Day 3: Lori Vallow murder conspiracy trial Update

Local News 8

DAY 3 UPDATE:

PHOENIX (KIFI) – Lori Vallow Daybell questioned the woman who met with her late husband the night before he died.

Nancy Jo Hancock testified in the Lori Vallow Daybell’s murder conspiracy trial in Phoenix on Wednesday.

Hancock said she met Charles Vallow on an LDS dating site about a week before he was killed.  She said they met for the first time for dinner the night before he died.  She said they discussed many topics, including meeting JJ the next day, Lori’s and Charles’s expected divorce, and briefly discussing changing his life insurance plan.

They made plans to meet on July 11, 2019, but he never answered after sending texts to him.  It wasn’t until December when she learned of his death on the news.

“I was watching the TV and it was talking about a case and his picture came on the screen, and I…shocked was an understatement,” Hancock responded when asked how she learned about his death.

In Lori’s cross-examination, Lori questioned their relationship and how she met Kay Woodcock and her brother, Adam Cox.

“Can I go back and change how I met your brother? I forgot this until right now. So, on a dating app, your brother’s picture came up on my dating app. And I sent him a message and said. But he had a different name that he used, not Adam. And so, I just sent him a message and said if he was going to use someone else’s pictures, he should probably pick someone different than Adam Cox,” Hancock said.  “That’s how I met him,” she said.

“That’s how you met my brother Adam?,”asked Lori.

“Correct,” said Hancock.

“Do you know what perjury is?” Lori asked.

“Absolutely, Yep,” Hancock answered as the prosecutor said, “Argumentative.” In which the judge agreed.

Prosecutors called Christina Atwood to the stand. She was a friend of Lori when they lived in Arizona.  

Prosecutor Treena Kay asked Atwood about meetings she attended about dark spirits and how Charles may be possessed by one.   

After a meeting on June 9, 2019 meeting, Atwood said she was uncomfortable because of a conversation with Lori and Alex Cox. Cox stated he wished he could kill Charles.  Atwood said Lori mentioned she would crush some of JJ’s medicine and put it in Charles’ drink mix.

She told Lori if anything happened to Charles she would go to police. Lori said they were being silly and meant nothing by it.

Lori Vallow Daybell did not question Atwood for cross-examination. 

The trial will continue on Thursday morning, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time (11:30 a.m. Mountain).

ORIGINAL STORY:

PHOENIX (KIFI) – The Lori Vallow Daybell murder conspiracy trial resumes on Wednesday.

Vallow Daybell is accused of conspiring to kill her then-husband, Charles Vallow.

It’s expected that Vallow Daybell, who is representing herself, will continue to question retired Chandler Police officer, Daniel Coons. On Tuesday, Coons described the shooting scene at Charles Vallow home.

Charles was shot by Lori Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, in July 2019. Cox said he shot Charles in self-defense when he was hit with a baseball bat.

Coons answered questions about a diagram of the scene and evidence found at the scene. Coons confirmed there was no biological material found on the baseball bat Cox claimed Charles hit him with.

Lori Vallow cross-examined Coons asking several questions about the gunshots.

You can watch the trial proceedings above.

Wednesday’s testimony is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Mountain). Per the judge’s order, the live feed must be delayed by 30 minutes.

ABC-7 gets taste of Downtown Restaurant Week

Nicole Ardila

This year, Downtown Restaurant Week has over 20 participating restaurants offering exclusive menus, discounts, and special dishes.

El Paso food lovers are getting the opportunity to explore the diverse dining scene in Downtown El Paso, while enjoying great deals and unique flavors from local eateries.

ABC-7 had the chance to get inside the kitchens of District Coffee Co. and Mac’s to see what their exclusive menu items for the week were.

District Coffee Co. is offering a variety of drinks, from a raspberry horchata latte, lavender tea, to an Irish cream cold brew.

For a list of participating restaurants, visit Downtown El Paso’s website here.

Downtown restaurant week started on April 3 and runs until April 14. 

