Path to Prison
Lori earned the “Doomsday Mom” moniker because of her fixation with preparing for the end of the world, which started to appear after she discovered the works of her future husband, Chad; he wrote multiple fictional books about the subject. Lori and Chad were also both members of the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints at the time, though Chad’s beliefs strayed outside Mormon teachings. Nevertheless, they were beliefs that enthralled Lori. The couple met for the first time in 2018 and almost immediately became close.
In 2019, Lori’s then-husband Charles told police that Lori believed she was a “god” preparing for the end of days and that she threatened to murder him. He filed for divorce and said he feared for his and her children’s safety.
Lori and Chad’s string of murders began when Charles was fatally shot by Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, on July 11, 2019. Authorities believe Cox was acting on behalf of Lori and Chad.
Then, Tylee, 16, and JJ, 7, disappeared on September 9 and 23, 2019, respectively. The next month, Lori’s then-nephew-in-law Boudreaux, who was vocal about his disapproval of Lori and Chad’s apocalyptic beliefs, survived a murder attempt in Arizona. Finally, on October 19, Chad’s then-wife Tammy was found dead. She was initially thought to have died from natural causes, but after her remains were exhumed, an autopsy determined she was killed by asphyxiation in a homicide.
At Lori’s 2023 trial, prosecutors argued that the murders were committed either in accordance with her and Chad’s beliefs that some people were possessed by evil deities or to eliminate “obstacles” in their path to a relationship. Judge Steven Boyce sentenced Lori to multiple fixed life terms in prison with no possibility of parole. "You chose the most evil and destructive path possible," despite having a wealth of less harmful options, Boyce told her.
Life in Lockup
Before she was convicted and transferred to PWCC, Lori spent time at the Estrella Jail in Maricopa County, Arizona. The jail houses women from all classification levels, minimum to maximum security. Lori was housed in administrative restrictive housing, also known as solitary confinement. She spent 23 hours a day inside an 11.5-feet by 7.5-feet cell, with one hour per day in a room where she had access to phone and video visitations. After her conviction, Lori was transferred to a state-run prison, PWCC.
The prison has a capacity to hold 331 women from all security levels and also operates as a diagnostic center. PWCC has vocational work projects, education and programming for those who will eventually be released. The in-facility employment includes cleaning, sewing and working in the kitchen. It’s the largest prison facility for women in the state and houses Idaho’s only woman on death row. Visitors have to submit applications through the state for approval.
PWCC Warden Janell Clement told East Idaho News in 2023 that she cannot comment on specific residents, but that when the women come through intake, they are first given clothes.
“They’ll be met by a case manager and have a nursing assessment,” Clement added. “From there, they will be moved down to a housing unit. Over the next 14 days to four weeks, they’ll be given different assessments through dental, medical, mental health and case management needs, to assess what they may need during their stay.”
Clement said in the 2023 interview that Lori was the most well-known person at the prison but is treated like anyone else.
“Everyone’s treated fairly and respectfully, and their confidentiality is maintained," she said. "They’re going to go through that same process as anyone else.”
