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"M*A*S*H" star Judy Farrell, best known for her role as Nurse Able on the series, died at the age of 84 Sunday.

Her son, Michael, confirmed the news to Fox News Digital.

Loretta Swit, who starred as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on "M*A*S*H," says Farrell was "family."

"Judy was a most beautiful woman — inside and out. We grew up together," she told Fox News Digital. "She was family. This has been a painful loss, but we will always have the beauty of her memory. Rest in peace, Nurse Able."

"M*A*S*H" debuted in 1972 while the United States was still fighting the Vietnam War. It shared the dark, comedic antics within a field hospital set during the Korean War. 

The CBS sitcom ran for 11 seasons and 256 episodes before wrapping up with the TV movie finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," which drew in over 100 million viewers and remained the most-watched television program in American history for 27 years. 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, FEB. 28, 1983, 'M*A*S*H' FINALE DRAWS RECORD TV AUDIENCE OF OVER 100 MILLION

As Swit noted in her statement on Farrell’s passing, the cast remained close throughout the years.

"We might as well be joined at the hip. We see each other quite frequently," she told Fox News Digital in 2017. "Every time we lose a comrade, it’s a body blow. We feel it harshly, badly. People always ask me, ‘Do you ever see them?’ When do I not see them? These aren’t casual acquaintances from years ago. This is my family. … So much of my life can be credited to my family."

In 2022, the series celebrated its 50th anniversary. Star Alan Alda reflected on the milestone in an interview with People, saying he still has "gratitude that what we did all those years ago is still on people's minds."

Here’s a look at the cast of one of the most popular TV series of all time, then and now.

KELLYE NAKAHARA'S 'M*A*S*H' CO-STARS ALAN ALDA, LORETTA SWIT REMEMBER THE LATE ACTRESS

Loretta Swit starred as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the series, the head nurse and highest-ranking female officer in the unit. 

She earned two Emmys in the supporting actress in a comedy category for her work on the show and appeared in all 11 seasons.

After M*A*S*H, Swit appeared on shows like "The Love Boat" and "Murder, She Wrote," as well as several appearances on "Hollywood Squares" from 1999-2004.

In addition to her acting work, Swit has pursued art, releasing a book of her work titled "SwitHeart" in 2019. She also put out a book on needlepoint, called "A Needlepoint Scrapbook," in 1986.

Swit is involved in several charitable causes, including animal rights and supporting veterans. 

In 2020, she used much of her time during quarantine raising awareness for military members and veterans. 

"The times are challenging, but we are tough," the "M*A*S*H" star told Fox News Digital at the time. "I have been networking. I have been shooting PSAs on my iPhone for New York City, the city I love, for the ASPCA and Ayla’s Acres for my love of animals, and Paws for Purple Hearts [because] I love veterans, POWs and [our] military."

'M*A*S*H' STAR LORETTA SWIT DESCRIBES HER LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH HER CO-STARS, FANS

Alan Alda starred as the wisecracking Capt. Benjamin Franklin Pierce, better known as "Hawkeye," in the series. 

Hawkeye was the chief surgeon of the unit and a breakout character for Alda, who won two Emmys for his work on the show. Alda also wrote and directed many episodes, including the series finale TV movie "Goodbye, Farewell, Amen."

After "M*A*S*H," Alda continued acting, writing and directing with films like "The Four Seasons," "Sweet Liberty," and "A New Life." In 2004, he earned an Oscar nomination for his role in "The Aviator," alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.

He also continued television work with several appearances on "ER," "30 Rock," The Good Fight" and "Ray Donovan."

In 2018, Alda announced he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three years earlier, telling "Today," "I’m good. I shake a little, but I’m good."

Despite the diagnosis, Alda remains active not just physically, but in his career too. Last year, he appeared in "Ray Donovan: The Movie," and is now on season 20 of his podcast, "Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda."

On the podcast, Alda hosted a "M*A*S*H" reunion with some of the surviving cast in 2018.

"The reason why I wanted to bring them together was not just for the reunion. We have reunions all the time," Alda told Fox News at the time. "We get together for dinner at least once a year. What I realized was that the experience with them on ‘M*A*S*H’ taught me something that really led in part to the podcast in itself."

Alda said that, even now, he’s still learning some surprising facts about the making of the hit show.

"Mike Farrell tells a story really well about a series of practical jokes that everybody played on one another," Alda chuckled. "It started with a hilarious joke that got even more hilarious when the other person got revenge. I wasn’t in on the practical jokes. So I didn’t know what happened. But it’s a really wonderful story, and Mike tells it very well on the podcast."

