Day Three in "Doomsday Mom" Lori Daybell's Trial 2025: Next witness is Christina Atwood.

 

Nancy Jo Hancock's testimony highlighted her brief relationship with Charles, his kind yet stressed demeanor, his efforts to move forward from marital struggles, her shock at his death, her interactions with family and law enforcement, and her responses during Lori's cross-examination, which included objections and judicial warnings. Darkmatter: Day Three in "Doomsday Mom" Lori Daybell's Trial 2025: Next witness is Nancy Jo Hancock.

Christina Atwood, who has lived in Arizona since 2009 and is a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, testified about her relationship with Lori Vallow. They met at church around 2010, and Christina’s son and husband worked with Lori in the church's primary program. After Lori and Charles Vallow moved to Hawaii, Christina’s family visited them during a vacation in 2015. During the visit, Christina and her family spent time with Lori and her children, JJ and possibly Tylee, though Christina isn't certain if Tylee was present. They also spent time paddleboarding on the ocean. Christina was acquainted with Colby Ryan but didn’t know Charles' other sons from a previous marriage.

Christina also testified about running into Charles and Lori at the temple around 2018 after they had moved back to Arizona. She recalled Lori inviting her to Hawaii, likely in late summer or fall of 2018, though she wasn't positive about the timing. Christina later spoke with Rexburg Detective Ron Ball in 2021 and confirmed that Lori wanted her to go to Hawaii in 2019.

Treena Kay, the prosecutor, admitted a recording to help Christina refresh her memory about why Lori wanted her to go to Hawaii. Christina recalled Lori expressing unhappiness with Charles and mentioning that she had gone to Hawaii without informing many people. Lori told Christina that JJ was with Charles in Houston and that Charles had tried to have her temple recommend taken away, which was one of the reasons she left. Christina told the police in 2021 that Lori did not want Charles to know her whereabouts when she left for Hawaii. Christina was unsure how long Lori stayed in Hawaii.

Christina knew Lori and Charles were separated. JJ was with Charles in Texas, while Tylee was staying with Uncle Alex. Lori was also living with Alex, according to Christina. Christina did not know Lori had gone to Idaho until December 2019 but eventually learned Lori was back in Arizona. Lori invited Christina to a group meeting in February or spring of 2019. The meeting, held at Zulema Pastenes' house, included attendees such as Zulema, Melanie Gibb, Nicole Earl, and Serena Sharp. Christina does not recall who invited her to the meeting. This was the first time Christina met Zulema, Melanie, and Serena, though she already knew Nicole.

At the meeting, Lori expressed concerns about dark spirits plaguing Charles. Treena asked Christina if Lori said Charles was possessed by dark spirits. Christina did not recall but acknowledged that she had told police in 2021 that this was the first time she heard of Charles being possessed by a dark spirit. Christina stated that if she said it then, it was accurate. Lori mentioned that Charles had a dark spirit and was possessed, but Christina could not recall the name of the dark spirit. The group met in the evening, possibly twice in a weekend, and Serena was visiting from out of state. Treena asked if listening to the recording of Christina's interview with police would help her recall, and Christina agreed that it would.

After listening to the police interview, Christina confirmed that she had told police a spirit had possessed Charles but could not remember the name. She recalled Lori speaking about Charles being possessed on more than one occasion and being open about it. Christina also noted that Lori had at least two phones and a third line that was a home landline. Lori was not working at the time, and Christina did not know Lori to have ever worked. Treena asked Christina if Lori ever talked to her about castings, and Christina confirmed that Lori had. Castings involved praying for dark spirits to be cast out of someone. Christina was in Lori’s presence when Lori prayed for the evil spirit to leave her husband. When asked if people were assigned different elements as part of the casting, Christina could not recall.

On June 9, 2019, Christina attended another gathering at Zulema’s house. The attendees included Zulema, Alex Cox, Melani Boudreaux, Nicole Earl, Melanie Gibb, Lori, and another unidentified woman.

Treena asked Christina about her impressions of Alex Cox. Christina described Alex as loud and outspoken, and she felt very uncomfortable with what he was talking about. After the meeting, Lori continued to express that Charles was possessed. Christina recalled being asked to fast and pray for Lori's family. The group gathered outside for a prayer, led by Lori, before breaking their fast and eating together. Alex participated in the prayer outside. As they were breaking their fast, Alex said he wished he could kill Charles. Christina noted that Alex made this statement more than once and described it as jocular, with Alex speaking loudly and standing up while saying it. Lori was present during one of the times Alex made this statement but did not react or admonish him. Christina found these statements upsetting.

Christina also testified that Lori told her she had crushed up some of JJ’s medication and put it in Charles’ drink mix. When Treena asked if it was a significant amount of medication, Christina confirmed that it was and described being disturbed by this revelation. Alex had no reaction to this. Christina did not stay much longer at the gatherings and left. The next day, she asked Lori to meet with her. During their meeting, Christina expressed her concerns about what had been said and described it as disturbing. She told Lori that if something happened to Charles, she would go to the police. Lori dismissed the concerns, saying they were just being silly and dramatic. Lori also minimized her actions, claiming she had not given Charles as many drugs as she had said the day before. Christina noted that Lori began making statements that went against her religion and claimed she no longer needed to repent.

Christina explained that these statements stood out to her because, in her faith, members believe everyone except Jesus Christ needs to repent. Lori began talking about knowing members of her group in prior lives. At the last meeting in June, Serena was not present. Christina overheard Lori speaking negatively about Serena, saying she did not believe Serena would be good after all. After Christina spoke to Lori, Lori did not invite her to anything until August, when Lori invited her to lunch. In July, Christina received a text message that Charles had been killed. Initially, Christina believed it was a brother-in-law who had killed Charles, but she later realized Alex had been involved. Christina does not recall the name of the dark spirit that Lori claimed inhabited Charles. Treena concluded her questioning, and Lori stated she had no questions for Christina.