**OPENING STATEMENTS** Day 1 Part 1 Lori Vallow Daybell Murder Trial Justice for Charles Vallow

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In February 2019, Lori Vallow reportedly told her husband, Charles, that she no longer cared about him or their son, JJ. Soon after, she disappeared for 58 days. During this time, Charles filed for divorce, citing threats to his life and claiming that Lori had stolen his truck and $35,000 from their joint bank accounts. According to Charles' filing, Lori told him that he was possessed by a "dark spirit" named Ned Schneider and that she was a god tasked with preparing for the second coming of Christ, which she believed would happen in July 2020. She also allegedly threatened to kill him if he interfered with her mission.
Charles became so concerned about Lori's behavior that he changed his life insurance policy in February 2019, making his sister, Kay, the beneficiary instead of Lori. She was unaware of this until after Charles's death. On July 11, 2019, Charles went to Lori’s home in Arizona to pick up JJ. An altercation occurred with Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, who shot and killed Charles, later claiming it was in self-defense. Cox alleged that he confronted Charles over abuse claims and retrieved his gun in response to being hit with a bat. Kylie, a witness, told police that she saw part of the incident but fled with JJ before the shooting. No charges were filed, and neighbors later reported hearing a pool party with loud music at Lori's house. Cox later told someone that he didn't feel bad for killing a "zombie."