According to investigators, Alex Cox fired the shot that missed Boudreaux, and Lori Vallow played a central role in planning the attempted murder. Prosecutors have pointed to digital evidence, including Cox’s cellphone records placing him near Boudreaux’s home at the time of the shooting. Lori reportedly conducted suspicious internet searches following the incident, further tying her to the plot.

What Happened

Brandon Boudreaux had just moved into his new home at 1111 East Phelps the previous Wednesday, following his separation from his soon-to-be ex-wife, Melani Boudreaux. They shared four children. Brandon explained the divorce stemmed from Melani’s believes, ongoing issues with her family, and concerns tied to a recent homicide in Chandler. That morning, Brandon had taken his four children out, dropping the older two at school, the third at a day camp, and the youngest at a business daycare, before heading to the gym. As he drove home, he noticed a dark-colored Jeep Wrangler parked near his driveway. As he slowed to turn in, he saw a large muzzle pointed at him from the open rear hatch. A shot was fired, shattering his driver’s side window. Brandon sped away and called 911 from a nearby park. Investigators later found a tire track consistent with a stock Wrangler tire and recovered bullet fragments from his vehicle. A nearby resident, Shirley Guzman, reported seeing a bald white male with a scruffy beard matching the description of Alexander Cox—on the street days earlier.

Timeline of Events

• July 2019: Lori’s husband, Charles Vallow, is shot and killed by Alex Cox in Chandler, Arizona.
• October 2, 2019: Brandon Boudreaux is targeted in a failed shooting attempt. He survives.
• December 2019: Alex Cox dies of natural causes, limiting firsthand witness testimony.
• 2023: Investigators formally connect Lori to the Boudreaux shooting plot.
• April 2025: Lori is convicted in Arizona for conspiring to murder Charles Vallow.
• June 2025 (Scheduled): Lori to stand trial in Maricopa County for the conspiracy to murder Brandon Boudreaux.

Legal Context

Lori Vallow is representing herself in court. The prosecution contends she sought to eliminate Boudreaux to protect her niece’s custody case and silence someone perceived as a threat to their doomsday-eccentric plans. This case is seen as part of a broader pattern of violent conspiracies involving Vallow and Cox.

October 2, 2019 — Attempted Murder Event Brandon returns from the gym to his Arizona home when he is shot at with the bullet missing his head by inches. The shooter was driving a Jeep registered to then-deceased Charles Vallow. 

• 7:17 AM – Alex Cox searches again for directions to Brandon Boudreaux’s from his current location, which was the LDS Temple 3301 S. Greenfield Rd., Gilbert AZ.
• 7:19 AM – Alex starts traveling toward Brandon’s house.
• 7:20 AM – Brandon Boudreaux left his home to drop off his oldest children at school and to exchange younger kids with their Mother Melani Boudreaux.
• 7:53 PM – Alex and Chad’s burner phones communicate as Alex’s burner phone continues northbound into Utah
• 8:02 AM – Alex’s personal cell phone (which Lori Vallow had in Idaho) texts Lori’s personal cell phone multiple times and had a 23-minute call. The police report notes that all of this correspondence occurred while Alex’s burner phone was at Brandon’s property.
• 9:13 AM – Brandon Boudreaux returned to his home he noticed a vehicle was parked out in Front of his home. When Brandon Boudreaux passed the vehicle the individual inside of the vehicle fired a shot toward the drivers side front window hitting the vehicle just inches above Brandon Boudreaux head.
  
• 9:15 AM – Brandon Boudreaux places a 911 call reporting that he has just been shot at outside his home at 3875 E Phelps Street, Gilbert, AZ.
• A bullet shatters the driver-side window of his Tesla Model X, narrowly missing him. Brandon tells responding officers that the shot was fired from a Jeep Wrangler that had been parked nearby, facing the wrong direction on the street.
• He believes the attack was orchestrated by Lori Vallow and her brother, Alex Cox.
• Brandon said that only five people knew where he lived, as it was a newer home, and Melani was one of them.
• 9:19 AM – 9:25 AM – Alex’s burner phone travels southbound away from Brandon’s home and makes two calls to Chad Daybell’s burner phone. Jeep Wrangler Escape Route (per Brandon Boudreaux)
• After the shot was fired, Brandon accelerated westbound on Phelps Street.
• At Cole Drive, he turned north and saw the suspect Jeep Wrangler continue north on Cole, then east on Waite Lane, and south on Fisher Lane.
• Brandon briefly followed but turned back toward home.
• The Jeep was last seen heading south on Fisher Lane, possibly exiting via East Fairview to Pecos Road.
• 9:57 AM – Crime Scene Secured: Officer Yarbrough arrives and establishes crime scene tape around the immediate vicinity of the shooting. Officer Robb arrives on scene and documents the shattered window and glass debris on the driveway.
• 10:00 AM — Evidence Recovery: Investigators collected:
• Bullet fragments from the Tesla’s door frame.
• A freshly smoked cigarette found 10 feet across the street from where the Jeep had been seen—possibly discarded by the shooter or an accomplice.
• 10:28 AM – The Gilbert Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit formally assumes control of the investigation.
• 1:00 PM – Detective Mark Rendahl canvasses homes for doorbell and exterior camera footage that may show:
• 1:25 PM – 1:32 PM – Chad and Lori are captured by surveillance cameras at Self-Storage Plus in Rexburg. They arrive in the same car and carry a wheel and back seat from the Jeep Wrangler into Lori’s storage unit.
• 2:36 PM — Scene Closure
• 8:42 PM – Alex and Chad’s burner phones communicate for a final time near Green River, UT.
• 8:46 PM – 8:53 PM – Lori’s Gmail account performs multiple searches related to the attempted shooting:
• “man shot in gilbert az,”
• “man shot in gilbert az 10/2/2019”
• “avc news brandon budreaux”

October 3, 2019

• 4:28 am – The Jeep Wrangler is seen driving northbound on US Highway 20 near Rexburg.
• 7:23 AM Continued Canvassing Door-to-Door Search Detectives systematically canvass homes on East Fairview Street, just south of the shooting location.
• 9:30 am – Melani Boudreaux is interviewed by Gilbert Police and denies knowledge of the shooting and is unable to explain the details of her day on 10/02/2019. She confirms her relationship with Lori and Alex but denies they are close. She also does not want to share their phone numbers because she believes their phones could be tracked and listened to
• 2:11 pm – 2:14 pm (MDT) – Alex Cox and Lori Vallow are captured by surveillance cameras at the Self-Storage Plus in Rexburg. They remove a single vehicle wheel, with tire, and what appeared to be a back seat from Lori’s storage unit.

Detectives Locate Witnesses in Brandon Shooting:

• Witness #1: Shirley (Resident on Fisher Lane) Reports suspicious activity on September 26, 2019, at 11:00 PM:
• While walking her dog, Shirley sees an unfamiliar white male, approx. 6’ tall, bald, thin build, bearded, carrying an unknown object.
• He loiters near a home on East Phelps Street but doesn’t enter.
• Moments later, she sees the same man again, this time walking northbound on Cole Drive, head down.
• Witness #2: Myata Whitson Between 8:00–8:30 PM on October 1, Myata notices a gray Jeep drive past her home twice in quick succession.
• She mentally notes the Jeep due to its unusual behavior.
• No camera footage was captured.

