Podcast Summary: Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield Episode: Lori Vallow Trial Day 6 & 7 | Loin to Loin with Chad Daybell, Unhinged Texts, & Damning GPS Data
Release Date: April 17, 2025

Introduction and Background

In this gripping episode of Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield, host Ashleigh Banfield delves into the intense proceedings of the Lori Vallow Daybell trial in Arizona. As the trial approaches its final stages, Banfield provides a comprehensive overview of Days 6 and 7, highlighting critical evidence and courtroom dynamics that shed light on the complexities of the case.

Day 6 of the Trial: Cross-Examination of Detectives

Detective Testimonies:

• Detective Cassandra Inclin and Detective Ariel Werther played pivotal roles during Day 6. Ashleigh notes Lori Vallow's attempts to derail the cross-examination with irrelevant questions, nearly causing the gallery to lose interest.

  [01:44] Detective Cassandra Inclin: "Lori Valo's behavior stood out to you?"
  [01:44] Detective Ariel Werther: "It did."

Behavioral Observations:

• Detectives highlighted Lori's odd demeanor following her husband's murder, suggesting inconsistencies in her account.

  [01:47] Detective Ariel Werther: "Her demeanor seemed odd given what was going on at the house that day."

GPS Data Contradictions:

• A significant revelation came from Detective Werther, who presented GPS data from Lori's phone. This data indicated that Lori was not at the crime scene when the shooting occurred, directly challenging her self-portrayal.

  [03:50] Detective Nathan Duncan: "We have video of her at various places... Lori's device was not even at the house when the shooting supposedly happened."

Attempted Misdirection:

• Lori attempted to shift focus to unrelated matters, questioning the relevance of certain police report details.

  [07:06] Judge: "Sustained."
  [07:09] Lori Vallow Daybell: "So you mentioned in your report that on July 10th there was a scheduled phone date with Nancy Johan. Is that correct?"

Day 7 of the Trial: Crime Scene Analysis and Digital Evidence

Crime Scene Discrepancies:

• Detective Nathan Duncan provided a detailed account of the crime scene, contradicting Lori's and her brother Alex's claims of self-defense.

  [05:54] Lori Vallow Daybell: "Then you also made a note of his interactions with women he was attempting to date. Is that correct?"
  [06:01] Detective Nathan Duncan: "I Do remember that."

Autopsy and Physical Evidence:

• The autopsy photos of Charles Vallow were presented, revealing a bullet wound inconsistent with self-defense claims. Additionally, the absence of blood on the alleged weapon raised further suspicions.

  [05:54] Ashley Banfield: "There was a bullet hole in the floorboards that lined right up with Charles being shot while he was already down on the floor."

Digital Footprint Revelations:

• Emails and Texts: Prosecutors introduced emails sent from a fake account "kkwalker75@yahoo.com," posing as Karen Walker, to Chad Daybell. These communications were interpreted as attempts by Lori to clandestinely contact Chad without his wife’s knowledge.

  [06:14] Detective Cassandra Inclin: "It's relevant to show what was going on in this right before this happened."

• Impersonation of Charles: Lori sent emails to Chad imitating her late husband, inviting him to co-author a book, further muddying the waters of her credibility.

  [06:14] Detectives Inclin & Duncan: "So does Lori's memory is faulty or Lori just flat out lied."

Coded Communications:

• Text messages between Lori and her brother Alex referred to their husband as "Ned," allegedly a name for a dark spirit. Additionally, messages to Chad Daybell used code names like "James and Elena," hinting at deeper, possibly sinister connections.

  [10:45] Ashley Banfield: "In the text messages between Laurie and her brother Alex, the siblings referred to Laurie's husband Charles as Ned."

Financial Motives:

• Lori's frustration over not being the beneficiary of Charles's $1 million life insurance policy surfaced through her texts to Chad, indicating potential financial motives.

  [16:51] Detective Cassandra Inclin: "Lori tells Chad she's not getting the life insurance."

Lori's Self-Representation in Court

Taking the bold step to represent herself, Lori Vallow's courtroom strategies were both aggressive and unconventional.

Challenging Detective Expertise:

• Lori questioned Detective Duncan's understanding of the Book of Mormon, attempting to undermine his credibility. She highlighted his lack of detailed knowledge about the scriptures she referenced in her texts.

  [23:33] Lori Vallow Daybell: "Are you aware that there's 15 books in the Book of Mormon?"

Questioning Investigation Thoroughness:

• She scrutinized the thoroughness of the police investigation, pointing out perceived gaps, such as the limited number of family members interviewed.

  [21:22] Lori Vallow Daybell: "But you were not privy to any of that information as the case agent?"

Implications of Religious References:

• Lori's comparison of herself to Nephi, a prophet from the Book of Mormon, was used to suggest a divine command to act, which the prosecution countered as an order to kill.

  [19:09] Detective Cassandra Inclin: "And she texted her niece, Melanie Boudreau, warning her not to take a trip to Utah with her husband Brandon. 'It's a setup for both of us,' Laurie wrote."

Defensive Tactics:

• Throughout her self-representation, Lori employed defensive tactics aimed at portraying inconsistencies in the prosecution's case while attempting to cast doubt on the detectives' testimonies.

Conclusion and Upcoming Court Proceedings

As Days 6 and 7 concluded, the prosecution declared they were out of witnesses and rested their case. However, Lori Vallow remained poised to present further defenses, hesitating between resting her case and taking the stand herself. Ashleigh Banfield anticipates upcoming closing arguments scheduled for April 21, 2025, hinting at potential last-minute maneuvers from Lori that could further complicate the trial's outcome.

[28:05] Ashleigh Banfield: "Next stop, closing arguments. As of this recording, those were slated to take place on Monday, April 21, 2025..."

Notable Quotes:

• Detective Ariel Werther on GPS Data:

  [03:50] "Lori's device was not even at the house when the shooting supposedly happened."

• Lori Vallow on Nephi Reference:

  [25:13] "I will be like Nephi, I am told, and so will you."

• Detective Cassandra Inclin on Investigation Scope:

  [27:47] "You didn't ask any other member of my family?"

Ashleigh Banfield masterfully dissects the courtroom theatrics and unveils the tangled web of evidence surrounding the Lori Vallow Daybell trial. For those following true crime narratives, this episode offers a compelling deep dive into legal strategies, digital footprints, and the quest for truth in a convoluted legal battle.

Remember: The truth isn't just serious, it's drop dead serious.