Sins of Our Mother: The Twisted True Story Behind Netflix’s Latest True Crime Docuseries

A Mother's Faith Turns Fatal

Lori Vallow was once known as a loving mother of three. But behind closed doors, she was slipping deeper into religious fanaticism — and ultimately, a horrifying series of events led to the deaths of her two youngest children. Netflix’s Sins of Our Mother, directed by Skye Borgman (Abducted in Plain Sight, Girl in the Picture), unpacks this chilling transformation in a gripping three-part docuseries.

With exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage, this show dives deep into one of the most shocking cases in modern American true crime. It’s not just about murder — it’s about how belief, manipulation, and delusion collided in a suburban nightmare.

Who Was Lori Vallow?

From Mormon Mom to Murder Suspect

Lori Vallow was raised in a devout Mormon family. Outwardly, her life looked typical — multiple marriages, three children, and a strong presence in her community. But her spiritual beliefs started drifting toward the extreme, especially after she met Chad Daybell, a doomsday author and leader of a radical offshoot Mormon group.

By 2019, Vallow believed she could talk to angels, that the end of the world was near, and — most disturbingly — that some people around her were “zombies” who needed to die.

The Crimes That Shook America

What Happened to Tylee and JJ?

In 2020, Lori’s two youngest children — 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow — vanished without a trace. For months, Lori refused to explain their whereabouts. Then, in June 2020, authorities discovered their bodies buried in the backyard of Chad Daybell’s Idaho home.

But the case didn’t stop there. Lori was also tied to the suspicious deaths of multiple people around her — including her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, and her brother-in-law.

The Docuseries Breakdown

Episode-by-Episode Overview

Episode 1: The Perfect Family?
Explores Lori’s early life and introduces her family — including her surviving son Colby Ryan, who believed in his mother until the truth came out.

Episode 2: Doomsday and Delusion
Details how Lori met Chad Daybell and how their shared obsession with the apocalypse escalated into paranoia and isolation from family and friends.

Episode 3: Buried Truths
Reveals the heartbreaking discovery of the children’s remains and follows the trial that shocked the nation.

Who Speaks Out in the Doc?

Netflix's Sins of Our Mother features emotional interviews from those closest to the case, including:

• Colby Ryan – Lori’s surviving son, who confronts his mother in a haunting jail call.
• Janis Cox – Lori’s mother, still trying to understand what happened.
• April Raymond – Lori’s former friend, who watched her transformation unfold.
• Annie Cushing – Lori’s former sister-in-law, who was one of the first to raise alarms.
• Justin Lum – Investigative reporter who followed the case closely.
• Kelsee Ryan – Colby’s wife, navigating the fallout of a shattered family.

Where Is Lori Vallow Now?

Lori was arrested in 2020 and later charged with multiple counts, including murder and conspiracy. In May 2023, she was found guilty on all charges in Idaho. Then, in April 2025, an Arizona jury also found her guilty of conspiring to murder her estranged husband, Charles Vallow.

She faces life in prison and still awaits another trial in June 2025 for allegedly plotting the murder of Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of her niece.

Key Locations in the Case

• Chandler, Arizona – Where Lori’s husband Charles Vallow was killed.
• Rexburg, Idaho – Where her children were buried.
• Kauai, Hawaii – Where Lori and Chad were found vacationing while the children were missing.

Why You Need to Watch This Docuseries

If you think you’ve heard it all, Sins of Our Mother will shock you. It’s a story of how a seemingly loving mother embraced conspiracy theories, fell into a destructive belief system, and dragged her entire family into chaos.

With masterful direction by Skye Borgman and heartbreaking testimony from real people affected by Lori’s actions, this series is both a psychological thriller and a cautionary tale. It doesn’t just ask what happened — it asks how this could happen.

Where to Watch

Sins of Our Mother is streaming now on Netflix. It’s a must-watch for fans of The Staircase, Making a Murderer, and The Keepers — but be warned: this one stays with you.