ALAN ALDA TALKS REUNITING WITH ‘M*A*S*H’ CO-STARS, SECRET TO HIS LASTING MARRIAGE IN HOLLYWOOD

Gary Burghoff played Cpl. Walter Eugene "Radar" O’Reilly in the series. 

He originated the role in the 1970 Robert Altman film "M*A*S*H," and both the series and movie were based on a book by author Richard Hooker, "MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors."

In an interview for writer Ken Levine’s blog, Burghoff explained the difference in his approach to the film character and the television one. In the film, Burghoff described Radar as "a lone, darker and somewhat sardonic character," while the television version was a "more innocent, naive character." The actor earned six Emmy nominations and one win for his work on the show before leaving the series in 1979.

After "M*A*S*H," he appeared on the short-lived "M*A*S*H" spinoffs "AfterMASH" and "W*A*L*T*E*R," as well as other shows like "Fantasy Island," "The Love Boat," and "Tales of the Unexpected." Burghoff retired from acting in 1995, with a brief return in the film "Daniel’s Lot."

Outside of acting, Burghoff has had quite the career as an inventor. He holds a patent for a device called "Chum Magic," which attracts fish to fishermen's boats. He also invented an advanced fishing pole and a toilet seat lifting handle.

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Mike Farrell, who was briefly married to the late Judy Farrell in the early 1980s, joined "M*A*S*H" in season four as Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt, a new sidekick to Alda’s Hawkeye, after the departure of Wayne Rogers ("Trapper" John). 

Farrell stayed on through the remainder of the show, and his character is the one who created the famous "Goodbye" spelled out in white rocks seen in the series finale. Farrell was nominated for an Emmy twice for his work on the series.

After "M*A*S*H," Farrell had a prolific career as an actor, with appearances on "Murder, She Wrote" "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Desperate Housewives." He also landed a leading role in "Providence" in 1999 as the father to star Melina Kanakaredes’ character.

Farrell also worked behind the scenes as a producer on several projects, most notably the 1998 Robin Williams film "Patch Adams."

The 84-year-old is also active in several political and social causes, including being a member of PETA, serving as co-chair for ten years with the California Human Rights Watch, sitting on the board for the Cult Awareness Network. He was also president of Death Penalty Focus for over ten years.

Jamie Farr’s character Cpl. Max Klinger quickly became a fan favorite on "M*A*S*H" for his wacky antics, including cross-dressing, to try to get discharged from the army.

After the series ended, Farr continued appearances on dozens of shows, including "Diagnosis Murder," "Mad About You," and "That 70s Show."

He’s also starred in films like "Cannonball Run II," "Scrooged," and "A Month of Sundays."

Farr returned to his theatrical roots as well, making his Broadway debut in 1994 as Nathan Detroit in "Guys & Dolls." He also teamed up with fellow "M*A*S*H" star William Christopher for a version of "The Odd Couple." The Ohio-born actor toured in several shows, include "The Will Rogers Follies," "Oklahoma," and "Oliver."

Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.

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A Florida school board member asked during a school board meeting how "woman" is defined in a proposed sex education curriculum, noting that parents want a clear answer to weigh whether to pull their children out of the district. 

Broward County Public Schools has been debating on the proposed sex education curriculum since the district reworked the curriculum due to pressure from the Florida Department of Education. At a school board meeting on March 28th, school board members clashed on defining what a woman is after a public comment period addressed the curriculum.

School board member Brenda Fam of District 6 shared questions that BCPS parents have asked her.

STATES PASS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE AMID PARENTAL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: 'TEACHERS UNIONS AWAKENED SLEEPING GIANT'

"Some of my parents have had some questions that I actually posed and didn’t get a response for. They want to know what the definition of a woman is for sexual education curriculum in Broward County," Fam said. "They want to know what individuals can get pregnant and what individuals can give birth. They want to know those definitions as well. I think this, especially, with school vouchers and school choice, this is going to weigh heavy on them in whether or not they choose to leave the school system or whether they stay based on some of these responses. And they are very serious, and they want answers to these questions."

The superintendent responded that there is "no clear-cut answer."

"They want to know what the definition of what a woman is in the sexual education curriculum for Broward County. That question is more than a question. It is a thought process, it’s an examination, a lot of laws based on a lot of things," Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Earlean C. Smiley said.

"I guess I’m procrastinating and hesitating because there is no clear-cut answer I can give you at this point," Smiley added.

