'She's got an end game': Grandma of 2 missing kids says mom missed deadline to show kids

The first words that came to Kay Woodcock's mind when asked Thursday what she'd say to the mother of her two missing grandchildren were simple: "Show me the kids, show me the kids, show me the kids."

Those same words have been repeated by people across the nation since the disappearance of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, was brought to the public's attention late last year. Last seen on Sept. 23 in Rexburg, Idaho, the children have since been tied to investigations in Arizona, which was their home at one point. 

Their mother, Lori Vallow, and her new husband, Chad Daybell, are not cooperating with authorities as they investigate the children's disappearance. And despite a court-ordered deadline issued to Lori Vallow over the weekend, they were not brought to Rexburg on Thursday, resuming a nationwide manhunt. 

The couple was recently found in Hawaii, where Lori Vallow was served on Jan. 25 with a legal document ordering her "to physically produce" the children to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare or Rexburg Police Department in Idaho within five days. The children were not with her at the time.

Kay Woodcock, who is Joshua's biological grandmother, said on Thursday in a press conference livestreamed by the East Idaho News that Lori Vallow never showed up in Rexburg with the children. Now, Lori Vallow could be subject to civil or criminal contempt of court, according to officials. 

"I'm not at all surprised of that. Lori's not going to make this easy," Woodcock said. "She's got an end game in her head, although this is not a game, but obviously she thinks it is."

What happens next?

Woodcock said she feels less optimistic about the children's whereabouts after Thursday but "won't accept the worst-case scenario" until there's proof. 

She claimed to know Lori Vallow doesn't have the children but hopes they are with family who is caring for them. She also claimed to know Lori Vallow was still in Hawaii and "probably sitting on a beach somewhere while we're sitting here wondering where the kids are."

Woodcock and her husband, Larry Woodcock, have offered a $20,000 reward for information about the children's whereabouts. 

"I pray there's an extraditable warrant issued and they bring her in front of the judge," Woodcock said about Lori. "It seems the next steps is in the judge's hands."

"I can't say for sure what's going to happen next, other than, I hope it's something that's going to get her attention because I'd love to know where those kids are and I think all of America wants to know where they are," said Woodcock.

The Rexburg Police Department and the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office in Idaho announced in a press release Jan. 27 that it filed a child protection action on behalf of Joshua and Tylee. As a part of that action, Lori Vallow was ordered to produce the children by Jan. 30 or risk being held in civil or criminal contempt of court, the press release said. 

Officials announced in a separate press release on Wednesday that all other documents, hearings and court filings related to the children's protection action are sealed and confidential. Therefore, they can no longer comment on the case, the press release said. 

Rexburg police Assistant Chief Gary Hagen told The Arizona Republic on Thursday that it had no further information to release about the case.

The Madison County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment. 

A spokesperson for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare did not immediately respond to The Republic's request for comment Thursday. 

"They're not gonna let the grass grow under their feet with this, they're going to keep this moving," Woodcock said of authorities searching for her grandchildren. 

Sean Bartholick, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell's lawyer, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A woman who answered the phone at Rigby, Andrus & Rigby Law in Idaho told The Republic on Thursday that he had been out of town all week.

Kids' disappearance follows string of deaths

Lori Vallow adopted Joshua with her former husband, Charles Vallow. Larry and Kay Woodcock are Joshua's biological grandparents

Months after starting and then dismissing divorce proceedings, Charles was shot and killed last July in Chandler by Lori Vallow's brother, Alex Cox. 

Cox, who claimed self-defense, also died last December in Gilbert of unknown causes. Both deaths are still under investigation, officials said. 

Charles is Lori Vallow's second husband to die in the past two years. Joseph Ryan died of an apparent heart attack in 2018 in Gilbert, Fox 10 reported. Ryan was Tylee's father. 

Lori Vallow married Chad Daybell weeks after the death of Chad's wife, Tammy Daybell, 49, in October. Authorities initially believed the woman died of natural causes but have since determined it may be suspicious. 

Her remains have since been exhumed, and Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told The Republic on Thursday that her autopsy results were still pending. 

On Oct. 2, one of the children's relatives, Brandon Boudreaux, was shot at in Gilbert while driving home from the gym. The bullet missed his head.

The Jeep that his would-be killer was driving was registered to Charles Vallow.

When asked about Chad Daybell, Woodcock said she didn't know him but that he doesn't realize what he got into and should "run in the other direction." She also referred to Lori Vallow as "a black widow."

Woodcock said she would "absolutely" file for custody of the children after "all that's happened."

Woodcock said she believes Lori abandoned the kids because "she was done with them."

"She was done ... she got them out of her way, just like she did Charles," Woodcock said. "There's too many people around Lori dying for it to be natural, unless she was the most unlucky person in the world." 

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels. 

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