Thread by @NateNewsNow

Back at the Ada Co. Courthouse for day 11 of Lori Vallow Daybell’s trial. Zulema Pastenes, is back on the stand. John Thomas will continue cross-examination this morning. Recap of Pastenes’ testimony from Friday here eastidahonews.com/2023/04/day-10…

Waiting in line to enter the courtroom. Zulema Pastenes just walked by with her attorney.

Bailiff reminds everyone in the courtroom to not hold up their phones or they will be checked. Defense attorney Jim Archibald says he observed someone in the courtroom taking photos. The woman is escorted out to have her phone checked.

Lori Daybell is here smiling, chatting with her attorneys. Bailiff gives instructions, tells observers no recordings or taking photos with phones. Personal note: A kind person found me a seat pad that I'm using today - much more comfortable than the wooden bench.

Kay & Larry Woodcock are here w/ other family members. Annie Cushing is also in the courtroom. Attorneys from defense & prosecution have been summoned by a bailiff to leave courtroom. Assuming this is to meet with Judge Boyce. Daybell remains at her table shackled to the ground.

I'm sitting on the far end of a bench by a large window behind Daybell and her team. It's currently raining/snowing in Boise and is around 33 degrees.

Attorneys have returned to the courtroom. Judge Boyce is on the bench. John Prior, Chad Daybell's attorney, is in the courtroom.

Defense & prosecution say they are ready to proceed. Boyce:"We are starting proceedings late this morning because we had a participant who was disruptive. After talking with counsel, I am going to request the bailiff remove this person from the courtroom based on their conduct."

This is the first time Boyce has removed anyone from the courtroom. This is the same person who Archibald says was holding up her phone to take photos before proceedings began.

Zulema Pastenes is back on the stand wearing a white skirt, white jacket and white heels. Jury has been brought into the courtroom.

John Thomas is conducting cross-examination on Zulema. He asks her if she spoke with anyone from the prosecution over the weekend. She says she did not. Thomas begins questioning her about her relationship with Alex Cox.

Zulema says her first day with Alex was in August 2019. They dated a few times until their first kiss on Oct. 31, 2019. They frequently spoke on the phone about scriptures, talks they had read, their families, getting to know each other, Zulema says.

Thomas asks what happened during the week of Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 2019. Zulema says she was in Arizona and Alex was in Rexburg. Alex proposed to her on Nov. 7 in Rexburg when she says she came to visit him.

"Alex was very clear that he was looking for a relationship and he wanted to get married."

Zulema says the first time they went to dinner, Alex told her he wanted to get married and have a relationship. Zulema says she doesn't remember if she had a reaction to what he was sharing with her. When he proposed on Nov. 7, Zulema says she was not surprised.

"He had told me he was looking for a ring and asked for my ring size. I was not completely surprised that it happened on that day."

Zulema went home to Arizona and didn't physically see Alex again until Thanksgiving. He returned to Arizona on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and stayed with Zulema the entire time.

Thomas asks Zulema about day they got married. "I wish I could tell you I know exactly the date but there has been so much trauma around that date & all of the events that happened around that time that it's very hard for me to remember especially for things I'd like to forget."

Thomas asks Zulema about the traumatic events Zulema witnessed. She starts to cry and said, "I went to work early December 12 and Alex was fine and when I came home Alex was laying on the floor of my bathroom dead.

And then the paramedics came and started working on him and then they took him to the emergency room and they worked on him for about an hour and they brought me back into the room where he was connected to machines.

They were doing CPR on him and then after many efforts to revive him I had to give the ok to have the machines turned off. That is very traumatic, sir."

Thomas to Zulema: "How is it you knew him August to December and you spent very little time with him...Maybe it's possible you didn't know him that well and he wouldn't do anything for Lori?" Zulema: "I disagree with that.

Whenever he wanted to do anything, he had to have Lori or Chad's permission." She relates a blessing Alex received from Chad where Chad told him he would be a warrior. The following day, Alex got a plane with Chad to check Rexburg out. "

After we got married, I told him I would not be moving to Rexburg. My family, my life was in Arizona. He was living in Rexburg so we were discussing what we were going to do and he said, "Well, before I make any decisions I need to ask Chad and Lori what I should do."

Defense hands two exhibits to Zulema. She identifies them as text messages between Chad and her. The other text message is one between Zulema and Lori.

