Arizona police looking into death of Lori Vallow's 3rd husband as she sits in Idaho jail

Vallow and her 5th husband have been charged in connection with the disappearance, death of her 2 children

ByKonstantin Toropin and Steve Almasy, CNN, CNNWire
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Missing Idaho kids' mom Lori Vallow helped keep their bodies hidden: Police
Missing Idaho kids' mom Lori Vallow helped keep their bodies hidden: Police

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Phoenix police officials are reviewing the investigation into the death of Joseph Ryan, Lori Vallow's third husband, a spokeswoman for the department told CNN on Friday.

Vallow and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, are both in jail in Idaho, awaiting trials on charges connected to the disappearances and death of her two children.

The review in Arizona was prompted in part by the recent publication of a recording made by Vallow's former sister-in-law, Annie Cushing, in 2018, police spokeswoman Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said in a statement to CNN.

RELATED: Lori Vallow, mom of missing Idaho kids, appeared in court Friday; New husband could be called to testify

In that recording, made public for the first time last week by CNN affiliate East Idaho News, Vallow describes considering murdering her former husband, whom she does not name.

In the recording, Vallow says she ultimately decided not to murder her husband, and joined a temple instead.

The "40-minute recording is of an informal religious discussion where Vallow preached about her beliefs to a number of friends," East Idaho News reported.

East Idaho News said it obtained the recording from Cushing.

RELATED: 'Doomsday cult' changed mom of missing Idaho children, grandfather says

The grandfather of one of the two Idaho children who went missing in September is speaking out days after the siblings' mother was found in Hawaii with her new husband.

CNN reached out to Vallow's attorney, Mark Means, to confirm the authenticity of the recording, but Means declined to comment.

Vallow could not be reached for comment. She is facing separate charges of conspiring to destroy, alter or conceal evidence in the deaths of two of her children. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Ryan died in April 2018. His death was ruled as natural at the time, Fortune said.

Vallow's children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow, disappeared last September. Their remains were found June 9 in Daybell's yard.

RELATED: Human remains found at home of missing kids' mom's husband

Daybell and Vallow married in November 2019.

Daybell is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence and two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. He has pleaded not guilty.

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