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“Blindsided”: Brandon Boudreaux Breaks His Silence on Lori Vallow Daybell Murder Plot on Dateline NBC October 23 2026 Episode

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Dateline NBC returns on Friday, October 23, 2026, with “Blindsided,” a two-hour investigation into the Lori Vallow Daybell murder case and the attempted killing of Brandon Boudreaux, whose family connections placed him at the centre of one of America’s most disturbing criminal investigations.

Correspondent Keith Morrison interviews Boudreaux in his first network television interview, examining the October 2019 shooting outside his Arizona home, the collapse of his marriage to Lori Vallow Daybell’s niece and the religious beliefs that prosecutors said helped motivate a series of murders across Arizona and Idaho.

The episode revisits the deaths of Charles Vallow, Lori’s two children, Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and Chad Daybell’s wife, Tammy. It also examines the evidence that led to Lori’s convictions in three separate trials and the questions that remain surrounding the attempted murder of Boudreaux.

Boudreaux survived when a gunman fired at him from a Jeep outside his home in Gilbert, Arizona. Investigators identified Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, as the suspected shooter and prosecutors established that Lori had conspired with him to carry out the attack. The case culminated in June 2025, when an Arizona jury convicted Lori of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Who Is Brandon Boudreaux and How Was He Connected to Lori Vallow Daybell?

Brandon Boudreaux was married to Melani Pawlowski, the daughter of Lori Vallow Daybell’s sister, Stacey Cox Cope. Their marriage and shared children connected Brandon to the extended Cox family, whose members became involved in the criminal investigations surrounding Lori and Chad Daybell.

Brandon and Melani had four children together. Their relationship deteriorated during 2019 as Melani became involved with Lori and the religious teachings associated with Chad Daybell, an Idaho author who wrote books about spiritual experiences, prophecy and the end of the world.

Boudreaux testified that his wife began discussing preparations for an approaching apocalypse, including storing food and other supplies. He became concerned about her increasing involvement with Lori’s religious circle and the changes he observed in their marriage.

The couple separated and became involved in divorce and child custody proceedings. Their disputes unfolded during the same period that Lori’s marriage to Charles Vallow was collapsing, creating overlapping family conflicts that would become central to the subsequent murder investigations.

How Did Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell’s Religious Beliefs Develop?

Lori Vallow became involved with Chad Daybell, an author whose books explored near-death experiences, spiritual visions and predictions concerning the end of the world. Their relationship developed through religious gatherings and shared beliefs about an approaching period of destruction.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Lori and Chad adopted a belief system in which certain people were described as possessed by evil spirits or classified as spiritually dark. Witnesses testified that the couple discussed individuals becoming zombies after their original spirits had left their bodies.

Those beliefs became central to the prosecution’s explanation of the murders. Investigators argued that Lori and Chad used religious language to justify eliminating people they regarded as obstacles to their relationship, financial interests or plans for the future.

Charles Vallow became alarmed by Lori’s statements and behaviour. In divorce filings and conversations with police, he described her claims about previous lives, spiritual identities and divine missions. He also reported that she had threatened his life.

The couple’s religious claims were not accepted by the courts as justification for their actions. Prosecutors argued that the beliefs provided a framework through which Lori and her associates rationalised violence against members of their own families.

What Happened to Charles Vallow in July 2019?

Charles Vallow, Lori’s fourth husband, was shot and killed on July 11, 2019, at a home in Chandler, Arizona. He had arrived to collect their adopted son, J.J., when a confrontation developed involving Lori, her daughter Tylee Ryan and Lori’s brother Alex Cox.

According to accounts provided to police, an argument began inside the house. Tylee told investigators that she confronted Charles with a baseball bat, which he took from her. Alex Cox claimed Charles then threatened him with the bat, prompting him to fire his gun in self-defence.

Cox shot Charles twice, killing him. Police initially treated the incident as a potential self-defence shooting, and Cox was not charged before his death later that year.

Investigators questioned the accounts provided by Lori and Cox as more evidence emerged. Authorities noted a delay of more than 40 minutes before a 911 call was placed, while subsequent witness testimony described Lori’s hostility towards Charles in the months preceding his death.