The two exhibits showing text messages were admitted in the grand jury proceedings, according to Thomas.

Zulema reading a text message she sent to Chad Daybell saying she was not ready to move to Rexburg - mainly because of her daughter. Chad responded that he understood and maybe it would happen eventually.

Zulema says during this time, Chad was repeatedly telling her to move to Rexburg. He gave her blessings telling her to move to Rexburg. Lori and Chad "kept pushing" her to move to Rexburg.

"I really trusted these people. Chad said he had a veil and he could see to the other side. He said he was constantly being guided by angels. Lori said she had conversations with Jesus Christ. I trusted them. It was very hard and I was confused."

Zulema says she started to pray for guidance. Zulema says during one prayer, she says she got her answer from God that said, "You will go to Rexburg eventually but not right now."

Thomas says, "Yes or no - did you pray about it?" She says, "Yes." Thomas says, "And yes or no - the Lord told you eventually that you would go to Rexburg?" She says, "Yes." Then adds that Chad and Lori were pushing her to move to Rexburg "in every blessing they gave me."

Zulema reads another text message she sent Chad saying she feels better about things. Thomas asks her to read another text.

"I have a couple of questions for you. Do I have a calling and election made sure? Will I have a calling and election made sure? Do I have a second comforter? And...how I will know when and how to the temple when the callout happens?" This was sent Jan. 24, 2019.

Zulema reads another text message about her having a yearning to only go to the temple and "leave the world behind." Meanwhile, a person's cell phone in the gallery has gone off and the bailiff has taken it away.

Zulema reads a message Chad sent her saying her calling and election was made sure. He tells her she will be among the most righteous and in the first group of "gatherers." Zulema responds to Chad saying the Lord has spoken to her directly and told her that he has "made you mine"

Thomas asks Zulema about an incident in Dec. 2018 when she texted Chad for a blessing. She reads the message that says, "I think I am being attacked again."

Zulema says Lori and Chad always taught that when you have any kind of physical pain or any emotional suffering, it was an attack from the dark side and evil spirits coming after your body and emotions. Zulema says she believed that.

Zulema says she felt the adversary was attacking her back. Chad responded, "Hi Zulema. I have captured and removed the evil spirits that were attacking you. I have removed the weapons and am healing the damage."

Thomas asks, "Do you think that actually worked or was this hocus pocus?" Zulema responds that Chad often did energy work and there were times she actually felt better afterward. She doesn't recall if she felt better after this specific incident.

Thomas asks Zulema to read a message she sent to Chad after he said the evil was removed. She told him she felt better and could move her shoulder again.

Zulema says she felt she was doing honorable, good work at the time but now realizes the intentions of Chad and Lori were "very evil." "Those things they were saying were evil and manipulative."

Zulema reads another text message about "light fire." Thomas asks what that means. She says it's "like imagining in your mind a light oura & fire to put around somebody's wound to help them heal." She recalls using light fire for good, during the castings & for healing purposes.

Thomas asks Zulema if she has a portal in her home. She says no. He asks if she has ever had a portal in her home. She says, "No, sir." Thomas asks Zulema to read another text she sent to Chad on April 8, 2019.

Part of it says, "I would love that. I want to see if you help me create a portal at home to get answers." Zulema says she doesn't recall this conversation.

Thomas asks about casting the demon Garrett out of Charles. While the ceremony took place, Zulema says she is unsure if the evil spirit ever left Charles because Lori always had to check with Chad to see if the spirit had actually left. "We would get confirmation from Chad."

"I had faith they were telling us the truth," Zulema says when asked if the castings were successful. "I personally did not have confirmation whether those evil spirits or demons were cast out. I trusted and believed what Lori and Chad were saying."

Zulema says she was in the temple the day Charles died. She reads a text message saying she was working on Hiplos (the evil spirit that inhabited Charles) while in the temple and was told he will be taken the way he is. "7/11. I hope today is a good day for all of this to end."

Zulema says Lori was supposed to be at the temple with Lori "working on Hiplos" that day but Lori didn't show up.

The jurors are very attentive today and many are taking notes. One juror, a man, seems to be noting everything being said. Lori is also taking notes directly across from the juror box.

Thomas asks Zulema about a powerful spiritual experience she had in the temple where she saw Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, Jesus and her eternal father. Zulema says she doesn't recall that day.