Fam pushed further by asking why the board is unable to define clearly "what's a man and what's a woman." Another school board member Sarah Leonardi of District 3 responded to Fam, appearing to be irritated by Fam's line of questioning.

UTAH GOVERNOR SIGNS MAJOR EDUCATION FUNDING BILL, BECOMING THIRD STATE TO ENSHRINE SCHOOL CHOICE INTO LAW

"This curriculum, the policy, the support guide, the goal of all of us being here is to support children and to educate children," Leonardi said. "And not to engage in a political line of questioning that distracts from that mission. I just think it's very important that we stick to the purpose of, again, the curriculum, the policy, the support guide, which is to support children and not get distracted by other agendas."

"Just to respond to that, the curriculum is required to fully inform parents," Fam responded, "so they can consent or say no, they do not want to consent to having their child receive sexual education. So, I think these are crucial terms. I think they're actually very basic terms that somehow this shouldn't be a difficult response to acquire."

The authors of the "Family Life and Human Sexuality" curriculum said that the BCPS school board will address Fam's question at a later date. So far, it is not immediately clear if the current draft of the curriculum already contains a definition of "woman" or any other gender-related terms.

The board will vote on a finalized version of the sex education curriculum at a later date. BCPS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for a comment.

IOWA GOV KIM REYNOLDS SIGNS HISTORIC SCHOOL CHOICE BILL: 'WE WILL FUND STUDENTS NOT SYSTEMS'

The Fam's comments came after Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed universal school choice into law, resulting in the Sunshine State becoming the 4th state to pass such a law. 

School choice became a salient issue after the COVID-19-induced lockdowns sparked a conversation on the scope of the government’s authority and the type of content that should be taught to children from public school curricula. 

DeSantis' policies underscore the phenomenon of parents across the country paying closer attention to school boards by challenging progressive curricula and contesting books they deemed inappropriate. 

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Artificial Intelligence has taken the world by storm. Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched in November 2022, it immediately became the fastest-growing app in the history of the Web, rocketing past 100 million monthly active users in two months. It has heralded an AI arms race between Microsoft (which invested billions in ChatGPT), Google (which launched its ChatGPT rival, Bard, on March 21) and other tech giants vying for AI supremacy, including Chinese media conglomerate Baidu. 

While this explosion of technology can produce significant upsides, including scientific breakthroughs, it also portends the end of critical thinking as we know it.

Critical thinking is a human skill painstakingly developed and experientially honed over our lives, beginning in childhood. It becomes our personal and constantly refining filter – for our opinions, thoughts, decisions, relationships, habits, everything. 

We are on the cusp of witnessing an entire generation of young people, and upcoming future generations, who will be fundamentally impaired in their nurturing of this vital skill. They will instead be dependent on AI for any task that requires a modicum of analytical thought, as within seconds it can generate coherent, remarkably human-like and uniquely customized responses to virtually any question or request. 

CHATGPT SPARKS CONCERNS ABOUT FUTURE OF EDUCATION: WILL IT IMPACT THE ‘INTEGRITY’ OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS?

Even kids in elementary school are already using AI. Prior to ChatGPT, modern kids had Google and the Web, but they still had to do research and filter information from numerous results. That requires critical thought. Now, AI chatbots have rendered those ruminations obsolete. 

On Feb. 27, Snapchat, which worldwide has over 300 million users ages 13-24, announced its own chatbot powered by ChatGPT. Users now have an AI "friend" they can depend on 24/7 – one that will never criticize them or argue with them. As Facebook and other social media giants soon follow with their AI chatbots, we will see future generations' emotional growth and interpersonal communications skills stunted irrevocably.

A developer on GitHub recently came up with a way to integrate ChatGPT into WhatsApp, so that people can use the AI chatbot to respond to their friends’ texts. A Business Insider journalist reported that she used ChatGPT to generate texts and replies to her matches on dating apps. Soon, it won’t be uncommon to have two chatbots chatting or flirting with each other on behalf of their human counterparts.

Without ever learning to develop emotional intelligence or conversational skills, humans may soon be reduced to mindless drones whose only function is to press "send."

According to a survey by the online magazine, Intelligent, in January (just two months after ChatGPT’s launch), 30% of college students used ChatGPT on written assignments, and 60% of those students used it on "more than half of their assignments." Open AI CEO Sam Altman said the tech is advancing so fast that successfully detecting AI plagiarism is "fundamentally impossible."

