In 2019, Brandon Boudreaux narrowly escaped death outside his Arizona home. A gunman tried to kill him, but the bullet missed his head. This attempted assassination unveiled a murder plot involving Lori Vallow Daybell. Prosecutors stated she enlisted her brother, Alex Cox, to murder Boudreaux amid his tense divorce from Vallow’s niece, Melani Pawlowski.
An Attempt on His Life
On October 2, 2019, as Boudreaux parked his Tesla at his home in Gilbert, Cox allegedly shot at him from a parked Jeep Wrangler. Boudreaux noticed the vehicle’s back window open before the shooting began. The bullet hit his car’s driver’s-side door, shattering the window. The shooter, Cox, was identified soon after but died in December 2019 without facing charges.
Vallow’s Convictions
An Arizona jury found Vallow guilty in June 2025 of plotting to murder Boudreaux. This followed an earlier conviction in April for conspiring to murder her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, whom Cox killed in July 2019. The Arizona verdicts came after Vallow’s 2023 Idaho trial, where she was found guilty of murdering her children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, and conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybell’s former wife.
Boudreaux’s Story Through “Unthinkable”
Boudreaux shares his ordeal in his book, “Unthinkable.” Initially written for his children, it offers a detailed account of events and his decisions. Boudreaux aims to show how faith guided him while allowing his children to choose their paths. Loved ones encouraged him to release the book publicly. Boudreaux waited for legal proceedings to progress before sharing his perspective, careful not to influence investigations.
Divorce and Turmoil
During Vallow’s trial, Boudreaux explained that his marriage to Pawlowski deteriorated in 2019 as she grew closer to Vallow. They filed for divorce in July 2019 and battled over child custody. In 2020, Pawlowski’s second husband, Ian, claimed she believed a “dark entity” possessed Boudreaux. The filing suggested Chad Daybell indicated something needed to happen to Boudreaux for spiritual progress.
Lingering Impacts and Trust Issues
Boudreaux remarried in 2020. He said the attempted murder, divorce, and ongoing fears left him wary of trust. Despite this, most people treated him with kindness and respect, though the public eye sometimes felt uncomfortable. He appreciates kindness amid attention.
Ongoing Investigation
Boudreaux refrains from discussing the shooting investigation details, preferring law enforcement to lead. The Gilbert Police Department confirms that the investigation remains active.
A Message of Value and Resilience
Boudreaux hopes his book communicates that everyone has intrinsic value and can aid others, regardless of adversity. He emphasizes that challenging experiences should not dictate one’s responses or choices.