Thomas says, "You saw Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother and Jesus and you don't remember what happened?" Zulema thinks for a good 60 seconds and starts to talk before Thomas says, "I'll withdraw the question, your honor. No further questions."

Thomas done questioning, Rachel Smith with the prosecution now following up.

Smith asks Zulema to clarify text messages and communication between Lori and Zulema. Lori often called Zulema a goddess and praise her ability to control the elements.

"She said that I was very special and my mission was the most important one. They were always looking out for me because my mission was the most important one."

Chad called Zulema "the goddess of the earth" and said she had a special mission to fulfill that he identified just for her.

Chad and Lori repeatedly told Zulema how special she was and how special her powers were. "It made me feel very good and really special. I started to really believe it."

Zulema says Chad and Lori made others feel special and powerful, including Alex. "They told Alex he was the angel who had come to Saul before he became Paul and he was the one who spoke to him and made him blind so he would mend his ways and become a follower of Jesus Christ.

They also told him he had been an angel before and he was an angel that had appeared to Joseph Smith. They told him he had been exalted in other creations with his wife Holly and he had been a very powerful warrior.

He had unmasked Satan in another creation and that is the reason why Satan had so much animosity toward him."

Zulema says Alex quit his job and moved to Rexburg after Chad and Lori told him to do so. He left behind his belongings in Arizona. "Chad and Lori told him the only reason he came to earth at this time - his sole purpose was to protect Lori."

ulema has repeatedly said that Alex believed everything Chad and Lori told him. Smith has no further questions for Zulema and she steps down from the stand.

Zulema steps down from the stand and leaves the courtroom with her attorney Garrett Smith. Next witness called to the stand is Colby Ryan, Lori Vallow Daybell's son.

Colby is on the stand wearing a white dress shirt and tie. Lori is starting at him. I have not seen him look at his mom. Rob Wood asks, "How do you know the defendant Lori Vallow?" Colby responds, "She's my mother."

Wood shows the court a photo of Tylee Ryan. He asks Colby who that is. Colby, through tears, says, "That's my sister." Wood shows the court a photo of JJ Vallow. Colby says, "That's my brother." Colby is sniffling and just briefly glanced at his mom.

Wood asks Colby about the day Charles Vallow died. Colby says Lori called him at work and said Charles died of a heart attack.

The day Charles died, Colby went home and Tylee greeted him. Alex was sitting on the couch watching TV and had a bandage on his hand. Colby asked Alex what happened. Alex said he had been hit with a bat and then she shot Charles. That night he said Lori's demeanor was "calm."

A few weeks after Charles died, Colby said his mom told him that she wasn't receiving any life insurance money. Colby says he spoke with his mom monthly or every other month about their finances. Lori often told him they were out of money.

Wood asks Colby if he ever received money from Tylee. Colby says he did - randomly through Venmo. Colby says Lori would often send money to Tylee who would then send it to Colby.

Wood asks Colby about the night of Sept. 8, 2019. Colby asked Tylee for money and Tylee responded that she was no longer in control of her money but her mom was handling it. Colby says he spoke with Lori that day.

He heard Tylee over the phone and Lori said they were at the Yellowstone National Park gift store.

Colby says he was contacted by Gilbert police on Nov. 27, 2019. They asked where JJ and Tylee were. Colby said they were not with him and Colby had been concerned about his sister. His text messages with Tylee were "in a different language than how Tylee would talk and type.

It was just different." He felt like it wasn't Tylee he was speaking with.

Colby says after September 2019, he continued to receive money from two different accounts registered to his mom.

Colby says after Charles died, his mom said she was going to get married again. After Gilbert police visited in November 2019, he called his mom and asked what was going on - why were the police looking for the kids.

Colby says he did not know where his mom was but he knew she had moved from Phoenix. She never told him where she moved and Lori would not tell Colby. "She just told me she was moving somewhere cold and it was dangerous for her to tell anybody where she had gone."

Colby tried to contact his mom on Thanksgiving but her phone was disconnected. He was not able to reach her. Wood has no further questions. Jim Archibald will cross-examine Colby Ryan after the break.

As the jury was leaving the courtroom, Colby glanced over at his mother, shook his head and then turned away.

Lori is not wearing leg shackles today. She was able to walk out of the courtroom with a bailiff for the break.

