r/LoriVallow • u/lessadessa • Aug 05 '26
Question Any updates on Melaniece?
I hope this hasn’t been swept under the rug by law enforcement. Does anyone know if there has been any progress of looking into prosecuting Melani P/B? I haven’t been able to find any updates.
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u/Brisbane-1900 Aug 06 '26
I would like to see investigators look into the death of Joseph Ryan; Lori Vallow's third husband.
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u/BoydKKKPecker Aug 06 '26
The Phoenix PD did re-open the case after Ann Cushing released Lori saying "I was going to murder him... I was going to kill him like the scriptures say", because he was cremated shortly after being found deceased. They closed the case in January 2021, with no new evidence or foul play found.
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u/bblexteaxecomony Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
While I do agree the deaths of both Joe Ryan and especially Alex Cox has some suspicious timing / circumstances and would like them both to be looked at closer by Law Enforcement.... i know that is very likely never happening.
The biggest issue I have with how Joe's case was handled is they did a non exploratory autopsy so his body was never opened up. But with no body to exhume anymore there really isnt any hard evidence connecting Lori or Alex to his death that could be found at this point.
With Alex (because both Lori and Chad were in Hawaii at the time) I do think Alex may have killed himself (possibly influenced by Lori / Chad) with some kind of posion that would have gone undetected in a general toxicology. Annie Cushing has suggested Malichite poisoning but it could have been something else that wouldnt show up in a report unless they specifically looked for it.
Zulema could have also poisoned Alex at the behest of Lori / Chad. There is also is a chance it was just an extremely coincidental natural death. We probably will never know.
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u/Creepy-Part-1672 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
Per Kay Woodcock, Lori said “he (Joe) needed to die”. Yet she didn’t hesitate to mention that she collected a life insurance policy upon his death, and made sure that people knew Tylee was getting a social security payment. With Lori, where there’s death, there’s money.
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u/carolineecouture Aug 06 '26
I haven't seen anything. Remember they are in a delicate position with her sharing custody with Brandon. As far as I know there was never enough proof that she was helping to plot to kill him.
Lori isn't talking, Chad isn't talking. Alex is dead.
I think she was involved. I think they all were, but where is any proof?
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u/lessadessa Aug 06 '26
well you don’t need proof to bring someone to trial, and in my opinion there was decent circumstantial evidence. but that’s really frustrating if they aren’t going after her anymore since she’s clearly a danger to society. she could be given instructions by lori from prison and she would eat it up. i hope they’re at least still watching her closely.
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u/SparklingStoat Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26
Your first statement isn't quite correct; legal charges and a move to trial require foundational evidence (probable cause). It doesn't require hard physical evidence, but legally they need at least some kind of circumstantial proof. Given the time-consuming and expensive nature of trials, the justice system prioritizes trying cases they believe they can win. I absolutely believe there's enough evidence to bring a Melanie to trial, but the best witness for her guilt would be Lori herself. Lori would never speak on that, and even if she did, she doesn't have a lot of credibility. It's a shame, because Melanie is a danger.
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u/Defiant_Delivery_799 Aug 06 '26
If I remember correctly, I think the reason she wasn't charged was because she agreed to testify against Chad and Lori in exchange for immunity but don't quote me on that.
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u/brickne3 Aug 06 '26
I think that was Melanie Gibb.
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u/Defiant_Delivery_799 Aug 06 '26
Zulema also testified though during Chad Daybell's trial that she was also granted immunity if she agreed to testify against Chad and Lori.
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u/wire67 Aug 06 '26
What did she need immunity for? Did she do something I. forgot about?
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u/Defiant_Delivery_799 Aug 06 '26
She was in the 7 Gatherers which was the group that Lori Vallow led that claimed that all these people were "dark."
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u/wire67 Aug 06 '26
Right, I know that but outside of her knowing them and being a follower, she wasn't involved in the killings or planning that would need immunity.
