“You get five bodies, two children buried in the backyard, a string of mysterious deaths, and a trail of apocalyptic delusion that led straight to prison.”
The story of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell reads like a nightmare disguised as suburban life. What began as a seemingly normal family in Arizona spiraled into a disturbing tale of cult-like beliefs and deadly violence. Lori, a beauty pageant mom turned self-declared goddess, and Chad, a self-proclaimed prophet, wove a twisted narrative of possession, demons, and zombies — all leading to tragic consequences. This wasn’t a cult from decades past or some remote compound, but a dark story unfolding right in America’s suburbs during the 2020s.
A Family Torn Apart by Delusion and Violence
“Lori began openly referring to Charles as a demon. Even her teenage daughter wasn’t safe from wild accusations — she was labeled a zombie.”
Lori’s descent began around 2017, fueled by Chad’s apocalyptic writings blending religion and supernatural lore. Her beliefs became so extreme she saw those around her as possessed by evil spirits — “zombies.” Her own husband Charles, once loving and supportive, was demonized. Despite Charles’ pleas for help and warnings about her unstable state, tragedy struck on July 11, 2019, when he was fatally shot inside their home. This act was only the beginning of a horrifying chain of events marked by disappearances, mysterious deaths, and a web of lies designed to cover the horrific truth.
The Disappearance of Two Innocent Children
“Tyler and JJ vanished without a trace, their mother giving chilling excuses while hiding the brutal reality of their fate.”
The heart of this case lies in the fate of Lori’s two children, Tyler and JJ. After moving to Idaho with Chad and her brother Alex, the children were last seen alive during a family trip in September 2019. Within days, both had vanished — believed murdered and buried secretly. Authorities pieced together chilling evidence, including phone data and disturbing text messages, revealing the extent of the darkness that had consumed this family. Meanwhile, Lori continued to deny their disappearance, spinning bizarre tales of zombies and spirit possession while fleeing with Chad to Hawaii.
Trigger warning: This episode contains disturbing content including violence against children and cult-related beliefs. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
If you want to dive deeper into this haunting and tragic story, I invite you to watch the full Creepalachia episode below where every detail is uncovered and the complex, dark web surrounding Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell is explored in full.
