PHOENIX — Day three of the Lori Daybell murder conspiracy trial began with a cross-examination of retired homicide detective, Daniel Coons, on the stand. Daybell is accused of conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in 2019. Daybell’s brother Alex Cox shot Vallow twice, claiming self-defense.
Coons testified Tuesday, that based on the evidence, he believes Cox fired the second shot while Vallow was on the ground. He cited the autopsy and evidence from the scene, including a divot found in the wood floor at the rental home where Vallow was shot.
Watch day three of the court case in the player below:
Wednesday started with a more fiery Daybell who appeared to be blunt in her line of questioning with Coons. She attempted to challenge some of the state’s arguments and the testimony from the detective. Daybell said Vallow was wearing a bamboo shirt and questioned Coons if that could have impacted the scene. Daybell also asked why certain items, like the wood floor or bullet, weren’t tested.
Daybell appeared to try and strike doubt in her line of questioning. Coons insisted their case was built on evidence at the scene and portions of their investigation, like the autopsy.
The state’s second witness called on Wednesday was Nancy Jo Hancock, who met Vallow on an LDS dating app a few weeks before his death.
Hancock said she had been on a date with Vallow the night before his death. She testified that Vallow had told her about Daybell and their separation. Hancock also said that Vallow informed her that he had changed the beneficiary of his life insurance policy.
Prosecutors asked Hancock about her responses, and the Valley woman said she suggested Vallow tell Daybell about the change.
Hancock also said that she had tried to reach out to Vallow the day after their date, but she didn’t get a response. She said she didn’t know he had died until she saw Vallow’s picture on the news in December.
On cross-examination, Daybell seemed blunt when asking Hancock questions regarding her relationship with Vallow and what they had talked about on their date.
Daybell asked Hancock if she spent their entire date speaking about her.
“Don’t flatter yourself…” said Hancock in response.
Daybell picked up cross-examination after the lunch break. She asked about Hancock's relationships with various people, including members of Daybell and Vallow’s family.
ABC15 will stream Lori Daybell's Arizona trial as it unfolds live on theABC15 streaming app, as well as theABC15 YouTube channel.
