CHANDLER, AZ — After watching the news on the Lori Vallow case, this Chandler mom noticed something quite familiar.
Mayra Ballesteros said her daughter attended school with JJ Vallow, Lori Vallow’s missing seven-year-old son.
Ballesteros noticed a boy who appeared to be Joshua "JJ" Vallow next to her daughter, Amaya, in photos of their classroom at L.I.F.E. Academy in Gilbert.
"He looked very familiar," said Ballesteros. "So I went into the pictures I had and as I look [I said] 'It's him’.”
Ballesteros said she remembers JJ Vallow from pajama parties at school and said her daughter would have lunch with him every day.
JJ Vallow and his 17-year-old sister Tylee Ryan have been missing since September of 2019. Lori Vallow awaits extradition back to Idaho and is facing charges of felony desertion and non-support of dependent children...
Ballesteros recollected her scarce interactions with JJ's mom, Lori Vallow.
"Every time I would see her I would try and say hi but she would kind of keep to herself. She would come in and kind of ignore the moms," said Ballesteros.
While recent attention on Lori Vallow has centered around Hawaii and Idaho, Chandler police have continued investigating the death of her late husband, Charles Vallow. Charles was shot and killed by Lori's brother, who claimed self-defense.
Chandler Police said they have executed multiple search warrants and has emails from Charles Vallow just weeks before his death. Chandler detectives say they've discussed going to Idaho sometime soon to ask Lori questions once she's extradited from Hawaii.
