LĪHU‘E, Hawaii — UPDATE:The following is a news release from the Kauai Police Department.
LĪHU‘E, Hawaii — The Kauai Police Department arrested 47-year-old Lori Vallow Daybell Thursday in relation to an investigation being conducted by the Rexburg Police Department.
Vallow was arrested on a warrant issued by Madison County and is currently being held at the KPD cellblock on a $5 million bond.
Her two children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “J.J.” Vallow, have been missing since September.
Vallow failed to comply with a court order to produce her children before authorities on Jan. 30 in Madison County.
She has since been charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. She was also 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.
“First of all, we wish to thank the public for the massive outpouring of concern regarding this case,” said Kauai 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.”
In December 2019, Rexburg PD requested KPD’s help in locating Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, on Kauai. KPD subsequently received an affidavit requesting assistance in securing a search warrant, which was obtained by the 5th Circuit of the District Court in Hawaii, in connection to Rexburg PD’s ongoing investigation into the missing children.
On Jan. 25, Kaua’i police presented an Idaho order to Vallow to produce her children before authorities in Madison County.
On Jan. 26, KPD served a search warrant related to Rexburg PD’s investigation on the rented vehicle occupied by Vallow and Daybell, as well as the condo they were renting in Princeville.
Vallow will now attend a hearing on Kauai – date is yet to be determined – where she will have an opportunity to waive or fight her extradition to Idaho. Once in Idaho, she will face her criminal charges.
The children were last seen in Idaho and there is no indication that they are on Kauai. There are currently no criminal charges against Vallow on Kauai.
Questions directly related to the charges should be made to the Rexburg PD, as they remain the primary investigative agency.
RELATED | The major players and timeline in the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan
ORIGINAL STORY:KAUAI, Hawaii — Chad and Lori Daybell were taken into police custody Thursday afternoon at their Princeville townhome in Hawaii, according to multiple witnesses.
Neighbors say several marked and unmarked police cars showed up at the unit. Officers spoke with both Chad and Lori and they were placed into separate vehicles.
“My unit looks right across the street from them. I walked outside, saw a normal police car blocking the entrance and then lots of unmarked cars. They were interrogating them in the parking lot and I see the blond girl and a guy get loaded into the cars,” Corey Austin, a neighbor, tells EastIdahoNews.com.
Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood could not comment on the situation but says additional information will be released later today or early Friday.
EastIdahoNews.com will update this story with new details as we learn more.