Charles had filed for divorce in February 2019. He expressed concerns about Lori’s mental state and religious beliefs, including claims that she believed he had been replaced by an evil spirit.

Prosecutors later argued that Lori wanted Charles killed so she could obtain money from his $1 million life insurance policy and pursue a relationship with Chad Daybell. The plan encountered a financial obstacle because Charles had changed the beneficiary of his policy to his sister, Kay Woodcock, before his death.

Why Did Brandon Boudreaux Become a Target?

Brandon Boudreaux became concerned about Charles Vallow’s death and the circumstances surrounding the shooting. He knew Charles through the extended family and had become aware of tensions involving Lori, Alex Cox and the religious group surrounding Chad Daybell.

Prosecutors argued that Brandon’s suspicions, combined with his divorce and custody dispute with Melani, made him a target. His continued involvement in family matters and concerns about the group’s conduct placed him in conflict with people close to Lori.

During the Arizona trial, jurors heard evidence that Lori and Alex Cox communicated about Brandon before the shooting. Prosecutors presented phone records, witness testimony and evidence concerning a vehicle associated with Lori’s family.

The state alleged that Lori and Cox planned the attack and took steps to conceal Cox’s involvement. Those preparations included acquiring a prepaid phone and creating an account of Cox’s whereabouts intended to distance him from the crime scene.

Brandon’s relationship with Melani formed part of the background to the case, but Lori was the person prosecuted and convicted of conspiring to kill him. The jury’s verdict established her criminal responsibility for the conspiracy.

The October 2, 2019 Shooting Outside Brandon Boudreaux’s Home

On October 2, 2019, Brandon Boudreaux was returning to his home in Gilbert, Arizona, when a gunman fired at him from a Jeep parked near the property. The shot came as Brandon approached his home in his vehicle.

The bullet missed Brandon but struck his vehicle and shattered a window. He escaped without being hit, although the incident left him fearing that someone had attempted to kill him.

Brandon recognised the Jeep as a vehicle associated with Lori Vallow’s family. Investigators examined the vehicle’s connections to Lori and Alex Cox, as well as communications and travel records surrounding the attack.

Prosecutors identified Cox as the gunman. Evidence presented at trial connected him to the Jeep and established that Lori had provided access to the vehicle. The prosecution also described efforts to make Cox appear to have been in Idaho rather than Arizona when the shooting occurred.

The attack happened less than three months after Charles Vallow’s killing. Both incidents involved Alex Cox, whose actions became central to the broader investigation into Lori’s family.

For Brandon, surviving the shooting meant confronting the possibility that members of his extended family were involved in a plot against his life. He later described the fear and disruption that followed as he sought to protect himself and his children.

What Happened to Alex Cox?

Alex Cox was Lori Vallow Daybell’s brother and a central figure in the investigations into Charles Vallow’s death and the attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux. He admitted shooting Charles in July 2019 but claimed that he had acted in self-defence.

Investigators connected Cox to the October 2019 attack on Brandon through vehicle evidence, communications and his movements around the time of the shooting. Prosecutors later alleged that he acted in concert with Lori in both cases.

Cox died on December 12, 2019, in Arizona. His death occurred during the period when authorities were investigating the disappearance of Lori’s children and examining the circumstances surrounding other deaths connected to the family.

His death was attributed to natural causes involving a blood clot in his lungs. Because Cox died before prosecutors brought charges over Brandon’s shooting, he never stood trial for that attack.

The absence of a trial against Cox did not prevent prosecutors from presenting evidence about his conduct during Lori’s Arizona proceedings. The state relied on his alleged participation to establish the conspiracy involving Lori.

The Disappearance of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow

The criminal investigation expanded after Lori’s children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua “J.J.” Vallow, disappeared in September 2019. Their disappearance became a national missing-person case and drew scrutiny to Lori’s movements between Arizona, Idaho and Hawaii.

Tylee was last seen in September 2019 during a visit to Yellowstone National Park with Lori, J.J. and Alex Cox. J.J. was last seen later that month in Rexburg, Idaho, where Lori had moved with her children.