Colby is back on the stand while we wait for the judge and jury to enter the courtroom. Lori is looking at him but he either looks straight ahead or down.

Attorneys from both sides headed back to meet with the judge privately. Colby remains on the stand, his mom remains at the defense table alone.

While we wait, Lori is staring at Colby on the stand. He refuses to make eye contact. Now she is writing in her notebook.

Lori pulled several tissues from a box of Kleenex and appears to be crying or wiping her eyes. It's hard to see from my vantage point as her back is toward the gallery. Colby still has not looked at his mom for several minutes.

Attorneys have re-entered the courtroom. Lori is whispering with Jim Archibald as he prepares to cross-examine her son about the deaths of his siblings and step-dad.

Earlier I said Lori may be crying or wiping her face. Chanley Painter with Court TV is on the other side of the courtroom with a better angle of Lori's face and tells me she did not see tears.

Jurors are back in the courtroom. Archibald begins his cross-examination.

Archibald asks Colby who his dad is. He says William Lagioia but explains his step-dads were Joseph Ryan and Charles Vallow. Archibald asks if Lori Daybell has ever met Colby's two kids. Colby says she met his oldest child but not the youngest.

Archibald asks if Colby's childhood with Joe Ryan & Lori was good or bad. Colby responds, "Bad." Archibald asks if his stepfather abused him. Rob Wood immediately objects and asks for a sidebar w/the judge. Attorneys meeting with the judge as white noise plays in the courtroom.

Judge back on the bench and grants the objection. He tells the jury to ignore the question about abuse. Archibald asks Colby is his mother protected him from Joe Ryan. Colby says yes. Archibald asks if she protected Colby by moving away and divorcing Joe. Colby says yes.

Colby says Charles Vallow had a good relationship with him.

Colby says he had a good relationship with JJ and Tylee. Archibald asks if Tylee had health issues. Colby says she had pancreatitis & often had to go to the hospital. Archibald asks about JJ's special needs and asks if Lori cared for the needs of Colby, Tylee & JJ. Colby says yes

Archibald asks if Colby had depression as a teenager and if he was suicidal. Wood objects to the question and Boyce grants the objection. Archibald asks if Lori helped him when he had thoughts of self-worth. Colby says yes.

Archibald asks, "Did you mother encourage Tylee to do good things with her life?" Colby responds, "I don't know."

Archibald questions Colby about his education and mission to Nampa, Idaho. Colby says his mission lasted six weeks "at the most." Archibald asks if Colby actually made it to Nampa or was just in training. Wood objects to question, Boyce sustains.

Archibald asks Colby is his mother taught him about Jesus. He says yes. Archibald asks if they sang songs about Jesus. Colby says yes - at church. Archibald asks if his mom taught about multiple lives or probations or if he was someone else in another life. Colby says no.

Colby says his mom never taught him about zombies, casting out evil spirits or dark and light scales. When asked about vibrations, Colby says his mom said that they were the same vibration. Archibald asks if his mom ever taught Colby that she was a goddess.

He says no. He says his mom never taught that he should join a new church called The Church of the Firstborn.

Colby was not at home when Charles filed for divorce from Lori or when they reconciled. Colby says his relationship with Alex Cox was "minimal" and describes his uncle as "odd." "He was crude and kind of funny and odd."

Colby says he didn't see Alex a lot until he got married in 2018. Colby moved out of his mom's house when he got married.

Archibald asks about the book Colby wrote since this case started. He says the book is about how God has helped him through his life. Archibald asks about media appearances Colby has made and asks if he was paid for his Netflix documentary. Colby says he was not.

In the docuseries, Colby says his mom changed when she met Chad Daybell. Archibald asks him about this line and Colby says he doesn't remember saying it but he could have.

Archibald asks Colby if he loved his mom. He says yes. Archibald asks if his mom loved him. Colby responds, "I think so."

Archibald: "Who taught you God was good?" Colby: "The church and my mom."

Lori is wiping her eyes with a tissue during this part of Colby's testimony.

Archibald reading parts of Colby's book where he wrote about God helping him through obstacles and hardship. Colby says those statements are accurate. Archibald has no further questions. Wood has more questions for Colby but asked for a five minute recess.

During the break, Lori is smiling while she stands and chats with Archibald and Thomas. Colby remains on the stand. Most people stand to stretch their legs.

Prosecutors are back in the courtroom and Wood will commence with re-direct.