Before our current youth set foot in any workplace, AI will be firmly established there, too. On March 16, Microsoft announced its 365 Copilot, adding AI to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. On March 14, Google announced "a new era for AI and Google Workplace," explaining that it will embed AI inside Google Docs, Gmail, Google Sheets and Google Slides. This tech will auto-complete your emails and documents, write cover letters and articles for you, and much more, soon replacing most needs for thoughtful work.

NEW AI UPGRDE COULD BE INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM HUMANS: EXPERT

While AI is on the road to becoming vastly more intelligent than humans, it’s also an unintended yet frequent liar. Microsoft's Bing recently implemented ChatGPT and has been shown to supply wrong answers and confidently share falsehoods, now coined as "hallucinations." 

In one such case, according to The Verge, "Bing’s Chat GPT even claimed it spied on Microsoft’s employees through webcams on their laptops and manipulated them." AI-generated deepfakes (digitally altered videos or images that falsely appear authentic) are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. They can quickly rack up millions of views on social media, deceiving countless viewers and leaving us in a bewildered state, unable to decipher fact from fiction.

The technology continues to improve at an exponential and alarming rate. On March 14, just a few months after its original launch of ChatGPT, OpenAI launched ChatGPT-4. When tested on the bar exam and SATs, Cointelegraph reported,"GPT-4 completed many of the tests within the top 10% of the cohort, while the original version of ChatGPT often finished in the bottom 10%." 

What happens when we reach GPT-5, 6, 7, or 100? Submitting to AI’s purported superior intelligence, people will soon rely on AI chatbots to make all their decisions, from what show to watch, where to live, what job to take, who to marry, and who to vote for. What does this portend for democracy? All hail and bow to the AI overlord–the friendly, personal dictator for everyone’s life. 

AI is not neutral – it can’t be. This technology is now being led by corporations like Google, Microsoft, Meta and others. Executives and developers from these corporations are involved in testing and fine-tuning their chatbots, along with setting their rules and guardrails. Those in charge can direct which sources it sweeps to gather its data, determine its training processes, and can make adjustments to its responses. Every decision by its owners and developers guides the AI’s data inputs and outputs in a certain direction, whether intentionally or inadvertently. 

TECH GIANT SAM ALTMAN COMPARES POWERFUL AI RESEARCH TO DAWN OF NUCLEAR WARFARE: REPORT

No matter your political orientation, we will all be subject to the inherent biases built-in by AI’s owners. If we depend on AI to do our critical thinking, while its own critical thinking mechanisms have programmed biases, then we are doubly in trouble. 

The profit-maximizing incentives of the corporations who own and operate this tech compel them to move as fast as possible. Regulations are urgently needed to keep this tech in check before it’s too late. 

There are solutions that can help – and now is the time to establish them. Three in particular: 

One, create a new regulatory commission consisting of experts of AI and ethics for discreet and enforceable oversight. 

Two, at the federal level, legislate new regulations requiring full transparency of all AI chatbots, fully disclosing sources the AI systems are gathering data from, and which specific rules and guardrails are put in place. 

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Three, either voluntarily or through mandate if needed, all content generated by AI chatbots must be identified as such. As reported by MIT Technology Review, it is possible to embed hidden "watermarks" into the Large Language Models used by these AI systems, which will help computers detect if content was created by AI.

These solutions won’t solve everything, but they are vital steps that can be implemented now.

The rollout of ChatGPT and its brethren run far ahead of assessments regarding their potential for harm. The necessary cognitive life skill called critical thinking is in the crosshairs. There are times when governing bodies must urgently step in to remediate runaway tech – this is such a time. 

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are faced with a decision that could further deepen tensions within the British royal family.

It’s still unclear whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel across the pond in May for King Charles’ coronation. But no matter what the couple ultimately decides, several royal experts agreed it’s a "lose-lose" situation.

"It's really lose-lose for the Sussexes unless the rest of the family suddenly decides to do an about-face and embrace them," Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," told Fox News Digital. "I don't see that happening. There is too much bitterness there. Too many bridges have been burned."

"So, if Harry and Meghan attend the coronation, they will almost certainly be sidelined and visibly shunned," he shared. "If they don't go, it will look as if Harry is turning his back on his birthright, the royal family, and the institution of the monarchy itself."

"It's really tragic that both sides have allowed things to go so far south," Andersen added.

Royal public relations expert Edward Coram-James recently told GB News the couple may be faced with "a cold shoulder" from several senior royals. If the couple were to attend the coronation at London's Westminster Abbey, it would be the first meeting between the king and his younger son following the publication of Harry's bestselling memoir "Spare."

