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Lori Vallow Daybell's trial began on April 7, 2025, with prosecutor Treena Kay alleging that Lori conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to murder her husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019, staging the crime as self-defense to marry Chad Daybell and claim life insurance money. Darkmatter: Day One in "Doomsday Mom" Lori Daybell's Trial 2025 Prosecution Opening Statements.
Representing herself, Lori denied the charges, highlighting her family life, strained relationships, and asserting that the events on July 11, 2019, stemmed from Charles' threatening behavior and a physical altercation, which she claimed was a matter of self-defense to protect her children. Darkmatter: Day One in "Doomsday Mom" Lori Daybell's Trial 2025 Defense Opening Statements.
Sgt. Irwin Wierzbicki testified about responding to the scene of Charles Vallow's death, describing Alex Cox's calm demeanor and finding Charles motionless with gunshot wounds, while addressing Lori's questioning and clarifying his actions to preserve the crime scene during Treena Kay's re-direct. Darkmatter: Day One in "Doomsday Mom" Lori Daybell's Trial 2025: States First Witness Sgt. Irwin Wierzbicki
The next witness, Robert Krautheim, a retired patrol officer from the Chandler Police Department, testified about his involvement on July 11, 2019.
Krautheim, who retired three years ago, was working the day shift and received information about the shooting via dispatchers while in route to the scene. Upon arrival, he noted that Officer Wierzbicki was already present. Krautheim, wearing a body camera, began recording as he drove to the house. He testified that the 911 caller was still on the phone and was instructed by dispatch to exit the house with hands raised. The caller complied, coming out through the front door. Krautheim observed Alex Cox exiting the house holding a rag on his head, with no difficulty walking, talking, sitting, or standing. He noted that Alex was not sweating, jittery, or speaking with an uneven voice, but did have an injury on the back of his head. Krautheim stated that he offered Alex medical treatment, which Alex declined and added that Alex did not appear to need treatment, saying, “Zero, none.”
Krautheim also testified that when Lori arrived at the scene, she walked up to where Alex was sitting, but he asked her to stand by her car. He noted that Lori never inquired about Alex's condition, the presence of numerous police cars, Charles, or the fire truck in front of her house.
Treena Kay then admitted Krautheim’s body camera footage as an exhibit, with audio removed except for his interaction with Lori Vallow Daybell, and the exhibit was accepted into evidence. The video showed Krautheim arriving at the gated community in his police car, pulling his weapon upon arrival due to information about the shooting, and interacting with Alex Cox, who exited the house and sat on the curb. While the audio was muted, the video depicted Krautheim chatting with Alex. Another officer, referred to as “Whiz,” was seen in the video, and Krautheim explained that he had always called him “Whiz.” Krautheim reiterated that Alex refused medical attention.
The video also showed Lori and Tylee arriving at the scene. Treena asked Krautheim if he knew the name of the person inside the house, to which he responded that it was Charles Vallow. Krautheim confirmed that he knew Lori was Charles’ wife. Treena then asked if a team of detectives or crime spree specialists typically handles cases involving shootings, and Krautheim confirmed that detectives are called out for such cases. The video further depicted a red ambulance pulling up in front of the house. Krautheim explained that it is standard procedure for a patrol officer to stay with the shooter to ensure no one has contact with them, keeping them separate while gathering facts.
Krautheim testified that he approached Lori and Tylee as part of his fact-finding investigation. Audio from the video revealed Krautheim asking Lori for her ID and the meaning of her middle initial, which she stated was Norene. Tylee stood next to Lori with her arms folded, while Lori wore black sunglasses. Krautheim asked Lori how long she had lived at the house, to which she replied three weeks, and whether she was working, to which she said no. He noted Lori’s height and weight as 5’6″ and approximately 120 lbs. Krautheim also collected biographical information from Tylee Ryan.
Treena paused the video and asked Krautheim if he briefed detectives, which he confirmed, stating he had not informed Lori that her husband was dead, as he was under the impression she had just arrived and was unaware of what had occurred inside the house.
Krautheim concluded his involvement in the case by transporting Alex to the police station. He described Alex as calm, stating they had a normal, average-toned conversation unrelated to the incident. Krautheim remained with Alex at the station until a detective arrived, marking the end of his role in the case.
Lori then began her cross-examination, during which she asked Krautheim about Alex’s calm demeanor when leaving the house, to which he agreed. Lori questioned whether the scene was chaotic, and Krautheim confirmed it was not, noting that no one was running, screaming, or entering and exiting the house. Lori suggested that her being hysterical would have been out of character if everyone else was calm, but Treena objected on speculation, and the judge sustained the objection.
Lori continued her questioning by asking Krautheim about his use of the phrase “small knot” to describe Alex’s head injury, comparing it to a goose egg, to which Krautheim responded, “Tomato, Tomatoe.” Krautheim stated he asked Alex if he needed medical treatment approximately three times and confirmed Alex was not disoriented. When asked to define “nonchalant,” Krautheim described it as “Kind of like how I am now. Not a lot of emotion, not afraid.” He explained that his demeanor depends on the situation. Lori suggested that if nonchalant behavior was typical for Alex, it would not be unusual for him to act that way, prompting Treena to object. The judge overruled the objection and allowed the question.