Downtown’s Main Library celebrates grand reopening

Nicole Ardila

The Main Library in Downtown El Paso is reopening after co-locating with the newly opened Mexican American Cultural Center. 

The historic library that originally opened in 1954, has gone through a grand renovation with all new furniture and upgraded amenities.

It’s newest improvements include an enhanced space for print collections, modern reading nooks, private study rooms and more. 

The building now has a new glass entrance for the updated four-story facility. 

The basement level holds a computer lab and multimedia room, literacy center, main collection space, reading and study rooms and centre future — a new program focused on helping young El Pasoans plan for their future.

On the first floor, visitors will find border heritage and main collections with expanded work areas, renovated meeting room, friends of the library bookstore, quiet room, and café area.

The second floor has a fully upgraded children’s area and teen town. 

New foundation to help El Pasoans struggling with drug addiction

Hillary Floren

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The road to recovery from drug addiction is challenging, and not always easy to navigate. Doug and Terri Rutter know that all too well. Their 30-year old son Rylie died last year from accidental fentanyl poisoning, after years of trying to get sober.

The Rutters created the Rylie V Rutter Foundation. It’s goal is to provide treatment scholarships, sober living, job training and other services to help those striving for recovery.

“Younger men and women will get frustrated and they’ll give up so if you can try to address some of those frustrations ahead of time you’ll have a great success rate also. ,” says Doug Rutter. “If somebody can stay sober for 90 days, the likelihood of them staying sober is increased dramatically.”

The foundation will work hand in hand with Recovery Alliance, an addiction treatment center in El Paso, helping those who may not have the financial means to fight their battle.

“Everything is very expensive.  On our website $30 can buy private therapy, for example,” says Terri Rutter.

“We have listed in there what it costs to help someone with a month of treatment.  Maybe they have a job but they can’t get there – bus passes, job uniform, just to take away whatever barrier they have that they feel like they can’t do it because they’re so frustrated.”

And they have a warning for others – don’t buy drugs on the street.

“The community needs to be educated that you go out and buy Xanax say on the street, it’s laced with fentanyl… and just a speck can kill you,” Doug Rutter warns.

The Rutters want Rylie to be remembered for his smile. His legacy will live on through the lives that the Rylie V Rutter Foundation touches.

If you’d like to make a donation to the foundation, click here: http://rylievrutterfoundation.org

For help with addiction, click here: recoveryalliance.net

“Look twice to save a life” Safety stressed as motorcycle season approches

localnews8-administrator

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)— More motorcyclists are hitting the roads as the weather continues to get warmer. 

Many people had their bikes in the garage all winter, and it’s time to take them out.

Shops like Eagle Rock Indian Motorcycle are noticing a rise in sales this time of year.

Many of us have not been used to seeing motorcycles since it’s been winter.

So, drivers are being asked to take an extra second to notice riders and give them a little more room on the road.

But it’s not all up to us; riders are being asked to do their own safety check. 

“Your skills are a little bit tired from the winter. You haven’t been practicing as much,” said Scott Newlin General Manager of Eagle Rock Indian Motorcycle. “The roads aren’t entirely clear yet. Sometimes, there is still some debris, especially after a little bit of rain. You can find debris washed out in the road that maybe you wouldn’t during the summertime. Just got to be that extra little bit of careful.”

After Local News 8 spoke with a few motorcyclists about street safety, they all said, “Look twice to save a life.”

They say it’s just a simple bumper sticker, but the words hold true. 

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you more confident after the tariff pause and market rally?

abc17news

The financial markets went on a roller-coaster ride this week, powered by President Donald Trump’s tariff pronouncements.

The latest came Wednesday, when Trump’s administration said it would pause tariffs on many countries it had targeted for 90 days to let negotiations play out. Tariffs had been set to start this week against scores of countries.

Massive tariffs on Chinese goods remain in place.

Financial markets rallied Wednesday on the news, wiping out some of the deep losses they had incurred since the tariff talk got serious last week.

Are you feeling more confident after Wednesday? Let us know by voting in the poll.