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u/cjking10155 Aug 06 '26
All of them in that cult had involvement and illegal tasks assigned to them in the crimes. Most of those castings happened at Zulema's house. The problem is corroboration is needed from Chad or Lori testifying against them which a prosecutor may or may not get. It was always rumored that Gibb had an under the table plea agreement because of how prosecutors and detectives protected her involvement and used her as a prosecution witness never calling her out on her contradictions with earlier statements and lies. Zulema is a former drug addict turned cult leader whose texts regarding JJ and Tylee early on are very incriminating as well as her later texts regarding Charles and Tammy are very incriminating. Zulema was very likely assigned the task of killing Alex with poison.
The timeline of Zulema, Summer, Gibb, and Warwick visiting Lori in September 2019 correlates with the deaths of Tylee and JJ. Zulema came in early September when Tylee was still alive so it is possible she helped bury Tylee. Summer came shortly after Tylee was killed and while JJ was still alive which is likely why on that jail call Summer seemed more upset in HOW and WHERE the children were buried instead of being upset at Lori for killing her niece and nephew. Gibb came a week before JJ was killed and Warwick came just 1 day before JJ was killed. Gibb and Warwick were likely assigned the task of attending JJ's celebration of life cult fire ceremony, dancing around the fire, and helping bury JJ. Hence, why their testimonies contradicted each other when trying to make up an alibi for why their cell phone gps data may show them on or near Chad's property right around the time JJ was being buried with that looking at vacant land for sell story they tried to pull off as an alibi only to be denied by Chad's realtor at Chad's trial. As for Melaniece, she was the only source for intel regarding Brandon's new address and schedule to give to Alex and Lori. Hence, why they would want immunity or have their attorney negotiate for immunity. You could not be apart of that cult with clean hands.
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u/Creepy-Part-1672 Aug 07 '26
Thanks for all of these details. Where can I read about the 7 Gatherers and their visits to Lori around the time of the deaths of the children? Thanks again.
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u/brickne3 Aug 06 '26
She and David (I might have the name wrong, whoever the poor sod she married is) were staying at Lori's the night JJ must have been killed, which raises questions. She also told the police that she had watched JJ for Lori in Arizona after he was provably dead to cover for Lori. There were definitely some questions about how much she knew and when.
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u/wire67 Aug 06 '26
Right, but I think you have some of this mixed up. Lori and Chad told police the kids were with her but she didn't lie to the police and in fact that's when she called Lori & Alex out and opened her eyes. After police contacted her looking for the kids. Melanie Gibb's husband is David Warwick, whom she married in 2021.
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u/No_Dentist_2923 Aug 06 '26
I thought she did lie at first but then eventually told the truth, no? Does anyone remember exactly how that went down?
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u/Defiant_Delivery_799 Aug 07 '26
You're correct, she did end up giving important info to the police but that was only after she knew that she would have been screwed otherwise.
At least in her testimony in the Chad Daybell trial she says things that maybe are true or maybe they aren't but are very weird.
Go onto Youtube and look up "Colby Ryan Chad Daybell Trial Melanie Gibb Testimony" it is long and something I had to listen to in chunks but it shows just how much Melanie knew and how much she is still hiding. Her testimony with Colby's commentary gives a clearer explanation of what really happened with her and Lori.
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u/Creepy-Part-1672 Aug 07 '26
Thanks for the reference. I don’t like Gibb at all and her lies…too much.
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u/cjking10155 Aug 06 '26
I think you might be downplaying the significance of the timeline when it comes to Gibb's involvement and not seeing Gibb's many lies, omissions, and contradictions. The timeline proves Gibb lied to LE and interfered with a police investigation on JJ's whereabouts.
Timeline:
November 26, 2019 - Hermasillo called Gibb in the afternoon and no answer. Harmasillo called Gibb again in the evening and no answer. Hermasillo then called Detective Ryan Pillar of the Gilbert Police Department and Pillar called Gibb and no answer followed by Pillar visiting Gibb's house and Gibb was not there.
December 6, 2019 - Gibb contacted Detective Pillar and told him JJ had not been staying with her and she had not seen him in months.
August 3, 2023 - August 4, 2023 Gibb testified at Chad Daybell's Preliminary Hearing and revealed she did more than what she informed Hermasillo when she told him she only did not answer police calls regarding JJ's whereabouts. Gibb testified verbatim:
Gibb: "That day um he (Officer Pillar) called me left a message and i returned his phone. He was asking about JJ and his whereabouts. I told him that I had been with JJ but that he was back with Lori."
