J.J. Vallow’s Cause of Death Revealed As Pathologist Testifies at Lori Vallow’s Trial

As Lori Vallow Daybell’s trial continues, new information about her children’s murders are being shared.

On April 26, Dr. Garth Warren, a forensic pathologist, testified that J.J. Vallow’s cause of death was asphyxiation. Warren said the results showed that J.J. was suffocated with a plastic bag and duct tape over his mouth, East Idaho News reports.

The autopsy was completed two days after J.J. and Taylee’s remains were discovered buried on Lori’s husband, Chad Daybell’s property. Dr. Warren also found scratch marks on J.J.’s neck and bruises on his wrists and ankles where they had been bound with more duct tape.

During his testimony, according to East Idaho News, Dr. Warren suggests the scratch marks could have been from J.J. attempting to take the plastic bag off his head. “Was J.J. trying to get the bag off his head? It could be scratch marks of him trying to get it off his head.”

RELATED: Lori Vallow’s Only Living Child Takes the Stand

Tylee’s cause of death has not yet been revealed to the public.

As Mamas Uncut previously reported, during the 11th day of Lori Vallow’s trial, her only living child took the stand. Tweets from Nate Eaton, the News Director at East Idaho, described much of Colby Ryan’s testimony.

During questioning, it’s been reported that Colby Ryan began to cry as photos of his sister, Tylee Ryan, were shown to him and the rest of the courtroom during his testimony. After confirming that the picture was of Tyler, his biological sister, he talked about J.J. Vallow as well.

Wood shows the court a photo of Tylee Ryan. He asks Colby who that is. Colby, through tears, says, "That's my sister." Wood shows the court a photo of JJ Vallow. Colby says, "That's my brother." Colby is sniffling and just briefly glanced at his mom.

— Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 18, 2023

Colby confirmed that J.J. was his adopted brother and that he maintained a good relationship with them prior to their murders, which his mother is currently on trial for.

Visibly upset reliving the trauma over the last several years, Colby talked about how Lori allegedly told him her fourth husband died of a heart attack only to learn that Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Charles on July 11, 2019.

The day Charles died, Colby went home and Tylee greeted him. Alex was sitting on the couch watching TV and had a bandage on his hand. Colby asked Alex what happened. Alex said he had been hit with a bat and then she shot Charles. That night he said Lori's demeanor was "calm."

— Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 18, 2023

He went on to say that he loved his mother for most of his life and believed she could never hurt someone. But that all changed when Lori married her fifth husband Chad Daybed, who is also standing trial for murder.

“My mom has spent her whole life protecting us kids, ” Colby said on the stand. “After she met Chad Daybell, she changed.”

Colby says he was contacted by Gilbert police on Nov. 27, 2019. They asked where JJ and Tylee were. Colby said they were not with him and Colby had been concerned about his sister. His text messages with Tylee were "in a different language than how Tylee would talk and type.

— Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 18, 2023

As Eaton continued to report, Colby was one of the family to reach out to the police to voice his concerns about the wellbeing of his siblings, J.J. and Tylee.

Eaton also described Colby as leaving the courtroom for a break during his testimony, revealing that he reportedly glanced at Lori and shook his head. It’s unclear if Lori had any reaction.

However, upon returning to the courtroom Eaton reported that Lori kept looking at her son, but Colby did his best to avoid eye contact.

Colby is back on the stand while we wait for the judge and jury to enter the courtroom. Lori is looking at him but he either looks straight ahead or down.

— Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 18, 2023

During cross-examination, Colby was asked about his step-fathers and Tylee and J.J.’s medical needs. Tylee reportedly had pancreatitis and J.J. had special needs.

Colby went on to say that while his mom taught him about Jesus, Lori “never taught him about zombies, casting out evil spirits or dark and light scales. When asked about vibrations, Colby says his mom said that they were the same vibration. Archibald asks if his mom ever taught Colby that she was a goddess. He said no.”

Colby says his mom never taught him about zombies, casting out evil spirits or dark and light scales. When asked about vibrations, Colby says his mom said that they were the same vibration. Archibald asks if his mom ever taught Colby that she was a goddess.

— Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 18, 2023

Eaton continued reporting that Lori looked emotional, seemingly wiping away tears as her son spoke about his mom teaching him “God is good,” admitting that he thinks his mom loves him like he loves her.

As Mamas Uncut previously reported, both Lori and Chad have pleaded not guilty to the murders of JJ and Tylee. Chad is also charged with the murder of his first wife.

JJ and Tylee had been missing since September 2019. Their bodies were discovered on June 9, 2020, on land owned by Daybell.

Daybell is also accused of killing his first wife, Tammy Daybell, who died a suspicious death, just weeks before Lori and Chad became husband and wife. 

Daybell was a gravedigger, who also authored religion-based books about “prophecy and the end of the world.” And Vallow, according to several reports, believed she was the reincarnation of God and that her children were Zombies.