Mom of Missing Rexburg Kids Arrested in Hawaii

Lori Vallow, the mom of two missing Rexburg kids, was arrested in Hawaii on Thursday, February 20, by the Kaua'i Police Department.

“First of all, we wish to thank the public for the massive outpouring of concern regarding this case,” said Kaua‘i Chief of Police Todd G. Raybuck. “We also want to thank everyone for their patience while investigators worked diligently to comprehensively gather everything they needed in order to obtain this arrest warrant.”

The 47-year-old was arrested after a warrant was issued by Madison County, Idaho. Police say the arrest was in connection to an investigation of her missing kids, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “J.J.” Vallow. Tylee and J.J. have been missing since September.

At the end of January 2020, Lori didn't comply with a court order to show her kids to authorities.

Lori has been charged by police with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children.

Police in Kaua'i also said Lori has been charged with arrests and seizures- resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime, and contempt of court- willful disobedience of court process or order.

The Rexburg Police Department in Idaho requested the Kaua'i Police Department's help in finding Lori and her husband, Chad Daybell, on Kaua'i in December 2019. After that, police in Kaua'i were given an affidavit requesting help in getting a search warrant. The warrant was obtained by the 5th Circuit of the District Court in Hawai‘i, according to Kaua'i police. Police say the warrant was connected to the Rexburg Police Department's investigation of the missing kids.

Police in Kaua'i showed Vallow the order to produce her kids in front of Madison County, Idaho authorities on January 25. On January 25, the Kaua'i Police Department then served the search warrant on the car being rented by Lori and Daybell. They also searched the condo the two were renting in Princeville. The warrants were related to the Rexburg Police Department's investigation.

Lori is currently being held at the Kaua'i Police Department Cellblock on a $5 million bail. The Kaua'i Police Department says she will have a hearing on the island, but the date hasn't been set yet. Once the hearing happens, Lori will have the chance to fight or waive her extradition to Idaho. She'll be faced with the criminal charges once she is back in Idaho, according to the Kaua'i Police Department.

The story of the missing kids has made national news and was even featured on Dateline NBC. The grandparents of the children, who filed the missing person's requests, have also been featured on Dr. Oz. Rexburg Police Department and the FBI are asking for any information you have about the case.