378 - Zombies, White Camps, and Murder: The Story of Lori Vallow

Dec 11, 2023

Dive into the chaotic world of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, where apocalyptic beliefs intertwine with a chilling narrative of manipulation and murder. Discover how Lori transformed from a devoutly religious woman into a cult figure, championing bizarre ideologies of lightworkers and zombies. Explore the dark dynamics of familial relationships, the eerie rituals they practiced, and the tragic outcomes shrouded in mystery. With a blend of humor and horror, this tale unravels the unsettling layers of their lives and the fatalities that ensued.

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INSIGHT

From Privilege To Radicalization

Lori Vallow transformed from a privileged, churchgoing mother into a manipulative, apocalyptic believer.
Her radicalization shows how charisma and fringe theology can override maternal instincts.

INSIGHT

When Fiction Becomes Prophecy

Chad Daybell built a personal myth mixing NDEs, prophecy, and fiction into perceived truth.
His writings and claims blurred the line between entertainment and dangerous prophecy.

INSIGHT

Language That Dehumanizes

Daybell and followers framed people as 'light' or 'dark' and labeled 'dark' people as zombies to justify violence.
That jargon normalized dehumanization and made murder seem doctrinally defensible.

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I know - this episode is a long one! I tried to cut as much as I could that didn't feel relevant to tell this tale. I really did! There's just so much juicy stuff. So many strange, STRANGE details. Lori evolved, over the course of her adult life, from a manipulative person who was also very religious, into a murderous, manipulative person who became, essentially, the co-leader of a cult when she met her fifth and final husband, Chad Daybell. Chad had, over many years as an LDS author, created a fictional, apocalyptic world that he then later said was actually a real world based on his many prophetic visions of the future. Visions he was able to have thanks largely to two near death experiences. In Chad's vision of the world, there are lightworkers and zombies - angels and demons - continually battling for supremacy as we accelerate quickly into the End Times. And he and Lori were to gather 144,000 of God's most faithful and lead them into battle. And along the way, spells must be cast, zombies must be slayed, and, well, it's all just so insane. Hope you find this episode's subject matter as captivating as I did!

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