JJ Vallow's grandfather grateful for guilty verdict in Lori Vallow Daybell trial
BOISE, Idaho (KUTV) — Jurors have found Lori Vallow Daybell guilty on all six felony charges she faced, including the murders of her children Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow.
Larry Woodcock, JJ Vallow’s grandfather, celebrated the verdict.
“I have said many times I want a fair, honest, and righteous decision,” he told reporters outside the courthouse. “I think we had 18 jurors that all deserve our appreciation, our love, and they gave an honest, fair, and righteous verdict.”
The jury spent hours deliberating Thursday and Friday at the Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho.
Woodcock became emotional as he remembered the victims in this case.
“JJ, I love you,” he said, tearfully. “Papa wishes you were here in other circumstances. Tylee, Papa loves you. Tammy, I never met you. Tammy, you are part of our lives. Tammy, I am sorry for what happened to you. My heart hurts. My heart hurts for these three. This is what this has been all about from the very get-go.”
On his way into court earlier Friday morning, Woodcock said he hoped for a “just” and “righteous” verdict.
He was wearing a shirt that said “World’s Greatest Papa,” which he said someone gave him the night before.
“I’m not the world’s greatest Papa, but I’ll tell you what,” he said, becoming emotional, “I hope I was the world’s best Papa to JJ and Tylee.”
During closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors reiterated that this case is about “money, power, and sex,” and that Lori used all three to get what she wanted – and removed “obstacles” in her path that included her children and Tammy Daybell.
Lori’s husband, Chad Daybell, is also charged in the case but is being tried separately. Her defense attorney told the jury Lori is a good mother who protected her children and only lied about their whereabouts to protect Chad.
The defense also maintained that Lori is not a killer, and that the state failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Editor's note: This story initially stated that Lori Vallow Daybell was charged with nine counts. It has been updated to correctly note she is charged with six counts.
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