Judge removes himself from case as Lori Vallow Daybell’s attorney plans to do the same

REXBURG — A new magistrate judge will preside over the Lori Vallow Daybell case following a hearing that was held by phone Friday afternoon.

Earlier this week, defense attorney Mark Means filed paperwork asking that Judge Farren Eddins no longer preside over the case. A reason was not listed. Eddins approved the motion and removed himself from the case. Now court administration will assign a new judge.

The move came after Eddins approved the preliminary hearing to be held May 7 and 8 (instead of the previously scheduled March 18 and 19) at the Madison County Courthouse. In court documents also filed earlier this week, Means and Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood requested the proceedings be moved back.

During the preliminary hearing, Wood will need to prove there is enough evidence on the felony charges for the case to proceed from magistrate court to district court.

On the phone at Friday’s hearing were Means and defense attorney Brian Webb. During the call, Webb said he planned to withdraw as one of Daybell’s attorneys. It remains unclear if Edwina Elcox, who works under Webb’s law firm, will also withdraw.

Daybell remains held in the Madison County Jail on $1 million bond and was not present at the hearing. She is charged with two counts of felony child abandonment, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court.

The charges are related to the disappearance of Daybell’s children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, who have not been seen since September.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the children is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at (800) THE-LOST.