LIVE UPDATES | Day 8 of the Chad Daybell trial; Colby Ryan, Lori Vallow’s son, takes the stand

LIVE UPDATES FROM THE CHAD DAYBELL TRIAL

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Please excuse any typos – these updates are live.

3:32 p.m. Boyce says we will now be ending court for the day. Warwick will be called to continue his testimony Tuesday morning. Thanks for putting up with me today! I will be posting a recap video later tonight to the EastIdahoNews.com YouTube page. Kalama Hines will be with you tomorrow for live updates, and I will be back on Friday.

3:31 p.m. Prior asks about “portals” and if Gibb taught about them. He says he doesn’t know – he never heard her teach.

3:30 p.m. Prior asks Warwick about “light and dark” and if they are synonymous with the words “good and evil.” Warwick agrees.

3:29 p.m. Prior asks about Warwick’s “predictions,” and Warwick corrects him, saying he was told about things that will happen, he didn’t create them.

3:28 p.m. Prior asks about preparedness camps that Warwick and Gibb attended. Warwick says they teach you different ways to be self-reliant in ways like growing food and conserving energy.

3:27 p.m. Prior asks about the timeline of Warwick and Gibb’s relationship. Warwick says he unofficially met Gibb years before they actually met and began dating.

3:26 p.m. Warwick says Gibb’s expertise is in belief and “overcoming non-belief.” Prior asks for clarification, and Warwick says her talks are about health and reflexology and teach about the body. Warwick says he has never seen what Gibb speaks about at conferences.

3:24 p.m. Prior asks about vibrations in a religious context and what it means. Warwick says he needs help understanding what Prior is after. Prior asks if he has participated in meetings that deal with the subject of vibrations, and Warwick says no. Prior asks if his wife, Melanie Gibb, has talked about vibrations at conferences, and Warwick says no.

3:21 p.m. Attorneys are back at their tables. Prior asks Warwick to talk more about his visions and how they are only a small part of what he lectures about at the fireside chats. Warwick agrees it’s consistent with his LDS faith. Prior asks if Chad Daybell had visions and if it would be consistent with his faith. Warwick says it would be.

3:13 p.m. Warwick says he spoke about the visions at the fireside chats when it felt right in his heart. Prior asks if it was because of his LDS faith that he feels he has to talk about his visions. Wixom objects and asks for a sidebar. The attorneys are now meeting with Boyce.

3:12 p.m. Warwick says the purpose of the fireside chats was to help people seek God and create a better relationship with God. Prior asks Warwick if he has visions about being invaded by foreign powers, and Warwick says yes.

3:12 p.m. Warwick says he has a lot of knowledge about conversion to the church and goes to “fireside chats” to talk about it.

3:10 p.m. Prior asks Warwick what he knows about a meeting of the seven gatherers. Warwick says he doesn’t know anything about it.

3:08 p.m. Chad is watching Warwick on the stand. He also seems to be twiddling his fingers.

3:07 p.m. Prior asks Warwick about being uncomfortable seeing Chad being affectionate with Lori during his marriage to Tammy. He said what Chad was preaching didn’t match up with how he was acting. Prior asks Warwick about his own previous marriage while he began dating Gibb. Warwick says the divorce was being finalized.

3:06 p.m. Warwick met Gibb at a conference at the University of Utah between 2012 and 2014. They began dating in August of 2019.

3:05 p.m. Prior asks Warwick about his marriage to Melanie Gibb. They were married on December 10, 2020.

3:04 p.m. Wixom is done with his questioning, and Prior will now cross-examine Warwick.

3:04 p.m. Lori told Warwick that JJ had pushed a picture of Jesus off the wall. Warwick didn’t believe this because there were no scuffs or damage to the cabinets. Lori told Warick that JJ was “having a possession attack” and she couldn’t handle it.

3:03 p.m. The following day, when he woke up, Warwick said Lori was in the kitchen, and she was being “a little dramatic.” Warwick told her they were leaving, and he wanted to say goodbye to JJ, but Lori said he was “out of control, so Alex had to come and get him.” Warwick says Lori was “talking fast” and acted nervous, saying JJ was “climbing on the cabinets.”

3:01 p.m. Warwick says they went to bed around 11 or 11:30 p.m. that night. At no point, did he ever see Tylee over the four days he was there.

2:59 p.m. Warwick says Melanie, Lori, and himself were there to do a podcast in Lori’s kitchen. Chad was not there.

2:57 p.m. Wixom asks Warwick about what happened after he looked at the 80-acre property. When he returned to Lori’s apartment, he said he saw JJ when they got back. The last time he saw JJ was that night around 10 or 10:30 p.m, when JJ was being held by Alex as he carried him upstairs to put him to bed.