Family members became concerned when they could not contact the children. J.J.’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, pressed authorities for information about his whereabouts, while investigators encountered conflicting explanations about where the children were living.

Police conducting a welfare check in November 2019 were unable to locate J.J. Lori and Chad left Idaho for Hawaii as investigators continued searching for the children.

In February 2020, Lori was arrested in Hawaii after failing to comply with a court order requiring her to produce the children. She was extradited to Idaho to face charges connected with their disappearance.

On June 9, 2020, investigators searching Chad Daybell’s property in Fremont County, Idaho, discovered the remains of Tylee and J.J. Their bodies had been buried on the property, confirming that the missing-person investigation involved two homicides.

The Death of Tammy Daybell and Lori’s Marriage to Chad

Tammy Daybell, Chad’s wife of nearly three decades and the mother of their five children, died at the couple’s Idaho home on October 19, 2019. Her death was initially attributed to natural causes.

Tammy had reported an incident earlier that month in which a masked person appeared to point what she believed was a paintball gun at her outside the family home. Investigators later examined that incident as part of the broader criminal case.

Chad married Lori in Hawaii on November 5, 2019, just 17 days after Tammy’s death. Their marriage occurred while Lori’s children were missing and while concerns about the circumstances of Charles Vallow’s death continued to grow.

Authorities exhumed Tammy’s body in December 2019 for further examination. The investigation led to homicide charges against Lori and Chad, with prosecutors alleging that Tammy had been murdered as part of the couple’s plan to marry.

At trial, prosecutors presented evidence concerning the couple’s relationship, communications, financial interests and religious claims. They argued that the deaths of Charles, Tammy, Tylee and J.J. were connected through the defendants’ efforts to remove obstacles and obtain financial benefits.

Lori Vallow Daybell’s Idaho Murder Trial and Convictions

Lori Vallow Daybell stood trial in Idaho in 2023 on charges connected with the deaths of her children and Tammy Daybell. The proceedings brought together years of investigative evidence, witness testimony and records concerning the relationships between Lori, Chad and Alex Cox.

Prosecutors alleged that Lori participated in a conspiracy involving the murders of Tylee and J.J. and the killing of Tammy. The trial examined the children’s final known movements, the discovery of their remains and communications between members of the group.

On May 12, 2023, an Idaho jury found Lori guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges relating to Tylee and J.J., as well as conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in Tammy’s death. She was also convicted of grand theft involving Social Security benefits.

In July 2023, Lori received multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. The sentence ensured that she would remain imprisoned regardless of the outcome of the separate Arizona prosecutions.

The Idaho verdict established her criminal responsibility for the murders of her children and her participation in the conspiracy to kill Tammy. The state did not seek the death penalty against her.

Chad Daybell’s Trial and Death Sentence

Chad Daybell faced a separate Idaho trial in 2024. Prosecutors charged him with the murders of Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow and Tammy Daybell, along with conspiracy and financial offences.

The prosecution presented evidence about Chad’s religious teachings, his relationship with Lori, the burial of the children on his property and the circumstances of Tammy’s death. Witnesses described the couple’s beliefs about possession and spiritual darkness.

On May 30, 2024, a jury convicted Chad of first-degree murder in all three deaths, conspiracy charges and insurance fraud. The convictions established his role in the killings that had become central to the national investigation.

The jury recommended the death penalty, and Chad was sentenced to death in June 2024. His case followed a different sentencing outcome from Lori’s, although both were convicted in connection with the same series of killings.

Chad’s death sentence remains subject to the legal processes governing capital cases, including appeals and post-conviction review.

Lori Vallow Daybell’s Arizona Trial Over Charles Vallow’s Murder

After her Idaho convictions, Lori faced prosecution in Arizona for conspiring to murder Charles Vallow. The case focused on the events preceding his July 2019 death and the alleged agreement between Lori and Alex Cox.

Lori chose to represent herself during the Arizona proceedings despite having no formal legal training. She questioned witnesses and presented arguments while prosecutors relied on evidence concerning her marriage, religious beliefs and communications with Cox.

The state argued that Lori wanted Charles killed to obtain financial benefits and pursue her relationship with Chad Daybell. Prosecutors presented evidence that Charles had feared for his safety and had reported Lori’s threats before his death.

