Closing arguments expected on Monday in Lori Vallow Daybell trial

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A surprising twist in the trial of so-called ‘Doomsday Mom’ Lori Vallow Daybell on day 7, when Vallow Daybell, who is representing herself, said she plans to rest her case without presenting any evidence or witnesses.

There is still a chance Vallow Daybell can call witnesses, including herself, but with problems finding some witnesses and serving subpoenas, it is looking increasingly likely that the defense will rest on Monday.

“I think it’s somewhat of a surprise because if she doesn’t put on a case in chief, her defense really is that the prosecutor has not met their burden of proof,” said Criminal Defense Attorney Josh Kolsrud.

Kolsrud is not affiliated with this case but has been watching the trial since the beginning. He says that, in his opinion, Vallow Daybell has exceeded expectations before the trial with her performance acting as her attorney, but also showed her inexperience during several points of the trial.

“The fact that she’s not putting on a case in chief is huge because now she can’t really put on a self-defense claim. She really can’t put on an affirmative defense because she hasn’t presented anything that would reach a standard where a jury would believe her,” he said.

Throughout the testimony, Prosecutor Treena Kay chipped away at the self-defense claim by highlighting inconsistencies in the story first told to Chandler investigators, including a gap in time between the shooting and a call made to 911 and the fact that no one performed CPR on Charles before paramedics arrived. Prosecutors also say a motive of money, in the form of social security benefits and a life insurance policy, and an affair Lori was having with doomsday author Chad Daybell were reasons she wanted Charles dead.

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On Wednesday, after the judge denied a motion to acquit Vallow Daybell before the case went to the jury due to a lack of evidence, Vallow Daybell told the judge that she planned to rest the case.

As it stands, closing arguments are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Monday and are expected to last less than two hours combined. Kolsrud says closing arguments without presenting evidence or witnesses before would be difficult for Vallow Daybell because she would only be able to bring up evidence brought in court. He says that at this point, he believes the only chance Vallow Daybell has of being found not guilty is if she calls witnesses and testifies on the stand.

“In my opinion, in a case like this, if I’m the prosecutor the over-under is two days. If the verdict comes in before two days of deliberation, I’m feeling pretty good,” said Kolsrud.

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