2:55 p.m Back in court after our mid-afternoon break. The jurors are seated, and Rocky Wixom will continue his questioning of David Warwick, Melanie Gibb’s husband.

2:27 p.m. Chad told Warwick he would have a role in the gathering of the 144,000. Warwick says he knew he was not in a place to be able to do something like that, and he knew that information would instead come from a prophet. We are now taking a mid-afternoon break. Be back in 10-15 minutes.

2:25 p.m. Warwick says Chad mentioned an 80-acre property by his home that he thought Warwick should buy. Warwick followed Alex to drive by and look at it, and Chad and Ron, another man he went to church with, showed up. Chad wanted him to meet Ron to potentially buy the property. Warwick then left, and went back to Lori’s apartment.

2:23 p.m. Warwick says it bothered him that he was being affectionate with Lori when he was still married to Tammy. He confronted him about it, and said Tammy was a good wife and mother, but that he had a dream that Tammy was going to pass away soon. He also said Lori had been his wife in a previous life and they had a mission to do together. Warwick says it made him feel uncomfortable.

2:21 p.m. Chad talked to Warwick about his teachings, Satan and evil spirits. Warwick says he didn’t believe evil spirits had the same power Chad was saying they did. Warwick says he explained that he wasn’t believing what Chad and Lori were saying.

2:19 p.m. They walked around the park, and Lori and Chad described a “terrestrial building” that was there made of stone with arches. Warwick says he did not see a building there, just a “beautiful park.” Warwick says Chad and Lori talked like they thought the building was actually there. Warwick says they were trying to get him familiar with what they were doing.

2:18 p.m. Warwick says Chad and Lori told him they could see “terrestrial buildings” on Earth. He says they told him to come over on a Sunday to a park near a church and that they would “show it to him.”

2:17 p.m. At Lori’s apartment, Warwick talked to Chad about his relationship with Lori, including that they had been together in past lives and they had a mission to do together. Their mission was to gather the 144,000.

2:14 p.m. Warwick says Chad never stayed at Lori’s house for very long, maybe 30 minutes to an hour.

2:12 p.m. Warwick says he has a son with autism and Down syndrome. He again interacted with JJ as he was cutting windows and doors into a cardboard box to make a toy house. Wixom says JJ did not speak to him.

2:12 p.m. Warwick says he stayed at Lori’s apartment for four days and explains the layout. Lori, Alex, Chad, JJ and Melanie were also present. Warwick says he tried to interact with JJ a few times when he was sitting on the couch playing games.

2:10 p.m. Warwick says Chad and Lori seemed really close. He says he also saw Chad in September 2019 at Lori’s apartment in Rexburg to do a podcast with Lori and Melanie Gibb, and Chad came over.

2:08 p.m. Warwick says he told Chad that the role of gathering the 144,000 would have to be done by a prophet of god. Warwick says he did not believe that Chad was a prophet. He says he disagreed with much that was said at the lunch meeting, including talk about Satan having the power to push people out of their bodies and taking possession of them, and the person’s spirit being stuck in limbo because their body was still alive.

2:05 p.m. Wixom asks Warwick what else they are talking about. Warwick says the group talked about the “special gifts they were given” and their multiple lives and experiences in those lives. The gifts were things like power over the elements and the earth and “having to be in certain places at certain times to facilitate whatever god was doing.” Warwick says Zulema had those powers, and Alex was told he was an angel referenced in the Book of Mormon.

2:04 p.m. Warwick says Chad, Lori, Melani Boudreaux, Alex Cox, Zulema Pastenas, and a woman named Julie were there for lunch and talking about the gathering of the 144,000. Chad and Lori were saying they were responsible for gathering them, and it was their calling.

RELATED | A look at the religious circle surrounding Chad and Lori Daybell (2020)

2:02 p.m. The next time he saw Chad was in August 2019 at Lori Vallow’s house in Arizona. Warwick was with Melanie and was invited to Lori Vallow’s house to meet some of Lori and Melanie’s friends.

2:01 p.m. Warwick saw Chad next in 2017 at a conference in Brigham City, Utah, where he was asked to speak. Wixom asks about Chad’s demeanor, and Warwick says he has always been “very kind, very meek.”

1:59 p.m. Warwick says they walked around Chad’s property with Julie Rowe, a self-proclaimed energy healer, and they talked about setting tents up and constructing a building on the property. Warwick says he met Tammy Daybell in the living room that night.

1:57 p.m. Chad asked Warwick to leave the meeting with him to go to his home, but Warwick didn’t want to. he eventually went with him “out of respect.”

