Police to ‘review’ death of Lori Vallow’s ex-husband, Tylee Ryan’s father

Authorities in Arizona have announced they will review the investigation into the death of Lori Vallow’s third husband Joseph Ryan, the father of Tylee Ryan, who was found dead with her brother JJ Vallow in June.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Ryan’s sister Annie Cushing had shared with the media a recording of Vallow talking about her apparent intentions to murder Ryan during their contentious custody battle. In the recording, which was taken at a meeting for the group Preparing a People, a group whose members believed the world would end in July 2020, Vallow says she turned to the Mormon faith which stopped her from killing Ryan.

“I’m either going to turn my life to the temple, or I’m going to commit murder,'” Vallow recalled, according to a KSL report about the recording.

Vallow also claimed that Ryan had raped Tylee and Vallow’s older son from a previous marriage.

Cushing has long questioned the circumstances of Ryan’s 2018 death, which was found to be the result of natural causes. In an appearance on the “Dr. Phil” show, Cushing said that Vallow waited weeks to tell family members that Ryan had died of an apparent heart attack.

Cushing also told East Idaho News last week that she hoped police would take another look at her brother’s death.

“I think for them to continue to say he died of natural causes is reckless,” she said.

On Sunday, the Phoenix Police Department told East Idaho News of their intention to review the death investigation.

“The Phoenix Police Department has been made aware of the information and is reviewing the 2018 death investigation of Joseph Ryan,” a spokesperson said in a statement to the news outlet.

It does not appear that police have shared any further details of how they will review the investigation. As the KSL report notes, Ryan’s remains were cremated.

Click here to read all of CrimeOnline’s coverage of the Vallow-Daybell case. 

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