2008:

• Lori’s niece, Melani Pawlowski married Brandon Boudreaux, and over the years they had four children together. Brandon was reportedly close with Lori’s family and baptized Tylee into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Fall 2018:

• Lori and Melani began attending meetings not sponsored by the church, but their spouses did not attend. Melani reportedly told Brandon the firesides were “her thing,” and was very clear he was not welcome to come. Melani became focused on the idea that the world was going to end soon. Melani was not very religious when she married Brandon, but she began getting “really passionate” about going to church and certain ideas at church.

December 25, 2018:

• Brandon and Melani spent Christmas with Charles and Lori.

January 2019: Charles texted Brandon and told him that Lori was accusing him of infidelity.

January 31, 2019 – Unbeknown to Brandon Charles Vallow is blocked on Brandon Boudreaux’s phone

March 26, 2019 – Brandon Boudreaux called Charles Vallow, and the call lasts 10 minutes

March 27, 2019 – Charles Vallow attempts to call Brandon Boudreaux, but the call doesn’t go through because his number was blocked.

June 2019

• Lori and Charles moved to Chandler, Arizona.

June 27, 2019

• Melani asks Brandon Boudreaux for a divorce while at his house Steve Cope, Melanie’s father. Melani told Brandon that she received revelation from God that she wasn’t safe at the house with him, and used this argument against him in court for establishing visitation rights. Brandon alleges that Melani has become involved in a cult-like group influenced by Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell.
• Charles Vallow spoke with Brandon and warned him that Melani was spending a lot of time with Lori Vallow.

June 30, 2019 – Charles Vallow communicates with Zac Cox via text messages. They talk about Brandon and Melani Boudreaux’s relationship and how Lori had ruined their marriage.

Charles Vallow sends Lori a series of text messages, including some vague threats

• 5:01 am: Be sure to look over your shoulders today. This may be the day. It’s coming. That much I promise you.
• 5:04 am: And your boyfriend too
• 6:22 am: You will reap the destruction you have sown. I’ll be there for JJ. Don’t worry about that. Have a wonderful day being a hypocrite in church.
• 8:42 am: Lori I know you don’t much care how I feel but just imagine this. How could my actions or breaking your heart result in what you’ve done? You accuse me of Infidelity [sic] but it’s you who has been having an affair. It just keeps killing me. Maybe that’s your goal. How can you live with yourself destroying our life, Mel and Brandon’s, probably Mel and Brenden too. Now add Chad Daybell family and you’ve got a home run. The fact that you continue to go to the temple after all you’ve done shocks even me. There really is something wrong with you. I really don’t want to do what I have to do but you have to be exposed for what you really are. You won’t even deny it or talk to me as to your reasons. That’s what’s amazing to me. You could allay some of what’s about to happen but I don’t think you will. Lying has become second nature to you. You have been impressive in blaming me for all that’s happened. You have destroyed me. I’ve never been lower in my life. It’s you that has done it. Please tell me why. Please. I will slow or minimize what’s about to happen. It’s you who has caused it. We have a son to raise but that’s all we have in common. I will work with you in his best interest and will be there Monday evening. You owe me an apology for all the false accusations you’ve made. You know I’ve been entirely faithful to you since the first day we met. I deserve an apology from you. Please respect that much.

July 1, 2019:

• Charles’ told Lori he was going to Idaho to talk to Tammy Daybell about Lori and Chad’s affair.

July 8, 2019

• Melani Boudreaux files for divorce from Brandon Boudreaux. Melani told Brandon that she received revelation from God that she wasn’t safe at the house with him, and used this argument against him in court for establishing visitation rights. Brandon alleges that Melani has become involved in a cult-like group influenced by Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell. Melani continues to pay for the life insurance on Brandon despite seeking a divorce
  

July 9, 2019:

• Lori learns of Adam and Charles’ intervention plans from her mother, Janis Cox, and Summer Shiflet. She then reached out to Alex Cox, Melani Boudreaux, and Summer Shiflet to warn them of Adam and Charles’ intervention.
• 7:21 pm – Lori texts Melani Boudreaux, “Need to talk to you ASAP”
• 7:22 pm – Melani calls Lori. Lori texts Melani, “I’ll call u in 5. Finding out what to do.”
• 7:45 pm – Chad searches on Google for “when you surprise someone with accusations.”
• 8:00 pm – Lori texts Melani, “U can’t go tomorrow. It’s a set up for both of us. Still on the phone finding out the details.”
• 8:01 pm – Lori texts Melani, “They have an elaborate plan I’ll call you soon.”
• 8:05 pm – Melani sent Lori a text, “I could take all the babies with and drive? And take our stuff.”
• 8:06 pm – Lori replied to Melani, “U can’t go at all. We both need to stay here to defend ourselves.”
• 8:07 pm – Lori added, “It’s coming to a head ! This week will change everything”.
• 8:08 pm – Melani responded, “Probably why I’ve felt sick about going.. Even when told to plan to go.”
• 8:15 pm – Lori had just gotten off the phone with Chad and then texted Melani, “Call me.” They talk until 8:30 pm.
• 8:15 pm – 8:30 pm – “After this phone call Melani and Lori shared SMS messages talking about Brandon Boudreaux and his dark spirit. Lori encouraged Melani to keep Melani and Brandon’s daughter away from Brandon.”
• 9:03 pm – Lori advised Alex of the conflict. She sent him a text that read, “So the plot thickens. Call me when u can ?”
• 9:03 pm – Alex calls Lori and they talked for 3 minutes.
• 9:16 pm – Lori sent Melani a text, “They are gathering witnesses. It’s just like twilight. They are the vulture.”
• 9:39 pm – Charles had not heard from Lori and sent another text “????”
• 9:50 pm Lori texts Alex: Getting sleepy. So I’m gong to need you to stay close to me the next couple days. Mel too. She can’t go to Utah. They are planking some kind of intervention but want Mel out of the way so I’m left alone. I need to come get the stuff at your house tomorrow and secure it. Lots to do. Thank you for standing by me. It’s all coming to a head this week. I will be like nephi I am told ! And so will you ❤️
• Lori texts Melani “Al is here. Charles says he will come over in the morning.”
• 9:56 pm – 10:52 pm – Alex called Lori again and the two talk until 10:52 pm.
• 10:27 pm – Charles texted Lori asking, “Did you spend 196 at wal mart grocery in Provo on UFCU card yesterday?”

July 10, 2019

• 10:25 am – Lori and Melanie Messages: Melani: I wish there was a way to somehow be at the wedding but I know this is more important. Lori: I know baby. I’m so sorry. This is important to your mission even though I know it’s hard to just sit there
•  Lori Vallow, Alex Cox, and Melani Boudreaux have lunch together, and then Lori and Alex go to their sister, Summer Shiflet’s house
• 7:18 pm – Lori Vallow and Melani Boudreaux exchange text messages where Lori implores her to not go out of town for the wedding she was planning to attend: Lori sends Melani an SMS message informing her that Alex was there and that Charles said he would be coming over in the morning.

July 11, 2019:

• Lori’s brother, Alex Cox shot and killed Lori’s estranged husband Charles. He claimed it was in self-defense; it was later declared a homicide.

July 13, 2019: Lori organized a casting for Brandon because he was “dark” and had an “evil spirit. Lori told her niece Melani that Boudreaux was part of Hitler’s group, and considered a “very high dark.” Melani Boudreaux moves into her rental home in Chandler. Brandon moved his personal belongings out of his shared house with Melani. They agreed to maintain 50/50 custody of their four children throughout the divorce process.

