Latest news with #LoriVallow
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man allegedly shot at car with kids inside; latest on 'Doomsday Mom'
PHOENIX - From what a 19-year-old man is accused of doing to a car with kids inside to the latest on Lori Vallow Daybell's legal saga, here's a look at some of the top stories on for Friday, May 30, 2025.
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Fox News
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Karen Read's cocktails, Scott Peterson's conviction, Lori Vallow's verdict
WEAK DRINKS: Karen Read says she poured extra shots into her cocktails before John O'Keefe's death. 'SENSE OF CHAOS': New England serial killer fears addressed by Massachusetts district attorney after 8th body discovered. 'FIRST STEP': New York police ID murder victims linked to Gilgo Beach serial killer investigation. 'MERITLESS CLAIMS': Kristin Smart killer's Hail Mary attempt for reduced sentence criticized by AG: 'Meritless claims'. CREDIBILITY CRISIS: Key Karen Read witness admits grand jury testimony wasn't true. VALLOW VERDICT: Arizona jury finds 'cult mom' Lori Vallow guilty of conspiring to murder late husband. 'SUBSTANTIAL NEW EVIDENCE': Scott Peterson asks for murder conviction to be tossed, citing 'substantial new evidence'. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER COURTROOM DRAMA: Karen Read retrial kicks off with wire-to-wire drama, lawyers brawl in tense hearing after jurors sent home. 'WORST OF WORST': New 'America's Most Wanted' puts migrants, 'worst of the worst' on notice. MONEY AND MURDER: 'Cult mom' Lori Vallow, who killed 2 kids, laments 'family tragedy' in closing arguments of 2nd murder trial. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER NO WAY OUT: Oklahoma City bombing survivor was 'getting ready to die' after being trapped in 10 feet of rubble. GET OUT OF JAIL CARD: Menendez brothers could get freedom under California law signed by Gavin Newsom: expert. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
Fox News
11-04-2025
- Fox News
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Kohberger's evidence fight, Vallow's latest trial, Read's jury selection
WINS AND LOSSES: What went Bryan Kohberger's way – and what didn't – at evidence motions hearing. FAMILY AFFAIR: Idaho prosecutors say they will call 'a few' of Bryan Kohberger's family members to testify at trial. 'FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE': 'Doomsday mom' Lori Vallow shares why she made unusual legal move for second murder trial. SECRETS SEALED: Hunt for missing Midwest news anchor focuses on fight over unsealing evidence. MURDERS & MANIPULATION: Menendez brothers prosecutor asks court to withdraw request for reduced sentences. SPLIT ENDS: Missing California mom's family digs for homicide 'cover-up or cleanup' as police eye persons of interest. INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT: South Carolina woman wanted in murder investigation found in the Netherlands. SIPPING THE JUICE: Murder defendant Karen Read says she would've 'cheered' OJ Simpson verdict as she prepares for second trial. TOXIC EX: New Jersey woman accused of hiring Tinder date to kill her ex and his teen daughter: court docs. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER UNMASKING THE MADNESS: Charles Manson's cult killings fueled by 'perfect storm' as theories get new analysis: criminal profiler. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
Fox News
10-03-2025
- Fox News
Bryan Kohberger defense ramps up legal maneuvers in bid to keep Idaho murders suspect off death row
As Bryan Kohberger's trial date approaches in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, new evidence and legal positioning continues to emerge and evolve as the parties pick up the pace of court filings. The defense is asking the court to limit the use of the word "murder" at trial, as well as ban terms like psychopath, sociopath and even references to "bushy eyebrows." They also don't want the judge to allow too many crime scene photos to be shown in front of the jury because the grisly imagery could be "inflammatory." On the other hand, prosecutors have demanded the defense stop referring to the state's intent to seek the death penalty if there is a conviction as "an attempt to kill" the defendant. In what could become one of the more consequential motions, Kohberger's defense asked the court to throw out the possibility of the death penalty on the grounds that prosecutors took too long handing over discovery disclosures. The filings became public as part of a slew of documents unsealed by the Ada County judge now overseeing the case, who told both sides they will have to legally justify submitting filings under seal going forward. Shanon Gray, the attorney for the family of victim Kaylee Goncalves, 21, said he could not share his views on the filings themselves due to a long-standing gag order on the case – but he blasted the lack of communication between authorities and his clients. "The Latah County prosecutors' failure to notify the victims' families about the content of the motions that were being filed is unacceptable," he told Fox News Digital. "As we have previously stated… the communication from their office to the Goncalves