The second Doomsday murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell is underway, marking yet another chilling chapter in a case that has gripped the nation.

Vallow Daybell, already convicted in the murders of her two children, is now standing trial for allegedly conspiring to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019. The trial is taking place before Judge Justin Beresky in Maricopa County, Arizona.

The former Idaho mother, now serving five life sentences for the deaths of her children Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, is representing herself in court—a move that has raised eyebrows given the case's emotional and legal complexity.

Opening Statements: Motive, Money, and Religion

In her opening statement, Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Treena J. Kay laid out a compelling narrative of murder, religious fanaticism, and financial greed.

Kay accused Lori of conspiring with her brother Alex Cox and her now-husband Chad Daybell to kill Charles Vallow, motivated by a $1 million life insurance policy and Social Security benefits.

“Lori, Chad and Alex used religion… and a story of Nephi, a prophet who is directed by the Holy Spirit to kill Laban… and secure the long-term prosperity of Nephi’s descendants,” Kay said.

“Lori used this religion and this story of Nephi as justification to kill Charles Vallow,” she added.

In her own opening remarks, Vallow Daybell painted a very different picture. She recounted family dysfunction, arguments, and a physical altercation between Charles and her daughter Tylee.

She also claimed Alex Cox retrieved a gun during the struggle while she left with the children.

“Spouses having insurance policies is not a crime. Collecting Social Security is not a crime. Self-defense is not a crime. Family tragedy is not a crime, it’s a tragedy,” she stated.

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Witnesses Describe Calm After the Killing

The first week of testimony included first responders and digital forensic experts who examined events surrounding Charles Vallow’s death. One striking theme was the seemingly unemotional behavior of both Lori and Alex Cox in the immediate aftermath.

Retired Chandler Police officer Robert Krautheim testified that Alex appeared “calm and not emotional at all.”

Witness Recalls Final Night with Charles Vallow

One of the more dramatic exchanges came during testimony from Nancy Jo Hancock, who met Charles through a dating app just before his death.

Hancock revealed that Charles told her he had changed the beneficiary of his life insurance policy to his sister, Kay Woodcock, on July 10, 2019—the day before his death.

Cross-examined by Lori Vallow Daybell herself, Hancock was unflinching:

“Are you trying to tell me and this jury that you went on one date with my husband, and he told you all the details of our lives?” Lori asked.

“I’m telling you the truth, and that’s what I know,” Hancock replied.

“So, you spent your whole date getting to know each other and talking about me?” Vallow Daybell pressed.

“Don’t flatter yourself. No, we did not spend the whole time talking about you,” Hancock answered.

Friends Testify to Lori’s Strange “Zombie” Beliefs

Friend Christina Atwood testified about attending a girls’ weekend with Lori. She claimed Lori referred to Charles as a "zombie" and spoke about dark spirits.

“She was concerned about dark spirits plaguing him,” Atwood said.

Adam Cox, Lori’s brother, gave disturbing insight into Lori's beliefs. He said she told him she had risen to a state “above” the traditional male priesthood in their religion.

“Lori had told people that Charles was no longer living… that there’s a zombie living inside of him… All these things added up… no doubt in my mind that they killed him,” he testified.

Sister of Victim Describes Heartbreaking Aftermath

The trial's emotional climax for the week came with testimony from Kay Woodcock, Charles Vallow’s sister. She recalled learning about her brother’s death through his son and a news article.

“It was horrible,” she said through tears. “I had to call all my siblings and let them know.”

She condemned Lori for failing to notify the family personally and for cremating Charles without their involvement. She also described receiving his ashes and a few personal items by FedEx.

“She was too busy to even call his family to say that he was dead by her brother killing him,” Woodcock said.

Woodcock added that Lori texted her a screenshot of the change in life insurance beneficiary, saying:

“Something along the lines of ‘Five kids and his sister gets all the money, is that why you want JJ?'”

Doomsday Murder Trial Continues Monday

As testimony resumes at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 14, the court will continue to hear arguments in what’s shaping up to be another explosive chapter in the saga of Lori Vallow Daybell.

For background on Vallow Daybell’s previous convictions, read this ABC4 News article.

To learn more about the emotional statements from Vallow Daybell and the victims’ families before sentencing, see this report.

You can also follow the timeline of this week’s courtroom drama via Yahoo News coverage.