Brandon Boudreaux, the former spouse of Lori Vallow’s niece Melani Pawlowski, is opening up about his chilling experience involving the so-called doomsday cult leader in an upcoming episode of NBC’s “Dateline.” The episode is scheduled to air on Friday, 23 October, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
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In a shocking turn of events from October 2019, Boudreaux became one of the targets in a series of violent incidents associated with Vallow and her inner circle. Just as he was embroiled in a bitter custody battle over his children with Pawlowski, Boudreaux was shot at while driving home from work, narrowly missing a bullet that just grazed past his head. The vehicle from which the shot was fired was familiar to him as it belonged to Charles Vallow, Lori’s estranged husband, who had been deceased for three months at the time.
In this forthcoming episode, Boudreaux shares the harrowing details of that day and reflects on the crucial reconnection he had with Charles shortly before the latter’s murder. What he did not realize was that Melani had been actively blocking communications from Charles, inhibiting any warning signs from reaching him. At the time, she was reportedly deep into the cult led by Lori Vallow and her new husband, Chad Daybell.
In a poignant preview of the episode, Boudreaux can be seen emotionally reflecting on his relationship with Charles, expressing regret for not being more present during a time when his friend was desperately seeking help. “I missed the mark. I wasn’t there enough for him,” he admits with visible distress. He recalls how Charles had been warning him of the threats posed by Vallow, even suggesting she would attempt to portray him as gay, an accusation that later emerged during their legal disputes.
Boudreaux’s tumultuous custody battle with Pawlowski took a disturbing turn when a press release, articulated by her lawyer Garrett Smith, accused him of various unfounded allegations, including an addiction to extreme pornography and an alleged history of victimising women. The claims shocked Boudreaux, especially as they coincided with the violence he was facing. He has since filed a defamation suit against those implicated in the release, asserting his innocence against this barrage of accusations.
The day of the shooting revealed further incriminating details regarding the actions of Alex Cox, Lori’s brother, who had reportedly searched for Boudreaux’s address and maintained significant contact with Vallow in the lead-up to the shooting. It eventually culminated in Vallow being arrested and charged with conspiring to murder both her estranged husband Charles and Boudreaux.
As the investigation unraveled, the shocking truth about the murders committed by Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and Alex Cox came to light. The group has been linked to the deaths of four individuals, which include Vallow’s children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, her ex-husband Charles, and Daybell’s late wife, Tammy.
On April 22, 2025, Vallow was convicted for her role in the conspiracy to murder Charles Vallow, and shortly thereafter, on June 12 of the same year, she was found guilty of conspiring to take Boudreaux’s life as well.
Boudreaux’s story sheds light on a disturbing chapter involving undue loyalty, betrayal, and manipulation arising from the confines of a destructive belief system. As he prepares to share his account on “Dateline,” he encourages anyone who may feel lost or targeted in similar circumstances to seek help and remain aware of their surroundings.
This episode promises to provide a deeper understanding of the chilling events that have unfolded around Vallow’s inner circle, bringing to light the angst and fear experienced by those, like Boudreaux, who were directly impacted by her dangerous actions.
The new episode of “Dateline” is one not to be missed, shedding light on themes of survival, justice, and the grim realities of cult influence in modern society.