1:56 p.m. Warwick did not know most of the people at the meeting, but he remembers Chad, John Miller, Larry Hilton, tom Harrison, Bob Walker and Hector Sosa being there.

1:55 p.m. Warwick says he first met Chad in 2015 in Rigby, Idaho, at a meeting to talk about the “darknesses of this world.”

1:54 p.m. Warwick told Chad he would think about it, and needed approval for it. He decided not to do the book with him. Chad continually reached out to him 3 or 4 times over the year to keep asking him to help him with the book. Warwick says he kept saying no.

1:52 p.m. Warwick is a general contractor in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He says Chad Daybell reached out to him for the first time to do a book in 2015.

1:50 p.m. The next witness is David Warwick. He is married to Melanie Gibb. Fremont County Deputy Prosecutor Rocky Wixom is questioning him.

1:48 p.m. Boyce says Colby could be recalled during the trial. During Colby’s testimony, it looked as if Chad was only watching Prior or Wood speak the entire time and not looking at Colby.

1:47 p.m. Colby says he found out his mom was married from a press release about Tylee and JJ being missing. Prior is done questioning Colby, and he is released from the stand. When Boyce asks if Colby will be recalled, the state asks to approach the bench.

1:46 p.m. Prior says in August 2019, Colby had never heard of Chad Daybell, and Colby agrees. Prior asks if when Lori said she would be married again soon, if Colby knew she was talking about Chad Daybell. Colby says he did not.

1:45 p.m. Colby says he believes his mom could be influenced. Wood asks if his mother was influenced by Chad Daybell. Colby responds, “Yes.” Wood has no further questions and Prior has a further question.

1:44 p.m. Prior is done with cross-examination. Rob Wood will ask Colby a few more questions. Wood asks Colby about his mother’s personality and whether she is a “wallflower.” Prior objects; Boyce overrules.

1:43 p.m. Prior asks if Lori is a “wallflower” personality. Colby asks him to explain, and he says Lori likes to avoid confrontation.

1:41 p.m. Prior is jumping around from topic to topic very quickly. He is now asking Colby about a day in late November 2019 when he asked her on the phone what was going on with the missing kids. Prior asks if Melanie Gibb was on the phone call, and Colby does not know. Prior asks if Lori has a “strong personality,” and Colby agrees.

1:40 p.m. Colby says he talked with Tylee at least once a month via text when they did not live in the same place. Usually, when JJ was there, Tylee and Lori were there, too. During the last time he saw Tylee and JJ in the parking lot, Colby says he does not know why Tylee was crying.

1:39 p.m. Prior insinuates that Lori put the financial struggles on Charles Vallow, as she did not work for the majority of their relationship. Colby agrees.

1:38 p.m. Prior asks if Tylee was there when Charles was shot. Colby says he believes so. Prior says Lori received a “sizable life insurance policy” from Joseph Ryan after his death.

1:37 p.m. Colby says he was in the middle of his work day at Anytime Fitness when he found out Charles Vallow had died of a heart attack.

1:36 p.m. Colby says Lori lied to a lot of people very often. Prior asks about Melanie Gibb, and Colby says he didn’t speak to her. Prior asks if Melanie Gibb and Lori were “the best of friends,” and Colby responds, “You could say that.”

1:35 p.m. Prior asks Colby if Tylee was the kindest of the siblings to JJ. Colby says, “Sure.”

1:33 p.m. Prior asks Colby about the money he got from Tylee and Lori in 2018 and 2019. Colby says he was getting money because he needed help and was asking his mother for assistance. Prior asks if Tylee was more of a mother figure to JJ then Lori was. Colby says Tylee was JJ’s big sister and agrees she loved him.

1:32 p.m. Colby tried to call Lori on Thanksgiving, but she did not respond. A couple of weeks later she sent him an email, telling Colby everything was fine and that she “had Jesus on her side.” Wood is done questioning and Prior begins cross-examination.

1:31 p.m. After talking with police, Colby called Lori and asked where the kids were. Lori said she would take care of it but did not tell him where they were. Colby did not know where Lori was either.

1:30 p.m. Wood asks Colby about talking with Lori about potentially getting married again. Colby says Lori told him “I’ll be married again soon.” He disregarded her and thought she might be talking about getting married in the next life. She never mentioned the name Chad Daybell to him, but Lori says she had been becoming “spiritual” for a long time, and was spending a lot of time with Melanie Gibb.

1:29 p.m. Colby says he continued to get money from Tylee’s Venmo account and from Lori on Cash App after he saw her for the last time. He says the money kept getting denied because it was a new account. Colby says he didn’t ask for the money — it was just sent.

1:28 p.m. Colby Facetimed JJ and Tylee after he saw them in the parking lot, and that was the last time he physically spoke with them.

