was not the truth.

1:01 p.m. Thomas asks Melanie where she heard Chad would lose his exaltation if he got a divorce from Tammy. Melanie says that’s what Lori told him.

1 p.m. Thomas asks if Kay was going to receive the life insurance money from Charles’ death, there wouldn’t be any financial incentive for Lori, correct? Melanie says she doesn’t know.

12:57 p.m. Thomas asks Melanie about her relationship with Tylee. Melanie says Tylee didn’t like her and Melanie tried to be kind to Tylee – “I’m always kind to everyone” – and Tylee didn’t like her from the beginning.

12:57 p.m. Melanie says when Chad and Lori told her JJ was possessed, she took it to mean he was possessed by an evil spirit.

12:55 p.m. Here are two sketches from this morning showing Melanie Gibb on the stand and Lori Vallow Daybell standing next to her attorney.

12:50 p.m. Court is back in session. Boyce is on the bench and jurors will be brought in.

11:57 a.m. Boyce calls for a lunch break. We will reconvene at 12:45 p.m.

11:56 a.m. Melanie says she never prayed for JJ or Tylee.

11:55 a.m. The jurors are very attentively paying attention during this talk of zombies, dark and light, etc. Lori also paying attention as she watches Melanie on the stand. I have not seen Melanie look at Lori.

11:54 a.m. Chad told Lori, who then told Melanie, that Tylee became a zombie when she was 12-13 years old but they only knew this when she was 16.

11:53 a.m. Thomas: “When Lori talked about zombies, did you immediately think they were going to die?” Melanie: “No. It was a bizarre teaching and Lori thought it was bizarre too in the context to how it was explained to her by Chad.”

11:53 a.m. Thomas: “Let’s talk about zombies.”

11:51 a.m. Thomas trying to get Melanie to clarify exactly what casting is and how similar it is to prayer.

11:49 a.m. Melanie says the casting was done in homes, not in the temple. “It was just people standing up in a circle together” and then Lori would express words. Her friends would say something “similar to energy work.” Thomas asks about Melanie’s experience with energy work.

11:47 a.m. Thomas asks for clarification on the light and dark scale. Melanie says she believed it somewhat but not completely.

11:45 a.m. Melanie says the casting was more like casting spirits out similar to what Jesus did. Melanie says it felt “very unusual” and “very innocent” to her because it was just like prayer.

11:44 a.m. Melanie says Lori and Chad tried to convince her she was part of the 144,000 but she never felt that was her calling. Thomas says “casting” sounds like witchcraft and Melanie says it didn’t feel like that.

11:42 a.m. Thomas asks Melanie if she thought it was odd that Jesus Christ and Moroni had sealed Chad and Lori in the temple. She says it was but never asked Lori to show her the place in the temple where Lori married Chad.

11:41 a.m. Thomas asked for clarification on how many people stayed at Lori’s house the weekend Chad stayed in Arizona for the conference. Melanie says it was a few. Thomas asks if it was a “hookup” for Chad and Lori. Melanie believes so.

11:38 a.m. Melanie said Lori believed Melanie had been on earth 4-5 times and at times, Melanie bought into the idea. She says she wasn’t sure but Lori was very convincing and tried to encourage her to believe it.

11:36 a.m. Melanie is asked if she ever went with Lori to take JJ to school. She says it’s possible but doesn’t recall. Thomas says JJ had a routine where he would go to Burger King before school with his mom and order chicken fries.

11:34 a.m. Melanie says she and Lori would often meet for lunch or to go to the temple. Thomas asks Melanie how familiar she is with autism and people who are autistic. She says she was quite familiar but wasn’t aware if he had a strict routine. She knows JJ went to a private school that had a section for autistic children.

11:32 a.m. Phones must be silenced or turned off in the courtroom. So far this morning two phones have gone off. This violates the court order and the bailiff has seized both of the phones.

11:30 a.m. Thomas asking for clarification on a few points. Melanie explains she met Lori at an LDS Church building during an evening class. They were not in the same group. Lori showed up with her niece Melani P.

11:29 a.m. The jury is being brought back into the courtroom.

11:27 a.m. Boyce says after reviewing case law, the objection is unfounded and the motion to strike the testimony is denied.

11:25 a.m. Boyce says, “You’re asking me to tell the jury to disregard everything they’ve heard today?” Thomas says he made this objection two days ago and “the court struck me down” so he thought it would be appropriate to do it when it was his turn to speak.