In April 2025, an Arizona jury convicted Lori of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in Charles’s death. The verdict rejected her defence and established that she had participated in a criminal agreement leading to the killing.

The conviction added to the life sentences imposed in Idaho and resolved one of the outstanding criminal cases stemming from the events of 2019.

The June 2025 Trial Over the Attempted Murder of Brandon Boudreaux

Lori faced a second Arizona jury in 2025 over the attempted killing of Brandon Boudreaux. The prosecution alleged that she conspired with Alex Cox to murder Brandon during the period surrounding his separation from Melani Pawlowski.

Brandon testified about the breakdown of his marriage, his concerns about Lori’s influence and the shooting outside his home. His testimony provided the jury with an account of the family relationships and events that preceded the attack.

Prosecutors introduced evidence connecting the Jeep used in the shooting to Lori and Cox. They also examined phone records, travel information and the purchase of a prepaid phone associated with preparations for the attack.

The state argued that Lori and Cox attempted to establish an alibi suggesting that Cox was in Idaho when the shooting took place. The prosecution presented these actions as evidence of planning and an attempt to avoid detection.

Lori represented herself and challenged the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence. The trial focused on whether she had entered into an agreement to kill Brandon, rather than whether she had fired the weapon herself.

On June 12, 2025, the jury found Lori guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The verdict established her responsibility for the plot against Brandon, whose survival had allowed him to testify about the shooting and its consequences.

What Sentence Did Lori Vallow Daybell Receive in Arizona?

On July 25, 2025, Lori Vallow Daybell appeared before Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Justin Beresky for sentencing on the two Arizona conspiracy convictions.

The court imposed two additional life sentences for conspiring to murder Charles Vallow and Brandon Boudreaux. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively to the life sentences she was serving in Idaho.

Judge Beresky criticised Lori’s conduct and rejected her claims that she had not received fair trials. He told her that she had shown a disregard for human life and should never be released from prison.

Lori maintained that she was not responsible for the crimes. In her remarks to the court, she complained about the legal proceedings and conditions of confinement rather than acknowledging the jury’s findings.

The sentencing hearing included statements from relatives of the victims, including Lori’s surviving son, Colby Ryan, and Charles Vallow’s brother, Gerry Vallow.

Their statements described the loss of family members, the consequences of the murders and the damage caused by the events that began in 2019. The Arizona sentences ensured that Lori faced punishment for crimes beyond those prosecuted in Idaho.

Brandon Boudreaux Describes the Impact of the Shooting

Brandon Boudreaux addressed the court during Lori’s July 2025 sentencing hearing, describing the effect of the attempted murder on his life and family.

He told the judge that the attack had caused fear and trauma. His sisters also spoke about the consequences, explaining that Brandon went into hiding with his children after the shooting because he feared another attempt on his life.

The attack occurred during a period of divorce and custody proceedings, adding a threat of violence to an existing family dispute. Brandon had to consider his own safety and the protection of his children while investigators examined the criminal activity surrounding Lori’s family.

During his statement, Brandon said he had chosen to forgive Lori for his own wellbeing and his responsibilities as a father. He distinguished that decision from the question of whether she should ever regain her freedom.

He told the court that he would not feel safe if Lori were released from prison. Following sentencing, he expressed gratitude for the outcome of the criminal proceedings and the work of investigators and prosecutors.

His account forms the centre of the October 2026 Dateline episode, providing a perspective from someone who survived an attack connected to the wider series of murders.

What Happened to Melani Pawlowski?

Melani Pawlowski, Lori’s niece and Brandon Boudreaux’s former wife, became part of the investigation through her relationship with Lori and her involvement in the family’s religious circle.

During the period preceding Brandon’s shooting, Melani attended religious meetings with Lori and discussed preparations for an anticipated apocalypse. Brandon testified that her involvement with the group contributed to the deterioration of their marriage.

Their separation and custody disputes became part of the background examined during Lori’s conspiracy trial. Prosecutors argued that the family conflict helped explain why Brandon became a target.

Melani’s relationship with Lori and the circumstances surrounding her marriage were explored through witness testimony and evidence presented during the proceedings. However, the Arizona conviction for conspiring to kill Brandon was entered against Lori, not Melani.

