8 Key Omissions in Sins of Our Mother: Unveiling the Untold Stories (A Netflix Documentary)

Article Overview

A devoted family woman, Lori Vallow became obsessed with Chad Daybell's apocalyptic beliefs, leading to the gruesome murders of her own children.

The deaths of Charles Vallow and Chad Daybell's wife, Tammy, under suspicious circumstances further contributed to the unsettling nature of the case. After Vallow withdrew Tylee and JJ from school, they disappeared, and their remains were later discovered buried in Daybell's pet cemetery in his backyard. Vallow and Daybell now face charges for the murder.

Warning: The upcoming article contains graphic discussions about the murder of children.

The three-part Netflix documentary series, Sins of Our Mother, uncovers chilling revelations surrounding the case of Lori Vallow. This series delves into the disturbing real-life account of Vallow, a mother whose children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, mysteriously vanished. What made the situation even more perplexing was Vallow's unusual refusal to disclose their whereabouts. Subsequently, it was later revealed that Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, had committed the heinous act of murdering their children and concealing their bodies in a small, makeshift grave located in the backyard of a house owned by Daybell and his family in Idaho.

Lori Vallow Was A Devoted Family Woman

The gruesome act of a mother killing her own children is horrifying on its own, but what makes this case even more chilling and peculiar are the surrounding circumstances. It is not just the deaths of JJ and Tylee that send shivers down the spine, but the unnerving fact that both Vallow and Daybell had previously lost people close to them, and the motives behind these murders were remarkably tied to religion, the notion of an impending apocalypse, and even the existence of zombies. Utilizing a blend of interview footage and testimonies from individuals involved in the case, Sins of Our Mother goes beyond a mere explanation of Lori Vallow's actions, aiming to delve into the very reasons behind her heinous deeds.

Vallow was a wife and mother

Lori Vallow Became Obsessed With Chad Daybell

The initial part of Sins of Our Mother highlights Lori Vallow's role as a loving and dedicated family woman leading a contented existence. Prior to the tragic events, Lori was married to Charles Vallow, her fourth spouse. Together, they not only shared the joy of parenthood with their children, Colby and Tylee Ryan, but also extended their family by adopting Joshua Jaxon "JJ" Vallow, Charles Vallow's grandnephew. Sins of Our Mother effectively paints a picture of Lori Vallow's true character before the unthinkable acts took place. As her son Colby poignantly expresses in the docuseries, "We experienced the bliss of a wonderful family before this devastation struck."

Daybell is a preacher who wrote books about the apocalypse

However, the course of events took a drastic turn when Vallow delved into the captivating world of literature, particularly the works of Chad Daybell, an influential preacher. Daybell eloquently depicted the impending apocalypse, claiming to have received these visions through divine prophecies delivered by angels. When Vallow crossed paths with Daybell in 2018, she was swept away by his conviction, as he firmly believed that they had been joined in matrimony in past lives. Furthermore, Daybell saw it as their joint responsibility to ready the selected few for the second coming of Christ, while simultaneously eradicating the "zombies" obstructing their divine purpose. Lori Vallow unquestioningly embraced every teaching that emanated from Daybell's lips.

Charles Vallow Was Killed Shortly After He Filed For Divorce

He was shot by Lori's brother, Alex Cox

Lori Vallow's obsession with her alleged mission to seek out and lead the "chosen people" for the second coming of Christ became so alarming that it instilled fear in both her spouse and the children. Following Lori's reported threat to kill him, Charles Vallow sought a divorce. Tragically, Charles Vallow was later shot and killed by Lori Vallow's brother, Alex Cox. Cox maintained that he acted in self-defense, claiming that Vallow had attempted to harm him, prompting him to use the firearm for protection. These events were corroborated by the police through bodycam footage and testimony from Tylee.

Daybell's Wife Also Died Under Suspicious Circumstances

Daybell claimed Tammy died due to "natural causes"

As if the circumstances surrounding Charles Vallow's death weren't peculiar enough, Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell's wife, would soon suffer a similar fate under equally strange circumstances. According to Sins of Our Mother, Chad Daybell claimed that Tammy Daybell had died of "natural causes" shortly after Vallow was shot and killed. However, the police have reopened the case after examining Tammy Daybell's body and appear to disagree with this conclusion. Despite the ongoing investigation, Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow proceeded to get married and held their wedding ceremony in Hawaii.

Tylee and J.J. Go Missing

Vallow pulled them out of school the last day they were seen

After the deaths of Charles Vallow and Tammy Daybell, the case gained significant attention due to the sudden disappearance of Lori Vallow's two children, Tylee and JJ. The children were last seen in their respective classrooms, but the next day Vallow decided to home-school them, making their sudden absence even more notable. No one had seen them since, prompting the police to initiate an investigation.

What made this case particularly peculiar was that both Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell refused to cooperate with the police by providing information about when they last saw their children or their possible whereabouts. Instead, they consistently claimed that the children were safe and there was no cause for concern. The documentary also highlights the fact that Vallow and Daybell married in Hawaii after their children had already gone missing, adding to the suspicious circumstances surrounding them. As a result, the couple became potential suspects in the case.

Tylee and J.J. Were Found Dead

Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were charged with their murder

Subsequently, the police made a harrowing revelation that Tylee and JJ had met a tragic fate and were laid to rest in an improvised graveyard, ominously referred to by Daybell as his "pet cemetery," situated in the rear garden of a property owned by Daybell and his family. In light of the grim discovery, both Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were apprehended and formally charged with the brutal slayings of Tylee and JJ, despite vehemently maintaining their innocence. Furthermore, the authorities also leveled accusations of a murder conspiracy against Vallow and Daybell, asserting that they colluded in orchestrating the demise of Lori's former spouse, Charles.

Where Lori Vallow Is Now

She claimed she was mentally unfit for trial

Lori Vallow, in 2021, asserted her mental incapacity to stand trial. Despite being admitted to a mental health facility, she eventually recuperated, and health professionals certified her fit enough to resume court proceedings. In 2023, Vallow was convicted and sentenced to three back-to-back life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murder of her two children and former spouse (via NPR). Presently, Lori Vallow is incarcerated, where she will spend the remainder of her life.

What Netflix Left Out Of Sins Of Our Mother

The documentary was shot before Lori Vallow's trial

The information regarding Vallow's trial in 2023 was largely missing in Sins of Our Mother. This is primarily due to the fact that the documentary series premiered in 2022, before Vallow received her three consecutive life sentences in 2023. Nonetheless, even without this crucial information, Sins of Our Mother remains an exceptional Netflix docuseries that not only provides a detailed account of the events surrounding Tylee and JJ, but also delves into the motives behind Lori Vallow's tragic actions.

Available for streaming on Netflix.