11:23 a.m. Blake says she interprets the law differently than Thomas and says all statements have been turned over. “The state and the defense are allowed to meet with witnesses and do witness prep.” She says if something is new, it should be turned over but there was nothing new in their most recent meeting with Gibb.

11:21 a.m. Thomas wants Melanie Gibb’s testimony struck from the record because he says the prosecutor did not furnish statements from Gibb to the defense.

11:21 a.m. Boyce back on the bench and says an objection will be taken up outside of the presence of the jury.

11:17 a.m. Thomas asks about a 7-page document she created with her testimony. She said she completed it in 2020. Thomas asks the court to strike the witness. Blake interjects and asks for a sidebar conversation. White noise is played in the courtroom as attorneys meet with the judge.

11:15 a.m. Melanie says she went over her testimony with prosecutors at the beginning of this month or end of last month. Thomas asks if Melanie was as “forgetful” with prosecutors when they met earlier as she was today. Melanie says yes.

11:15 a.m. Thomas asks Melanie when she last met with prosecutors. She says, “I don’t remember. A few years ago.” Melanie says she did not meet face-to-face with prosecutors for the trial but they met on Zoom.

11:14 a.m. Blake has no further questions. John Thomas will conduct cross-examination for the defense.

11:12 a.m. Melanie said she didn’t 100% believe the zombie teachings and told Alex that. Alex responded that he completely believed it. When Melanie asked Alex what happened to JJ, Alex said, “You don’t want to know.”

11:11 a.m. Melanie said these teachings were shared with Alex Cox and he believed the people Chad and Lori were hoping would pass away — Charles, Tylee, JJ, Tammy — were zombies.

11:10 a.m. Lori said her vibration level was such that she didn’t need to eat and her menstrual cycle could change. Lori did not claim she had visions, according to Melanie, but Lori said she had a dream here or there.

11:09 a.m. Melanie says Lori told her about “vibrations” that were equal to your level of spirituality. If you were at 1,000, you were at the terrestrial level. The more your vibrations increased, the closer your body was to being translated.

11:07 a.m. After Tammy passed away, Melanie said Lori was very happy to get married to Chad. Lori never expressed any sadness or sorrow. Melanie said Lori’s demeanor was similar to after Charles died.

11:05 a.m. Melanie says Tammy had been suspicious about the affair for less than two weeks. Tammy had also turned dark within the two weeks before her death.

11:04 a.m. Melanie asked Lori what happened to Tammy. Lori responded, “She had a dark entity in her and they had to do what they could to get that spirit out of her.” “They” referred to Lori and Chad. Lori said Tammy was starting to get suspicious that Chad was having an affair.

11:01 a.m. Melanie learned about Tammy’s death the day after her death was reported. A friend sent a screenshot from Chad’s Facebook account announcing the death. Melanie then called Lori. It was mid-morning. Melanie told Lori about Tammy’s death. “She knew something was going on. Two of the girls from their group had called Lori and inquired about it.”

11 a.m. Blake asks about revelations and if people in the LDS Church get revelations. Melanie says yes.

11 a.m. Melanie says when Lori was having her relationship with Chad, Lori’s behaviors did not represent someone who would know Christ “at that level.” Lori had told Melanie that she had seen Jesus in the temple and that he appeared to her.

10:58 a.m. Melanie says she believes the origins of multiple probations, lives, etc. came from Chad and are not taught in the traditional LDS faith.

10:57 a.m. The next morning Melanie never saw JJ and Lori never told Melanie where JJ was from that point forward.

10:56 a.m. Melanie said the weekend she stayed at Lori’s house, Melanie stayed in Tylee’s room but she went back and forth into David’s room, who was sleeping in JJ’s room. David woke up “very troubled” from a dream. Melanie went to Lori’s room and texted her and Chad to ask if David could get a blessing. Nobody responded to Melanie’s texts and Lori’s door was locked.

10:54 a.m. Melanie said she recorded the call with Chad and Lori because she wanted to know where JJ was and she hoped to learn where Chad and Lori were.

10:53 a.m. Melanie Gibb is back on the stand testifying against the woman who used to be her best friend.

10:47 a.m. During the break, Lori walked out the side door with her leg shackles and then sat in a chair with wheels. Deputies then wheeled her away. This was likely so deputies didn’t have to remove the shackles to take her to the restroom, etc. She is now back in the courtroom chatting with her attorneys.

