Topline: Lori Vallow Daybell appeared in a wheelchair, tearfully telling the judge she was too ill to proceed with jury selection.
Published: June 2, 2025 6:00 pm ET
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Lori Vallow Daybell, left, (via Dennis Fujimoto/AP), and Brandon Boudreaux (via IMDb)
MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ — Lori Vallow Daybell, known as the “Doomsday Mom” due to her extreme apocalyptic beliefs and connection to a series of killings, appeared frail and soft-spoken as she was wheeled into a Maricopa County courtroom on June 2.
Her appearance led to yet another postponement in her attempted murder trial in Arizona, according to reporting by AZCentral.com.
“I’m sick,” Daybell told Judge Justin Beresky in a faint, raspy voice. Her statement triggered a delay in jury selection for the case, which stems from an October 2019 shooting in Gilbert that targeted—but did not injure—Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of her niece, Melani Pawlowski.
Daybell, seated in a wheelchair, said she had been placed in quarantine but had not undergone any medical testing.
“I am just not capable of going or even sitting here,” she said, fighting back tears. “I need to be lying down. I need to be getting better so that I can go forward and actually represent myself.”
Judge Beresky acknowledged her physical state but made clear that he intends to remain on the case and keep the trial moving.
“Even if this case got delayed into June or July or August, I’d still be your trial judge,” he stated.
Daybell had recently attempted to have Beresky removed from the case, accusing him of bias, but her motion was unsuccessful.
Prosecutor Treena Kay from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office urged the court to proceed swiftly, citing the logistical challenges of coordinating testimony from out-of-state witnesses.
The judge suggested the possibility of beginning preliminary jury selection while allowing Daybell time to rest. However, she insisted she was far too ill to participate in any proceedings.
“It’s not just under the weather, I’m very ill,” she said.
Following a tense exchange, Beresky opted to dismiss the jury pool—who had not yet been brought into the courtroom—and warned Daybell that, as her own legal representative, she could be compelled to appear in court even if her condition had not improved.
When Daybell asked if he intended to “drag” her back into court, Beresky responded plainly: “Yeah.”
She then offered to let him witness her condition in jail. The judge declined: “I’ll take a pass on that.”
According to EastIdahoNews.com, Daybell was “loudly crying” just minutes later.
Jury selection is now set to resume on June 4.
Daybell is already serving a life sentence without parole after being convicted in Idaho for the murders of her children, Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as the conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell, the previous wife of her current husband.
Additionally, in April, she was convicted in Maricopa County of conspiring to kill her then-husband, Charles Vallow.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Trial Delayed Again for Doomsday Mom Who Says She’s ‘Sick,’ Needs to Be Lying Down
Lori Vallow Daybell appeared in a wheelchair, tearfully telling the judge she was too ill to proceed with jury selection.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 2, 2025 6:00 pm ET
Lori Vallow Daybell, left, (via Dennis Fujimoto/AP), and Brandon Boudreaux (via IMDb)
MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ — Lori Vallow Daybell, known as the “Doomsday Mom” due to her extreme apocalyptic beliefs and connection to a series of killings, appeared frail and soft-spoken as she was wheeled into a Maricopa County courtroom on June 2.
Her appearance led to yet another postponement in her attempted murder trial in Arizona, according to reporting by AZCentral.com.
“I’m sick,” Daybell told Judge Justin Beresky in a faint, raspy voice. Her statement triggered a delay in jury selection for the case, which stems from an October 2019 shooting in Gilbert that targeted—but did not injure—Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of her niece, Melani Pawlowski.
Daybell, seated in a wheelchair, said she had been placed in quarantine but had not undergone any medical testing.
“I am just not capable of going or even sitting here,” she said, fighting back tears. “I need to be lying down. I need to be getting better so that I can go forward and actually represent myself.”
Judge Beresky acknowledged her physical state but made clear that he intends to remain on the case and keep the trial moving.