1:27 p.m. Colby says he was concerned about Tylee because their conversations were “not normal.” He said her texts seemed different than before, and she was not contacting him like she normally would. He assumed she was upset with him for something, but knew she had “been through a lot.”

1:26 p.m. Colby says the last time he saw Tylee was also the last time he saw JJ. Wood brings up Nov. 27, 2019. Colby says he was contacted by Gilbert Police, who were looking for Tylee and JJ. Colby says he told police he didn’t know where they were and described the last time he saw them.

1:23 p.m. Wood asks if Colby ever talked to Lori about Tylee’s Social Security money. Colby says Lori told him after Charles’ death that Tylee’s money was going to be “everybody’s money.” Colby asked how Lori was going to take care of JJ and Tylee, and she said she was going to work and use Tylee’s Social Security money to make it through.

1:22 p.m. Colby texted Tylee’s phone on Sept. 8, asking her to send money. Tylee responded, but Colby didn’t remember exactly what she said. The last text he received from Tylee said, “I love you, and I love the girls.”

1:20 p.m. Wood asks Colby if he remembers the last time he saw Tylee. He says it was August 30, 2019, outside of a gym in Mesa, Arizona. Lori said she was taking JJ and Tylee and moving, and Tylee was crying. Lori said they would be back in a few weeks to visit, but did not say where they were going, even after Colby asked.

1:19 p.m. Colby confirms that Joseph Ryan, Tylee’s biological dad, died in the summer of 2018. Tylee received Social Security because of this and would often send money to Colby via Venmo after Lori would ask her to.

1:18 p.m. Colby says Lori told him about herself and Charles Vallow’s finances, and that they were “running low.” Colby says it was a common theme that they were running out of money.

1:17 p.m. Colby says he talked to Lori about Charles Vallow’s life insurance policy when he was growing up, so he would know what would happen if either Lori or Charles died. A few weeks after his death. Lori told Colby she was not going to receive any of the money.

1:15 p.m. Wood asks what Lori’s demeanor was like. Colby says she was “calm and unrattled.” Colby says he “thought it was crazy because I was freaking out, and she did not care.” When Colby asked his mom how Charles actually died, she told him there was a fight and “gave me a very quick version of the story.” She did not say why she lied to Colby earlier.

1:14 p.m. Colby says he asked Alex what was on his head, and Alex replied Charles had hit him in the head with a bat, so he shot him in self-defense.

1:14 p.m. Colby says he went to Lori’s house in Gilbert, Arizona around 7:45 p.m. the day Charles Vallow died. “Tylee opened the door and hugged me, and she was crying. I saw my Uncle Alex sitting on the couch with a bandage around his head, and I saw my mom in the backyard.”

1:13 p.m. Colby says Lori called him between 1 and 3 o’clock when Charles died, and said he had a heart attack. Colby said he had no reason to not believe that was how he passed away.

1:10 p.m. Wood shows a photo of JJ Vallow. Colby again gets choked up and says JJ is his adopted brother. Colby says Charles Vallow is his stepfather, and that he was married to Lori for over 10 years. “He was my dad. It was good.”

1:09 p.m. Wood shows a photo of Tylee Ryan on the projector. When asked who the photo is of, Colby gets choked up before saying, “That’s my sister, Tylee.” Colby says she is her half-sister on their mom’s side.

1:07 p.m. Ryan says his siblings are Cole, Zach, Tylee and JJ. Cole and Zach are Colby’s stepbrothers by Charles Vallow.

1:06 p.m. The jury has been seated, and Rob Wood is questioning Colby Ryan.

1:04 p.m. Attorneys are back in their tables. The next witness is Colby Ryan, Lori Vallow’s oldest son.

1 p.m Back after lunch, waiting for court to begin for the second half of the day. The state is expected to begin by calling another witness.

11:29 a.m. Attorneys are back at their tables. Boyce says the morning has gone more quickly than they anticipated, so they are taking lunch now. Lunch break will be longer than usual. Be back at 1 p.m.

11:27 a.m. Attorneys ask to approach the bench.

11:26 a.m. Prior is questioning Hill. Hill says he never talked to Lori Vallow, never discussed an application for Tylee, and never heard of Chad Daybell. Hill is released form the stand and will not be recalled.

11:24 a.m. Hill says police contacted him in February 2020 to do a records check on Tylee Ryan, Tylee Vallow or Tylee Cox. She was not a current student, and they had no record of any of those names. She had never applied to the school.

11:22 a.m. The state is calling Wynn Hill to the stand. Hill was the dean of students at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg. He is now a therapist in the counseling center.

