Part 2: Melani & Ian Pawlowski religious beliefs and what they know about JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan

IDAHO FALLS — Lori Vallow Daybell's niece and her new husband are speaking in-depth about their relationship with the mother whose two children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, have been missing since September.

Melani and Ian Pawlowski were married last November after dating for less than two weeks. Melani lived next door to Daybell in Rexburg during the time her children were missing. Ian is currently involved in a custody battle with his ex-wife, Natalie Pawlowski, and Melani is in her own custody dispute with her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Brandon was shot at in October and believes Alex Cox, his ex-wife’s uncle, was the shooter.

The Pawlowskis now live in Arizona and spoke with EastIdahoNews.com via Zoom Saturday with their attorneys, Garrett Smith and Robert Jarvis.

Below is a transcript of the second part of their interview. It has been lightly edited for clarity. You can watch and read the first part of our interview here.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com: When is the last time you saw JJ and Tylee?

Melani Pawlowski: Ian has never met them but the last time I saw them they were packing up their home in Chandler where Charles had been shot. I remember how emotional it was just to be there. It was where this big thing happened. And Tylee thought it was hard being in the house after that situation happened.

And Lori - sometimes she's had to do things to protect her kids. The court systems haven't protected her and Tylee and Colby were abused by their dad, Joe. The court system didn't protect them and she had this history of doing everything she could to protect Tylee and JJ. I've always seen that in her since I was a teenager and she flew me out to go nanny for Tylee and JJ. I've never seen any evidence, or anything at all, that tells me that Lori would purposely harm her children. It's hard all the attacks out there. I still see her as the wonderful mom she is. When I see her come in court, I'm looking for something off that I'm not seeing. Because I've had every fear of where they could be but the last time I saw them was the end of August as they were moving because I think they moved up that first week in September.

Eaton: Did you visit Lori in Rexburg before you moved there?

Melani: I did I think on a weekend. My ex, Brandon Boudreaux, and I have 50/50 custody and so anytime it wasn't my time with my kids I was a wreck and just missed my kids. I tried to go hike in Arizona or go on a trip and I did go visit Lori for a weekend up there (in Rexburg). She said, 'Just come. Try out somewhere new and come see if you like it up here.' We toured BYU-Idaho and she said Tylee was with friends. She always was with friends so I didn't ask any questions about that. And JJ is either doing some type of therapy or with a nanny or in a school that will help him. So if I didn't see him, I wasn't asking, 'Where is he?' I just have always trusted her.

I had known that they left to Idaho because they were being threatened by people. I didn't want to ask so many questions and I didn't know what to do with that. And I was just there for love and support and I just wanted to be there to help you guys (Lori).

The entire interview can be watched at EastIdahoNews.com.