PHOENIX (AZ Family) — Famous “doomsday mom” Lori Vallow Daybell did not appear in Maricopa County Superior Court this week.

“I think this is a unique case,” Vallow’s defense attorney said at Thursday’s hearing.

Valley convicted in Idaho last year and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2019 for the murders of her two youngest children, JJ and Tylee, and her fifth husband’s previous wife, Tammy Daybell.

The judge said he justified the crimes by going down a “bizarre religious rabbit hole”.

He now faces more charges in two Arizona cases.

She is accused of planning the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. She also allegedly attempted to kill her niece’s husband, Brandon Boudreaux.

“It’s hard for me to get into the mind of a woman convicted of killing her own children because she thought they were zombies; so I don’t really know what’s going on in Mrs. Vallow’s mind, but it’s definitely possible that she’s a zombie. “He’s not cooperating with this process because he doesn’t think it’s necessary,” said Russ Richelsoph, an Arizona criminal defense attorney who is not connected to the case.

At this time, Vallow is refusing to talk to mental health experts who are trying to determine whether he is competent to stand trial.

At his trial in Idaho Initially judged to be incompetent and was ordered to receive treatment. He was later judged mentally healthy.

Despite what happened in Idaho, Richelsoph says he is not found competent in Arizona.

The attorney describes competence as a moving target that can change, and what matters now is Vallow’s current mental state.

“Just because he was incompetent in the past and was later made competent does not mean he is competent today,” Richelsoph said.

Vallow’s previous attorneys had requested a competency hearing, but his current legal team wants that motion withdrawn.

“Unfortunately, Ms. Vallow’s failure to speak to mental health professionals does cause some delay, as we’ve seen here,” Judge Travis Marderosian said in court Thursday.

“The public may see this as a delaying tactic, but it’s really about handling the case diligently,” Richelsoph said.

Marderosian gave the doctor two more weeks to determine whether Vallow was competent.

“I know you want to move the case forward,” Marderosian said.

Richelsoph said it’s in everyone’s best interest to continue competency hearings and mental health evaluations so his mental health won’t be questioned in possible appeals.

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