• 10:25am – Melani: “Adam just called Brandon and told him Al murdered chalrels [sic] he put it on speaker for me to here”.

Melani: “Can u talk please?”

Melani: “I think Brandon found out earlier. He seemed in shock a few hrs ago. And then Adam and Brandon tried to use this situation to their advantage. He cornered me and Adam put it on speaker to tell me. Then Brandon said, do you still believe everything you believe?”

Melani: “Brandon is with the moving truck at my new address moving things I’m at the house with the kids”

Lori: “Call me”

• 5:19 pm: Melani: “Does Tylee have a phone or a way to contact Brandon or Adam” Lori: “Nope, I still have it”
• Lori text Chad Daybell and asked him to “Clear” Melani’s house of bad spirits. Chad replied that he was working on it but had to break down the bad spirits Brandon created. Chad Daybell sends Lori Vallow a series of text messages where he says Brandon can’t get a restraining order against her because she and Al didn’t have charges filed. He also says he’d clear Melani’s home of bad spirits and told Lori where to find three “listening devices” in Melani’s home. Finally, he says he was heading to bed so he could snuggle with her and excitedly tells her he’ll see her in a minute

July 19, 2019 – Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) texts Lori Vallow to tell her about her new burner phone to use for emergencies and to encourage Lori to take out a life insurance policy on JJ and Tylee

• It’s melani Leigh!!! My clear line;) I’ll use for emergencies. If u have something u want to send to this phone, text me a 🙈 and I’ll know to look in this one;)
  

July 20, 2019 – Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell speak about Melani Boudreaux’s son, Blake, and indicating he is close to death

• Lori: What’s Blake’s percentage??
• Lori: He drew three crosses on the wall in his bedroom. We just finished painting over them.
• Lori: Like he was marking it for the dark side to find him.
• Chad: Blake is at 7. I took my sword of light and sliced his aura vertically in several places. You should be able to now rip and burn it.
• Chad: I also decreased his pain tolerance to 1 percent and greatly increased his pain. His desire to depart is at 80 percent.

July 21, 2019 – Melani Boudreaux (Pawlowski) tells Lori Vallow she should take out life insurance policies on JJ, Tylee, and herself

• You should get a life insurance policy on jj, tylee, and you. Cause after Charles we see that anything can always happen it’s in the Lord’s will.

July 25, 2019

• Chandler PD Det Moffat requests Alex Cox’s criminal file from Travis County, TX, for the assault on Joseph Ryan

July 30, 2019 – Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow have another text exchange about death percentages

• Lori: Good morning ☀️ missing you. Didn’t sleep much. Need you to check jj. Weird stuff happened in the middle of the night. It’ slike they distracted us with Blake. 💋
• Chad: I got the inspiration to go back to my original death percentages that helped us track Charles, Ned, etc. Tammy is very close. Her percentage has fallen steadily since Hiplos left. It is encouraging. 💓💋
• Lori: What is the percentage now? What about JJ’s too?
• Chad: Tammy is at 3. JJ is at 2. Both are being heavily shielded to stop intruders.
• Lori: 2 and 3 percent? Not zero?
• Chad: I will explain when we talk.
• Chad: I will update the list and figure out Brandon, Adam, and others.

August 4, 2019 – Melani Boudreaux participates in “prayer circle” “casting” for on Tammy Daybell and Brandon Boudreaux, along with Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, Melanie Gibb, David Warwick, Alex Cox, Zulema Pastenes, and Julie Clement

August 10: According to the Rexburg Police Department, Alex Cox purchased a gun.

August 31, 2019: Lori, Tylee, JJ, Alex

September 2019 – Custody Battle & Religious Shift – Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) and Brandon are engaged in a contentious custody dispute.

• Melani leaves the LDS Church and begins aligning with the radical apocalyptic beliefs promoted by her aunt Lori and Lori’s partner, Chad Daybell.

September 11, 2019

• Alex Cox pawned items at Pawn 1 in Ammo, Idaho, he Listed address in Rexburg, Idaho

September 17, 2019

• Brandon Boudreaux sees JJ Vallow and lets Kay Vallow Woodcock know he’s okay
• Melani Boudreaux asks Brandon Boudreaux for his new address

September 23, 2019

• Brandon Boudreaux signs new lease on a rental home.

September 25, 2019

• Alex Cox takes the Jeep Wrangler to get the windows tinted in preparation for the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux.
• Brandon Boudreaux moves into his rental home in Gilbert, AZ

September 26, 2019

• 12:31 PM Melanie Boudreaux leaves for Rexburg – Allegiant flight 608.
• 3:25 pm Melanie Boudreaux arrived in Rexburg
• Brandon Boudreaux tells Kay Vallow Woodcock that he found out from his son that Lori moved out of state. 
• Alex Cox activates a burner phone in preparation for the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux

September 28, 2019 – Preparations are made for the Brandon Boudreaux shooting

• Alex Cox visits the Unified Sportsmen’s Gun Range in Rexburg in preparation for the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux.

September 30, 2019:

• Lori searched the internet for, “How to get the back seat out of my jeep wrangler?” Tylee drove a Jeep Wrangler before she was allegedly murdered.
• 1:31 am – 1:16 pm – Alex Cox’s cellphone is at Lori’s apartment.
• 12:34 pm – Alex’s phone receives a call from Chad Daybell’s burner phone.
• 1:17 pm – 4:32 pm – Alex’s cellphone is at his apartment.
• 5:14 pm – Lori Vallow searched for something while logged in to her Gmail account. There are large redactions, but since this whole section of the report is about preparations leading to Brandon’s shooting, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess she searched for Brandon’s address.
• 6:01 pm Alex’s cellphone returns to Lori’s apartment and remains there or with Lori’s cellphone until 10/3/19.
• 8:10 pm – Charles Vallow`s Jeep Wrangler (TX Plate LWD-0997) is seen driving southbound on Interstate-15 near Blackfoot, ID.

October 1, 2019: Lori rented a 10×10 storage unit from Self Storage Plus in Rexburg. Surveillance video showed Lori and a man visit the unit,. The man, who appeared to be Cox, often visited alone, though he was once seen with a man who appeared to be Chad. On another visit, Chad and Lori reportedly visited the storage facility together.

• Melani Boudreaux asks friends from the cult, such as Alex Cox and Melanie Gibb, to talk to Brandon Boudreaux’s former neighbors to find out where he was after he went into hiding

October 1, 2019: A gray Jeep Wrangler is observed circling Brandon’s Gilbert, Arizona neighborhood.

• 6:52 am – The Jeep Wrangler (TX Plate LWD-0997) was [redacted] westbound on I-40 near Holbrook, AZ
• 7:30 pm – Alex Cox arrives in Gilbert, AZ.
• 9:19 am – Alex’s burner phone calls Chad Daybell’s burner phone near Holbrook, AZ.
• 11:55 am – Alex’s burner phone receives a call from Chad’s burner phone near Phoenix.
• 2:08 pm – Lori Vallow opens a 10×10′ storage unit at Self Storage Plus in Rexburg, ID. Surveillance footage shows Lori is alone.
• Brandon and Melani Boudreaux close on the home they owned together
• 7:30 pm – Alex Cox arrives in Gilbert, AZ.
• 9:19 am – Alex’s burner phone calls Chad Daybell’s burner phone near Holbrook, AZ.
• 11:55 am – Alex’s burner phone receives a call from Chad’s burner phone near Phoenix.
• 2:08 pm – Lori Vallow opens a 10×10′ storage unit at Self Storage Plus in Rexburg, ID. Surveillance footage shows Lori is alone.
• 7:52 pm – Alex searches for Brandon Boudreaux’s new rental address.