10:46 a.m. John Prior was not in the courtroom this morning for the first part of Melanie Gibb’s testimony but he has just walked in.

10:25 a.m. Judge calls a morning recess. Back in 20 minutes.

10:25 a.m. Lori says Jesus Christ is protecting her and will protect her against the accusations Melanie has made against her. Lori then ends the call.

10:23 a.m. Melanie says Lori’s behavior is not one of someone who believes in Christ. Lori says Melanie sounds “pissed off,” Melanie responds, “I am troubled. These things – like you being with Chad before he’s even divorced.” Lori says, “I was never with him and he was never divorced.” Melanie says, “Honey, I’ve seen you guys together.”

10:20 a.m. If you haven’t heard this call, you should take a listen. Both Lori and Melanie are talking very fast so it’s hard to get it all in. The call begins to wind up with Lori saying, “I’m sorry you are friends with all these people who are against me.” Melanie says she isn’t friends with any of them – she doesn’t know Kay, she doesn’t know Chad’s sister-in-law. Here is the call:

10:18 a.m. Melanie says she was reading the story of Korihor and his carnal and natural desires. Lori says, “You think I’m Korihor? Are you kidding me right now?” Melanie says both Chad and Lori had similarities to Korihor. Lori says she lives by the scriptures and Melanie says she feels Lori has “rested” the scriptures. Lori is upset Melanie would say this.

10:17 a.m. Chad says he’s known for years that Tammy would die at a young age and his life will have two segments. Chad says you have to have faith in the master plan. Melanie says, “You can understand my concern, can’t you?” Chad says from an outsider’s perspective, he can but her boyfriend seems to be putting doubts in her mind. Melanie says she was not listening to her gut feeling and feels uncomfortable with many things.

10:15 a.m. Lori says Christ is coming soon and Melanie will know that Lori has not been deceived. Chad now comes onto the call and says his sister-in-law (Heather Daybell) has been deceived and coming up with theories. Chad says his own children said Tammy had been getting weaker and sick, her heart was failing her and she was physically falling apart.

10:14 a.m. Lori tells Melanie she did what the Lord told her to do. Melanie says Lori has been deceived – Tammy died, Charles died. Melanie says she has never had peace about all this and she has felt weird in her stomach. Lori responds, “You know me, Mel. This sounds like you have been influenced by somebody dark and obey dark things.”

10:12 a.m. Lori says she is “hiding in the cavity of a rock” and that Kay is dark because she changed the life insurance policy with Charles. Lori says she doesn’t know why Melanie is being “controversial” with her and says she loves Melanie. Melanie says, “If you really loved me, you would not have told the police I had JJ with me.”

10:10 a.m. On the call, Lori mentioned prophets from the scriptures and how they had to “hide in the cavity of a rock.” Melanie reads a scripture to Lori about not fearing men more than God and being faithful. Melanie says if the door is open to Satan, he comes in and attacks. “God doesn’t work in darkness,” Melanie says. Lori responds, “I agree 100% and that is what the Lord is doing with me.”

10:09 a.m. Lori won’t tell Melanie where they are and Melanie says she is worried for them. Lori says Kay is dark and is working with the police. Lori says, “I know exactly where JJ is. He is safe and fine.”

10:08 a.m. Melanie says she asked Alex Cox where JJ was. He said he was somewhere he couldn’t be found and Melanie didn’t want to know where JJ is.

10:06 a.m. Melanie asks Lori if JJ is safe. She responds, “He is safe and happy.” Melanie asks how it could hurt her if she new where JJ is. “I’m just not telling anybody so that nobody has to say where he is or get questioned where he is so I can keep him as safe as possible.” Melanie says, “I hope he’s ok. I hope you guys are ok.”

10:04 a.m. Melanie asks Chad and Lori where they are. Chad giggles and says, “We’re just hanging out.” They don’t say where they are. Melanie asks Lori what happened with JJ and why isn’t he at Kay’s house. Lori doesn’t answer the question but says people are after her. Chad says, “If you knew where JJ was, that puts you in danger.” Chad and Lori won’t say where JJ is because Lori wants to keep him and everyone else protected.

10:03 a.m. Blake is now playing the call. Melanie recorded the conversation with Chad and Lori. Chad answers, “Hello sweet Melanie.”

10 a.m. Blake about to admit a 20-minute phone call into evidence where she confronted Chad and Lori. This is the recording:

9:58 a.m. Melanie eventually spoke to police at the end of November/beginning of December and said JJ had not been with her.