More jobs lost in Juárez; maquiladoras continue to see impacts

Heriberto Perez

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — The Mexico Social Security Institute (IMSS) reported over 2,500 formal jobs were lost in Juárez in March, which continues the trend of more jobs lost in recent months south of the border.

Over 1,500 jobs out of those 2,500 were from the maquiladora industry. In the last year, Juárez has lost over 9,300 job positions compared to March 2024.

The Border Business Block (BEF) in Juárez says this continuing loss in jobs is due to the global uncertainty carried out by tariffs imposed and trade wars happening around the world.

In February Juárez reported 489,574 jobs, March closed with 489,074; March 2024 reported 498,375.

“This worries us a lot because we depend on that sector (maquiladoras), and this loss is due to the turbulence caused by the tariff war,” said Jesús Manuel “Thor” Salayandía, coordinator of the border business block.

More updates in later newscasts.

ABC-7 at 4: The connection between Mental Health and creative arts

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- The visual arts can play a significant role in inspiring the multiple moods of the mind. Research has proved that art can provide a direct connection between the mind and body. Lupita Pena, a therapist with Emergence Health Network, and Shawn Warwick, a certified Ross instructor, discuss the connection between mental health and creative arts.

Upcoming classes and workshops:

 Classes are beginner-friendly, step-by-step, and include all the materials you need. Registration is now open: Visit www.shawnwarswick.com for schedules, sign-ups, and sneak peeks at recent masterpieces from local students.

https://emergencehealthnetwork.org/

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NFL-turned-pickleball: Why top athletes are turning to the sport

krdonews

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – As pickleball continues to grow in popularity in the United States, more people are taking part that might not be who you’d initially expect.

A Colorado Springs pickleball regular spoke with KRDO13 on why he decided to try and go pro in America’s fastest-growing sport after his career in the NFL.

“If you’re looking to stay competitive and to get that competitive edge back, then I recommend getting out here and playing some pickleball because there’s nothing better than pickleball right now. Best sport alive right now,” said Jeret Smith, who played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.

Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the last three years, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Smith recently decided he will pursue the sport as his full-time job.

“It’s been incredible to see the ride pickleball has taken us all on,” Life Time Pickleball pro Mike McGregor said.

Smith plays all over the front range, including the Life Time in Colorado Springs with McGregor. The club is hoping to get the most people playing pickleball at the same time ever this Saturday for National Pickleball Month.

The sport has come a long way the last five years, both in the states as well as for Smith.

“I wanted to just play something that I could stay competitive in, and first I was like, ‘Oh, this is just a sport for older people,'” Smith said. “They beat me bad! And so, for me, I’m an athlete, and I’m losing to 70-year-old people, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to get better at this sport.'”

The Life Time in Colorado Springs is hosting its Pickleball “Agassi Open Play Day” Saturday at 10 a.m. Participants must sign up through their app. The club will have day passes available for non-members. The club is also hosting a tournament, “Dinco De Mayo,” May 16-18.

‘Requiem for Rosa Elena’s Dream,’ brings story of El Paso generations, roots to stage

Nicole Ardila

A new play is coming to the Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso this weekend, “Requiem for Rosa Elena’s Dream”, by a local playwright.

ABC-7 got a sneak peek from the rehearsals before the big show.

The writer and director Felix Arenas says it’s a drama based in El Paso about three generations of a family, switching periods of time — from the 1960s to the 1990s.

“It’s a play about El Paso, it’s a play about somebody comes from the interior of Mexico to build a new life in the US,” explained Arenas. “It’s a play about local teenagers and what was going on in the 80s. It’s a play about somebody here in the 2000s, who is looking for his roots.”

“Requiem for Rosa Elena’s Dream” is Arena’s third original play, which he says has been in the works for about a year.

The story goes on about a man adopted 32 years ago goes searching for answers, when dreams and plans, don’t always come true.

“You know, we all have dreams of raising a family and the glorious things,” said the playwright. “But through the generations, things happen, life happens. And that’s what this play is about.”

The show starts at 2:30 pm on Sunday April 13, and would last about 2 hours.

Tickets are $15 at the door and also available on Ticketmaster with service fees.