Vallow's niece testifies to unusual religious practices

BOISE — More religious nuances and depictions of Chad Daybell's doctrine were discussed at length Monday during day 17 of his murder trial. 

Melani Pawlowski, the niece of Daybell's current wife Lori Vallow, and Pawlowski's husband, Ian, each took to the stand, testifying about their experiences with Daybell and Vallow, specifically referring to their unusual religious beliefs and practices. 

Daybell is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder, insurance fraud and grand theft in connection to the deaths of Vallow's children — 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old J.J. Vallow — and Daybell’s late wife, Tammy Daybell. Daybell's current wife, Lori Vallow, was charged with the same crimes last year and was found guilty on all counts. Daybell faces the death penalty if he's convicted. 

Both Daybell and Vallow were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Daybell wrote several books loosely based on LDS teachings, his later works focusing on the "last days" or the end of times, which he believed would come before the second coming of Jesus Christ. Daybell was excommunicated from the LDS church in 2019.

J.J. was last seen alive on Sept. 22, 2019 and his sister Tylee was last seen alive on Sept. 8, 2019. Tammy Daybell died on Oct. 19, 2019. Vallow and Daybell were married shortly after, on Nov. 5, 2019. J.J. and Tylee's remains were discovered in Daybell's backyard when it was searched on June 9 and 10, 2020. 

Melani had moved to Rexburg in the first week of November 2019, she said during her testimony. Daybell told her not to speak to Rexburg Police Dets. Ray Hermosillo or Dave Hope. She listened to Daybell's advice, particularly after he had told her that her ex-husband was tracking her car, which turned out to be accurate, Melani testified. 

Several audio recordings were played during the trial's proceedings on Monday, most recordings of phone calls between Melani, Daybell and Vallow. In the first recording, Daybell instructs Melani and Ian to leave Rexburg for their own peace of mind, referencing law enforcement hounding the couple because of Vallow's missing children.

In the recording, Daybell and Vallow never once discuss coming forward with J.J. and Tylee. They also never encourage Melani to cooperate with police, Ian said. 

"We did not expect the police to be that wicked," Vallow said in the recording.

"I just keep moving and I can't find a safe place," Melani Pawlowski said in the recording. 

"The wicked stay in one place and the righteous flee," Daybell said in response to Melani.

Melani would turn to Daybell and Vallow for advice and saw them as parent figures, often referring to Daybell as "dad" and Vallow as "mom." It was common for Melani to turn to Daybell and Vallow for answers, Ian said. Ian did not share those feelings with Melani and did not believe Daybell's teachings.

In his testimony, Ian said that Daybell and Vallow used LDS teachings as a baseline but elaborated on those ideas, which brought on doctrine like casting out dark spirits, light and dark beings and zombies.

Upon reaching a certain level of spiritual strength and worthiness, Daybell believed that one could open a portal to transport oneself anywhere. This belief is unique to Daybell and is not referenced or taught in the LDS Church. 

The doctrine Daybell and Vallow taught on zombies also does not have any basis in the LDS faith, Melani said.

Melani and Ian had a quick courtship that lasted 11 or 12 days and were married on Nov. 30, 2019. Before their marriage, Ian asked for Vallow and Daybell's blessing and they gave it.

In the first audio recording played for the court, Daybell asked Melani if she wanted a blessing and she asked for a joint blessing for Ian and herself. Daybell blessed their hearts together, saying that they cannot be separated spiritually and called them "a special couple." 

"Your union will be looked upon as a true love story ... and will be an example to thousands and even millions on how a man and a woman should respect and love each other," Daybell said over the recording. 

Daybell says that they're a member of the 144,000, referencing the number of people who would "gather Israel" in the last days, discussed in the Bible. Melani, Ian, Alex Cox (Vallow's brother), Zulema Pastenes (Alex Cox's partner), Vallow and Daybell are a "power team," tasked with cleansing and removing darkness from the Earth, Daybell said in the recording.

In her testimony, Melani described Vallow and Cox's relationship as a playful one. The two would help each other out and Cox admired Daybell, Melani said. 

"I believe he had enough trust in Chad that he would listen to him," Melani said.

In the recording, Vallow, who is clearly emotional over the phone, calls them powerful warriors on a team that's been dwindling and says that they'll be in new Jerusalem and receive assignments directly from Jesus Christ. Both Vallow and Daybell bless Ian and Melani with strength.

"The Lord is coming soon and we are his warriors that are cleaning and purifying this earth for his coming," Vallow said. "... There will be no more tears and there will be no more pain."

These blessings over the phone were unorthodox, Ian said during his testimony. In the LDS faith, blessings can only be given by priesthood holders (men) and are done in person. 

When both of these recordings were made, Ian said he was no longer open to Daybell or Vallow's teachings. It was common for Daybell to offer up a blessing when he was on the phone with Melani, Ian said. 

In another phone call recording, Vallow references Tammy Daybell calling the Rexburg Police ridiculous. Tammy had been dead for around two months at the time of that phone call. Daybell again encourages Melani to avoid the police.

Cox died in December 2019 from a bilateral pulmonary, blood clots wedged into the arteries of his lungs. In a recorded phone call, Vallow says she doesn't care to have anything of Cox's after he died.

Ian met with the police on Dec. 5, 2019 and discovered that law enforcement was looking for Tylee and J.J. Neither Daybell or Vallow ever did anything to assist with finding J.J. or Tylee, Ian said. It is unclear when Melani first spoke to law enforcement about the missing children. 

The Daybell trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks. Court will resume on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.