9:57 a.m. Lori told Melanie the police were dark. Kay, Lori’s dad and her brother (Adam Cox) were also dark. Lori said JJ’s life was in danger and Kay was trying to kidnap him. Melanie wasn’t sure what to believe. Says she was in shock and perplexed.

9:55 a.m. Lori then called Melanie. Lori said the police came by and she told officers that JJ was with Melanie watching Frozen. Lori asked Melanie to take photos of random kids at the movie theater and send them to the police. Police tried to get a hold of Melanie but she did not take their calls. “I wasn’t sure what in the world to do.”

9:53 a.m. Melanie says Chad had a nervous voice and said the police are looking for JJ. Melanie said she thought JJ was with Kay and Chad told her he was not. Chad told Melanie that Lori would be calling her. Melanie thought JJ was with Kay because Lori had told her she met with Kay at an airport and she asked Kay to take care of JJ.

9:52 a.m. Melanie never saw JJ again after the night of Sept. 22. She never returned to Idaho to see Lori again but spoke with her occasionally. Melanie next heard from Chad around Thanksgiving. He told her the Rexburg police would be calling and told Melanie not to answer the phone.

9:51 a.m. Lori asked why she didn’t get a divorce from Charles. Lori said that wasn’t the Lord’s plan and if Chad got a divorce, he would be “penalized” for that. “Chad would lose his exaltation or standing with God.”

9:50 a.m. Melanie remembers asking Lori before Charles died why he would want to kill her. Lori said it was because she had a million-dollar life insurance policy. Lori then said Charles had a life insurance policy but if Charles died, all the money would go to Kay.

9:48 a.m. Lori told Melanie that Moroni appeared to her in a temple on Sept. 22. Melanie says the last time she saw JJ was on Sept. 22 as Alex was taking JJ upstairs. Melanie and David left the next day and she does not recall seeing JJ before the left on the Sept. 23.

9:47 a.m. Melanie says Chad and Lori were very affectionate that weekend. She went with them to walk around the track at BYU-Idaho and they explored the campus. As they were leaving, Chad gave Lori a hug and a kiss. Chad asked David Warwick not to share about his relationship with Lori with anyone.

9:45 a.m. After Chad took JJ upstairs, he came downstairs and Melanie asked Chad why his neck was so red. Chad responded that JJ had scratched his neck.

9:43 a.m. Melanie says she did not notice any changes in JJ and he appeared to be a typical 7-year-old autistic kid. Melanie has experience with autistic children and she says his behavior was normal. She never observed him climbing on counters but one day he was upset and Chad took him upstairs.

9:42 a.m. Lori told Melanie JJ’s behavior was more difficult and he would say things like “I love Satan.” JJ would climb up on the fridge on top of the cabinets and was acting aggressively. “Lori tried to explain how he was changing into a more negative type of demeanor.”

9:41 a.m. Melanie asked Lori about Tylee’s belongings and Lori said they had been put in storage. Lori didn’t talk much about Tylee. Melanie did see JJ and Lori told Melanie that JJ had an evil spirit in him. Lori learned this the day before from Chad.

9:39 a.m. Lori asked Melanie to come visit her in Idaho in September 2019. There was a seminar in Rexburg so Melanie and her boyfriend David Warwick went up. They stayed at Lori’s house. Melanie did not see Tylee and Lori told Melanie that Tylee was at BYU-Idaho with roommates.

9:38 a.m. After Lori moved to Idaho, Melanie recalls talking with her on the phone and Melanie heard Tylee in the background.

9:37 a.m. Melanie says she last saw Tylee in July-August 2019 before Lori and Alex moved with the kids to Idaho.

9:36 a.m. Melanie said right before JJ was killed, Lori said he was difficult to handle. It was hard for her to take care of him and be with Chad. Lori indicated she was going to ask Kay if Kay could take care of JJ going forward.

9:33 a.m. Lori told Melanie that she and Chad would meet at hotels. Lori shared “they were intimate” while Charles and Tammy were still alive. Lori said this was according to God’s will because they had been married in multiple lives and had a mission together. During this testimony, Lori is frantically taking notes in the courtroom.

9:32 a.m. Prior to Charles’ death, Melanie says Chad and Lori communicated multiple times a day. Melanie says Lori had 2-3 cell phones. One phone was just for Chad.

