Melanie Gibb was one of Lori’s closest friends and a fellow Latter-day Saint with strong religious beliefs.

• She attended preparation meetings where Chad and Lori discussed end times prophecies and ranking people as ‘light’ or ‘dark.’
• Melanie initially supported Lori and even lied to police when they asked about JJ Vallow’s whereabouts in November 2019—claiming he was with her.
• However, Melanie later realized the danger Lori and Chad posed and decided to cooperate with law enforcement.
• She recorded phone conversations with Lori and Chad, which became crucial evidence in their trials.
• In one call, Lori justified the disappearance of JJ and Tylee, claiming God was in control and that Melanie needed more faith.

Zulema Pastenes was a friend of Lori who later married Alex Cox (Lori’s brother) in December 2019, just days before his mysterious death.

• She was deeply involved in Lori and Chad’s teachings, believing that they had special spiritual gifts.
• After Alex died suddenly of what was ruled natural causes (blood clots), Zulema began cooperating with authorities.
• She later testified that Lori and Chad manipulated Alex, convincing him that he was their warrior and had to eliminate “dark spirits.”
• Zulema provided insight into Lori and Chad’s inner circle and their belief system.

Jason Mow, a retired Phoenix police officer, was associated with Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell through shared religious interests and collaborative projects. Mow participated in podcasts and conferences alongside Vallow and Daybell, focusing on themes related to their faith and apocalyptic beliefs.

Collaborative Activities:

• Podcasts: Mow co-hosted episodes with Vallow and Melanie Gibb, discussing spiritual topics and personal experiences. In one such podcast from November 2018, Vallow introduced herself and shared her spiritual journey, with Mow contributing to the discussion. ​
• Conferences: They participated in events organized by groups like “Preparing a People,” which focused on preparation for the Second Coming and other religious themes. These conferences provided platforms for them to share their visions and teachings

During the investigation into the disappearance of Vallow’s children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, Mow was interviewed by law enforcement to shed light on his interactions with Vallow and Daybell.He discussed his professional relationship with them, emphasizing that their collaborations were centered around religious content and that he had no involvement in their personal affairs.

Police Interview with Jason Mow:  Link

His Whereabouts:

• Police specifically asked where he was on October 9 and October 19, 2019—the days Tammy Daybell was attacked and later died.
• They also asked if he had been in Idaho anytime between August 1 and November 1, 2019, a crucial timeframe in the murders of JJ, Tylee, and Tammy.
• His response—“I can’t recall off the top of my head without looking at my calendar”—raises questions about his potential movements.

DNA Sample Collected:

• Police took a mouth swab for DNA, meaning they had reason to believe forensic evidence could place him at a crime scene.
• This suggests that authorities were being thorough in ruling him out (or in) as a suspect in Tammy’s murder or related crimes.

Financial Records Requested:

• Investigators requested his financial records from August 1 to November 1, 2019—likely to see if he had purchased anything suspicious, traveled to Idaho, or had any financial ties to Lori or Chad.
• This type of request is common in murder investigations to track movements, hotel stays, gas purchases, flight tickets, or cash withdrawals.

Denial of Involvement in Lori & Chad’s Beliefs:

• When asked if he had a relationship with Lori Vallow, he denied it.
• He claimed he was never alone with Chad and had no knowledge of the “light/dark” or zombie belief system.
• However, this is highly questionable since he was in a movie about a similar concept (which makes it unlikely that he was completely unfamiliar with these ideas).

Mow participated in podcasts and conferences alongside Vallow and Daybell, focusing on themes related to their faith and apocalyptic beliefs

Many of Lori and Chad’s friends and followers played significant roles in reinforcing their beliefs, assisting in concealment efforts, or later cooperating with authorities and testifying against them.

Some individuals, such as Melanie Gibb and Zulema Pastenes, eventually cooperated with law enforcement and provided information. Others, including Melani Pawlowski, have remained silent.

• Alex Cox directly carried out violent actions on behalf of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell.
• Zulema Pastenes, eventually cooperated with law enforcement and provided information.
• Melani Pawlowski, have remained silent.
• Julie Rowe, once an LDS author who shared similar beliefs about the end times, later condemned Chad’s actions after his arrest and stated that he had been influenced by dark forces.

Their apocalyptic teachings, combined with group loyalty and shared delusions, created a dangerous echo chamber that contributed to murders, attempted murders, and significant harm under the belief of “spiritual warfare.”