Lone holdout juror in Lori Vallow trial reveals why he changed his mind to convict her: ‘I put a face to evil’
The last juror to vote to convict Lori Vallow guilty of all charges in her trial for the murders of her children and husband’s late wife has spoken out. In an ABC News exclusive interview that aired on Good Morning America on Wednesday, Saul Hernandez, one of the 12 jurors out of a panel of 18 including six alternates, gave his account of their deliberations. Mr Hernandez was the lone holdout on the panel before ultimately switching his stance on day two of deliberations to find Vallow guilty of all charges. On Friday 12 May, Vallow was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua “JJ” Vallow, seven, and of conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell, 49, her new husband Chad Daybell’s first wife, at Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho. Tylee and JJ were last seen in September 2019. In June 2020, their remains were found buried in shallow graves on the Daybell property. Tammy died one month after their disappearance in October 2019 and her death was later ruled a homicide by asphyxiation. Over six weeks, prosecutors argued that Vallow conspired with Mr Daybell and her brother Alex Cox to kill the three victims, motivated by greed and their doomsday cult beliefs. Asked why he had initially held out on convicting Vallow, Mr Hernandez says: “I just didn’t feel like at that timeline with Tylee [Vallow] we were quite there yet, and if we were, I perhaps was missing it.” Speaking about the bizarre religious beliefs that appear to have partially underpinned the motive for the murders, he said of Vallow: “I think she started with maybe curiosity, exploring what her initial beliefs were. And once Chad came into the picture, she went along with it.” Chilling Mr Hernandez said: “As the case progressed, as the evidence came to light, testimony was shared, it was harder to look at her. Growing up, we’re taught good and bad, God and evil, and I think for the first time in my life, I put a face to evil.” More follows… Read More Chad Daybell, Alex Cox and Charles Vallow: Key players in the Lori Vallow trial Lori Vallow Daybell: Timeline of ‘doomsday cult mom’s’ mystery case Lori Vallow has been convicted of her children’s murders. What happens next?
1970-01-01 08:00
US Cash Balance Falls Most Since March Amid Debt-Limit Standoff
The amount of money that the US government has on hand to pay its bills plummeted by $53
1970-01-01 08:00
A new CEO won't fix Twitter's biggest problem
During his six months as Twitter's CEO and owner, Elon Musk decimated its ad business, alienated some news publications and VIP users, and plunged the platform into a constant state of chaos. Now, a new chief executive will be tasked with trying to turn things around.
1970-01-01 08:00
IMF's Gopinath sees 'sizeable' upside inflation risks, says markets too optimistic
WASHINGTON The International Monetary Fund's no. 2 official said on Wednesday she sees sizeable risks that inflation will
1970-01-01 08:00
'Low fertility trap': Why Italy's falling birth rate is causing alarm
Italy, a country once known for its big families gathered around the dinner table, is facing a crisis of unparalleled proportions.
1970-01-01 08:00
Guillermo Lasso: Ecuador President dissolves parliament
President Guillermo Lasso was facing an imminent impeachment vote over embezzlement charges.
1970-01-01 08:00
Elliot Page unveils memoir about reality of transitioning gender in rare video
Elliot Page has shared an update with fans as he prepares to release his memoir, Pageboy. The actor, who is transgender, had a noticeably deeper voice as he opened a box of copies in the rare video. "Wow, it's real", he said emotionally, showing off the book to the camera. The book will focus largely on the Umbrella Academy star's turbulent relationship with his body while transitioning. Click here to sign up for our newsletters
1970-01-01 08:00
How Jose Mourinho won the Champions League with Inter
Remembering Inter's journey to Champions League glory under Jose Mourinho in 2009/10.