11:22 a.m. Wilson says Lori never mentioned Chad Daybell, and he never heard anything about him. Prior is done questioning, and Wilson is released from the stand. He will not be recalled.

11:21 a.m. Prior will now cross-examine Wilson. Prior asks if Lori and Wilson communicated over the phone, and Wilson says yes.

11:20 a.m. Wilson says they tried to contact Lori to finish JJ’s paperwork, but she told them they were moving to Louisiana. Wilson told her to have the new school request for JJ’s records, and they would pass them on. Lori said they would be homeschooling JJ. Wilson said they would keep JJ’s records if they ever chose to enroll him in public school again.

11:18 a.m. Wilson says JJ was enrolled in school at the beginning of September 2019. Sept. 3 was his first day, and Lori was there to enroll him. Lori told Wilson that they had just moved from Arizona after her husband died of a heart attack, so they were moving to Rexburg to be closer to family. JJ was enrolled at Kennedy Elementary for three weeks.

11:17 a.m. Deputy Attorney General Ingrid Batey is questioning Wilson for the defense.

11:16 a.m. The state calls Dr. Josh Wilson to the stand. Wilson was the principal of Kennedy Elementary School in Rexburg, where JJ attended.

11:15 a.m. Prior says he is finished questioning. The state has no redirect, and Shank is released from the stand. She will not be recalled.

11:14 a.m. Prior asks if the people at the house ever used the word “zombie” to describe JJ’s behavior. Shank says no.

11:13 a.m. Shank says Lori was “too comforting to him” and didn’t try to correct his behavior: “To me, throwing chairs and breaking stuff isn’t an appropriate behavior. Instead of correcting that, she was just emotionally there for him and being very sweet and kind to him.”

11:11 a.m. Shank says when JJ was at the neighbor’s house, there was a fight about sharing a toy, and JJ had a hard time with it. Prior asks if, after Lori got home, Lori, Alex, the friend, and JJ were the only people in the house at that time. Shank agrees.

11:08 a.m. Shank says the friend came in and didn’t have any luggage with her. Prior asks if JJ had behavioral changes, and Shank says yes, JJ was “freaking out” when they came home from the neighbors, and he threw an ottoman and a chair down before running upstairs “wanting space.” JJ had thrown a mirror on the ground and broke it.

11:07 a.m. Shank says Lori left that day with Alex Cox around 1 p.m. to pick up a friend from the airport. Shank does not know the name of the friend but did see her. Shank says she thinks she was blonde but doesn’t remember for sure.

11:05 a.m. Prior is now cross-examining Shank. Shank says Lori returned home around dinner time, 5 or 6 at night. Prior asks if it’s possible she came home after dinner, and she says yes.

11:04 a.m. Shank says she messaged Lori afterward to work for her again. Lori said JJ went with his grandparents for a month and she was in Hawaii for a month, but after the month had passed, she could call to reschedule another time to babysit. When she called and texted, she never got a response. She says Lori never mentioned Chad Daybell.

11:03 a.m. Shank watched JJ for 3 to 4 hours the next day. Shank says Lori told her what to feed JJ, some activities to do, and that if she got home late, she could give him some medication to help him sleep. Shank says JJ was playing with the neighbor kids the majority of the time. She says he was a “fun kid”, she fed him dinner before he went to the neighbors, and she went back to pick him up before Lori got home.

11:02 a.m. Lori never mentioned Tylee’s name, but said she had a daughter living in town to go to college who would sometimes come home for dinner or to babysit.

11:01 a.m. Shank says Lori reached out for babysitting, and she met her at Lori’s townhome to meet JJ on September 18, 2019. Shank says Lori told her he has autism and that he had difficulty focusing, with behavioral difficulties, requiring extra help. She also mentioned that they had just moved to Rexburg from Arizona, and her husband had passed away from a heart attack, something JJ was struggling to understand.

11 a.m. Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood will be questioning Shank. Shank says she lived in Rexburg in 2019 as she was attending college at Brigham Young University-Idaho.

10:59 a.m. The state calls Sidney Woodbury Shank to the stand. She is a babysitter Lori reportedly hired from Care.com in Arizona.

10:57 a.m. Hart is released from the stand, but he will be recalled by the state and the defense at a later date.

10:56 a.m. Blake brings up the term “telestial relative.” Hart agrees that they were “obstacles.” Blake asks if Charles Vallow, Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell were ever deemed dark. Hart says yes, but JJ and Tammy were deemed to be “inhabited by dark entities.” He says all four of those people are dead.

10:54 a.m. Blake asks if Chad was indicating that he and Lori would be married eternally. Hart says that is precisely what was written in Chad’s writing. Hart says the “light and dark” teaching originated from Chad.