9:30 a.m. Melanie says after Charles died, Lori and Chad were happy.

9:27 a.m. The night before Charles died, Lori told Melanie that Alex was spending the night at her house because Charles was going to kill her. After Charles died, Lori told Melanie that he had been argumentative with her. The spirit told Lori to pick up Charles’ phone and he was upset she took his phone. Lori said they argued, he threatened her and Tylee came out with a baseball bat to protect herself. Alex went to get his gun to protect him and then he shot Charles. This is all according to what Lori told Melanie.

9:24 a.m. Melanie says if Tammy Daybell was considered dark, it was right before Tammy died. Lori told Melanie sometime between February-June 2019 that Tylee was dark. In September 2019, Lori told Melanie JJ was possessed. Many jurors are taking notes during Melanie’s testimony.

9:23 a.m. Lori told Melanie that Charles, Brandon, one of Lori’s brothers (not Alex), Lori’s dad, Tylee, Kay and JJ were all dark. Random people were also dark.

9:22 a.m. Brandon was part of Hitler’s group and was considered a “very high dark,” Melanie says. She does not recall participating in castings for anyone else.

9:21 a.m. Melanie says Lori was present for all of the castings. Chad was present for one casting, according to Melanie. The one Chad attended was right after Charles’ death. Melanie recalls possibly participating in a casting for Brandon B. Lori told Melanie that Brandon was dark and he had an evil spirit in him.

9:20 a.m. Melanie says weeks after the original idea of spirit taking over bodies, Lori started to use the term “zombie.”

9:18 a.m. Melanie says the first time the group thought they had cast an evil spirit named “Ned” out of Charles’ body. But Charles was still alive so the teachings changed and now a spirit named “Garrick” or “Garrett” entered Charles’ body. Lori cast this spirit out of Charles but then the final spirit “Heblows” entered Charles’ body.

9:15 a.m. The first casting Melanie was involved in was with Lori and a group of women at Zulema Pastenes’ house (Alex Cox was not married to her at this time). This casting involved prayer and words “convincing the spirit to leave the body.” This would be the spirit that took over a particular person’s body.

9:14 a.m. Lori told Melanie about “castings.” This involved a prayer to get the evil spirit out of someone and encourage the spirit to come out by the power of God. Melanie participated in a casting in January/February 2019 after Lori learned Charles was dark. Charles was the first person Lori ever called dark.

9:13 a.m. Lori is looking at Melanie during this testimony and also taking notes.

9:12 a.m. Lori said she had a dream where Charles was in a car accident in Texas and would not be coming back home by Jan. 1. JJ was with Charles at that time and would have been traveling back with Charles. Charles was never in an accident. Melanie asked Lori what happened – “You shared you thought he was going to die” – and Lori responded, “He didn’t because Satan interfered with the plan.”

9:10 a.m. Brandon Boudreaux and Charles Vallow were not present for these meetings and were not told about these teachings. Melanie says Lori would not have considered Charles part of their inner circle. One day in January 2019 Lori told Melanie that Charles Vallow was taken over by an evil spirit. Chad had told Lori this and it was the first time Lori had heard this. Charles was now dark.

9:08 a.m. Melanie says Lori taught her about the light and dark scale. Lori would teach other friends and her brother about the scale. Anyone who was dark was working under the contract of Satan. Melanie says someone could switch from light to dark and dark to light.

9:07 a.m. Melanie describes a light and dark scale that Lori told her about after she met Chad. People who were light had signed contracts with the Savior, those who were dark signed contracts with Satan before coming to earth.

9:06 a.m. Melanie lists the names of those who were “in the group” and close with Lori, including Alex Cox and Melani Pawlowski. Within weeks of Melanie meeting Lori, Lori began telling her how Chad and Lori were supposed to lead the 144,000.

9:04 a.m. Lori told Melanie about the 144,000 people who will be here during the return of Jesus Christ to earth. Lori then said Chad and Lori would be leading the group and do a lot of missionary work ahead of the Second Coming.

9:03 a.m. Lori was open with Melanie about her feelings for Chad. Lori only told people in her small group about her and Chad.

9 a.m. Melanie saw Lori and Chad interacting at the conference. Chad stayed at Lori’s house over the weekend. Charles was out of town, according to Melanie. Lori told Melanie that she had been married 4-5 times as other “characters.” Chad too. Lori told Melanie that the weekend Chad came to Arizona, they met in the LDS temple together and were sealed together by Moroni and Jesus Christ. “That relatonship of multiple lives was reunited.” This happened in a waiting room – not a sealing room in the temple.

