Lori Ryan Daybell, who was born Lori Norene Cox, came into the world on June 26, 1973, in Loma Linda, California. She grew up in a family that practiced the Mormon faith. Lori experienced her early life in this religious environment.

At the age of 19, in 1992, Lori married her high school boyfriend. However, this marriage did not last long, and they got divorced shortly afterward. A few years later, in October 1995, Lori married again. She welcomed a son named Colby in 1996, but this marriage also ended in divorce by 1998. During this time, Lori worked as a hairdresser, trying to build a life for herself and her son.

In 2001, she married Joseph Anthony Ryan Jr. He legally adopted Colby, and they later had a biological daughter named Tylee in 2002. This relationship was marked by conflict, and they divorced in 2005. Their divorce was particularly contentious. Lori accused Ryan of serious offenses concerning Tylee and Colby, which led to a bitter custody battle. Lori's brother, Alex Cox, intervened during this period and attacked Ryan, claiming he had been abusive. Alex served time in jail for this incident.

In February 2006, Lori married Leland Charles Anthony Vallow, commonly known as Charles. The couple adopted Charles' grandnephew, Joshua Jaxon "J.J." Vallow, in 2013. J.J. had been born with drugs in his system and required special care due to his circumstances. He spent some time living with his grandparents before being adopted by Lori and Charles.

Lori's early life featured numerous challenges, including complicated marriages and family dynamics. She also aimed to participate in public life, as shown in 2004 when she competed in the Mrs. Texas beauty pageant. Throughout these early years, Lori seemed to seek approval and connection within her family and community.

Lori Vallow Daybell's crimes involved a series of killings that shocked many due to their nature and the events surrounding them. In 2019, her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed by her brother, Alex Cox, during an altercation. Cox claimed self-defense. Days later, Lori and Chad Daybell began communicating secretly. They were involved in a radical religious group that expressed strange beliefs about zombies and spiritual possessions.

In September 2019, Lori's two children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, went missing. Tylee was last seen on September 8 at Yellowstone National Park, while JJ vanished on September 23. Their mother eventually told friends that JJ was with a family member. However, this was later proven to be false.

Conflicting reports emerged regarding the children's wellbeing. Lori and Chad's beliefs suggested that the children had become "zombies," and in the following days, Lori collected Social Security benefits for them despite them being missing. On June 9, 2020, investigators searching Chad Daybell's home discovered the remains of Tylee and JJ buried in his backyard.

The autopsy revealed that JJ had been asphyxiated, while Tylee's body showed signs of severe trauma that could not conclusively determine her cause of death. The remains were found in devastating condition, which drew extensive media attention and public outrage.

In the meantime, Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy, also died under suspicious circumstances in October 2019. Initially ruled as a natural death, her body was later exhumed, revealing she had been asphyxiated as well. The timing of her death, followed closely by the children’s disappearances and Charles' murder, raised many questions about the couple's involvement in these events.

After a lengthy investigation, Lori was arrested in February 2020 while in Hawaii. She faced multiple charges, including murder and conspiracy related to the deaths of her children and her husband. She was convicted of all charges in 2023 and sentenced to several life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Chad was also arrested and later convicted for his role in the crimes. The heinous nature of these murders and the bizarre beliefs held by Lori and Chad, viewed as part of a "cult," sparked public fascination and horror.