family has been poor, to say the least." Kohberger's attorney, Anne Taylor, has had several prior attempts to take the death penalty off the table rejected, but she noted that Lori Vallow, a convicted multi-murderer, successfully made a similar argument in her own Idaho case. "This Court has commented in other proceedings related to Mr. Kohberger's trial setting and motions about discovery and expert opinions, that Lori Vallow's case is distinguishable because she had not waived her speedy trial rights," Taylor wrote. "However, in this case, it is the Court that is repeatedly telling all counsel and Mr. Kohberger that the trial date is set in stone and everyone must be ready to proceed by July 30, 2025." Kohberger did waive his right to a speedy trial and has been held without bail since his arrest on Dec. 30, 2022. But Taylor claimed that it could take up to another three years to review and understand the digital evidence alone. The trial is scheduled to begin in August. "I think the motion to preclude the death penalty for discovery violations might have some legitimate teeth," said Edwina Elcox, a Boise-based defense attorney who used to represent Vallow. "I think Judge Hippler will hold them to the trial schedule unless it becomes virtually impossible to do so. If the defense motion is accurate, which I have no doubt it is, I do not think the Court will be sympathetic to the prosecution." A New York City judge limited the use of the word "murder" in Daniel Penny's trial for the death of Jordan Neely last year. However, Penny wasn't charged with murder. He was accused of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for the unintentional death of Neely – and later acquitted. Kohberger is accused of four counts of first-degree murder. While the defense does not oppose using the word in charging documents or jury instructions, his lawyers asked the court to block the terms "murder," "murderer," "murdered," "murder weapon," and other variations when applied to Kohberger specifically. "To label Mr. Kohberger as a 'murderer,' the alleged weapon consistent with an empty sheath as a 'murder weapon,' or to assert that any of the four decedents was 'murdered' by Mr. Kohberger denies his right to a fair trial and the right to be presumed innocent," Taylor argued in court filings unsealed this week. Further, according to Taylor, using words like "psychopath" and "sociopath" to refer to the quadruple murder suspect amounts to "name calling" and would be "unfairly prejudicial." "Murder is a legal term and the crime being charged, so there is no basis to exclude it," said Neama Rahmani, a Los Angeles-based trial attorney and former federal prosecutor who has been following the case. "Psychopath and sociopath are different and potentially inflammatory, so the judge may exclude those terms, at least during the guilt phase. 'Bushy eyebrows' was part of the roommate's description, so that should come in." GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB Taylor is also seeking to suppress at least some crime scene photos, police bodycam and images of the victims' autopsies. Photos inside the house are expected to paint a gruesome scene due to the nature of the crime. Goncalves, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, had all been stabbed multiple times. Goncalves' father, Steve Goncalves, previously told Fox News Digital after the attack that his daughter's wounds included "tears" and "big open gouges." Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt said it appeared that whoever attacked them used the same knife on each victim. "It had to be a really big knife to inflict those injuries and kill four people," she said, before Kohberger had been identified as a suspect. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Investigators discovered a Ka-Bar knife sheath under Mogen's body, which they allege had DNA on the snap that led them to Kohberger. While search warrant returns show police confiscated knives as part of the investigation, it's unclear whether any are believed to be the suspected murder weapon. There are also hours of bodycam video from police who entered the home, as well as 3D models created by the FBI. "Crime scene photos can and should come in to the extent that it's not overly cumulative," Rahmani said. "We're talking about a gruesome quadruple murder and it's key evidence in the case." Repeatedly showing similar, grisly images could be unfairly prejudicial and violate Kohberger's right to a fair trial, Taylor argued. Latah County Judge John Judge, who was overseeing the case before he granted a change of venue, entered not guilty pleas on Kohberger's behalf at his arraignment in May 2023. The suspect faces four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge and could face execution by firing squad if convicted. The new judge, Steven Hippler in Ada County, has scheduled motion hearings in April.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Doomsday cult mom' asks court to ban cameras from upcoming murder trial