KING CHARLES 'WAS NEVER EXPECTING TO SEE' PRINCE HARRY, EXPERTS CLAIM: 'STARK EXAMPLE OF CONSEQUENCE'

"In a universe in which the damage already caused by the rift is still recoverable from, at least in part, a no-show would be the fatal, irreversible blow, both in the public perception as well, potentially, as within the family itself," warned Coram-James. "It risks drawing out the conflict over the long term."

On March 5, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed that Harry received "email correspondence" from the king’s office about the coronation. Buckingham Palace didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

"An immediate decision on whether the duke and duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time," the couple’s office said in a statement.

Speculation about whether the Sussexes would be invited to the coronation has raged since the release of Harry’s tell-all, which contained damning allegations of intrigue behind the palace walls.

The disclosures, including details of private conversations with his father and brother, Prince William, fanned tensions between Harry and his family that became public when he and his wife moved to North America in 2020.

Kinsey Schofield, the host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast, told Fox News Digital that she wouldn’t be surprised if the Sussexes put on a brave face in the U.K. for the historic ceremony.

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"I’m confident that Harry and Meghan are savvy enough to know that their connection to the royal family is their brand’s strongest selling point, so they have got to suck it up and nurture that element no matter how bruised their egos are," Schofield explained.

"I initially wondered if Meghan would stay at home in California," she shared. "But then we saw clearly orchestrated paparazzi photos throughout Los Angeles that let us know Meghan was ready to be front and center again after taking a backseat for Harry's ‘Spare’ spree."

"If Harry and Meghan were not to attend the coronation – a long shot – there would undoubtedly be relief felt by senior members of the royal family," Schofield continued. "Harry's family does not trust the couple and is visibly uncomfortable when they are near. It would be Harry and Meghan's brand that would take the biggest hit... not their relationship with their family."

Schofield noted that the pair wouldn’t be the only ones keeping things civil in the public eye.

"I've recently heard that if they attend, the king would seat them near someone he loves, like Prince Edward," said Schofield. "They would likely not make much contact with the Prince and Princess of Wales… Time heals all wounds, but Prince William might need another decade or two."

Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe pointed out to Fox News Digital that by being candid in his memoir, Harry has opened himself up to facing more scrutiny from the press.

PRINCE HARRY IN LONDON: PRINCE WILLIAM, KING CHARLES HAVE ZERO PLANS TO GIVE ROYAL 'WARM RECEPTION': EXPERTS

"Relations are so bad and emotions are running so high on both sides," Larcombe claimed. "This is why every little detail of this coronation takes on extra significance because people will want to keep knowing what's happening with Harry and Meghan behind closed doors of the palace… They've added intrigue. All the current situation does is add to the intrigue of what's actually going on. Has there been any improvements? Have things gotten even worse? Harry inadvertently started his own kind of soap opera."

Harry's book included allegations that members of the royal family regularly feed the press unflattering information about other members of the House of Windsor in exchange for positive coverage of themselves.

The prince, 38, singled out Camilla, the queen consort, accusing her of leaking private conversations to the media as she sought to rehabilitate her image after marrying Charles, 74. Camilla was once reviled for her long-term affair with the king, which contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to the late Prince Diana, Harry and William’s mother.

The acrimony between Harry and his family once again spilled into public view when the Sussexes recently acknowledged they were asked to vacate their home in Britain.

Frogmore Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle west of London, was the couple’s main residence before they gave up royal duties and moved to Montecito, a wealthy enclave in Southern California.

Like Andersen, royal expert Hilary Fordwich also told Fox News Digital that the dilemma the Sussexes face is a "lose-lose situation."

PRINCE HARRY CLAIMS HE WAS 'DEPRIVED' OF TEENAGE YEARS DUE TO PUBLISHER'S 'UNLAWFUL' ACTIONS IN UK LAWSUIT

"On the one hand, if they do accept their invitation, the likelihood of being booed by the British public… is highly likely," Fordwich explained, adding that recent polls "have shown how disgruntled and perhaps disgusted the public is with them."

Fordwich also said it's likely the couple will be met with a "frosty" reception "from hard-working senior royals and the extended royal family."

"On the other hand, if they don’t accept and use the plausible ‘out’ of the coronation falling on the same day as their son Prince Archie’s 4th birthday, then they are losing their relevance and money-making potential," she claimed. "So, the likelihood [Harry] will attend the coronation, the most important day in his father’s life, is high."

Last week, Harry made a surprise appearance at London's High Court for a four-day hearing in a case against Associated Newspapers.

