Authorities in Rexburg, Idaho, are investigating the high-profile case of two missing children, and local self-storage operator Self Storage Plus, where the boys’ mother rented a unit in October, is doing its part to assist. Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua “J.J.” Vallow, 7, haven’t been seen since September. Their mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, fled town with her new husband in November, leaving behind video footage and personal items at the storage facility in which law enforcement hopes to find clues.
Officials began looking into the children’s whereabouts after J.J.’s grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, reported that they hadn’t heard from the kids in several weeks. They asked Rexburg police to perform a welfare check last fall. During the visit, Daybell told authorities J.J. was in Arizona visiting a family member. When that claim proved to be false, police returned with a search warrant only to find that Daybell and her husband had absconded, a source reported.
The couple was recently located in Hawaii, but the children weren’t with them. Daybell didn’t turn over the children to authorities by Jan. 31 as instructed, according to a source.
Police are studying security footage from the self-storage facility at 433 Airport Road for leads. After renting a 10-by-10 unit on Oct. 1, Daybell and an unidentified male, speculated to be her brother, visited the unit nine times in October and once in November. The man sometimes visited the unit alone, a source reported.
Footage indicates the two visitors sometimes acted cautiously prior to opening the unit. They last visited the space on Nov. 24. Police performed the welfare check on Nov. 26. Search warrants for the home and storage unit were issued the following day.
Self Storage Plus posted a statement to its Facebook page acknowledging cooperation with authorities in the case. “First and foremost, Self Storage Plus hopes for the speedy and safe return of Joshua 'J.J.' Vallow and Tylee Ryan,” company officials said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those people who have been affected by this tragedy.”
The statement indicated the storage operator wouldn’t comment further on the case to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.
Anyone with information that could help authorities locate the missing children is encouraged to contact the Rexburg Police Department at 208.359.3008.
Sources:
East Idaho News, Lori Daybell Abandoned a Storage Unit in Rexburg Full of Children’s Items
Standard Journal, Self Storage Plus Rented to Lori Vallow Daybell; Is Helping With Police in Investigation
Facebook, Self Storage Plus
