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SALT LAKE CITY — Lori Daybell, the mother of two missing children, missed the deadline to bring the children in front of a judge on Thursday.
Daybell’s children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, have been missing since September.
Authorities in Madison County filed a child protection order for the children last week, stating Daybell must produce her children within five days, with the possibility of being found in contempt of court if she failed to comply.
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At a news conference in Rexburg, Idaho, Kay Vallow Woodcock, JJ’s biological grandmother, said she wasn’t surprised Daybell missed the deadline.
“The kids aren’t here, Lori’s not here,” Woodcock said. “Lori’s not going to make this easy.”
It is in a judge's hands to decide what happens next to Daybell.
Rexburg police and Madison County prosecutors said Daybell could be in contempt of court, but did not provide details of what comes next because Child Protection Acts are sealed.
Salt Lake attorney Greg Skordas said failure to meet Thursday’s deadline is a misdemeanor. He said he also expects Daybell would be extradited back to Idaho — a process that can take weeks.
If Daybell is found in contempt of court, the misdemeanor carries a five-day jail sentence and $5,000 fine, Skordas said.
Skordas noted authorities in Madison County will be investigating the possibility of more serious charges, including searching for evidence to indicate whether homicide or double homicide was committed.
“I can’t say for sure what’s going to happen,” Woodcock said.
To Woodcock's knowledge, Daybell is still with her husband, Chad Daybell, in Hawaii.
(They're) probably sitting on the beach somewhere while we’re sitting here wondering where the kids are.
–Kay Vallow Woodcock
“(They're) probably sitting on the beach somewhere while we’re sitting here wondering where the kids are," Woodcock said.
Earlier this week Chad and Lori Daybell were confronted in Hawaii by EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton.
Daybell refused to answer Eaton's questions, but she did reply "that's great," after Eaton told her people all over the country were praying for her missing children.
“How do you not know where your child is?" Woodcock said Thursday. "How do you not have them for four months? What kind of mother does that?”
No sign of #LoriVallow or #Missing#JJVallow and #TyleeRyan. In the meantime, media prepares for press conference with JJ’s grandparents. @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/14HLK1krc2
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) January 31, 2020
On Thursday, Woodcock said Daybell's "arrogant, smug attitude" during the interview showed her that Daybell would not do anything about her children unless she is "absolutely forced."
“I’d love to know where those kids are," Woodcock said. "I think all of America wants to know where they are.”
Contributing: Garna Mejia, KSL TV
