The name Alex Cox is inextricably linked to the disturbing case of Lori Vallow Daybell, a woman currently on trial for the murder of her two youngest children and conspiracy to murder her husband’s former wife. But beyond his infamous connections, the question of what happened to Alex Cox himself remains a point of intense scrutiny and speculation. Cox, Lori Vallow’s brother, died suddenly in December 2019, just weeks after the death of Tammy Daybell and amidst the unfolding mystery of the missing children, J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan. While officially ruled as death by natural causes, the circumstances surrounding Cox’s passing, particularly the testimony of his widow, continue to fuel questions about his true fate and his deep involvement in the unfolding tragedy.
Zulema Pastenes’s Testimony: A Glimpse into Alex Cox’s Final Hours
During Lori Vallow Daybell’s ongoing trial, Alex Cox’s widow, Zulema Pastenes, provided chilling testimony that cast a shadow of doubt over the narrative of natural causes. Pastenes, who had married Cox just days before his death, recounted the unsettling events of the night before he passed away. She described a phone call Cox received from Lori and Chad Daybell, informing him about the exhumation of Tammy Daybell’s body. This news deeply disturbed Pastenes, who questioned the necessity of exhuming Tammy if her death was indeed from natural causes, as initially reported.
Driven by a growing unease and a feeling that Cox was withholding crucial information, Pastenes pressed her husband for answers. She testified that Cox became withdrawn and evasive, eventually uttering a cryptic statement: “I think I am being their fall guy.” When Pastenes probed further, demanding to know what he could be a fall guy for, Cox remained silent. The following day, Alex Cox was dead. Pastenes’s testimony paints a picture of a man burdened by secrets and fear in his final hours, hinting at a deeper involvement in the events surrounding the Daybell and Vallow families than previously understood.
Alex Cox’s Death: Ruled Natural Causes Amidst Suspicion
Despite the suspicions raised by Zulema Pastenes and the broader context of the Lori Vallow case, the official cause of Alex Cox’s death was determined to be natural. A medical examiner’s report in May 2020 cited bilateral pulmonary thromboemboli as the cause of death and classified the manner of death as natural. Pulmonary thromboemboli refers to blood clots in the lungs, a serious condition, but one that can occur naturally.
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Pictured are key figures in the Lori Vallow Daybell case: Lori Vallow Daybell herself, her deceased children J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan, Tammy Daybell who died shortly before Alex Cox, and Chad Daybell, Lori’s husband.
However, the timing and circumstances of Cox’s death have led many to question this conclusion. He died just days after Tammy Daybell’s death was being re-examined and weeks after the children were last seen. His own words, “fall guy,” spoken to his wife the night before his death, strongly suggest he felt implicated in something criminal and feared taking the blame. Furthermore, Cox was a central figure in the timeline of events.
Alex Cox: Key Player in the Lori Vallow Saga
Alex Cox was not merely Lori Vallow’s brother; he was deeply entangled in the web of events that led to the tragic deaths and disappearances. He was present at critical moments and played a direct role in several key incidents:
- Charles Vallow’s Death: In July 2019, Cox shot and killed Lori’s fourth husband, Charles Vallow. He claimed self-defense, and was never charged in connection to the death at the time. However, Lori is now facing charges related to Charles’ death, indicating a possible re-evaluation of the circumstances.
- Connection to Children’s Disappearance: Cell phone records reportedly placed Cox at Chad Daybell’s property on dates coinciding with the last known sightings of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow. The children’s remains were later discovered on this very property. This evidence strongly suggests Cox was involved in the concealment, if not the deaths, of the children.
- Link to Tammy Daybell’s Death Investigation: As Zulema Pastenes testified, Cox was in communication with Lori and Chad regarding Tammy Daybell’s exhumation, and seemed acutely aware of its implications. This suggests he had knowledge, or at least suspicion, about the circumstances surrounding Tammy’s death, which was later ruled as asphyxiation.
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Charles Vallow and Lori Vallow are pictured together. Charles Vallow’s death at the hands of Alex Cox further complicates the narrative surrounding Alex Cox and the Vallow-Daybell case.
Unanswered Questions and Lingering Doubts
While Alex Cox’s death is officially attributed to natural causes, the timing, his own apprehensive words, and his undeniable involvement in the Lori Vallow case leave many questions unanswered. Was Alex Cox truly just a “fall guy,” as he feared? Did he possess more knowledge about the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Charles Vallow, and the children than has been revealed? Could his death itself be linked to the larger conspiracy?
With Alex Cox deceased, he cannot be tried or further questioned. However, his role remains crucial to understanding the full scope of the Lori Vallow-Chad Daybell case. As Lori Vallow’s trial proceeds, the shadow of Alex Cox and the mystery surrounding his death continue to loom large, prompting ongoing speculation about the true extent of his involvement and what really happened to Lori Vallow’s brother.