“Even if this case got delayed into June or July or August, I’d still be your trial judge,” he stated.
Daybell had recently attempted to have Beresky removed from the case, accusing him of bias, but her motion was unsuccessful.
Prosecutor Treena Kay from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office urged the court to proceed swiftly, citing the logistical challenges of coordinating testimony from out-of-state witnesses.
The judge suggested the possibility of beginning preliminary jury selection while allowing Daybell time to rest. However, she insisted she was far too ill to participate in any proceedings.
“It’s not just under the weather, I’m very ill,” she said.
Following a tense exchange, Beresky opted to dismiss the jury pool—who had not yet been brought into the courtroom—and warned Daybell that, as her own legal representative, she could be compelled to appear in court even if her condition had not improved.
When Daybell asked if he intended to “drag” her back into court, Beresky responded plainly: “Yeah.”
She then offered to let him witness her condition in jail. The judge declined: “I’ll take a pass on that.”
According to EastIdahoNews.com, Daybell was “loudly crying” just minutes later.
Jury selection is now set to resume on June 4.
Daybell is already serving a life sentence without parole after being convicted in Idaho for the murders of her children, Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as the conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell, the previous wife of her current husband.
Additionally, in April, she was convicted in Maricopa County of conspiring to kill her then-husband, Charles Vallow.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Trial Delayed Again for Doomsday Mom Who Says She’s ‘Sick,’ Needs to Be Lying Down
Lori Vallow Daybell appeared in a wheelchair, tearfully telling the judge she was too ill to proceed with jury selection.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 2, 2025 6:00 pm ET
Lori Vallow Daybell, left, (via Dennis Fujimoto/AP), and Brandon Boudreaux (via IMDb)
MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ — Lori Vallow Daybell, known as the “Doomsday Mom” due to her extreme apocalyptic beliefs and connection to a series of killings, appeared frail and soft-spoken as she was wheeled into a Maricopa County courtroom on June 2.
Her appearance led to yet another postponement in her attempted murder trial in Arizona, according to reporting by AZCentral.com.
“I’m sick,” Daybell told Judge Justin Beresky in a faint, raspy voice. Her statement triggered a delay in jury selection for the case, which stems from an October 2019 shooting in Gilbert that targeted—but did not injure—Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of her niece, Melani Pawlowski.
Daybell, seated in a wheelchair, said she had been placed in quarantine but had not undergone any medical testing.
“I am just not capable of going or even sitting here,” she said, fighting back tears. “I need to be lying down. I need to be getting better so that I can go forward and actually represent myself.”
Judge Beresky acknowledged her physical state but made clear that he intends to remain on the case and keep the trial moving.
“Even if this case got delayed into June or July or August, I’d still be your trial judge,” he stated.
Daybell had recently attempted to have Beresky removed from the case, accusing him of bias, but her motion was unsuccessful.
Prosecutor Treena Kay from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office urged the court to proceed swiftly, citing the logistical challenges of coordinating testimony from out-of-state witnesses.
The judge suggested the possibility of beginning preliminary jury selection while allowing Daybell time to rest. However, she insisted she was far too ill to participate in any proceedings.
“It’s not just under the weather, I’m very ill,” she said.
Following a tense exchange, Beresky opted to dismiss the jury pool—who had not yet been brought into the courtroom—and warned Daybell that, as her own legal representative, she could be compelled to appear in court even if her condition had not improved.
When Daybell asked if he intended to “drag” her back into court, Beresky responded plainly: “Yeah.”
She then offered to let him witness her condition in jail. The judge declined: “I’ll take a pass on that.”
According to EastIdahoNews.com, Daybell was “loudly crying” just minutes later.
Jury selection is now set to resume on June 4.
Daybell is already serving a life sentence without parole after being convicted in Idaho for the murders of her children, Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, as well as the conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell, the previous wife of her current husband.
Additionally, in April, she was convicted in Maricopa County of conspiring to kill her then-husband, Charles Vallow.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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