Lori then asked Krautheim why she had to park across the street that morning, citing the presence of police cars, a CSI van, and fire trucks. Krautheim clarified that she could have parked anywhere along the street, on another street, or on the other side of the house.
Lori asked Krautheim about the temperature that day, to which he responded that it was hot, prompting Lori to laugh and agree. She inquired about the extent of his duties and confirmed that Officer “Whiz” was the first officer on the scene, with Krautheim arriving 10–15 seconds later. Krautheim stated he remained with Alex from the time Alex left the house until he was transported to the police station. Lori then began to ask about what Alex said during the car ride to the station, but Treena objected on hearsay grounds, and the judge sustained the objection.
Lori also asked Krautheim when he completed his report on the July 11 incident, to which he responded that he stopped and started throughout the day, finishing by the end of his shift at 4 p.m., and did not revise it later. Lori continued her questioning by asking Krautheim if he briefed detectives in the front yard of the house, to which he confirmed he had made contact with them and conveyed what Alex had told him. When asked where his report went after completion, Krautheim stated it was sent to his supervisor.
Lori then asked Krautheim about a phone being placed into an evidence bag, questioning whether he was the one who did it. Krautheim stated he did not remember but said it was probable. Lori mentioned not seeing it in his report, prompting Treena to object, stating that Lori was testifying. The judge instructed Lori to only ask questions and not share her observations, to which Lori apologized.
Lori then asked Krautheim what happened when he and Alex arrived at the police station. Krautheim stated he sat Alex down and believed he got him some water. He confirmed that Det. Moffatt took over and that he left the station without staying for the interview.
Lori asked Krautheim if it was possible Alex could have been in shock, prompting Treena to object on speculation grounds, which the judge sustained. Lori then asked how long the cut on Alex’s head bleeding had been. Krautheim responded that he could not answer, as he was not standing behind Alex’s head when he first made contact and did not know when the bleeding started. When asked if the cut appeared to be bleeding when Alex exited the house, Krautheim stated he did not look at Alex’s head at that time and was unsure. Lori then asked Krautheim if he ever entered the house, to which he confirmed he stayed outside the entire time.
Lori began to ask a question about the bat in the house, but Treena objected on hearsay grounds, and the judge sustained the objection. Lori attempted to ask again about the bat and what Alex had said, but Treena objected once more, and the judge sustained the objection again.
Lori then asked Krautheim if he observed a next-door neighbor coming out to speak with her, to which he confirmed he did. She inquired about police blocking off the street, suggesting neighbors couldn’t go to work or school, but Krautheim clarified that people could leave if needed. Lori stated that people tried to approach her to find out what was happening, prompting Treena to object, and the judge sustained the objection.
Lori asked what she told detectives during her briefing. Treena objected on hearsay grounds, and the judge sustained the objection, explaining that any out-of-court statements are considered hearsay.
Lori asked Krautheim how long he spoke with his supervisors during the briefing, to which he replied, "Under a minute." Lori expressed surprise at the brevity. Krautheim confirmed he met with the prosecutor two weeks prior to review his testimony, and the meeting lasted about an hour. He also stated that he reviewed his report before testifying. When asked about his duties at the scene, Krautheim explained that he was involved in scene management and helped coordinate the perimeter setup, rather than solely focusing on the shooter.
Lori further inquired about how many people approached him at the scene. Krautheim stated that one man came up, and he instructed him to leave. Lori and Tylee then approached, and he directed them to wait by their car. She also asked if he had conversations with his supervisor upon arrival, to which he responded affirmatively, though he could only specify that these occurred sometime between his arrival and departure. Lori remarked on the contrast between the three pages he wrote about what he was told and the less-than-a-minute discussion he had with detectives, to which Krautheim simply replied, "Yes." Lori concluded with, "Ok."
Krautheim also testified that the distance from the home to the police department was approximately 8-10 miles, and the ride took 10-15 minutes. When asked where he entered the police department, he stated that he did not remember where he parked or which entrance he used. Krautheim escorted Alex into the police station and into an interrogation room, where Det. Moffatt took over. Lori clarified her questions and then stated she had no further inquiries. Treena proceeded with re-direct questioning.
Treena began by discussing the demeanor of those involved, asking if firefighters or others had just shot anyone, to which Krautheim replied, "No." She clarified that comparing Krautheim to the shooter was not appropriate, and Krautheim agreed. Treena asked if Alex was nonchalant and calm when Krautheim arrived with his gun drawn, and Krautheim confirmed that Alex was. Krautheim also recalled seeing Alex rubbing his head with a paper towel, which remained mostly white and was not soaked in blood. Treena asked about her prior meeting with Krautheim, during which he reviewed the body camera footage and initialed it as exhibit #1 for court use. Treena’s paralegal presented the CAD report to refresh Krautheim’s memory about the timeline, confirming that he arrived at the station with Alex at 9:18 a.m. The state followed up, asking when Krautheim completed the call. He stated he finished before the end of his shift and did not return to the scene. Krautheim’s testimony concluded at this point.
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