‘Doomsday Mom’ confirms she wants to represent herself in court in Arizona

PHOENIX – Lori Vallow, the so-called “Doomsday Mom” ​​convicted of murder in Idaho, appeared in a Maricopa County courtroom for the first time in months.

Vallow is accused of murdering her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreau. She is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in both cases investigated by Chandler and Gilbert police.

On November 6, a status conference was held to discuss her mental competency process, which likely could have delayed her murder conspiracy trial. Vallow’s new public defenders made their first appearance in court, asking Judge Justin Beresky Motion to Withdraw a Rule 11 Request.

It was Vallow’s former public defenders filed a petition for a Rule 11 assessment. These public defenders have since withdrawn from the case. Per Maricopa County Superior Court website, pursuant to Rule 11, the Medical Examiner’s Office evaluates the competency of criminal defendants. Vallow’s February 2025 trial has now been canceled by request.

One of Vallow’s new attorneys, Pamela Hicks, told Judge Beresky that after a “lengthy” conversation with Vallow, they believe she should not participate in Rule 11 and the defendant wants to continue the trial while representing herself.

Meanwhile, the prosecution told Judge Beresky that it had already decided a Rule 11 trial was necessary when the original motion was granted on October 21. That motion was filed by Vallow’s previous public defenders, who have since abandoned her case. Prosecutors argued that a “reasonable basis” was found to conduct a competency evaluation, and if the recall request is granted, the state will require a psychological evaluation.

Ultimately, the judge wants more information about Vallow’s case in Idaho, in which she was found incompetent for nearly a year before her competency was restored in April 2022. Vallow was ultimately found guilty of murdering her two youngest children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow. and Tylee Ryan, as well as a plot to kill her romantic rival Tammy Daybell, the first wife of Vallow’s co-defendant and current husband, Chad Daybell.

The judge hearing Vallow’s case in Idaho said she was diagnosed with a personality disorder and hyperreligiosity. Trial evidence revealed that Vallow and Daybell used a rating system to decide who was a “light” or “dark” spirit and believed their mission was to rid the world of zombies as the end of the world approached. Judge Beresky now wants to know whether medications played a key role in Vallow’s restoration to competency and has decided to move forward with the Rule 11 case, especially if she wants to represent herself in court without an attorney.

Reports from two court-appointed doctors are expected to be received as early as Nov. 7, and the judge will keep Vallow’s Rule 11 hearing scheduled for Nov. 14. Following this, a status conference is scheduled for November 20 to determine more about the status. affairs.