In this episode, we take a deep dive into the personal history of Lori Cox Vallow Daybell. We start with when she was born and finish this episode in 2018 just when she met Chad Daybell. Because her history is so extensive, it had to be split into two parts.
This episode will include the following:
- Featured Coffee Death Wish Pumpkin Spice Dark Roast
- Missing Person Spotlight Christina Carter
- No crime updates today
- A personal history of Lori Vallow Part 1
Featured Coffee: Death Wish Pumpkin Spice Dark Roast
Today’s coffee pick is Death Wish Pumpkin Spice Dark Roast. I’m not a pumpkin spice fan, but this was left on my desk after I mentioned how much I hate pumpkin spice. It’s so good I ordered a box but chances are I won’t order it again until next fall. Yes, I have joined the dark side of pumpkin spice lovers. It comes in ground, whole beans or pods.
Missing Person Spotlight: Christina Carter
Christina Carter has been missing from Hueytown, AL, since September 17th, 1973. Christina went missing with her mother Janet Gail Carter. Janet was in the middle of a custody dispute. She may have kidnapped the child or she may have just gone to the Great Smoky National Park. Janet was involved with a married man at the time, who had been in the area the same time she was. Janet was found dead and asphyxiated, her naked body in a duffle bag. It took law enforcement a month to identify her. At that time, they then discovered Christina was missing. The trail had already gone cold. It is a possibility that Janet had left Christina with someone to watch her. Or she could have been with Janet when Janet was murdered. Janet’s murder is also a cold case.
- Missing since September of 1973 from Hueytown, Alabama
- DOB 5/29/1970
- Height 3’2″
- Weight 30 lbs.
- Female
- White
- Went by the name Christy
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact the Hueytown Police Department (Alabama) 1-205-491-3587. You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Additional information can be found on Webslueths, the Charley Project, and Unsolved Appalachia.
Todays’ Crime Update/ Tidbit
There are no interesting headlines included in this episode. I have been covering anything interesting in the daily episodes of “Daily Cup of True Crime in 15 Minutes or Less”.
Current Case Discussion: Vallow Daybell Case
This is part one of Lori Norene Cox Vallow Daybell’s personal history. It’s always important to know and understand all of the people that are involved in a case. I have tried to be as accurate as possible with my information. One of the things that I have noticed is that there are 3 constants in Lori’s life. They are faith and religion, Hawaii, and being the center of attention.
Lori Vallow Personal History Part 1
Lori Vallow Daybell Early Childhood
Lori was born Lori Norene Cox in 1973 in Rialto,CA. Her parents are Janis and Barry Cox. Barry and Janis had a total of 6 children, with Lori being born the fifth child: Stacy was the oldest born in 1966, Alex in 1968, and Adam in 1969. Laura Lee was born in 1971 and died in infancy 6 weeks later. In 1975 Summer was born.
They were part of the LDS church and raised their children in the faith. Her father was a successful insurance agent with political aspirations and campaigned for a spot in the city council in 1974. Had served a Mormon mission in the 60s in England.
Lor’s nickname in the family was Lolo and she went to Trapp Elementary. The family would go on vacation to Hawaii and often the parents would go to Hawaii and leave the kids at home, Lori went to Eisenhower High School and was a cheerleader. Lori’s father refused to pay taxes and this would lead to financial instability in the future. Lori graduated in 1991.
Lori Vallow After Highschool and Her First Two Husbands
She married her high school sweetheart Nelson Yanes and the marriage lasted a year. They had eloped to Vegas and none of Lori’s family was present. After she divorced Nelson Yanes, Lori then moved to Texas, enrolled in cosmetology school, and worked in a salon. Adam Cox, Lori’s brother was also living in Austin.
Lori started dating William LaGiola, they were together off and on. in 1995 Lori filed an assault charge against William but the charges were dropped because she didn’t show up in court. Lori 22 married William on October 22, 1995. She was pregnant with Colby. When he was born they were already separated. William finally agreed to join the Mormon church for Lori. She filed multiple complaints of abuse by William and then around Thanksgiving, she finally left him and moved in with her parents in San Antonio. None of Lori’s family was at her wedding with William.
Lori’s sister was very ill, and fighting over custody of her daughter Melanie. Cope was claiming the family was unhealthy, Stacy would not take care of her health. Stacy moved to California with Melanie and they lived with Janis and Barry.
After Lori left William, she moved frequently from place to place but stayed mainly in Texas. In May 1998, Barry and Janis took Lori, Summer, and Colby on vacation to Hawaii. Alex was at home with Stacy. The day they arrived in Hawaii, Alex called and told them Stacy was unresponsive and was moved to hospice. Lori was the one to call Melanie and break the news. Stacy dies on May 21 in 1998.
On May 3, 1999, Loris’s father was sentenced to a year in prison for owing over a quarter of a million dollars to the IRS. He would later sue the IRS multiple times and refused to pay his back taxes. And appealed again and again and again. He write a book called “How The American Public Can Dismantle the IRS”. In 2018 he also get in trouble in Arizona for pretending to be a lawyer.
Lori Vallow’s Third Husband Joseph Ryan
In 2001 Lori and Colby moved to Driftwood Texas. She met Joseph or Joe Ryan whom she met at a salon where she worked. Joe wanted a family and in 2002 Ryan proposed. Lori asked Joe to convert to the LDS church. They flew to Hawaii and got married in Maui on the beach. And again, none of Lori’s family were invited to the wedding.
Lori quickly got pregnant. Tylee was born on September 24, 2002. Lori became self-employed and opened a salon in her home. Joe was a successful businessman and built Lori a large home. Her marriage with Joe started breaking apart, she would spend a lot of time at church with the kids and dancing by herself to religious music. Lori started talking about spirits behind the veil talking to her and giving her jobs to do. She started to move away from regular Mormon beliefs and her beliefs became extreme and far out from the Mormon church.
In 2003, Lori auditioned for the Wheel of Fortune and told people that God told her she would get on the show and win. She won 17500.00 A few months later she entered the Mrs. Texas pageant. Lori worked hard to stay thin, be in shape like dancing or running, and even got breast implants before the pageant. Love, Faith, Service. She did not make the top 5. A few days later, she would file for divorce from Joe due to abuse. Melani did live with Lori while she was in the process of her divorce. Lori moved in with her parents while her divorce was getting finalized.
Barry and Janis were still fighting the IRS and Alex joined them in the fight. Lorisndivorce was finalized in May of 2005. There was shared custody of Tylee. Joe Ryan was ordered to pay 1500.00 monthly in child support, keep health insurance for Tylee and have a life insurance policy valued at at least 350000.00. After the divorce, Lori filed for bankruptcy. The custody battle would become very ugly in the coming years.
Below you will find clips of Lori’s time on Wheel of Fortune, the beauty pageant, and her appearance as an extra on Modern Family.
Check-in on Friday for Part 2 wherever you listen to podcasts. If you missed it, you should listen to the previous episode which is about all of the individuals in the Vallow Daybell Case.
