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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Rachel Sharp,Namita Singh and Oliver O'Connell

Lori Vallow sentencing - live: ‘Cult mom’ gets life in prison after claiming murder victims are ‘very happy’

AP

Moment Lori Vallow sentenced to life in prison with no parole for murders of her children

“Cult mom” Lori Vallow has been sentenced to life in prison with no parole for the murders of her two children in a dramatic case that gripped the nation.

Vallow, 50, was convicted in May of killing her seven-year-old son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 16-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan, who vanished in September 2019. She was also found guilty of conspiring to kill her husband Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy, who died in October 2019.

The verdict came after prosecutors convinced a jury that Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with her brother Alex Cox to murder Tammy, JJ and Tylee as part of their bizarre cult beliefs – and for money.

Before the sentence was handed down, the court heard victim impact statements from several family members devastated by the harrowing saga, which has brought countless twists and turns over four years.

To the surprise of many, Vallow spoke herself and appeared to show no remorse for her crimes, claiming the children and Tammy were “busy” and “happy” in heaven. She appeared emotionless as the sentence was handed down.

The families of the victims shared outrage at her bizarre statement as they praised the harsh sentence.

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