October 2, 2019 — Attempted Murder Event Brandon returns from the gym to his Arizona home when he is shot at with the bullet missing his head by inches. The shooter was driving a Jeep registered to then-deceased Charles Vallow. 

• 7:17 AM – Alex Cox searches again for directions to Brandon Boudreaux’s from his current location, which was the LDS Temple 3301 S. Greenfield Rd., Gilbert AZ.
• 7:19 AM – Alex starts traveling toward Brandon’s house.
• 7:20 AM – Brandon Boudreaux left his home to drop off his oldest children at school and to exchange younger kids with their Mother Melani Boudreaux.
• 7:53 PM – Alex and Chad’s burner phones communicate as Alex’s burner phone continues northbound into Utah
• 8:02 AM – Alex’s personal cell phone (which Lori Vallow had in Idaho) texts Lori’s personal cell phone multiple times and had a 23-minute call. The police report notes that all of this correspondence occurred while Alex’s burner phone was at Brandon’s property.
• 9:13 AM – Brandon Boudreaux returned to his home he noticed a vehicle was parked out in Front of his home. When Brandon Boudreaux passed the vehicle the individual inside of the vehicle fired a shot toward the drivers side front window hitting the vehicle just inches above Brandon Boudreaux head.
  
• 9:15 AM – Brandon Boudreaux places a 911 call reporting that he has just been shot at outside his home at 3875 E Phelps Street, Gilbert, AZ.
• A bullet shatters the driver-side window of his Tesla Model X, narrowly missing him. Brandon tells responding officers that the shot was fired from a Jeep Wrangler that had been parked nearby, facing the wrong direction on the street.
• He believes the attack was orchestrated by Lori Vallow and her brother, Alex Cox.
• Brandon said that only five people knew where he lived, as it was a newer home, and Melani was one of them.
• 9:19 AM – 9:25 AM – Alex’s burner phone travels southbound away from Brandon’s home and makes two calls to Chad Daybell’s burner phone. Jeep Wrangler Escape Route (per Brandon Boudreaux)
• After the shot was fired, Brandon accelerated westbound on Phelps Street.
• At Cole Drive, he turned north and saw the suspect Jeep Wrangler continue north on Cole, then east on Waite Lane, and south on Fisher Lane.
• Brandon briefly followed but turned back toward home.
• The Jeep was last seen heading south on Fisher Lane, possibly exiting via East Fairview to Pecos Road.
• 9:57 AM – Crime Scene Secured: Officer Yarbrough arrives and establishes crime scene tape around the immediate vicinity of the shooting. Officer Robb arrives on scene and documents the shattered window and glass debris on the driveway.
• 10:00 AM — Evidence Recovery: Investigators collected:
• Bullet fragments from the Tesla’s door frame.
• A freshly smoked cigarette found 10 feet across the street from where the Jeep had been seen—possibly discarded by the shooter or an accomplice.
• 10:28 AM – The Gilbert Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit formally assumes control of the investigation.
• 1:00 PM – Detective Mark Rendahl canvasses homes for doorbell and exterior camera footage that may show:
• 1:25 PM – 1:32 PM – Chad and Lori are captured by surveillance cameras at Self-Storage Plus in Rexburg. They arrive in the same car and carry a wheel and back seat from the Jeep Wrangler into Lori’s storage unit.
• 2:36 PM — Scene Closure
• 8:42 PM – Alex and Chad’s burner phones communicate for a final time near Green River, UT.
• 8:46 PM – 8:53 PM – Lori’s Gmail account performs multiple searches related to the attempted shooting:
• “man shot in gilbert az,”
• “man shot in gilbert az 10/2/2019”
• “avc news brandon budreaux”

October 3, 2019

• 4:28 am – The Jeep Wrangler is seen driving northbound on US Highway 20 near Rexburg.
• 7:23 AM Continued Canvassing Door-to-Door Search Detectives systematically canvass homes on East Fairview Street, just south of the shooting location.
• 9:30 am – Melani Boudreaux is interviewed by Gilbert Police and denies knowledge of the shooting and is unable to explain the details of her day on 10/02/2019. She confirms her relationship with Lori and Alex but denies they are close. She also does not want to share their phone numbers because she believes their phones could be tracked and listened to
• 2:11 pm – 2:14 pm (MDT) – Alex Cox and Lori Vallow are captured by surveillance cameras at the Self-Storage Plus in Rexburg. They remove a single vehicle wheel, with tire, and what appeared to be a back seat from Lori’s storage unit.

Detectives Locate Witnesses in Brandon Shooting:

• Witness #1: Shirley (Resident on Fisher Lane) Reports suspicious activity on September 26, 2019, at 11:00 PM:
• While walking her dog, Shirley sees an unfamiliar white male, approx. 6’ tall, bald, thin build, bearded, carrying an unknown object.
• He loiters near a home on East Phelps Street but doesn’t enter.
• Moments later, she sees the same man again, this time walking northbound on Cole Drive, head down.
• Witness #2: Myata Whitson Between 8:00–8:30 PM on October 1, Myata notices a gray Jeep drive past her home twice in quick succession.
• She mentally notes the Jeep due to its unusual behavior.
• No camera footage was captured.

October 3, 2019

• 6:30 PM Photo Lineup: Witness: Shirley Guzman: Detectives show her a photo lineup at her kitchen table. She identifies a man matching the suspicious person she saw a week prior. The physical description matches Alex Cox.
• Location of sighting: Her home on East Fairview Street, about 100 yards from the shooting location.

October 4, 2019

• Chad Daybell texts Lori Vallow an ominous message that implies he was doing something to expedite Tammy Daybell’s death

October 6, 2019

• Alex Cox visits the storage unit by himself, he was taking stuff out of the unit

October 7, 2019

• Summer Shiflet texts Lori Vallow to ask her about the attempted shooting of Brandon Boudreaux. In this exchange Lori shoots back, asking Summer where her boyfriend, Edgar, was. Summer replies that he wouldn’t miss, leave witnesses, and makes deaths look like natural causes
• Lori Vallow and Melani Boudreaux have a text exchange about going to Missouri and a trip with Brandon to Utah
• Lori: I’m really feeling like we need to go to Missouri and work. Maybe we can fly there on Thursday and back on sat.
• Lori: American has a nonstop flight from Phx to Kansas City Thursday at 1pm. Then fly back on sat at 6:30 p.m. Audrey said we could stay with her but I told her we could get a hotel and she could stay with us. She will take us to all the amazing sights!
• Melani: What about Brandon not being able to take the kids to Utah? Does dad think I will need to be here.?
• Lori: Nope. U need to be unavailable. That is the schedule.
• Melani: Ok captain.

October 8, 2019

• Lori Vallow flies to from Idaho to Arizona under the name Lori Ryan (Allegiant Confirmation code 9DQQ47) to meet up with niece Melani Boudreaux the day before Tammy Daybell is approached by a masked gunman.

