CLUE IN CASE
A CELL phone belonging to the missing daughter of “cult mom” Lori Vallow was found in Hawaii — months after the teen and her brother were last seen, according to a new report.
Tylee Ryan’s phone was apparently discovered in Hawaii, where cops found Lori and her husband, Chad Daybell, living for weeks as authorities searched for Tylee, 17, and JJ Vallow, seven.
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CBS News reports police in Idaho, where the family is from, found the phone — which was apparently used several times after the children disappeared in September.
In October of last year, two Venmo payments were made from Tylee’s cell phone to a family member, per the report, which cited a source.
Additionally, whoever was using the teen’s cell phone texted a friend: “hi. miss you guys too ...luv ya.”
The friend, who didn't want to be identified said: " [Tylee usually] spelled out her words for the most part...plus, she would have texted more if I reached out.”
Officials say the cell phone was found after items belonging to Tylee and JJ were found abandoned in a storage facility in Idaho.
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Lori had rented the unit for $53 a month near her home in Rexburg on October 1.
Footage recently obtained by East Idaho News shows Lori and a man, believed to be her brother Alex Cox, dropped off gun cases and bikes at the unit at the end of November.
Surveillance cameras show her and the man visited nine times in October and once in November.
Lori Vallow abandoned a storage unit in Rexburg full of children’s items before leaving Idaho for Hawaii
The mother and a man were seen on camera on November 24. Two days later, cops went to her home for a welfare check on JJ.
On November 27, cops obtained a search warrant for the unit.
Officers found bikes, a scooter, winter clothing, sports equipment and an assortment of photos of JJ and Tylee in the unit.
The family seemed to be normal until recent years, during which a series of bizarre twists and turns — including two dead spouses and rumors of a “cult” — appeared.
The first death is that of Lori’s fourth husband and JJ's adoptive father Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 10.
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Police initially determined that Alex Cox acted in self-defense.
On December 12, Alex Cox was found dead in Gilbert, Arizona.
The 51-year-old's death is now under investigation as police wait for an autopsy to determine the cause.
In November, Lori and Chad said Tylee and JJ were in Arizona visiting family.
But when police figured out that was a lie, Lori “completely refused” to help them and fled the state with Chad.
They have both issued a statement through their lawyer Sean Bartholick denying the accusations.
Chad and Lori Daybell confronted by reporter in Hawaii as children still missing
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"We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor,” the statement read.
Chad is a member of the Latter Day Saints Church and Lori's family members have accused them of being in a doomsday "cult."
Lori’s sister-in-law, Kay Woodstock, says Lori is part of a cult called Preparing a People, which says its mission is to “help prepare the people of this earth for the second coming of Jesus Christ.”
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