Phone calls, police interview footage shared during Lori Vallow Daybell trial - Major Digest

PHOENIX (ABC4) -- The Idaho mother convicted of killing her two children returned to the courtroom Monday on charges of conspiracy to murder her husband, Charles Vallow. Lori Vallow Daybell is representing herself in Maricopa County during this trial.

Last week, jurors heard from family members and even a woman who testified she and Vallow had a date the evening before Charles Vallow was killed. Also on the stand were first responders at the scene of Charles Vallow's death on July 11, 2019.

Vallow Daybell was previously sentenced for murder and conspiracy to murder her children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ashlyn Ryan, 16. She was sentenced to prison and is currently serving five life sentences.

Today, several witnesses were called to the stand by the prosecution: The medical examiner who performed Vallow's autopsy, an investigator with the Social Security Administration, and the insurance representative who informed Vallow Daybell she was no longer the beneficiary. A forensic scientist who examines firearms and a police detective who was at the scene also testified.

Medical examiner's testimony

The state called Dr. Derek Bumgarner, a medical examiner with Maricopa County, to the stand. Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Treena Kay led her questions by asking about Bumgarner's education and experience.

Bumgarner confirmed that he performed the autopsy on Charles Vallow following his death on July 11, 2019. Treena Kay brought up photos from the autopsy, and Bumgarner described what he observed during the autopsy.

"It passed through the skin of the chest, the sternum -- which is the breastbone -- and the paracardium, which is a sac that surrounds the heart. It then hit two chambers, the right atrium and the left ventricle, and then it passed through the ninth thoracic vertebral body and exited the soft tissue and the skin of the left back," Bumgarned testified about the path the bullet took through Vallow's heart.

According to Bumgarner, the initial gunshot wound may not have been immediately fatal. Vallow could have moved around or even spoken briefly, Bumgarner affirmed.

Bumgarner testified that there was a second gunshot wound on Vallow's left abdomen. He stated that he observed "shoring" around the exit wound. He explained that shoring is caused when the bullet exits the skin while pressed against a firm surface. Bumgarner confirmed it could have been caused by Vallow lying on the floor when he was shot the second time.

Treena Kay asked if the toxicology report found any drugs or alcohol in Vallow's system. Bumgarner testified that Vallow did not test positive for drugs or alcohol. He confirmed that he determined the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.

Lori Vallow Daybell then began her cross-examination. She asked about the drugs that the toxicology report tested for. Vallow Daybell briefly questioned him about the logistics of shoring. Bumgarner testified that he had never seen a shored wound caused by a t-shirt.

Vallow Daybell asked if he was familiar with bamboo clothing and ended questioning when he stated he was not.

Social Security investigator's testimony

Mark Saari, a special agent with the Social Security Administration, was then called by the state. He is responsible for investigating fraud, waste, and abuse cases involving Social Security. In 2020, he was assigned an investigation into Vallow Daybell's Social Security.

Saari testified that Vallow Daybell had an appointment with the Social Security Administration to discuss Vallow's Social Security regarding JJ on Aug. 12, 2019. He stated that Vallow Daybell told them she was living with Vallow at the time of his death.

Previous testimonies from Adam Cox, who is Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, and Kay Woodcock, who is Charles Vallow's sister, claim that Vallow and Vallow Daybell were not living together at the time of Vallow's death. According to them, Vallow was living in Houston, Texas, while Vallow Daybell was living in Arizona.

Treena Kay reviewed the Social Security letters sent to JJ and Vallow Daybell following the death of Vallow with Saari. During Vallow Daybell's cross-examination, she asked Saari about surviving spousal benefits and child-in-care benefits.

Saari confirmed in a follow-up question from Treena Kay that when Vallow Daybell married Chad Daybell, her mother-in-care benefits would have ceased, while JJ's benefits would have continued. He testified that Vallow Daybell did not notify Social Security of her new marriage.

