Lafayette, LA – The second day of the high-profile Lori Daybell trial began with another change to the jury pool, as a second juror was excused before cross-examination could even commence. The ongoing case, which is being heard in Maricopa County, Arizona, will ultimately determine Daybell’s fate in the alleged conspiracy to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.
Daybell, 51, faces accusations of conspiring with her brother, Alex Cox, to kill Vallow in 2019. The prosecution claims the crime was part of a broader pattern of troubling behavior involving Daybell and her family, while the defense contends that the incident was merely a “family tragedy” and not a criminal act.
Before the jury entered the courtroom on Tuesday, a sidebar took place, during which it was decided that another juror would be excused. This marks the second juror dismissed in as many days. The first juror, a man, had explained that serving would cause a significant financial burden due to his obligations of paying alimony and child support. On Monday, he presented a letter from his employer to the court, which was part of his request for excusal. The second juror, a woman, was dismissed for reasons that were not disclosed to the public. As of now, the jury consists of 12 men and two women.
The trial’s second day saw the introduction of two key witnesses. The first was a firefighter from the Chandler Fire Department who responded to the scene of Vallow’s death in July 2019. The firefighter testified that he was likely the first to administer CPR to Vallow following the shooting, providing critical insight into the immediate aftermath of the crime.
Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, was the person who shot Vallow twice, although he initially claimed self-defense. Cox would die months later from apparent natural causes, a development that has added further complexity to the case. During Monday’s opening statements, Daybell’s defense characterized the shooting as a “family tragedy” rather than a calculated crime.
The second witness called to the stand on Tuesday was Kent Keller, a recently retired Fire Captain who had also served with the Chandler Fire Department. Keller’s testimony further built on the details surrounding the emergency response to Vallow’s death and will likely play a role in the defense’s strategy as the trial continues.
As the trial progresses, the focus will remain on the events leading up to Vallow’s death, as well as the alleged conspiracy between Lori Daybell and her late brother, Alex Cox. The case has drawn significant public attention, and the coming days are expected to bring further revelations as more witnesses take the stand.
With the jury now finalized and the prosecution and defense beginning their detailed examinations, all eyes will remain on the courtroom as this highly charged case unfolds.