October 9, 2019

• Tammy called 911 to report a masked man shot at her in her driveway with what she belied was a paintball gun. It was later indicated by Court documents that Cox attempted to shoot and kill Tammy that day.
• Alex and Zulema have unusually late 38-minute phone call. Zulema also meets up with Lori and Melani at Melani’s home in Chandler
• Brandon Boudreaux hired private investigator Rich Robertson to look into his attempted shooting.
• Photos and videos of Melani Boudreaux’s children recovered from Lori Vallow’s iCloud reveal Lori was at Melani’s home in AZ, including a photo of a young child at a splash pad. This was the Last time Melani Boudreaux had seen her kids.

October 11, 2019

• Gilbert Police draft search warrants for the known phone numbers for Alex Cox, Lori Vallow, Melani Boudreaux, and Tylee Ryan
• Lori Vallow and Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) fly to Missouri and return to Phoenix. Lori Vallow deletes a text message that references flights between MO and AZ for these date
  

October 14, 2019

• Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) texts Brandon Boudreaux to say she’s moving to Boise, ID, with or without their four children. Brandon, in turn, passes that information on to Gilbert Police.
• The kids could remain with you in Arizona, you would have to arrange for daycare, and I could have the kids for school holidays and summers. Or I could take the kids to Idaho and enroll them in school there and you could have the kids for school holidays and summers. Please let me know what you’d like to do.
• Melani Boudreaux and Lori Vallow have a text exchange where Melani appears to be asking how to end Brandon Boudreaux’s life less than two weeks after his attempted murder
• Lori: Yeah, but until that agreement is signed by the judge, it is all subject to change. That’s probably the reason for the delay.
• Melani: Is there a possibility he could go before I move?
• Lori: There’s always that possibility. We will work on it. Just have faith and do whatever the Lord tells you. He is always right.
• Melani: I don’t recall the words to get him out But should we try.
• Lori: I know them. I’ll work on it now. Put all your energy in.
• Melani: I’ve worked on them all day and evening.
• Lori: Me too. He’s got to be ready to go.
• Melani: I know.

October 15, 2019

• Brandon Boudreaux tells an investigator at Gilbert Police that he was surprised to find out he was still married and that he wasn’t going to return the kids to Melani Boudreaux the next day as scheduled

October 16. 2019

• Melani Boudreaux tries to pick their four children up from school early and finds out Brandon Boudreaux didn’t take them to school. She reports this to Gilbert Police, and a detective asks about her plans to move to Idaho.
• Alex accesses Lori Vallow’s storage unit and spends what appears to be 6 minutes on premises
  
•  Gilbert Police receive confirmation Alex Cox was the driver of the Jeep on 10/1 when surveillance cameras captured him in Holbrook, AZ. 
• Chandler Police request the FBI’s assistance with the cellular data received from the Chandler and Gilbert investigations.

October 17 – Lori Vallow and Melani Boudreaux travel to Hawaii

October 18, 2019

• Lori Vallow texts her friend Audrey at 11:43 am (UTC -7) from Hawaii and says, “Not sure how long we will be here. Until our work is done”

October 19, 2019

• 6:00 AM – Chad Daybell called 911 to report that he found his wife deceased. He claims she went to bed with a cough and just didn’t wake up. Her death is believed to be natural and no autopsy is performed.

October 20, 2019

• Melani Boudreaux moved to Rexburg, Idaho.

October 22, 2019

• Brandon and Melani Boudreaux’s divorce is finalized.
• Brandon Boudreaux calls Kay Woodcock to let her know Tammy Daybell died.
• Brandon Boudreaux learns and notifies Gilbert Police of Tammy Daybell’s death

October 23, 2019

• Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell exchange texts about family hitman Alex Cox that suggest is time is up
• Lori (11:47am): I had a bad dream about Al. Make sure he is still him and protect him 💋
  Lori (11:47am): He would be the one they use to get to us both. All this alone time is not good for him. ❤️
  Chad (11:53am): I will reach out to him later today.
  Chad (12:13pm): I just cleared all of Al’s weapons, curses and cords, and filled him with malachite healing balm. I also put angels around him.

October 24, 2019

• Zulema Pastenes, Melanie Gibb, Lori Vallow, and Melani Boudreaux meet up to do a podcast

October 25, 2019

• Melani Boudreaux’s took her Rexburg apartment off the market

October 28, 2019

• Alex sends Zulema a photo of Chad and Lori at a restaurant, no wedding ring on Chad.
• Brandon Boudreaux contacts Gilbert Police to let them know he would be moving in with his parents in Utah for the foreseeable future

October 29, 2019

• Gilbert Police reach out to Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the coroner, Brenda Dye, to learn more about Tammy Daybell’s death

October 31, 2019

• Law enforcement tracks down the Jeep Alex Cox drove when he shot at Brandon Boudreaux
• Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) and Alex Cox fly from Idaho Falls to Phoenix and then pack up Melani to move to Rexburg, ID. They stay with Zulema Pastenes for the night.
• a private investigator hired by Brandon Boudreaux, sees Melani Boudreaux and Alex Cox outside her home taking her children’s clothes, toys, and beds to the curb. Brandon Boudreaux alerts Gilbert Police of this development

November 1, 2019

• Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were spotted together in Rexburg, Idaho by Fremont County Sheriff’s Office Lt Powell, They were seen holding hands, suggesting a romantic relationship
• Detective Ray Hermosillo starts “intermittent surveillance” on Lori Vallow at the request of the Gilbert Police Department. Surveillance continued through Nov 4th, when they found the Jeep used in the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux. Hermosillo reports that he never saw JJ Vallow when he was performing surveillance during the month of November, 2019
• 5:30 PM – Melani Boudreaux and Alex Cox show up at Claudia and Brandon Ewell’s address to ask if they had her children. After they deny having her children, Melani tells her that the Holy Spirit told her they were there and that she was going to be reunited with her kids that night. Alex Cox was sitting in Melani’s SUV while Melani was in the house. Melani and Alex left and then came back 20 minutes later and parked across the street. Then they left and came back again. Afterwards, Claudia went on Facebook, and Melani wrote, “I am very sorry for your family,” which scared them even more. Brandon E stayed up all night guarding his house. Melani and Alex spent about two hours surveilling their home.
• Brandon Boudreaux’s private investigator, Rich Robertson, use GPS to follow Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) and Alex Cox to Rexburg

November 2, 2019

• Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) publishes a bizarre Facebook post accusing Brandon Boudreaux of kidnapping their children, persecuting her for her faith, and accusing her of “false things,” and offering a $10k for their location.
• detectives knock on Melani Boudreaux’s door asking about Lori Vallow. Her account: “I’m foggy on this date but (Rexburg Police) Detective Hermosillo and another gentleman had come to my door while I was moving my stuff in so it had to have been early in November – I’d guess the second week in November”

November 3, 2019

• Kay Vallow Woodcock sends an email to Chandler Det Nathan Moffat letting him know Lori Vallow, Alex Cox, Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) , and Tylee Ryan moved to Rexburg

November 4, 2019:

• Surveillance video of the Jeep is recovered from the neighborhood. Investigators confirm the Jeep was previously registered to Lori Vallow’s late husband, Charles Vallow, and later associated with Tylee Ryan, Lori’s daughter.

November 5, 2019

• Brandon Boudreaux informs Gilbert PD that he had recently learned his estranged wife, Melani Boudreaux, had moved to Rexburg
• Gilbert Police interview Claudia and Brandon Ewell about Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) and Alex’s visit/surveillance and Melani’s bizarre claim that the Holy Spirit told her that her children were at their house.