9 a.m. Two weekends after the meeting, Chad came to Arizona for another event. Melanie and Lori went to this conference. Lori held a meeting at her house before the conference. Melanie does not remember if Chad was there.

8:58 a.m. Melanie says she learned of the term “multiple probations” when she first started interacting with Lori. Lori and Chad introduced this teaching to Melanie and Chad often spoke about it. Lori told Melanie that she and Chad often spoke about multiple probations. Melanie says the definition of “multiple probations” changed the longer they knew each other but the basic belief was you could live multiple times on the earth and it would be different for everyone.

8:57 a.m. After the conference, Lori kept in touch with Chad on the phone, according to Melanie. Chad was married to Tammy at the time and Lori was married to Charles. Both spouses were still alive.

8:56 a.m. Melanie says Lori told her Lori had been married to the prophet Moroni from The Book of Mormon.

8:54 a.m. Melanie is asked if she ever spoke with Chad about the first time she met Lori. She says most likely, but doesn’t remember. Melanie spoke with Lori after Lori meeting Chad. “She shared with me that he told her that they had been married in another time period. She did believe that. She had already had the belief system that this multiple lives, as they would call it, she already believed that before she physically met him.”

8:52 a.m. Melanie says Lori had read a few of Chad’s books before they met.

8:51 a.m. Melanie says Chad and Lori were very friendly to each other, talking a lot about the beliefs they had and there was “definitely an attraction” at the beginning. Lori was very interested in Chad – “like someone who would meet someone they’re attracted too.” She seemed “flattered” with him and was “flirty-like.”

8:49 a.m. Melanie says she and Lori went on a trip with 5-6 other ladies for a conference in Utah. Melanie observed a meeting between Chad and Lori. Chad and Lori had never met before. The conference was Friday, Saturday and on Sunday most people went home. Chad stayed Friday and Saturday. Lori and Melanie were in the area Friday through Sunday.

8:48 a.m. Melanie: In January 2019, Lori decided to leave Arizona and stay with Alex. Then she went to Hawaii, then to Texas and then back to Arizona by July 2019 when Charles was killed.

8:47 a.m. Melanie says she saw Lori daily or several times a week during the beginning of their friendship. Things changed in January 2019 when Lori “started moving.” Melanie lived within 20-25 minutes of each other. They would get together, speak on the phone and text message.

8:45 a.m. Melanie says Lori was affectionate with JJ and she would sing him songs at bedtime but as time went on, Lori wasn’t as focused on JJ and Lori was “distracted a lot.”

8:44 a.m. Melanie says she and Lori kept in touch after they met. Melanie met Tylee within a week of meeting Lori. Melanie says Tylee seemed upset and frustrated with Lori “most of the time.” There was tension in the relationship, Melanie says. Melanie says she met JJ within a week or two of meeting Lori.

8:43 a.m. Melanie says she met Lori at a church event in 2018. She says she met Chad a year or two before she met Lori. She says when she met Chad, it was a casual introduction to each other. They periodically saw each other but were not close friends.

8:42 a.m. A file photo of Melanie Gibb from when she testified in Chad Daybell’s preliminary hearing in August 2020.

8:42 a.m. Melanie Gibb spoke with me in May 2020 a few days before the bodies of JJ and Tylee were found. You can watch it here:

8:40 a.m. Jurors have been brought in the room. Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake will now question Melanie Gibb. Gibb is wearing a black top, white skirt, glasses and is sworn in. This is the first time Lori and Melanie have seen each other since 2019.

8:37 a.m. So many dates and people in this case. Here is a timeline that might be helpful and some FAQ.

8:35 a.m. Judge Boyce has entered the courtroom. He reminds everyone in attendance to follow the courtroom conduct order. Larry and Kay Woodcock, along with several family members, are here. Annie Cushing and her daughter are also here. Several members of the public are watching in the courtroom and in the overflow room in Ada County.

8:28 a.m. Lori is wearing a light gray jacket and black-rimmed glasses. Her attorneys are here and all of the prosecutors are at their table.

8:24 a.m. Inside the courtroom for another day of Vallow Daybell trial. A woman with a hat pulled over her face was escorted into the courthouse by a Rexburg police officer. It appeared to be Melanie Gibb.