1970-01-01 08:00
Elon Musk comparison of George Soros and Magneto post has a few fatal flaws
Another day, another Elon Musk controversy A recent tweet by the tech entrepreneur has sparked widespread criticism and condemnation due to the sinister implications and dogwhistles buried within. Musk was the latest in a long-long-long line of people to criticise Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, and his comparison between Soros and a megalomaniac Marvel supervillain has been viewed as not only very lazy but deeply problematic and antisemitic. In a bizarre series of tweets, Musk compared the holocaust-survivor background of both Soros and X-Men nemesis Magneto, and argued a skin-deep strawman line that 'both hate humanity'. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Journalist Brian Krassenstein called out Musk on this writing: "Fun fact: Magneto's experiences during the Holocaust as a survivor shaped his perspective as well as his depth and empathy. Soro, also a Holocaust survivor, gets attacked nonstop for his good intentions which some Americans think are bad merely because they disagree with this political affiliations." Musk clapped back: "You assume they are good intentions. They are not. He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity." Hate humanity? Magneto has a disdain towards humanity (as a mutant in the comic books, he feels he is superior and that homo sapiens' time is up) - but in an attempt to use a fictional Jewish figure to attack a real one, Musk has been caught lacking. Magneto isn't real (neither are the X-Men and superpowered mutants), and Musk's tweets read as an attempt to grasp the first Jewish villain he could find from a shelf to beat another Jewish person over the head with, by reflecting surface-level pop culture knowledge into a bowl of antisemitic hate. Magneto, like Soros, survived the Holocaust (as a character). In the comics, he was not initially depicted as Jewish - but a backstory was added to fill out the character as comics stories became far more complex than their origins. Magneto's goal as a villain is to end human oppression over mutants. However, Magneto is described as a fairly grey villain. He has led heroic teams, he blurs his own lines and contradicts himself. There's depth and room for additional context to be bolted onto the character as time goes on. Musk's tweet towards Soros did not represent a fair or valid criticism of the billionaire - it is not only deeply hurtful, it appeared quickly and it is quite telling that it came only days after Soros's investment fund reported that it had sold all its stock in Tesla. Tesla, of course, is run by Musk alongside Twitter. There are plenty of fairways to criticise the actions of billionaires and their obvious financial influence on the world. Musk, Gates, Soros and Bezos alike. However, reaching straight for racial and antisemetic tropes feeds a beast that is not so easily caged. Antisemitism, a form of prejudice against Jewish people, poses significant harm to individuals and communities. It can manifest as verbal abuse, physical violence, and systemic discrimination. By employing antisemitic tropes or making comparisons that evoke harmful stereotypes, individuals contribute to a climate of hostility and bigotry. Musk has indirectly overseen a rise in antisemitic language on Twitter. A study found that antisemitic language on Twitter doubled - and then some - after Musk's takeover of Twitter. Not only that, but Musk's comments arrived around the same time as Douglas Murray's speech in the UK's National Conservative which observed that the rise of the Nazi party shouldn't hamper the growth of nationalism elsewhere just 'because Germany mucked up': The last week has seen a dismissal of Jewish suffering, and the use of Jewish identity in paper-thin arguments to back right-wing statements - Musk and Murray include. Such instances highlight the need for increased awareness regarding the consequences of antisemitic language. It is crucial for individuals to recognize the harm caused by perpetuating stereotypes and to actively combat all forms of prejudice. Musk eventually apologized (sort of), but in considering both Musk and Murray's comments, it's perhaps worth some people spending some time reflecting on atrocities that have occurred in the past - and less time making lazy comments involving Marvel characters. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
State education officials want to interview students of Florida teacher under investigation for showing Disney movie to class, report says
Florida education officials want to speak with students who were shown a Disney movie in their fifth-grade class, sparking an investigation into their teacher over the state's law against the teaching of sexual orientation or gender identity, the Miami Herald reported.
1970-01-01 08:00
China envoy, in Kyiv, eyes talks with Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected on Wednesday to receive a special envoy from China who arrived in Kyiv to promote Beijing-led negotiations to...
1970-01-01 08:00
Ecuador president dissolves legislature, bringing elections forward
By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly in a decree on Wednesday, bringing forward
1970-01-01 08:00