November 12, 2019

• Brandon Boudreaux told a Gilbert Police detective that Melani was still paying for a life insurance policy on him despite him asking her to remove herself from the policy
• Melani Boudreaux trespasses onto Brandon’s parents’ property in America Fork, Utah. American Fork Police say Melani’s uncle, Alex Cox drove her to where her children were in a 2020 Kia Telluride

November 14, 2019

• Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) trespasses onto Brandon’s parents’ property a second time, around 10:30pm, claiming to have a court order stating she could take the children. Police cite Melani for criminal trespassing and tell her to leave the property but then decide to take her into custody for criminal trespassing enhanced by domestic violence. Melani turns herself in to AFPD and is booked into Utah County Jail. Melani’s uncle, Alex Cox, posts her bail of $1,950. The day after the arrest, Cox bailed Melani out

November 18, 2019 – Arizona Dept of Public Safety detective, a crime scene tech, and a Gilbert Police Department detective fly to Rexburg to process the Jeep Wrangler that was involved in the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux. According to RPD Det Hermosillo this was the first time they heard the names JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan because Kay and Larry Woodcock hadn’t heard from JJ in a while. The GPD detective said they were going to look for JJ in Arizona to see if he was with friends and if they needed them further they would get with them at a later date.

Lori Vallow finds out she had been removed from Charles Vallow’s life insurance policy, she text Chad Dybell

• Lori: I just got the letter from the insurance company saying that I am not the beneficiary. It’s a spear thru my heart. Who do you think he changed it to ?? Brandon?? Or probably Kay ?? He left nothing for jj !!
• Chad: Wow. That’s terrible. There is no way to find out?
• Lori: I might be able to see when I get his computer on Sunday. I could check I the emails sent to the insurance company. It will show change of beneficiary. He must have done it recently !
• Chad: It seems you would have had to agree to the change. Maybe your name was forged. You should have a good paper trail to prove it.
• Chad: I love you. This is terrible, but it is probably another step in bringing down the Gadiantons, especially Brandon.
• Lori: Nope. He can change it anytime he wants. He’s the agent and anyone can change their beneficiary any time with their own signature. I’m thinking it must be Kay.
• Chad: Hmmm. It will be interesting if it got changed after he had two bullets in his chest.

November 19, 2019

• Melani and Brandon Boudreaux’s divorce hearing heal and Melani doesn’t show up, and he is awarded full custody of their children.

November 21, 2019

• Tylee’s Jeep was seized by the Rexburg Police Department, and was never reported missing. Jeep Wrangler Located in Rexburg, sealed, and Seized
  

November 23, 2019

• Ian Pawlowski (Melani;s boyfriend) travels to Mesa, AZ, with his two kids to visit his sister, Hannah, for Thanksgiving

November 27, 2019

• Full GSR + DNA collection from Jeep. The Rexburg Police Department served a search warrant, but when they arrived Chad and Lori were gone. They searched their apartment and found that almost everything had been taken, and it was nearly empty. In her garage, there was a ghillie (camouflage) suit, lots of ammunition, a rifle, a handgun, rope and duct tape, and several silencers. They also discovered emails from Chad Daybell and books written by Chad. 
• They also searched Cox’s apartment and Melani’s apartment and found “Hazmat-looking white suits,” and a rental agreement for a storage unit in Rexburg.
• 6:30 PM – Melani and Alex Cox arrived in Arizona to join Ian Pawlowsk, after they fled Idaho following the welfare check. They arrived in Lori’s Nissan Rogue around 6:30 pm
• Rexburg Police call Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) and Alex Cox to ask them to return to Rexburg on 12/3/19 to be interviewed by Rexburg Police detectives, and they agree.
• 12:00 AM – Melani Boudreaux leaves Ian’s sister’s house around midnight.

November 29, 2019:

• Alex Cox and Zulema Pastenas got married in Las Vegas.
• Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski) returns to Ian’s sister’s house and this time spend the night

November 30, 2019

• Ian Pawlowski, Melani Boudreaux (now Pawlowski), and Ian’s two kids leave his sister Hannah’s home in his car
• Melani Boudreaux marries Ian Pawlowski in Las Vegas

December 2, 2019

• Ian Pawlowski’s mother calls him after talking to his ex-wife Natalie. She told him that Melani was in a cult, Chad is a cult leader, and her uncle had shot a man
• Alex Cox’s apartment goes back on the market
• Colby Ryan’s wife, Kelsee, reaches out to Chandler Police by filling out their web form to ask a detective to get back to them, not realizing it was Gilbert Police who had come to their home on 11/26, not Chandler Police
• FBI Special Agent Carey Cooper tells Chandler and Gilbert Police detectives that the FBI and Rexburg Police are willing to look into “state or federal felon in possession charges” to arrest and hold Alex Cox on weapons charges

December 3, 2019:

• Melani Pawlowski is interviewed by LE for five hours
• Ian Pawlowski calls into Rexburg Police to check on Melani Pawlowski (formerly Boudreaux). He claims he’s only known her one month and that he does not know JJ or Lori Vallow
• Ian Pawlowski texts his ex-wife concerns about the attempted shooting of Brandon Boudreaux: “She didn’t know beforehand what was gonna happen. They made the attempt, failed and told her about it after the fact.
• Alex activates new phone. Cellphone data begins to place Alex Cox near Brandon’s home on the morning of the shooting.
• Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow, Alex Cox, Melani Pawlowski (formerly Boudreaux), Ian Pawlowski, and Zulema Pastenes have multiple conference calls.

December 4, 2019:

• Zulema tells Alex “Raphael” got a new number → Raphael = Chad Daybell
• Natalie Pawlowski contacts an associate of Brandon Boudreaux, trying to find him. It’s a pretty desperate cry for help and reveals how scared she and Ian both were

December 5, 2019:

• Alex texts “Guy” (confirmed as Chad): “Hey it’s Reh Romano”
• Natalie and Ian Pawlowski are interviewed by Rexburg Police Department
• Surveillance begins on Zulema Pastenes’ residence as a result of Ian and Natalie Pawlowski’s interview. A woman and man appearing to be Zulema Pastenes and Alex Cox are seen together by leaving his Silver Ford F-150

December 6, 2019:

• Alex asks Chad about “Lili” (alias for Lori)
• Zulema Pastenes reported that Alex Cox started having shortness of breath
• Ian Pawlowski meets with LE again alone and restates what he knows for a few other detectives, Lieutenant Ball, and another FBI agent named Travis

December 7, 2019

• According to Zulema Pastenes, Alex Cox drove to Algodones, Mexico, to buy prescriptions because they were cheaper. The Gilbert Police Report confirms he crossed the border into Mexico that morning and returned that afternoon.

December8, 2019 – Ian Pawlowski texts his ex-wife Natalie with grave concerns about Melani’s court hearing, her uncles’ advice for her to move to Ammon, ID, his insistence on staying in Rexburg, and concern for Natalie’s safety ( source):

• Don’t respond.
• I need you to encourage Brandon to keep info he gets on the down low until I can get this sorted out.
• I want to help, but it will be tough if every[one] starts figuring out what I’m learning.
• She didn’t know beforehand what was gonna happen
• They made the attempt, failed and told her about it after the fact. I understand that he doesn’t want the kids around her because of all of this, but I believe if she can see them, it will put a huge dent in her trust with her uncles. She’s scared and had been told her middle children are dead. She has a family court date on 12/11. I’m trying to get her to go…
• I don’t know if I can convince her to go to the family court hearing on Wednesday. I’m trying but she “got an answer” last night from God himself. Her uncles have her so wrapped up. They’re telling her she needs to move to Ammon. That’s not gonna happen because I’m not going to leave Rexburg. They think is [sic] has something to do with jurisdiction. Dumbest thing ever. Don’t respond. Just wanted to update you earlier because I had a quick second to call. Stay safe.

