Lori Vallow: ‘Doomsday Mom’ deemed competent to stand trial in Arizona

Lori Vallow deemed competent to stand trial in AZ

The so-called “Doomsday Mom” is accused of conspiring in the fatal shooting of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and plotting the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux.

PHOENIX – Lori Vallow has been deemed mentally competent to stand trial in her Arizona case.

In a Rule 11 hearing on Dec. 5 in Phoenix, doctors agreed that the so-called “Doomsday Mom” is mentally fit. The state did not object to the doctors’ findings. Her trial will now move forward.

Vallow has insisted on representing herself in her trial, but she has also refused to show up in court at times, which is why hearings were held to determine if she is mentally competent to stand trial.

In Arizona, Vallow is accused of conspiring in the fatal shooting of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and plotting the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux.

Vallow was extradited to Arizona in November 2023, months after being sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing her two youngest children, J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and conspiring in the murder of Tammy Daybell. Tammy was the former wife of Chad Daybell, who is Vallow’s current husband.

Vallow’s competency was an issue in her Idaho trial, where she was found unfit to stand trial in 2021. She spent 10 months in a state hospital before being restored to competency. 

Initially, Vallow’s Arizona trial was scheduled for Aug. 1, but a judge later decided to push it to Feb. 24, 2025, despite Vallow not waiving her right to a speedy trial.

Up next for Vallow, a status conference on Friday at 8:30 a.m.