Mother of missing children misses deadline to bring them to authorities

(CNN) - The mother of two missing Idaho children missed a deadline on Thursday to physically bring them to authorities.

Seven-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan have been missing since September.

The children's mother, Lori Vallow, was found in Hawaii with her new husband, Chad Daybell, last weekend. Authorities say the children weren't with them and there's no evidence they ever were.

The couple fled their home in November when authorities began searching for the children. Police believe they may have helpful information. Relatives are urging the couple to cooperate.

"There's nights we don't sleep. We just want to know what's happened," JJ's grandfather said. "How does she go to sleep at night? How do you go to sleep?"

Vallow and Daybell haven't been charged with anything, but it is possible contempt of court charges could be pending.

According to a KSTU report, the spouses of Vallow and Daybell both died in 2019. The body of Tammi Daybell, who died in October, has been exhumed for further investigation after it was initially believed she died of natural causes.

Charles Vallow was killed in July by Lori's brother, Alex Cox. Cox said the shooting was in self-defense. Cox later died at his Arizona home in December. The investigations into both deaths are still ongoing.

Family members also believe Vallow and Daybell may be members of a cult.

It's unclear why Vallow has been given so long to produce her children. An attorney told KSTU that police may be biding their time because they might find stronger evidence of foul play in connection with either the missing children or the death of Tammy Daybell. That would help them have a stronger potential case against two people who are labeled, as of now, not suspects, but persons of interest.