The distinction is significant because the evidence concerning Melani’s beliefs and relationship with Brandon did not amount to a criminal conviction against her for the shooting.

Why Does the Investigation Into Brandon Boudreaux’s Shooting Remain Open?

Although Lori Vallow Daybell was convicted of conspiring to murder Brandon Boudreaux, Gilbert Police have confirmed that their investigation into the October 2019 shooting remains active.

The confirmation is among the developments examined in Dateline NBC: Blindsided. The programme revisits the evidence surrounding the attack and the relationships between the people connected to Lori’s family.

Alex Cox, whom prosecutors identified as the gunman, died in December 2019 and could not stand trial. His death left investigators without the opportunity to prosecute or question him through criminal proceedings concerning Brandon’s shooting.

The conviction against Lori resolved her criminal liability for the conspiracy, but an open investigation allows authorities to examine evidence and determine whether further action is warranted.

An active investigation does not establish that another person committed a crime or that additional charges will follow. The confirmed legal outcome remains Lori’s June 2025 conspiracy conviction and the life sentence imposed the following month.

Keith Morrison Revisits the Lori Vallow Daybell Case in Dateline Blindsided

Keith Morrison has covered the Lori Vallow Daybell investigation through previous Dateline reports examining the missing children, the deaths connected to the family and the criminal cases against Lori and Chad.

“Blindsided” shifts the focus to Brandon Boudreaux, whose experience provides an account of the events unfolding within Lori’s extended family before the full scope of the murders became known.

The two-hour episode features Morrison’s interview with Brandon, including his relationship with Charles Vallow, the warnings and concerns that preceded the shooting and the effect of the attack on his family.

The programme also features Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and prosecutor Rob Wood, who provide perspectives on the investigations, evidence and criminal proceedings.

Their contributions place Brandon’s experience within the wider case, from Charles Vallow’s death in July 2019 through the discovery of the children’s remains and the convictions obtained in Idaho and Arizona.

The episode examines how a family conflict involving divorce, custody and religious beliefs became connected to multiple murders and an attempted killing across two states.

Where Is Lori Vallow Daybell Now and What Was the Final Outcome?

Lori Vallow Daybell is serving life sentences following her convictions in Idaho and Arizona. The Idaho case resulted in convictions connected with the murders of her children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, and the conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell.

The Arizona proceedings produced two further convictions for conspiring to murder Charles Vallow and Brandon Boudreaux. The court imposed two additional life sentences in July 2025, consecutive to those imposed in Idaho.

Chad Daybell was convicted of murdering Tammy, Tylee and J.J. and received a death sentence in 2024. Alex Cox, identified by prosecutors as the person who shot Charles and attempted to kill Brandon, died in December 2019 before he could face prosecution.

Brandon survived the October 2019 shooting and later testified against Lori. His evidence contributed to the prosecution that established her responsibility for the conspiracy to kill him.

The cases resulted in multiple murder and conspiracy convictions, life sentences for Lori and a death sentence for Chad. The investigation into Brandon’s shooting remains active, leaving the possibility of further investigative developments without changing the verdicts already reached.

When Is Dateline NBC: Blindsided Airing?

Dateline NBC: Blindsided airs on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on NBC. The all-new two-hour investigation is reported by Keith Morrison and features Brandon Boudreaux’s first network television interview.

The episode examines the attempt on Brandon’s life, the family relationships surrounding Lori Vallow Daybell and the criminal investigations that led to her convictions. It also revisits the murders of Charles Vallow, Tylee Ryan, J.J. Vallow and Tammy Daybell.

Viewers can watch the programme on NBC, with streaming availability expected through Peacock following the broadcast.

“Blindsided” returns to a case that resulted in five deaths connected to the wider investigation, an attempted murder and criminal proceedings spanning several years. Through Brandon Boudreaux’s account, the episode examines the consequences for a surviving victim and the families affected by Lori Vallow Daybell’s crimes.

The investigation also considers the aftermath for Carpenter’s relatives and his young daughter, whose life remains connected to both families after the murder and criminal proceedings.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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