Vallow Daybell
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell’s Friends & Inner Circle
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell surrounded themselves with a small but devoted group of friends and followers, many of whom shared their extreme religious beliefs. Some of these individuals supported their apocalyptic ideology, while others later became witnesses against them. Here are some of the key figures:

Melanie Gibb
Melanie Gibb
The Close Friend Turned Key Witness:
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.
Vallow Daybell
Zulema Pastenes – The Widow of Alex Cox
Zulema Pastenes was a friend of Lori who later married Alex Cox (Lori’s brother) in December 2019, just days before his mysterious death.

Vallow Daybell
Zulema Pastenes
The Widow of Alex Cox
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.
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Jason Mow – The Warrior Believer
Jason Mow was a former police officer, author, and religious speaker who shared Chad and Lori’s apocalyptic views.
He wrote about warriors of God and believed he was part of a divine mission to prepare for the Second Coming.
While not directly involved in the crimes, Mow was a member of their inner circle.

Vllow Daybell
Mow participated in podcasts and conferences alongside Vallow and Daybell, focusing on themes related to their faith and apocalyptic beliefs
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).
Vallow Daybell
The Inner Circle’s Role in the Crimes
Many of Lori and Chad’s friends and followers played key roles in supporting their beliefs, covering up crimes, or later testifying against them.
- Some, like Melanie Gibb and Zulema Pastenes, flipped and cooperated with law enforcement.
- Others, like Melani Pawlowski, have remained supportive or silent.
- Alex Cox directly carried out violent acts on behalf of Lori and Chad.
- Julie Rowe was an LDS author and visionary who once shared Chad’s beliefs about the end times. After Chad’s arrest, she condemned his actions and said he had been deceived by evil forces.
Their apocalyptic teachings and group mentality created a dangerous echo chamber, leading to murders, attempted murders, and destruction in the name of “spiritual warfare.”