Insurance claims representative's testimony

Robin Smith Scott, a claims representative with Banner Life Insurance Company, was then called to the stand. She testified that Charles Vallow had a life insurance policy worth $1 million. Scott stated that Vallow Daybell was the beneficiary until Feb. 26, 2019, when the beneficiary was designated as Vallow's sister, Woodcock.

A recording of a phone call made by Vallow Daybell to Banner Life Insurance Company on July 15, 2019, was played. During this call, Vallow Daybell tells Scott, the representative, that Vallow had been shot and died in an accident. She also stated that she is the beneficiary, and Scott said she would open the insurance case and confirm the beneficiary.

Audio from a second phone call on July 18, 2019, was then played. Vallow Daybell contacted Scott to discuss a letter she received stating that she was not the beneficiary on Vallow's life insurance policy. During the call, Scott confirmed that the beneficiary was changed and stated that she couldn't divulge much information.

"I'm trying to figure out what he was doing since we have five kids and we've been married for 15 years," Vallow Daybell says during the recording. "I know he owes a lot of people money, and I was worried if I got money, they'd be coming after me for money... now I will be with none."

Vallow Daybell stated she had no questions for the cross-examination, and Scott stepped down.

Firearms and toolmark forensic scientist's testimony

Jeff Moberg then went on the stand. He is a forensic scientist with the Arizona Department of Public Safety in the Firearms and Toolmark Unit.

Moberg reviewed images of the gun that was found at the scene of Vallow's death. He also described how forensic investigation of a gun is completed. He identified the firearm as a Springfield Armory XDM 45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and testified that the two bullets at the scene were fired by that pistol.

During cross-examination, Vallow Daybell asked about whether there could have been a ricochet that caused the casings to land in a different area. The jury asked a similar question about where the casings would land if the gun were sideways.

Chandler Police detective's testimony

Cassandra Ynclan, a police detective with the Chandler Police Department, was called to the stand by the state. She responded to the scene of Vallow's death on July 11, 2019. Ynclan recalls seeing Vallow Daybell parked across the street with Tylee after she arrived.

"Just kind of appeared to be having this, kind of, ordinary interaction with Officer Krautheim," Ynclan said of Vallow Daybell that day. "Kind of ordinary and nonchalant."

Tylee and Vallow Daybell were driven to the police station by Ynclan for police interviews. The detective stated that Vallow Daybell was not emotional and did not appear upset while driving to the station. She was not read her Miranda rights because she was considered a voluntary witness at this time.

Clips from the police interview between Vallow Daybell and Ynclan are then played for the courtroom.

"It's all these threats on my phone all the time... he's always mad at me and he doesn't want a divorce, but I don't like him," Vallow Daybell says when asked about Vallow on the recording.

In another clip, Vallow Daybell states that Vallow left his phone, and she kept it from him questioned him about texts he was hiding from her. She claims he was yelling at her to give back the phone.

Ynclan testifies that Vallow Daybell told her Tylee brought a bat down, and Vallow later threatened Vallow Daybell with the bat after Tylee went outside. Alex Cox, Vallow Daybell's brother, also got involved, according to the police interview.

Ynclan states that Vallow Daybell told her she heard "the gunshot" before leaving, but didn't see it. She would take the children to school to get out of the house, she states in interview footage. Vallow Daybell still had the phone when she left, and it would later be given to police by Tylee, who found it in the van.

Vallow Daybell's cross-examination centered on the interview of her daughter, Tylee. She asked about what was said during that interview, but those questions were sustained as hearsay, and Ynclan did not answer.

Judge Justin Beresky broke court for the evening, and the jury was dismissed. He took some time afterward to speak with Vallow Daybell. He explained his rulings about questions during cross-examination. Beresky also told Vallow Daybell why the clips from the police interview were allowed to be submitted as evidence.

The trial will resume at 10:15 a.m. MST tomorrow, 11:15 a.m. in Utah.