On the 11th day of Lori Vallow’s trial, her only living child has taken the stand. Tweets from Nate Eaton, the News Director at East Idaho, described much of Colby Ryan’s testimony.
Lori Vallow’s Only Living Child Takes the Stand
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.
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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 talking 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 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. Tyler reported 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, Colby Ryan was arrested last year and charged with two counts of domestic violent sexual assault. Colby has not yet entered a plea in court.
Prior to his arrest, Colby was confronted by his alleged victim. Colby reportedly responded by breaking down in tears and saying “he was sorry,” documents reveal.
According to KSAZ-TV, the incident in question took place on August 31 at the victim’s home. Ryan and the woman were reportedly watching TV when they began consensual sexual contact.
At some point, the victim decided she didn’t want to take the sexual intimacy further and told Ryan to stop. Documents reveal Ryan did not comply.
The victim reported the incident on September 2, saying that Ryan had sexually assaulted her. After breaking down and apologizing to the alleged victim, the document further states that the woman recorded a conversation she had with Ryan, during which he allegedly “agreed” that what happened the previous evening constituted sexual assault.
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.
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