St. Anthony, IDAHO (CBS2) — On Monday, we got to hear from the people who have suffered because of Lori Vallow Daybell's crimes. After their statements and Lori's, Judge Steven Boyce sentenced Lori to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of three people.
It was an emotional morning in the Fremont County courtroom as family members of the victims got a chance to speak.
We heard powerful statements from Tammy Daybell's sister, Samantha Gwilliam; Tammy's father, Ronald Douglas; Vicki Hoban, Tammy's aunt; Kay Woodcock, JJ's grandmother; and Colby Ryan, Lori's son.
Through the live stream, you could see Lori wiping her eyes at times as her children were described in victim impact statements. However, throughout most of the hearing, she appeared relaxed- leaning back in her chair, with her legs crossed.
Tammy Daybell's sister, Samantha Gwilliam, first spoke on behalf of her father.
In Douglas' statement, he spoke of how Lori's actions ripped his family apart, and the way they left his wife "full of strain and heartache" during her last months.
"We became estranged from the Daybell children and began losing the close relationships we had with them," the statement said. "We value them as grandchildren and want to keep them lose to us. While Phyllis was already battling her leukemia of over 30 years, the emotional stress of this drama seemed to accelerate her declining health."
Samantha described how she misses her sister Tammy every day, and the pain of no longer having a relationship with Tammy's children.
"Because of the choices you made, my family lost a beloved mother, sister, aunt and daughter. She is irreplaceable. She was 1000 times the woman you will ever dream of being," said Gwilliam.
Tammy's aunt, Vicki Hoban, also got to speak about Tammy's life.
"The most innocent of lives was simply just discarded like it meant nothing," she said. "Never will she whisper a joke with a friend and laugh, never see another sunrise or a sunset, never smell fresh rain, or see her grandchildren stomp through a mud puddle, never to hear her be called grandma or mom."
Kay Woodcock, JJ's grandma, recounted memories and the joy JJ brought into her and her husband's life, and how they would have given anything to have Tylee and JJ with them today, "living happy lives."
"72 days. That is how many days it took Lori to take everything from JJ. He lost his dad, his home, his best friend, Bailey, his beloved big sister, and his life, all in 72 days. My sister said it best. My sister, Susan, said it best - 'She killed him slowly by taking away everything that mattered,'" said Woodcock.
Then prosecutor Rob Wood read Colby Ryan's statement.
"Tylee was sweet and kind, funny and bold, and she deserves to be seen as such. JJ was the most fun, sweet and silly kid I'd ever known, loving and so smart. He deserves to be seen as such. Charles was a loving, kind and generous father, and he did everything he could to help and provide for everyone around him. He deserves to be remembered as that," he said. "I've lost my entire family and life. I lost the opportunity to share life with the people I love the most. I watched everything crumble and be shredded to pieces. I have lost my sister, brother, father and my mother. I've lost cousins and family, friends and everything in between. These murders have changed everyone's life who loved these beautiful... I pray for healing for everyone involved, including those who took the lives of all the ones we love."
Lori's defense attorney objected to some parts of the victim impact statements, but most of them were overruled.
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