Bend author explores "doomsday murders"

Bend author and retired criminal attorney Lori Hellis will present her new true crime book, "Children of Darkness and Light: Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell: A Story of Murderous Faith"  at Paulina Springs Books on Thursday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. In this gripping work of true crime, Hellis takes readers inside the notorious Lori Vallow case and the devastating "doomsday murders."

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Lori Hellis.

A blonde beauty queen, missing children, six suspicious deaths, and the twisted Mormon doomsday writings of her fifth husband are only the beginning of a tragic crime saga that gripped Americans, and instigated frantic searches all over the country.

It all started when Lori Vallow met Chad Daybell at a doomsday prepper event. Clinging to and manipulating one another, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell believed the return of Jesus Christ was imminent and that God had chosen them to lead the 144,000 and usher in the new millennium. When the people closest to them began dying, it became clear they would stop at nothing to be together and fulfill their mission. When the bodies of Lori's missing children - JJ and Tylee - were discovered in Chad's backyard, the strange and complex story of their fundamentalist Mormon beliefs was revealed in all its true horror.

Author Lori Hellis, a retired criminal lawyer, had just moved to Arizona when news of JJ and Tylee's disappearance broke, and there were reports about these missing children that linked them to a neighboring community. She began to follow the case closely, trying to understand this perfect storm of people and circumstances that culminated in the death of innocents. In "Children of Darkness and Light," Hellis digs deep into the investigation, trial, and verdict to craft a haunting narrative that illuminates one of the most confounding crimes in recent memory.

Hellis is a retired attorney with a rich career in family and criminal law. She was a prosecutor and public defender beginning in 1992. Her legal expertise shines through her writings, where she unveils the complexities of true crime stories with unmatched clarity. Lori holds a BA in Journalism, a Juris Doctor, and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, reflecting her deep understanding of law and narrative craft.

Also a 20-year veteran of the Air National Guard, Lori has always been dedicated to service advocating for children, domestic violence survivors, and veterans. Her literary debut, "The No-Nonsense Guide to Divorce," and her forthcoming true crime book, "Children of Darkness and Light," bridge the gap between her legal knowledge and her storytelling acumen.

Based in Bend, Ellis cherishes her time with family and pets, making quilts and indulging in podcasts with the same passion she dedicates to her professional pursuits.

Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave.