Lori Vallow Daybell is on trial in Maricopa County, Arizona, on one charge of conspiracy to commit the murder of Brandon Boudreaux, her former nephew-in-law. Nate Eaton is live in the courtroom with updates. Please excuse any typos. Times listed below are in Mountain Standard Time, so they are an hour behind Idaho. (Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time.) The most recent updates are at the top.
10:33 a.m.
Treena displays a map that shows how far a cell phone tower could provide coverage. It’s an example with blue dots scattered across the Phoenix area. Generally the more people in an area, the more cell phone towers.
10:30 a.m.
Ballance evaluated information from Sept. 23, 2019 through Oct. 3, 2019. The presentation shows how Ballance analyzed the data and an explanation of how he obtained the cell phone records.
10:26 a.m.
Treena moves to admit a presentation prepared by Ballance showing the location history of the devices, Google account.
10:25 a.m.
Ballance was asked to analyze the TracFone and other phones belonging to Lori and Alex. He was also asked to analyze the Google location history data associated with the homerjmaximus account.
10:24 a.m.
Ballance talks about his continuing education and certification courses that keep him up to date in cellular technology. He has previously testified in trials, including Chad and Lori’s Idaho trials.
10:21 a.m.
Ballance works on the CAST team – Cellular Analysis Survey Team. He has been working in the unit since 2019. He also worked on cell phone records while working for the US Marshals. He describes the training he’s been involved in.
10:18 a.m.
Jurors are in their seats. Nicholas Ballance is sworn in. He takes a seat on the witness stand. Treena asks him to introduce himself to the jury. Ballance is a special agent with the FBI and is assigned to the Salt Lake City division. He works out of Boise.
10:17 a.m.
Judge Justin Beresky is on the bench. Treena reminds the judge about not showing the face of the witness. Judge reminds media to focus on another part of the courtroom or blur the face of the witness. Lori wants to include a letter from witness Tammy Lachcik that she is unable to testify for appellate reasons.
10:15 a.m.
Lori Vallow Daybell was escorted into the courtroom a few minutes ago. She is chatting with Hicks and going through her paperwork.
10:12 a.m.
The judge has ordered the media not to show the face of the final witness. He is a special agent with the FBI and does undercover work. You will be able to hear his voice, but his face will not be shown on the video feed.
10:10 a.m.
Pamela Hicks and Robert Abernethy, Lori’s advisory attorneys, just walked in the courtroom. Rexburg Lt. Ray Hermosillo just walked in and will be watching proceedings from the gallery today.
10:06 a.m.
A couple of empty seats in the courtroom this morning. Gilbert Det. Ryan Pillar just walked in. He is seated next to Treena Kay and her paralegal.
10:02 a.m.
Brandon Boudreaux is here with his wife. Maricopa County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Treena Kay is chatting with them. Other family members and friends are here, including Kay Woodcock.
9:56 a.m.
Lori has filed a few motions over the past few days. On Monday, she filed a motion calling for the recusal of Chief Judge Jennifer Green. Green is the judge who denied Lori’s motion when she called for the recusal of Judge Justin Beresky (three times).
Daybell also filed a motion requesting a hearing to “dismiss abuse of discretion.”
“Because the motions allege that this Division cannot be fair, the motions will be assigned to the Associate Presiding Criminal Judge,” Green wrote.
Judge Kevin Wein was assigned the motions and he denied them both yesterday.
“Rule 10.1(b)(1) provides that a party ‘may not file a motion after a hearing or trial begins.’ A jury was empaneled in the 2022 matter on June 4, 2025. Trial in the 2021 matter has concluded. These motions, therefore, are untimely. For these reasons, Defendant’s request to remove Judges Green and Beresky for cause is DENIED,” Wein wrote.
9:50 a.m.
Back in the courtroom on what could be the last day of Lori Vallow Daybell’s trial. Prosecutor Treena Kay said yesterday she will call her final witness, FBI analyst Nicholas Ballance, and then rest. It will then be Lori Vallow Daybell’s turn to put on a defense if she chooses. If not, she will rest and then the jury will finalize jury instructions. Instructions and closing arguments could happen as early as this afternoon or tomorrow.