10:51 a.m. Prior says he is going to stop there. Blake asks Hart about the “sealing reference” and if recalls testifying about it before. He says yes. Blake asks if he testified that there are also sealings done for people who have passed away. Hart says yes. Prior objects, and it is overruled.

10:49 a.m. Prior says Hart talked about the process of “sealing.” Hart says it’s part of the James and Elena story. Prior says it’s part of a marriage process in the LDS church. Hart says it’s when two people go to get married. Prior continues, saying it’s a “religious symbolism to show that they have an intent to wanting to be together for the rest of their life.” Hart agrees.

10:47 a.m. Hart says there was only one instance where Lori disputed a “dark or light” number given to somebody. Hart says the only times he saw “light and dark” numbers being generated with the exception of that one occasion, were by Chad Daybell.

10:45 a.m. Prior published more messages to the projector screen but they are very hard to read on the livestream. “Phoebe” (Melanie Gibb) says to Lori, “I am doing pretty good thanks. I love you so much. I’m going to teach right now. Teaching about discerning and shutting off dark portals. I could see the darkness so clearing last night when I was teaching last night. Their eyes were dark like marbles.”

10:44 a.m. Apparently there was a thumb drive not opening files. Seems to be working now.

10:43 a.m. Attorneys are back at their tables. Chad seems to be staring very intently at the computer screen in front of him.

10:41 a.m. Prior asks to approach the bench. The attorneys take a brief sidebar.

10:40 a.m. Prior says it wasn’t a secret that Chad thought Tammy was going to die young. Hart agrees. Prior asks if he’s wrong that Chad was waiting for Tammy to pass away, and that was why Lori couldn’t be with him yet. Hart states, “It could be that, or it could be waiting to take action.”

10:39 a.m. Prior asks if there were ever any texts from Chad saying “I agree with you Lori, let’s kill the kids.” Hart says there were multiple texts talking about the kid’s “death percentages.” Prior says Chad had been talking to public audiences since 2016, saying that Tammy was going to “have a short life.”

10:37 a.m. Prior asks if it’s fair to say that Lori was saying that unless Chad and Tammy get divorced, he kills Tammy, or Tammy dies, he won’t “have her.” Hart agrees.

10:36 a.m. Prior asks if Lori saying she was “just a distraction” and telling him to “go have fun with your family” was sarcastic. Hart says he thinks she was being serious.

10:34 a.m. Prior asks if Chad’s books were marketed toward LDS people. Hart agrees. Prior asks if they were members of a cult, and Hart says not that he knows of.

10:33 a.m. Hart agrees that Chad was trying to make a living by selling his books to an audience of people at “encampments or gatherings” in the Intermountain West, such as St. George, Utah; Mesa, Arizona; and Boise.

10:32 a.m. Prior says Chad Daybell wrote a lot of books about religious issues, and Hart agrees that he often wrote books with an “end-of-times theme.”

10:31 a.m. Prior suggests Hart said Lori wasn’t believing everything Chad was saying about religion. Hart says that’s untrue, and he thinks Lori believed “pretty much everything Chad Daybell said.”

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10:30 a.m. Hart says the “peripheral” members of the group would include six to ten people, including Melanie Gibb, David Warwick, Zulema Pastenes, and Melani Boudreaux.

10:27 a.m. Hart agrees that Chad was using his religious beliefs to manipulate Lori Vallow. Hart says Chad was looked to as the visionary for the small group they were a part of and that he used that to keep Lori in a relationship with him. Hart says the “inner circle” group included Chad, Lori and Alex Cox.

10:25 a.m. Prior asks Hart to explain how Chad’s light and dark scale works. Hart says the numerical system is not part of the LDS faith, to his knowledge.

10:24 a.m. Prior asks if there is a reference to light and dark in the LDS faith. Hart says yes, there are references to “light and dark” in the LDS faith. Prior asks if sometimes testified otherwise, if they would be lying. Hart says yes.

10:22 a.m. Hart says he believes the “dark number” provided justification for Chad and Lori to kill JJ and Tylee.

10:23 a.m. Chad is watching the projector screen intently. The livestream is a little dark due to the windows being open, so it’s hard to see his facial expressions.

10:21 a.m. Prior asks if he is talking about text messages where Chad assigned “death percentages” to the children. Hart says yes.

10:20 a.m. Hart says there were texts alluding to and planning for the deaths of the kids. Prior asks him to explain. Blake objects; Boyce sustains. Hart says Chad and Lori refer to a plan to take the children, “and Chad Daybell’s ability as a supposed visionary to understand when that might happen.”

