Doomsday: The Missing Children is a true crime series that aired on Investigation Discovery in 2020. The program follows the heartbreaking story of two young children, Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who disappeared without a trace in September of 2019. The series is centered around the complicated and twisted story of JJ and Tylee's mother, Lori Vallow, and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell. Kay and Larry Woodcock, the grandparents of JJ, feature prominently in the series, providing emotional insight into the case and sharing the efforts they made to locate their grandchildren.
The first episode of Doomsday: The Missing Children begins with the discovery of JJ's biological father's body, Charles Vallow. The death was ruled a homicide and was linked to Lori's brother, Alex Cox. The episode provides a glimpse into Lori's increasingly erratic behavior leading up to her move to Idaho with JJ and Tylee.
As the series progresses, viewers are introduced to Chad Daybell, a self-proclaimed prophet and author of several doomsday-themed books. Lori and Chad were both members of a religious group known as Preparing a People, and it was through this group that they connected.
The couple's beliefs led them to believe that JJ and Tylee were "zombies," possessed by evil spirits. According to reports, Lori allegedly believed that the only way to free JJ and Tylee from their "zombie" state was to kill them.
The Woodcocks and law enforcement officials spent months searching for JJ and Tylee before Lori and Chad fled to Hawaii in November of 2019. They were eventually located by police and taken into custody.
Throughout the series, Doomsday: The Missing Children provides viewers with a comprehensive look into the investigation that followed, including Lori's refusal to disclose the children's whereabouts and her subsequent arrest for contempt of court.
The series also delves into Lori and Chad's beliefs and the bizarre circumstances surrounding the deaths of both of their ex-spouses. The last episode of the series provides updates on the case, including Chad's indictment for the murder of his wife, Tammy.
Overall, Doomsday: The Missing Children is a haunting and emotional series that sheds light on the desperate search for JJ and Tylee and the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding their disappearance. The Woodcocks' involvement in the series provides a personal touch and drives home the gravity of the situation. While the topic is undoubtedly difficult to watch, the series is an important reminder of the dangers of radical beliefs and the impact that they can have on innocent lives.
Doomsday: The Missing Children is a series that ran for 1 seasons (3 episodes) between December 20, 2020 and on Investigation Discovery