They made me into a meme and I don't hate it!
They Made Me Into a Meme
(and I don't hate it)
October 29, 2022
Hello Friends!
Last night's YouTube live was terrific – thanks again to all of you that subscribed and to the 500+ who joined us live. Your response to the new channel has been humbling. I want to thank my moderators, Julie, Michelle, and Brenda. I couldn't do it without them. Finally, thank you to those who generously sent us Super Chats; please know your gifts will go directly to my moderators.
I hope you get as big a laugh from my meme as I did! I do take exception to the "friends not included" part because I love the online friends I've made here. Other than that, it seems pretty accurate to me!
I thought I might take some time in this newsletter to address a few questions I've received in emails and the YouTube chat. So here are a few of them.
If Lori is found incompetent in Idaho, what happens to the Arizona case? Lori has been charged in Arizona with conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. Charles was murdered on July 11, 2019, by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, who claimed at the time that he shot Charles in self-defense. Lori's daughter, Tylee, was present when the incident happened. The Arizona authorities have deferred to the Idaho prosecutions. Usually, in multi-state prosecutions, one state will wait until the prosecutions are complete in the other state. Arizona has an exception to its statute of limitations that tolls a person's time out of the state. Idaho doesn't have such a rule, so bringing Idaho charges first made sense. Idaho's statute of limitations on felonies is five years, and Arizona's is seven years. Like most states, neither Idaho nor Arizona have a statute of limitations on murder. When Idaho pauses its case because of Lori's incompetence, it doesn't affect the Arizona case. If Lori is incompetent for an extended period, or the Idaho court determines she will not regain competence in a reasonable time, Arizona would probably seek its own evaluation and then decide how to proceed with its charges.
With Alex dead, do you think Prior will go beyond "Alex and Lori did it" to include other pre-Chad folks like Melani/Melanie/Zulema as drivers of these murders? Or do defense attorneys like to keep it simple in cases where only one person other than their client has actually been charged? The defense attorney's job is to offer the most robust defense possible for his client in a cogent, understandable way. Juries can understand even the most complicated case if it's presented properly. If Prior's theory is that Lori and Alex took it too far, I think it will be crucial for Prior to present a timeline of the evolution of Chad and Lori's beliefs to explain how Lori and Alex reached the point where they took a left turn into murder. I think Melanie, Melani, and Zulema must necessarily be part of the narrative.
Could Chad give rights to a story in exchange for services rendered? Could his children write a book and use the proceeds to pay for his defense? Does the Slayer Law/Son of Sam law take effect before conviction? Can Chad sell his story now and keep proceeds? Excellent questions. I've included the statutes for both Arizona and Idaho. Both states only require that the person be accused of a crime. In Idaho, the person must later be convicted. Because the law also covers any representative or assignee of the accused, Chad's children would not be allowed to sell their story and pay Chad's legal bills with the money.
Here is the Arizona Statute:
A.R.S. § 13-4202 (2012)
§ 13-4202. Void contracts; crime victim accounts; establishment; notice to victims; exceptions; civil liability; definition
A. Every contract whether written or oral, express or implied, with an accused with respect to the reenactment, description or depiction of a crime by movie, book, article, radio or television presentation, internet or on-line presentation or depiction, live entertainment or expression of thoughts, feelings, opinions or emotions is contrary to public policy and void unless the contract provides for payment to the commission of any monies which would be paid to the accused for such information or rights.
Here is the Idaho law:
Idaho Code § 19-5301 (2000)
§ 19-5301. Distribution of moneys received as a result of the commission of crime
(1) Every person, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other legal entity contracting with any person or the representative or assignee of any person, accused of a crime in this state, with respect to the reenactment of such crime, by way of a movie, book, magazine article, radio or television presentation, live entertainment of any kind, or from the expression of such person's thoughts, feelings, opinions or emotions regarding such crime, shall pay over to the state treasurer any moneys which would otherwise, by terms of such contract, be owing to the person so convicted or his representatives. The state treasurer shall deposit such moneys in an escrow account for the benefit of and payable to any victim of crimes committed by such person, provided that such person is eventually convicted of the crime or is acquitted on the ground of mental disease or defect excluding responsibility and provided further that such victim, or his personal representative, within five (5) years of the date the escrow account has been established, brings a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction and recovers a money judgment against such person or his representatives.
What are you most looking forward to finding out in trial? I've been told by several people close to the case that the evidence we have seen is a fraction of what will come out at trial. So I'm looking forward to seeing what else the prosecution has.
Could you go visit them in jail? I (or anyone else) could only see them in jail if it were approved by their attorney(s).
Do you think defense Attys are chomping at the bit to cross examine Zulema and Melanie Gibb? I sure would be. Melanie Gibb has given so many versions of her story that I think impeaching her will be easy. Her sworn testimony is already on the record in Chad's preliminary hearing. Confronting her with her off-the-record statements that call that testimony into question would be downright fun.
Would a delayed trial also delay others getting charged if they are witnesses? Probably. Whether they have immunity agreements or something less formal, prosecutors will want to know if they live up to their agreements before proceeding. For example, Melani Pawlowski was recently charged with identity theft for getting into her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux's bank account, after they were divorced, and her name should have been removed from the account. I suspect the prosecutors made a deal to drop the charges and not refile them as long as she testified truthfully.
Good Lori, is it possible that John Prior/Jim Archibald might plead Chad/Lori guilty to a lesser charge both because of the mountain of evidence against them and also to avoid the death penalty? I think defense attorneys have to look at every side of a case and advise their clients accordingly. The defense attorney's job is to get the best outcome for their client, and surely life in prison without parole is better than the death penalty. I've seen many cases settle the morning of trial; still, I think if there were going to be a plea deal, it would have happened by now. But, of course, plea negotiations are confidential, so we may never know.
Hey Good Lori, any chance for another Boise meet up? My 89 yr old father and 85 yr old mother want to meet you! I would LOVE to do another Boise meetup! I love meeting up individually for coffee or lunch with my Boise peeps too. Email me, and we can make a date.
And finally, this gem from @leehere: yep chud chunder will say , 'but your honor , she played with my dangly bits how could i resist sir '? jezebel got me , not my fault
Free Wrist bands!
Send your self-addressed stamped envelope to
Lori Hellis
104 E. Fairview Ave. #381
Meridian, ID 83642