Convicted killer and so-called "doomsday cult mom" Lori Vallow is asking the court to restrict media access in her upcoming Arizona murder trial, citing claims of defamation and misleading coverage. Vallow, who is representing herself, filed an objection with the Maricopa County Superior Court last month asking the judge to block Court TV from streaming the proceedings as she faces a second set of murder charges. "Court TV should be ashamed of its very nature and its request, since its sole objective is NOT to bring people real news or facts but instead its objective is to entertain the public with the very true-life tragedies that happen in real people's lives," Vallow, who has already been convicted of killing her two children and her husband's ex-wife, wrote in court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. Lori Vallow Trial: 'Cult Mom' Sentenced In Murders Of Two Of Her Children, Husband's First Wife Vallow went on to claim that Court TV is using her and her husband Chad Daybell's images in commercials for the channel, alleging the depictions have "falsely characterized, libeled, and slandered" the couple. Daybell has been sentenced to death in Idaho for his role in the slayings of J.J. Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell. "This gives [Vallow] a tremendous amount of control over the case, and she has little to lose, since she's already been sentenced to life in prison in Idaho," Andrew Stoltmann, a Chicago-based attorney, told Fox News Digital. "She may be intending to turn this case into a three-ring circus, and the best way to do that is by representing herself." Read On The Fox News App SIGN UP TO GET True Crime Newsletter Since the infamous trial of OJ Simpson, judges may have a stronger personal opinion of allowing cameras into courtrooms and fear it could do more harm than good for the proceedings, according to Stoltmann. "There's a philosophical belief that it's good for the public to see the judicial process in action," Stoltmann said. "There are also legitimate concerns that it tends to turn the attorneys and witnesses into actors who play up to the camera, which is typically not in the defendant's best interest." Court TV did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The network previously streamed pre-trial proceedings for Vallow's upcoming case, titling the coverage "ID v. Lori Vallow Daybell: Doomsday Cult Mom Trial." Bryan Kohberger Looks To Dodge Death Penalty With Page From 'Cult Mom' Lori Vallow's Playbook The objection comes as Vallow gears up for her second trial. In 2021, a grand jury indicted her on charges of conspiracy to commit murder in the shooting death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and attempted murder of her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. "Being her own attorney likely gives her a better chance of an ineffective-counsel argument on appeal, assuming she loses," Stoltmann told Fox News Digital. "She might be thinking it also gives her the best chance to win, because the jurors can hear from her without her actually having to testify and therefore be subject to cross-examination by the prosecutors." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Vallow was extradited to Arizona in November 2023 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Charles Vallow was allegedly shot by Lori Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, in what was originally believed to be self-defense in 2019. Months later, Cox died of an apparent blood clot. Prosecutors allege the siblings also conspired to murder Boudreaux in what eventually became a series of cult-fueled killings orchestrated by Vallow. Idaho Judge In Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell Murder Cases Bars Cameras From Courtroom: 'A Great Risk' Last year, Idaho jurors found Vallow and Daybell guilty of murdering Vallow's two youngest children and Daybell's former wife, Tammy Daybell. The remains of seven-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan were found buried on Daybell's Idaho property following a months-long search, during which Vallow and Daybell jetted off to get married in Hawaii. GET REAL TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub Vallow was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the three murders and has since filed an appeal of the conviction. At sentencing, Fremont County District Judge Steven Boyce told Vallow, "You had so many other options. You chose the most evil and destructive path possible. I don't think to this day you have any remorse for the effort and heartache you caused." 'Doomsday Mom' Lori Vallow Granted Mental Health Exam Ahead Of Second Murder Trial Boyce went on to acknowledge a February 2023 psychiatric diagnosis indicating Vallow's numerous "mental health issues," citing "delusional disorder" mixed with "hyper-religiosity" and a "continuous and unspecified personality disorder" along with narcissistic features. An Arizona judge granted Vallow's request for a mental competency evaluation, following a previous diagnosis stemming from her initial murder trial. She was ultimately deemed mentally competent to stand trial last year. Vallow will be tried separately for the death of Boudreaux, with her trial relating to the alleged murder of Charles Vallow scheduled to begin on March 31. Fox News Digital's Audrey Conklin contributed to this report. Original article source: 'Doomsday cult mom' asks court to ban cameras from upcoming murder trial
