The nation has been feverishly following the dramatic events that surround the disappearance of two Idaho children, whose mother and stepfather fled the state following a request for a wellness check by a family member. Joshua “J.J.” Vallow and Tylee Ryan were last seen last fall, around the time their mother, Lori Vallow pulled J.J. from public school, citing a new job that would require the family to move out of state.

Authorities tracked Lori Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell to the island of Kauai in Hawaii at the beginning of 2020. Authorities told her that she had until January 30^th to produce her children to a state office to prove they were alive and well, but that date came and went—still no sign of J.J. or Tylee.

Despite failure to produce her children, Lori Vallow Daybell was not immediately arrested on a contempt of court charge, much to the public’s bewilderment. However, there are legal experts who said that law enforcement must build a strong case before taking a legal swing at Vallow Daybell. Samuel Newton, an assistant law professor at the University of Idaho said, “I’m willing to bet what everyone is trying to do is get enough evidence to get an arrest and prove some sort of felony. What they don’t’ want to do is file a charge and then have it get dismissed because there’s nothing to support it.”

Lori Vallow Daybell was finally arrested last week on the island of Kauai where she fled with her husband. The couple had been seen “island-hopping” while law enforcement built a case against her. When she appeared in court on her bail hearing, the judge handed down a judgement of $5 million dollars. Vallow appeared in court again on Wednesday to have that bail reduced to $10,000. Her extradition from Hawaii is being reportedly expedited by Idaho governor, Brad Little, who told a local news station, “I hope there is justice, and I hope the children are found.”