10:18 a.m. Hart says he “doesn’t know what was in Daybell’s mind” as to why heaven would strike him down if he met with Lori Vallow at that point. Prior says throughout the text messages, he didn’t see any that said, “Hey, this is Chad. Let’s kill the kids.” Blake objects; Boyce overrules. Hart says there are several texts that talk in detail about the deaths of the kids.

10:17 a.m. Prior discusses the Aug. 11, 2019 text messages between Chad and Lori. Prior says the text, “I would happily join you tomorrow if it felt like heaven would not strike us down” has “nothing to do with murder.” Hart says he cannot say it doesn’t have to do with murder.

10:16 a.m. Prior asks Hart if it is possible that Chad was providing artistic embellishments in the book. Blake moves to strike, and Boyce sustains.

10:15 a.m. Hart says someone on the investigative team read Chad’s other books, but he personally did not. He says he understands that Chad has written about prior experiences in his life. Prior says Chad wrote a book about his daughter Emma.

10:13 a.m. Prior asks Hart if he knows Chad Daybell is an author and was working on a book about his relationship with Lori Vallow. Hart says he believes it is a “truthful and accurate story.”

RELATED | READ: The ‘romance novel’ Chad Daybell wrote to Lori Vallow Daybell

10:12 a.m. Hart says Lori and Chad’s relationship started the first time they met in October 2018. Their physical relationship began in November, because Chad Daybell “wrote about it in great detail. They were kissing fondling in bed together, taking each other’s clothes off.” He is referring to the James and Elena story.

10:11 a.m. Prior asks how Hart interpreted the texts when being questioned by Blake. Hart says he did not interpret it but read it directly into the record.

10:10 a.m. Prior admits an exhibit on the projector screen showing the previous text messages we saw between Lori and Chad.

10:08 a.m. Prior asks if Hart remembers Melanie Gibb referring to herself as Phoebe. he says it “rings a bell” but he can’t remember for sure. Hart says Alex Cox was often called “Al”, Melani Boudreaux was “Mel”, and Lori often called Chad “Bubby.”

10:07 a.m. Prior asks if any of the involved people ever used nicknames. Hart says Lori referred to herself as Lolo, Lily, and Chad referred to her as Elena (sometimes spelled in previous news reports as Alayna or Alaina).

10:05 a.m. Prior says Hart went over tens of thousands of messages through his investigation. Hart agrees. Prior asks if he ever reviewed messages between Lori and Melanie Gibb (her friend). Hart says yes.

10 a.m. The jury is being brought in, and Prior will begin the cross-examination of retired FBI Agent Doug Hart.

9:57 a.m. Boyce says there is some editorial content in the exhibit that can’t be published to the jury. Blake says it should be noted in the record that the redaction was made to the exhibit. Prior agrees.

9:56 a.m. Court is back in session, but the jury is not in the room while attorneys and Judge Boyce talk about redactions in an exhibit.

9:24 a.m. Attorneys are back in the courtroom. Boyce says we are taking an early mid-morning break.

9:22 a.m. Hearing that Colby Ryan, Lori Vallow’s son, is at the Ada County Courthouse today.

9:18 a.m. The attorneys are taking a sidebar with Judge Boyce while they discuss the next exhibit as Prior will begin cross-examination of Hart.

9:17 a.m. Hart says Chad’s greatest desire is to be with Lori. Tammy is still alive at this point. Hart says it is “telling” that Chad says he would immediately join Lori if he could.

9:15 a.m. Hart says “telestial” references the lowest level or degree of glory of heaven in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So “telestial relatives” is a reference to people who are in the lowest level of heaven.”

9:14 a.m. Lori then texts Chad, “I’m so alone without you!! It is devastating!!” Chad responds, “I feel so alone too. We are surrounded by telestial relatives that are simply obstacles. I’m so sick of it!!” Lori responds, “Me too!! What is it that you really want?” Chad says, “I want to be with you. That is my greatest hope and dream. I would happily join you tomorrow if it felt like heaven would not strike us down.”

9:12 a.m. Hart says there was never any indication that Chad was going to get divorced from Tammy.” Chad then texted Lori, “You are right. Put me aside until things change. Yes, the pain is unbearable. Lori says, “R u going to threaten me that I’m unprotected for doing so?” Chad replies, “Absolutely not. I’m so upset at the circumstances that I am demanding they protect you more than ever.”

9:11 a.m. Chad then says, “But I will leave you alone, as excruciating as that will be, until I hear from you.” Lori responds, “U can’t say to me nothing else matters. Because everything is before me. If that’s what the Lord wants then I’m. I just need to do something else so I can pull myself out of this deep despair. It’s not like me to be this way. it’s been way too much for way too long.” Lori also says, “The pain is unbearable.”