December 9, 2019 : Alex texts Zulema about a storm: “Did you order the storms?” (BBQ reference)

December 10, 2019: Alex to Chad: “Give me a blessing… I can’t breathe.”

December 11, 2019 

Melani Pawlowski has a family court hearing scheduled. Ian Pawlowski had told his ex-wife Natalie Pawlowski he was trying to get her to go. He said she “got an answer” last night from God himself.

• Alex to Chad: “Poison from the spear in the heart has done some residual damage.
• Alex tells Melanie B.: “That’s a big no go on your stuff. Just buy a new computer.”
• Chad tells Alex he paid the Rexburg house bills; Alex: “I’m letting it go.”
• Tammy Daybell’s death is “suspicious,” the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office determined, so her body was exhumed an autopsy was performed. According to a Utah medical examiner, Tammy Daybell died “at the hands of another and died of asphyxiation.” ME also said there were bruises on Tammy’s arms that happened in the hours around the time of her death, a coroner said. “They are consistent with someone being restrained and would be consistent with asphyxia being cause of death as well,” a coroner said.
• Alex told Zulema where to find money if he died. Cox also allegedly told Zulema, “I think I’m being their fall guy,” and when questioned about it, Cox wouldn’t say much.

December 12, 2019

• Alex Cox dies suddenly from a bilateral pulmonary embolism in Gilbert, Arizona.
• He had not been formally charged in connection to the shooting at the time of his death.

December 14, 2019

• Cox’s blood and fingerprints collected postmortem

December 21, 2019: In a Facebook Post Brandon Boudreaux shared photos of JJ and Tylee, who were declared missing and endangered by the Rexburg Police Department.

December 17, 2019

•  Gilbert PD Det Ryan Pillar and Chandler PD Det Nathan Moffat interview Melanie Gibb. She claims she saw JJ on 9/23/19, the day she and David Warwick left. She also claims to have no knowledge of the Brandon Boudreaux shooting.

December 19, 2019

• Ian Pawlowski tells Melani he had spoken with LE
• Rexburg Police executes a second search warrant to bring in a forensics team to look for evidence of JJ in Alex Cox’s apartment
• Alex Cox’s autopsy is performed. Chandler Police Det Nathan Moffat tells Kay Woodcock that Alex Cox died of natural causes, from blood clots and a pulmonary embolism

December 22, 2019

• Melani Pawlowski (formerly Boudreaux) tells FBI agent Ricky Wright that she’s willing to make a written statement in an effort to “clear her name” because she was getting hateful texts from people. She asked also that some of her property be returned from Rexburg Police, such as a laptop, and that they help her get Christmas presents to her kids

December 23, 2019: 

• Warrant issued for Ford F-150 registered to Alexander Cox. Gilbert PD Property Building, 2750 E. Williams Field Rd
• Melani and Ian Pawlowski are interviewed by the FBI in Idaho. It’s noted that Melani was being dishonest but wasn’t challenged on her lies because Ian was still cooperating with the FBI

December 24, 2019

• Melani Pawlowski (formerly Boudreaux) shows up at her father’s house unannounced and asks if she can visit while sitting in her car outside his house. He believed she was looking for her children, who her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, had in hiding

December 27, 2019

• Gilbert Police perform a welfare check at Colby and Kelsee Ryan’s Mesa apartment to try to located Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, Lori Vallow’s son, is interviewed by Gilbert Police. Brandon Boudreaux had tipped police off that Tylee and JJ could be with him

January 3, 2020: A search warrant was served on Chad’s home in Salem, Idaho. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries said investigators recovered 43 items, including cell phones, journals, computers, and medications. They were sent to an FBI lab for further analysis.

• Digital forensics confirm Alex Cox’s cellphone was at the scene during the time of the shooting.
• Melani Pawlowski denies involvement.
• Her new husband, Ian Pawlowski, begins cooperating with law enforcement and shares concerning conversations he had with Melani and others about violence and religious justifications.

January 7, 2020:

• The Woodcocks traveled to Rexburg from Louisiana, and announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the kids.
• Melani Pawlowski’s (formerly Boudreaux’s) court date for the trespassing charge. According to FBI agent Ricky Wright, Melani is a no show for a scheduled interview

January 8, 2019

• Melani Pawlowski (formerly Boudreaux) was scheduled to meet with the FBI in Idaho with her attorney but was a no show
• Gilbert Police request a cold case detective from Phoenix Police review Joe Ryan’s death

January 10, 2020: Matt Daybell, Chad’s brother, pleaded for him to cooperate with the investigation. He said his immediate family had little association with Chad due to concerns relating to his religious claims and books.

January 14, 2019

• Melani Pawlowski (formerly Boudreaux) is interviewed by Rexburg Police Department

January 25, 2020: The Kauai Police Department served Lori with a notice stating she must produce JJ and Tylee to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, or the Rexburg Police Department within five days.

January 30, 2020:

• Gilbert Police receive DNA samples from Brandon Boudreaux and his children, as well as a bag of clothing suspected to belong to Tylee, if my redaction is correct
• Lori missed the 5 p.m. deadline to produce JJ and Tylee. Kay Woodcock held a news conference expressing her disappointment.

February 5, 2019

• private investigator hired by Brandon Boudreaux, comes forward to say Boudreaux identifies Alex Cox was the shooter ( source). “The vehicle that was involved in the shooting belonged to Charles Vallow,” Robertson said. “It was a green Jeep Cherokee with Texas license plates. He recognized that as his former in-law and he suspected Charles Vallow’s killer, Alex Cox, was the one driving that jeep.”

February 12, 2019

• Brandon Boudreaux reaches out to Gilbert Police Det Pillar to tell him Melani Pawlowski (formerly Boudreaux) wouldn’t sign the papers to cancel the life insurance policy they had on him. Because they were both owners of the policy (something the broker noted as ‘unusual’), both of them had to sign the paper to remove her as a beneficiary of the policy. She also paid for the policy out of her personal account, so he couldn’t even stop payment on the policy

February 20, 2020: Police in Kauai arrested Lori on a $5 million dollar warrant from Madison County. She was charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. She was also charged with resisting officers, criminal solicitation, and contempt of court.

February 23, 2019

• Child custody papers reveal Ian Pawlowski provided statements to LE that Melani Pawlowski—Brandon Boudreaux’s ex-wife—told him shortly after they married that she conspired with her uncle, Alex Cox, to kill Brandon. Brandon alleges that Melani was motivated by a $1 million life insurance policy. Melani’s new husband, Ian Pawlowski, told LE Melani once said “something to the effect of ‘sometimes children are full of light and then just like that they go dark.’”

February 26, 2020:

• Lori waived her extradition to Idaho after six days in jail in Hawaii.
• First defamatory press release issued by attorneys Robert Jarvis and Garrett Smith on behalf of Melani Pawlowski: Accuses Brandon of lying, victimizing women, using extreme pornography, engaging in homosexual affairs, unlawfully keeping the children, and having family ties to organized crime.