Wood asks Colby if his mom has ever asked him for anything since he moved out of her house. He said the only thing she asked for is to help them move. Wood asks if Lori controls Colby's bank account. He says no.

Colby says at one point, Lori gave him Tylee's debit card so he could buy himself a birthday present.

Colby says his mom never asked him to come to special church meetings or participate in castings. Colby says he learned from the news that his mom had moved in Dec. 2019.

Colby says when he was a teenager, he had a conversation with his mom about her life insurance. Colby says Tylee and JJ were alive but Colby was the only person listed as the beneficiary. Wood has no further questions and Colby Ryan is released from the stand.

Lori watches as Colby Ryan leaves the courtroom.

Wood now asks to admit and play the jail phone Colby and Lori had with each other. Colby is out of the room but he remains under subpoena and could be called back in if the defense has questions.

"Hi Colby," Lori is heard saying. "Can you hear me? Do you want to talk to me?" Colby responds, "Do you think you can hide to me?" Lori says she isn't hiding but he didn't want to talk to her. "Probably because you murdered my siblings," Colby says.

Boyce interrupts the phone call and asks for a sidebar with attorneys.

Before Boyce stopped the call, we heard Colby tell his mom he had prayed for her and he trusted her. Lori said she didn't do anything. This call was made after the bodies were found buried on Chad Daybell's property.

The white noise is turned off, attorneys are back at their tables and Colby Ryan is being brought back into the courtroom. Boyce says upon hearing the beginning of the call, he wants Colby on the stand as a witness.

The defense may have questions after the call is played so Colby is walking back to the witness stand.

Wood starts the call from the beginning again. Colby says to Lori: "I have prayed for you in my worst moments, I have prayed for my siblings who you swore to me were ok. I thought I could trust you. I thought that you were a completely different person."

She responds, "You've known me your whole life." He says, "I don't know a murderous mother."

Colby to Lori: "It kills me to watch you take the victim's route and say this shouldn't have happened to you when you are telling me that Chad Daybell came into your life and all of a sudden everything changes.

And I'm talking about my spirit feels this. I prayed, I trusted you, I gave you every chance I could past my own limitations of a human being. I pushed back all of everything to try and get to you to help my own mother.

You lied to me specifically to me more times than I can count about this. To know that they're gone and you knew and my phone's being texted by my little sister who is not even alive.

My little brother, who is the sweetest little kid ever...you tell me this is God's will for my whole family including my stepfather to be dead after everything that you'd tried to tell me you can tell me right now that Jesus

Christ, the Savior of the World is on your side? You tell me that with all the conviction of your heart that Jesus Christ is on your side right now. Please." Lori responds, "I can tell you that."

Colby is telling his mother that Jesus will judge his mom and she begins to laugh. He calls her out for laughing and Lori says nobody was there. She says nobody understands and Tylee and JJ know exactly what happened.

"They love me and they are fine and they know the truth and we are the only people that do." Lori says Colby can judge her and the whole world can judge her.

Colby yelling at his mother to tell him that Jesus Christ told her to do these things. "The kids are found buried in your new husband's backyard?!?"

This is a very emotional call. Colby is yelling at his mom and she is pushing back that nobody understands.

Colby tells his mother to explain what is happening. She says she would love to tell him and one day the truth will come out. "My own mom, my siblings, my whole family, my dad - everyone is gone except my mom and you're in jail because of it.

I have prayed to Heavenly Father myself and asked him to help me survive this. Why are you following Chad down the rabbit hole? Why would you follow anyone who is not good? How can you follow someone who cannot lead you to salvation in Jesus?

You can't lie to me anymore. You can't hide anymore."

Colby tells his mom he prays that she will see Jesus Christ and fall into his grace. "I pray every day no matter how mad I am at you, no matter how bad I want to hit your husband in the face with a shovel, I pray for you, I pray for him.

You ripped my heart out, you ripped everyone's heart out. I want to be in Idaho this week. You need to look me in my eye, Mom. Look me in my eye." Colby noted earlier that Lori's camera is turned off and the call ends.

I will play the entire call tonight on "Courtroom Insider" at 7:30 p.m. It is something. The defense and prosecution have no questions about the call and Colby is dismissed from the witness stand.

The jurors remained focused during the playing of the call. Court is taking an early lunch and we will be back at 12:30 p.m. for a new witness.