9:08 a.m. Chad responds, “Oh, honey. That is so crushing, I feel so destroyed inside. You know my love for you is deep and real. I want change, I’m constantly begging for change. I want you. Nothing else matters. But I am hindering your life, and you deserve better. I love you so intensely.”

9:06 a.m. Lori then says, “If you really loved me, u wouldn’t want that either. ” She then tells him, “U should give all of you love and attention to your wife and family. I’m just a distraction. Go have fun with your family. I really to want you to. I just can’t be in the way anymore. If things change then we can talk. but we have nothing until things change anyway.”

9:05 a.m. Chad tells Lori, “No, but the next two days will be torture. Thankfully, I will be alone most of Wednesday and beyond.” Lori says, “Is that what He wants. For me to sit around waiting for you endlessly. And you miserably wasting time? Is just doesn’t feel right!” Chad says, “I’m so frustrated, I’m sorry honey. Lori responds, “U can’t just keep tearing my heart out. I really can’t take it anymore. I’m sorry.’ This is one month to the day after Charles Vallow’s death.

9:03 a.m. On Aug. 11, 2019, Chad texted, “I will join you! Partly why I am so sad is my Boise trip has turned into a trip with extended family. Not happy about it. “Lori says, “How much more of this can you take?” Chad responded, “They want to go to Craters of the Moon National Park. I can’t take much more. So trapped.” Lori says, “R we supposed to wait forever?” Chad is on vacation with Tammy and his family at the time.

9:01 a.m. The same night, Lori texted Chad, “Very good description of what just happened. Wish you were really here to experience this with me.” Later she texted him again, “Thank you for being mine. Wish I could wake up and kiss your sweet tender lips for real. You are my everything!” Hart says this indicated they were “using portals” to communicate with each other, even though they understand it’s “not real, or really true.’

9 a.m. The next night, Lori sent Chad a photo of her on a beach wearing a yellow swimsuit with the text, “Surprises are waiting!!” Hart says this is an “example of how Lori Vallow manipulates Chad Daybell.”

8:58 a.m. Lori responded, “I love you.” Chad responded, “Thank you, my love. I will get things restored.”

8:57 a.m. Chad texted Lori, “Good night. Saddest day of my life. About half an hour later, he sent, “Grandpa Keith is here. I am supposed to warn you that you are unprotected. The angels are angry that you are ignoring me. I told him to go back, but he says he isn’t allowed to. I’m honestly not trying to manipulate you to respond, I understand that you need your space. But they say you have cut me off, and the protection I build around your house is gone. I love you and don’t want you getting attacked. They said if you at least give me a (?) it will restore our connection enough to give some protection.” Grandpa Keith is Lori’s deceased grandfather. (Note: We are trying to run the text messages as they are without editing for grammar or spelling.)

8:55 a.m Hart says the text messages show this was the first “big fight” they would had. Chad said his “heart was crushed” and he would never stop loving her.”

8:53 a.m. Hart says Chad had a family vacation planned when Lori and Melani wanted to come visit. The fight between Chad and Lori was over the differences in their schedules.

8:51 a.m. Prior objects, and Boyce sustains it, but reminds him twice to use his microphone. Prior says his microphone is not on, so the judge asks court staff to turn it on.

8:50 a.m. Hart says it struck him that there seemed to be a conflict between Lori and Chad in these text messages. Melani Boudreaux and Lori were wanting to go to Rexburg to visit Chad on Aug. 7, 2019. At this time, Charles Vallow had been dead for almost a month.

8:49 a.m. Lori tells Chad, “Mel wants us to come up there tomorrow, but I said next Thursday to Sunday. What do you think?” She then texts her niece Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski), “We just had a big fight, Probably no go on next week.”

8:48 a.m. Hart describes the next slide that displays the life insurance documents showing Kay Woodcock was the beneficiary. Lori sent Chad proof of the change of beneficiary. We don’t see the slide because some personal information needs to be redacted.

8:47 a.m. Hart says the text messages show that Lori had found out that Charles Vallow had changed the beneficiary on his life insurance policy.

8:46 a.m. Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake is continuing her questioning of Hart this morning. She shows a slide detailing text messages between Chad and Lori.

8:42 a.m. Jurors were just brought into the courtroom. Chad is sitting at the defense table wearing a light blue shirt and red tie.

8:41 a.m. Retired FBI agent Doug Hart will be back on the stand this morning. Judge Boyce says he had a brief sidebar with the attorneys about removing commentary from an exhibit.

8:24 a.m. Hi everybody! Kaitlyn Hart with EastIdahoNews.com here today, filling in for Nate Eaton on his week off. I am not in the courtroom – but I will do my best to bring you minute-by-minute updates from the court’s livestream.