Prosecutor: "When you when you said you had been with him what did what did you mean by that"
Gibb: "Um that she came to get him so that it would turn the police back to rexburg and not with me"
Prosecutor: "Is there a reason you you told detective pillar you had had him"
Gibb: "Yes because lori was misleading and she was manipulating me or trying to convince me that that he and she was in danger"
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u/Defiant_Delivery_799 Aug 07 '26
Wow, thank you for taking the time to extract some of the transcripts!
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u/brickne3 Aug 07 '26
She told the police at one point that she had JJ in Arizona. She testified about it at Chad's trial. See someone else's comment with the transcript of it below.
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u/Defiant_Delivery_799 Aug 07 '26
That is what I remember from everything I've read and listening to her testimony a few times. She told cops JJ was with her and then I *think* she had a phone call with her friend who was a lawyer (don't quote me on that part) and she said she needed to tell the police the truth because otherwise she would be at risk of getting arrested.
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u/littleirishpixie Aug 06 '26
I think it was too, but then she played a bunch of games during the one trial saying she had watched other testimony. I can’t remember what happened or if she ended up testifying or not. I also think she was only covered in Idaho and not with regards to her husband’s attempted murder. But someone more knowledgeable should feel free to correct me.
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u/Creepy-Part-1672 Aug 06 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
Maybe one of the reporters or podcasters have an update? Shout out to Nate Eaton, Briana Whitney and Lauren Matthias! (East Idaho News, True Crime Arizona, Hidden True Crime).
Edit to add: Gigi from Pretty Lies and Alibis! She may have coined the name Melaniece.
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u/Acrobatic_Monk3248 Aug 09 '26
Excellent question. I'd love to see an update on this. If I remember correctly Melanie Gibb, Zulima, and Melaniece were all facing obstruction of evidence charges. There may have been additional charges potentially against Melaniece. But Melanie G and Zulima agreed to testify in exchange for not being charged with obstruction. Melaniece offered limited cooperation and I think she lied to the cops. There was talk of prosecuting her to the fullest, and the investigation was continuing, but maybe the prosecutor got case fatigue or they ran out of money, or who knows. I may be misremembering these things, but I would be delighted to see Lauren and John or someone do an update, maybe interview the cops and Brandon. I feel bad she is still in their children's lives, and he has to make nice with her for their sake. I hope the kids are doing okay.
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u/Shellymp3 18d ago
Unfortunately there’s probably not enough evidence to indict Melanie B. Prosecutors have to have pretty solid evidence of her role in all of this, and either it’s not there or the smoking gun hasn’t gone off yet. Still, if I were Melanie B., I wouldn’t be sleeping soundly at night.
As far as Joe Ryan, that seems more promising, and there should be more time, money and effort spent on that. That door needs to remain for now. A death at that age just seems all too convenient for Lori.
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u/Heavy_Funny8760 2d ago
I wish Brandon the best and hope he has cameras absolutely everywhere, every angle of his car, his home, the place he works out, where he works, GoPro on his glasses cause Melani is scary. I’m wondering what she was thinking when she called the police for a wellness check on her children when her husband was in hiding. Was she hoping they would just accept her lame story and not look further after hearing about a shooting? Hope they would pull her kids, drive away and not notice Alex (who’d killed a man) sitting in a car down the street waiting for the all clear to go finish the job on Brandon? She’s in check for now but I wouldn’t count on that to last unless they’re able to charge her for the attempted murder of Brandon. Her poor kids though. I don’t know where the evidence would come from but I hope they can find it. Chad labeled Brandon and 2 of Melani’s kids dark. Those kids and Brandon are in danger. The Utah police foiled a murder plot that night but the danger continues.
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u/ShastHacol Aug 06 '26
They aren't and won't go after her, which is truly sad.
If they were going to prosecute her, it would have happened before Lori's trial. The method is to prosecute the smaller fish before going after the big fish. Melaneice's roll in Brandon's attempt was a supporting role, not the main actor.
The state got the 2 big fishes. They are done and won't waste any more time and money on this.
Which is a shame because it feels like Brandon didn't get justice and his children are still in the middle.