State withdraws contest of Lori Vallow’s incompetence
Jun 7, 2021, 1:16 PM | Updated: Apr 3, 2023, 5:48 pm
Lori Vallow Daybell, front, second right, and her defense team wait to leave the courtroom during her hearing on Friday, March 6, 2020, in Rexburg, Idaho. (John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP, Pool)
(John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP, Pool)
MADISON COUNTY, Idaho — State prosecutors in Idaho have withdrawn their contest and no longer objects to the court’s determination that Lori Vallow is unfit to stand trial.
Late last month both Lori and her husband Chad Daybell were charged in the first-degree murders of Lori’s two children JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan.
The two were scheduled to appear in court to be read their charges. Chad Daybell made his appearance where he was also indicted on the first-degree murder charges of his last wife Tammy Daybell. Lori did not.
At the beginning of Lori Vallow’s initial appearance, Fremont County Judge Faren Eddins said the court was delayed after a sidebar with the lawyers involved. It was later revealed the court had found Lori Vallow unfit to stand trial.
State prosecutors at the time contested the court’s findings, but on Friday afternoon they withdrew that contest.
“The State has reviewed the 18-211 evaluation and report of Defendant Lori Vallow Daybell and corresponding data provided by the court-appointed examiner with the State’s own expert. Based upon said review, the State withdraws its contest to the 18-211 evaluation/report and does not object to the Court’s determination of competency on the basis of the evaluation/report,” Prosecution Attorney Rob Wood wrote.
“The State further does not object to a medical physician’s evaluation and diagnosis of the Defendant with a corresponding treatment plan for the purpose of restoring the Defendant’s competence,” he continued.
Case not closed
Former prosecutor and current defense attorney Greg Skordas joined Dave Noriega and Debbie Dujanovic to discuss what this development means for the case stacked against Lori, and he said this doesn’t mean the case is closed.
“The judge has ordered that she be hospitalized,” Skordas said. “It’ll be like a prison hospital or a state hospital. They will decide sometime down the road whether her competency can and will be restored. In other words, this isn’t the end of the story. If she’s ultimately restored competent, they will still proceed with a trial on her.”
He added that this current finding has to deal with her ability to competently work with her lawyers and understand the proceedings today, and not at the time of the crimes she’s being charged with.
Read or listen to the full conversation Dave and Dujanovic had with Greg Skordas below.
Dave & Dujanovic: Lori Vallow Daybell unfit to stand for trial. Now what?
