Lori Vallow Update: Arizona Police 'Closer' To Indicting Mother Of Missing Idaho Siblings For Death Of Ex-Husband

Authorities in Arizona are "closer" to indicting Lori Vallow, mother of missing Idaho siblings Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan, for her alleged role in the death of her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, according to reports.

Fox 10 in Phoenix obtained an email sent on March 24 by Det. Nathan Moffat of the Chandler Police Department that read: “We continue to work on Charles' case and are confident we are getting closer to getting Lori indicted for her involvement in Charles' death.”

Charles Vallow was killed on July 11, 2019, following an alleged fight at Lori Vallow’s home in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler after the couple had separated. According to reports, Charles Vallow had come to pick up his son, Joshua, when he got into an argument with his estranged wife. Lori Vallow’s brother, Alex Cox, stepped in during the argument and got into a physical altercation with Charles Vallow.

Charles Vallow grabbed a baseball and began hitting Cox in the head. Cox then pulled a gun in response and shot Charles Vallow. Cox then called 911 and performed CPR until police arrived. Lori Vallow, meanwhile, had left with Joshua and Tylee in Charles Vallow’s rental car and returned after police arrived.

Cox and Vallow were taken in for questioning but ultimately released after police ruled the incident self-defense. However, Charles Vallow's first wife, Cheryl Wheeler, was hesitant to believe Cox and Lori Vallow’s account.

“He’s not a violent human being,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said she wants answers and proper closure to the ordeal but said she understood indicting Vallow and convicting her was “a whole different deal.”

Chandler Police Sgt. Jason McClimans issued a statement on Thursday: “The investigation is still ongoing and detectives have and still are working hard to determine what exactly occurred on the day of Charles' death. I don't want to speculate on the content of the e-mail...as I am not familiar with it and unable to speak with Det. Moffat. That being said, upon conclusion of any criminal investigation, the case is sent to a prosecuting agency for review and criminal charging. Quite often the officer or detective will work with the prosecuting agency when this occurs.”

Lori Vallow was arrested in February in Kauai, Hawaii, after failing to produce her missing children to Madison County authorities in Idaho. Her charges include desertion and nonsupport of dependent children, resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime, and contempt of court.

Joshua and Tylee were last seen in September 2019 and police have found no evidence as to where they could have gone or been taken. Authorities are continuing to search for the siblings and have posted various ads, including highway billboard signs, asking for the public’s help.