2007
Brandon Boudreaux says he met Melanie Cope at a New Year's Eve dance at the end of 2007.
“We met at a New Year's Eve dance. I went with a bunch of buddies.”
Topic
Brandon Boudreaux
24 facts from 2 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
2008
Brandon Boudreaux married Melanie, the niece of Lori Vallow, in 2008.
“Brandon married, uh, Lori Vallow's niece, Melanie, in 2008.”
2019
In late June 2019, after Brandon Boudreaux's grandfather died, Melanie announced she would not attend the funeral, and the marriage broke down rapidly.
“And then, in late June 2019, it was as if someone simply flipped a switch. The event Brandon's grandfather died, and Melanie announced she would not be attending the funeral.”
2019
Brandon Boudreaux says Melanie told him God had revealed he was gay and that they needed a divorce.
“You know, God's told me that that you're gay and we need a divorce.”
2019
Brandon Boudreaux says Melanie was the only person with access to his phone and had blocked Charles Vallow's texts for months.
“There's only one person who had access to my phone, had gotten in my phone and blocked Charles.”
2019
Brandon Boudreaux says a gun was fired at his car from a Jeep with Texas plates as he arrived home, shattering his window.
“Window lifts up and muzzle comes out, boom, loud noise, window shatters, and I think, Oh, someone's shooting at me.”
2019
The sale of the family home and a whole life policy still in effect on Brandon Boudreaux made his death potentially worth up to $1 million to Melanie.
“That sale, along with a whole life insurance policy still in effect on Brandon, made his life worth up to $1 million, payable to Melanie.”
2019
Brandon Boudreaux learned from a new attorney that his divorce papers had never been filed, so neither parent had legal custody.
“To gain sole custody, Brandon needed a new attorney. When he found one, the attorney dropped a shocking news Brandon and Melanie's divorce was not yet final.”
2019
Brandon Boudreaux found Chad Daybell's name in Charles Vallow's emails and, by searching it, found the obituary of Chad's wife Tammy Daybell.
“Just typed his name into Google and up pops this obituary for a Tamara Daybell.”
2019
Brandon Boudreaux took his four young children to Florida to hide from Melanie and Alex Cox.
“So Brandon threw a dart at the map and flew with his children, ages nine, six, four and two, across the country to Florida.”
2019
A Gilbert police detective told Brandon Boudreaux that Alex Cox, the suspected shooter, had died.
“He said, Alex Cox, who we believe shot at you, he's dead.”
2020
The deaths of JJ and Tylee were confirmed in June 2020.
“I got the feeling that he was pretty sure they were gone by the time it was confirmed in June of 2020.”
2020
Brandon Boudreaux identified JJ's body in Rexburg because JJ's grandfather Larry Woodcock had vertigo and trouble standing.
“Larry had vertigo and he was having trouble standing up. And they needed somebody to go identify the JJ's body.”
2025
Lori Vallow Daybell represented herself at her Arizona trial for attempting to kill Brandon Boudreaux and cross-examined him.
“last year, Lori represented herself at the Arizona trial, her Arizona trial for attempting to kill Brandon.”
Undated
Brandon and Melanie Boudreaux had four children, two boys and two girls, soon after marrying.
“Within a year, Melanie was a mother, and then there was another, and another, and another. Two boys and two girls.”
Undated
Brandon Boudreaux wrote a book called Unthinkable and sent a copy to producer Shane Bishop.
“he wrote a book called Unthinkable, so he sent me that book a few months ago.”
Undated
Melanie and Brandon Boudreaux had been married for more than ten years and had four children when the events began.
“Melanie and Brandon had been married for more than ten years, they had four kids”
Undated
Brandon Boudreaux baptized Tylee Ryan at her request.
“Brandon also, uh, baptized Tylee, and that was a decision that Tylee made.”
Undated
After the shooting, Brandon Boudreaux saw what appeared to be Lori Vallow's Jeep with Alex Cox driving it.
“and he sees what appears to be a jeep that belongs to Lori Vallow, with Alex Cox driving it.”
Undated
The sale of Brandon and Melanie Boudreaux's home was finalized the day before the October 1 shooting.
“The sale of the home had been finalized literally the day before October 1st.”
Undated
Brittany Morris says Melanie was still the person who would be paid on Brandon's life insurance at the time, because the divorce was not final.
“at that same time, Melanie is still, um, the person that would be paid out over 100 in life insurance if Brandon were to pass”
Undated
Brandon Boudreaux is now a father of six, including two stepchildren from his marriage to Jenny.
“He is a busy dad of six now.”
Undated
A custody evaluator recommended a 50/50 custody split between Brandon and Melanie after she asked for reconsideration of his temporary sole custody.
“a custody evaluator came back and said, I recommend fifty fifty.”
Undated
Brandon Boudreaux's parents were on a church mission in Montreal and so did not appear in the Dateline story.
“his mom and dad would've been great, too, but they were on a mission, uh, a church mission up in Montreal”
Episodes