Tune in to KTVB at 8 p.m. Friday for a special two-hour episode featuring an exclusive interview with Lori Vallow Daybell by Dateline NBC’s Keith Morrison. Lori, convicted of murdering her children and conspiring in another murder, claims she and her husband Chad will eventually be exonerated. Morrison describes the interview as challenging, highlighting Lori’s desire to correct misconceptions about her. In the episode, he also speaks with Lori’s son, Colby Ryan, and law enforcement. Notably, Lori will represent herself in an upcoming trial in Arizona related to her fourth husband’s death, asserting her extreme religious beliefs influence her claims.
Don’t miss the exclusive, two-hour episode airing at 8 p.m. Friday on KTVB.
BOISE, Idaho — Keith Morrison from Dateline NBC provided KTVB with insights from his exclusive interview with Lori Vallow Daybell, where she expressed her belief that she and her husband, Chad, will eventually be cleared of all charges.
“This is like no interview I have ever conducted,” he remarked. “Getting her to articulate her thoughts was quite the undertaking.”
Morrison noted that Lori approached the extensive interview with a clear plan, asserting that she aims to correct the misunderstandings surrounding her as she believes much of what has been said is false.
In 2023, an Idaho jury found Lori guilty of the murders of her two children and conspiracy to murder Chad’s late wife.
While Chad, who was also convicted in connection with the killings, awaits execution on Idaho’s death row, Lori is poised for another conspiracy trial in Arizona regarding the death of her fourth husband, Charles, in 2019.
This trial is scheduled to commence later this month.
“I felt a bit of what you might call guilt in giving her airtime, knowing she was found guilty of killing her own children, which is exactly what she sought,” Morrison reflected. “[However], there is a strong curiosity about who she is and what motivates her, which outweighed the negativity surrounding her actions.”
Morrison also conducted an interview with Lori’s eldest child, Colby Ryan, for the upcoming episode, along with members of law enforcement.
“I’ve always tried to see the best in people, but witnessing someone I’ve known my entire life commit such acts was shocking,” Colby shared during their conversation. “My sister was treated with such animosity; it’s inhumane to have done that to her.”
Colby gave testimony against his mother in her initial trial, and this time, Lori will be representing herself in court.
Morrison indicated that Lori is dissatisfied with her defense team in Idaho since they attempted to attribute blame for the murders to Chad.
“She claims to be looking forward to it,” he noted. “It’s evident she has been rehearsing the types of questions a defense attorney would ask.”
The extreme religious convictions of Lori and Chad significantly influenced the cases brought against them. Lawyers have stated that they invoke Jesus Christ to rationalize their actions.
“Jesus showed me visions of the future while I was in heaven, where we weren’t imprisoned or incarcerated,” she disclosed to Morrison.
Morrison mentioned that Lori’s beliefs remain steadfast, claiming that Chad and their victims—Tammy, JJ, and Tylee—along with Jesus, visit her in her cell.
“They enjoy each other’s company, and Jesus is quite a character, a wonderful figure who loves everyone, especially her,” Morrison recounted from their discussion. “She believes she’s his favorite.”
Lori maintained that Tammy passed away from natural causes while claiming that her brother killed Charles in self-defense. She described the deaths of her children as an unintentional homicide followed by suicide, though what she meant by that remains unclear.
According to Morrison, Lori has had a desire to appear on Dateline for quite a while. She is also facing charges for conspiracy related to the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband in a separate matter.
Don’t forget to tune in at 8 p.m. Friday on KTVB for this special two-hour episode.