Unthinkable Book Cover

Unthinkable by Brandon Boudreaux

UNTHINKABLE, the new memoir from Brandon Boudreaux, about Lori Vallow Daybell's plot to kill him, and how family, faith, and hope saved him. Now available for pre-order.

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Timeline of Key Events

What Happened and When

The key dates in Brandon's story, from Charles Vallow's death to the trials.

  1. July 11, 2019

    Charles Vallow is shot and killed in Chandler, Arizona.

  2. Sept 2019

    Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow are last seen.

  3. Oct 2, 2019

    A bullet misses Brandon's head outside his home in Gilbert.

  4. Oct 19, 2019

    Tammy Daybell dies in Idaho.

  5. June 9, 2020

    JJ and Tylee are found buried on Chad Daybell's property.

  6. 2023 to 2024

    In Idaho, Lori gets life without parole. Chad is sentenced to death.

  7. 2025

    In Arizona, Lori is convicted of plotting to kill Charles and Brandon.

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Meet the voice behind the book

About Brandon Boudreaux

Brandon Boudreaux is a devoted husband and father, serial entrepreneur, and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life was turned upside down when people he loved and trusted attempted to murder him, forever changing his understanding of faith and resilience. Outside of work and family, Brandon enjoys traveling the world, beach days, watching BYU sports, and whatever his kids are into lately.

In the media

Featured Coverage

Dateline NBCAiring FridayOctober 23

Dateline NBC

Airing Friday, October 23

A full Dateline episode on Brandon’s story, with Keith Morrison.

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Early Praise

What People Are Saying

I was moved by Brandon’s willingness to share such a deeply personal story of fear, betrayal, survival and ultimately, healing. This could have been a story defined by tragedy. Instead, it’s a testament to finding the courage to begin again.
Nate Eaton News Director, East Idaho News
We’ve spent countless hours examining the minds behind these crimes, but one perspective has remained largely unheard—a man who was never supposed to survive. Brandon Boudreaux’s story is the missing piece of this tragedy. Unthinkable is more than a story of survival. It is a story of betrayal, resilience, and the extraordinary courage it takes to rebuild a life when the people you trusted most tried to destroy it. For years we’ve been examining the minds of those responsible, but it is Brandon Boudreaux who reminds us why we must never lose sight of the people who survived them.
Lauren Matthias and Dr. John Matthias Hosts of Hidden True Crime
Unthinkable is written with honesty and with love for the people who were lost. Brandon reminds readers who Charles, JJ, and Tylee really were, not just how their story ended.
Kay and Larry Woodcock
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