Janis Lee Cox, the mother of Lori Vallow, found herself at the center of a tragic incident when her daughter was charged with the murder of her two children, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, in 2020. Alongside her husband, Barry Cox, Janis made appearances in the Netflix documentary series “Sins of Our Mother,” where they staunchly defended their daughter, asserting her innocence. However, questions arise about Janis Lee Cox’s age and details of her life and family.
Janis Lee Cox’s Birth Date and Early Life
As per certain sources³⁴, Janis Lee Cox entered the world in January 1947. Therefore, during the winter of 2023, Janis Lee celebrated her 76th birthday. She spent her formative years in Southern California, adhering to the Mormon faith, and entered matrimony with Barry Lynn Cox in 1965. The couple welcomed five children into their family: Stacey, Alex, Adam, Lori, and Summer².
Janis Lee Cox’s Relationship with Lori Vallow
Janis Lee Cox has consistently been a pillar of support for her daughter, Lori, even amid multiple marriages, divorces, and tragedies. Lori’s marital journey began at 19 with Nelson Yanes, which ended in a swift divorce. Following this, she married William Lagioia in 1995, giving birth to her first child, Colby. However, the marriage concluded in 1998. Next, Lori wed Joseph Ryan, Tylee’s father, leading to a 2004 divorce. Joseph passed away in 2018 from an apparent heart attack¹.
Lori’s fourth husband, Charles Vallow, entered the scene in 2006, and they adopted J.J., Charles’s grandson with special needs. Tragically, Charles was shot and killed by Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, in 2019. Alex, citing self-defense, faced no charges but succumbed to a blood clot in his lung later that year¹. Lori’s fifth and current marriage to Chad Daybell began in 2019. Chad, a self-declared prophet and doomsday book author, had previously been married to Tammy Daybell, who passed away under mysterious circumstances in 2019¹.
Throughout Lori’s tumultuous journey, Janis Lee Cox steadfastly maintained her belief in Lori’s role as a loving mother, untouched by any wrongdoing. She recounted to CBS News in 2020 that she spoke with J.J. after he was reported missing, but Lori, under police custody, couldn’t disclose details. Janis Lee also participated in the Netflix documentary series Sins of Our Mother, emphasizing Lori’s upbringing in the LDS church and her love for scriptures¹.
Janis Lee Cox’s Current Situation
Currently residing in Texas with her husband Barry, Janis Lee Cox has been distanced from her daughter Lori since Lori’s arrest in Hawaii in 2020. Lori was subsequently extradited to Idaho, facing multiple charges linked to the deaths of her children and former spouses¹. The discovery of Tylee and J.J.’s remains, interred on Chad Daybell’s property in June 2020, added complexity to the case¹. Lori and Chad, both pleading not guilty, await trial.
Despite the unfolding events, Janis Lee Cox has refrained from public commentary on the case’s latest developments or expressing remorse for her grandchildren’s tragic loss. Maintaining her steadfast belief in Lori’s innocence, she has encountered criticism from some relatives who accuse her of turning a blind eye to the truth and enabling Lori’s actions¹.