March 6, 2020: Lori made her first court appearance in Rexburg. Judge Faren Eddins reduced her bail to $1 million, but she was still unable to post bond and remained in jail.

March 25, 2020: Second defamatory press release issued: Repeats claims that Brandon unlawfully removed the children from Arizona, submitted false information to the court, and manipulated public opinion.

March 31, 2020: Brandon Boudreaux files a defamation lawsuit (Case No. CV2020-004204, Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona) against:

• Robert P. Jarvis
• Garrett L. Smith
• Jane Doe Jarvis
• Jane Doe Smith
• Other unknown individuals/entities (“John and Jane Does,” “Black and White Partnerships and Corporations”)

Brandon alleged in lawsuit: Upon information and belief; the shooter intended to lcilJ Mr. Bordeaux so his life insurance proceeds would go to Melani Pawloski in order to fund the religious group.

April 9, 2020: Idaho Attorney General’s Office told East Idaho News that Chad and Lori were under investigation for conspiracy, attempted murder, and/or murder.

April 24, 2020

Melani Pawlowski (formerly Boudreaux) publishes a Facebook post for her 31st birthday where she talks about the case and how she’s suffering because she can’t see her children. She claims:

• She wrongly spent time in jail in Utah (after trespassing on her in-laws’ property twice).
• She hasn’t seen her children since October 9, 2019.
• She was unjustly taken from her mother and “told all manner of lies.”
• Her mother died when she was 9.
• She has nothing but love and gratitude toward her father and others who betrayed her.

May 8, 2020: Alex Cox’s autopsy results were released. It said he died of natural causes; blood clots in the lungs.

June 9, 2020: At 7 a.m., a search warrant was served at Chad’s home by the Rexburg Police Dept., FBI, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. Within hours, the remains of JJ and Tylee were discovered buried on the property. Tylee’s remains were found at the pet cemetery near the firepit. JJ’s remains were found near the pond on Chad’s property.

• 9:50-10 a.m.: Chad transferred $24,000 from his Mountain America bank account to three of his kids in $8,000 deposits. Approximately $4,400 was left in the account.
• 11:30 a.m.: At this point, officers were told Chad was leaving his daughter’s house across the street “at a high rate of speed” despite being told he needed to remain or leave accompanied due to safety concerns.
• Chad was taken into custody and booked into Fremont County Jail on charges of concealment, distribution, or alteration of evidence.

June 10, 2020: Chad made his first court appearance via video from the jail. His bail was set at $1 million.

July 15, 2020: Lori pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor resisting or obstruction officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime, and contempt of court.

August 21, 2020: Chad appeared for his District Court arraignment before District Judge Steven Boyce and pleaded not guilty to his charges.

August 30, 2020 – Gilbert Police did an investigation into Brandon’s claim that Melani must’ve blocked Charles. Brandon met with detectives to provide them his phone for a forensic analyses. He told detectives the only other person who had access to the Samsung at that time was Melani Boudreaux. He stated that he went through the Samsung for old photographs when he discovered 24 unread text messages from Charles between January 2019 and July 2019. He said the messages were found in a folder titled something-like, “AT&T Blocked Folder.” Brandon said this was consistent with his phone forwarding Charles’ calls directly to voicemail between the end of January 2019 through July 2019.

September 15, 2020 – Alex Cox’s ex-wife, Debbie, is interviewed by Chandler Police

• The marriage only lasted about a year (1992-1993), but they only lived together for 4-5 months.
• Sometime before Alex and Debbie married, Lori married someone quickly in Las Vegas.
• Debbie last talked to him after he got out of jail for assaulting Joseph Ryan.
• Alex told her then that he wanted to bait Joseph into a fight so that he could kill him in self-defense.
• It had been about a year since they had contact before that conversation.
• She was afraid of the Cox family.
• Alex and Lori simulated sex acts where she’d wrap her legs around his waist and he’d bounce her on himself, causing both of them to moan.
• Alex also touched Lori’s breasts.
• These simulated sex acts took place in her parents’ home in front of other family members who didn’t express any concern about it.
• Janis and Barry Cox “constantly” talked openly about their sex life in front of the rest of the family.
• Alex talked about Lori as “hot” and “sexualized her” quite a bit.
• Alex and Debbie lived in the same apartment complex as Lori for a while, and it seemed like Alex “chased after her” a lot.
• While they were married, Alex had been ex-communicated from the LDS Church.
• Sometime after their divorce he was baptized into the LDS Church but was then ex-communicated again.
• Debbie wanted to move to Utah after they were married, but Alex wanted to stay in Texas. But then one day he came home from work and told her they were moving. The move happened very quickly.
• When they arrived in Utah, Debbie learned Alex had slept with a 15-year-old girl. The father had started to look for Alex to fix the problem.
• Debbie said the incident with the teenager and his sexualization with Lori were the causes of their divorce.
• Debbie didn’t see Alex simulate sex acts with his other sisters, Stacey and Summer.
• Debbie said she came forward because she struggled with the knowledge that Alex had indicated he wanted to get into a fight with Joseph and kill him in self-defense. To her, it sounded too much like what had happened to Charles, and she couldn’t remain silent.
  

September 30, 2020

• Gilbert PD take possession of Brandon Boudreaux’s Samsung Note 8 to view correspondence between him and Charles Vallow

November 19, 2020 – Authorities analyzed Brandon’s phone and found Charles Vallow was indeed blocked on Brandon’s Samsung phone. Charles Vallow contact information showed the option to “Unblock contact”. It is unknown when exactly Charles Vallow`s phone number was blocked but the Auto rejected call on 3-27-19 indicates that Charles Vallow contact was blocked at that time.

2021–Prosecutorial Review: The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and FBI review the cumulative evidence gathered by the Gilbert Police Department.

January 29, 2021: Brandon Boudreaux, ex-husband of Lori Vallow’s niece settled defamation lawsuit against his ex’s (Melani Pawlowski) lawyers for $12M. The defendants had put out press releases w/ nasty allegations regarding Boudreaux during his child custody battle.

October 5, 2021: The Daybell trial was moved from Fremont County to Ada County.

November 2021: Gilbert police recommended attempted murder charges to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to be filed against Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, who were believed to orchestrate the shooting of Brandon. Charges for Pawlowski were not submitted to MCAO.

April 2023: Gilbert Police Department publicly acknowledges: There is an active conspiracy investigation involving Lori Vallow.

• Lori is identified as a suspect in the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux.

May 12,2023: A 12-member jury unanimously finds Lori Vallow Daybell guilty on all charges. The jury deliberated for seven hours.

April 2025 Lori Vallow is convicted in Arizona of conspiracy to commit the murder of Charles Vallow, her estranged husband, who was shot and killed by Alex Cox in July 2019.

• This conviction strengthens the prosecution’s case theory of patterned conspiracies and religiously motivated violence.

June 2025 (Scheduled)

• Lori Vallow is set to stand trial in Maricopa County Superior Court on charges of: Conspiracy to commit attempted first-degree murder of Brandon Boudreaux.

Prosecutors are expected to present:

• Forensic cellphone data,
• Surveillance footage,
• Witness testimony,
• Prior acts showing a pattern of murder conspiracies linked to Lori, Alex Cox, and her religious group.