The company, which produces British publications like the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, is accused of invading the privacy of notable figures like the prince, as well as Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and Elton John, among others.

Fordwich said Harry may have been "testing the waters" with his recent visit, which would help the couple make a final decision.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams is adamant that the Sussexes won’t miss out on attending the coronation.

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"The event will be huge and a superb spectacle," he told Fox News Digital. "The [couple’s] activities will indeed be much publicized before the coronation. As it happened during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, they will largely be a sideshow during the ceremony and the celebrations following it."

Fitzwilliams pointed out that Harry is expected to make another court appearance for his lawsuit against the Daily Mirror newspaper on May 9.

While recently taking part in a live-streamed conversation with Dr. Gabor Maté, Harry said he urged other members of the royal family to seek therapy. He also said criticism of "Spare" won't make him silent because speaking out has helped him deal with the trauma in his life.

"The more they criticize, the more they comment, the more I feel the need to share," Harry said. "I found a way to be able to look around, and firstly ignore, the criticisms and the abuse."

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The murder trial for so-called "cult mom" Lori Vallow began with jury selection Monday, nearly three years since two of her children were found dead and buried on her husband's rural Idaho property in 2020.

Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, both religious conspiracists, are accused of killing her children, 7-year-old J.J. Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, and Daybell's ex-wife, Tammy, between September and October 2019.

"It was just getting crazier and crazier," Richard Robertson, a private investigator hired to work Vallow's case in 2019, told Fox News Digital of the series of bizarre events that unfolded leading up to her 2020 arrest.

Robertson was initially hired to find Vallow and her late brother, Alex Cox, after they were accused of plotting a drive-by shooting in Arizona in July 2019.

LORI VALLOW CASE: JJ VALLOW'S GRANDMOTHER DOESN'T ‘RECOGNIZE’ SO-CALLED ‘CULT MOM’ SMILING OUTSIDE COURT

Once Robertson found Vallow and Cox in Idaho, J.J. Vallow's grandparents asked the private investigator if he had seen any children over the course of his investigation, which is when he began searching for the missing 7-year-old and his sister, who went missing in Idaho in September 2019.

Lori and her late fourth husband, Charles Vallow, had been married since 2006 and adopted J.J. together in 2013 from Charles' relative. Their relationship had been a positive one until 2018, when Lori met Daybell on a podcast discussing theories about the end of the world.

LORI VALLOW, CHAD DAYBELL 'DOOMSDAY' MURDERS: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

It was around that time that Charles Vallow noticed a shift in his wife. She was embracing theories about the apocalypse and had started calling her children "zombies," according to investigators. Then, J.J. and Tylee disappeared.

Charles called police to his home in Arizona on Jan. 31, 2019, to report his wife and children missing. In police body camera footage from that evening obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, Charles can be heard telling police that he thinks his wife has "lost her mind."

LORI VALLOW DEBUTS NEW JAIL LOOK AS DEFENSE CLAIMS SHE DIDN'T ‘PARTICIPATE’ IN CHILDREN'S MURDERS

He continues to tell officers that Lori believes she is "a resurrected being of God" and thinks he is a "dark spirit." He says he doesn't "know what she's going to do," with his children, who were with Lori at the time.

"I don't know if she's going to flee with them, if she's going to hurt them," Charles responded, adding that he had spoken to Lori earlier in the day over the phone. He claimed she told him and his church bishop, "Come take the kids. I don't care what happens to them."

Lori went to the police the next day and apparently told authorities she believed Charles was cheating on her. The next month, Lori left her children with Charles and disappeared for 58 days, according to J.J.'s grandmother, Kay Woodcock.

At that point, Charles filed for a divorce and custody of her children. Lori soon began dating Chad Daybell.

In July 2019, Lori's brother, Alex Cox, allegedly shot Charles Vallow to death in Arizona, claiming self-defense. Two months later, in September 2019, Tylee and J.J. went missing for months. Cox died later that year of an apparent blood clot in December 2019.

"As soon as Lori started lying, I had a bad feeling what the outcome was going to be," Robertson said. "We were hopeful that that wasn't what had happened – that she just spirited them off to some compound someplace or something wacko like that. But the longer it went on and the more she dug in their heels, I was sure that something bad really happened. It was only a matter of time."

IDAHO ‘CULT MOM’ LORI VALLOW DENIED ‘STRATEGY SESSION’ WITH HUSBAND CHAD DAYBELL AHEAD OF MURDER TRIAL

J.J. and Tylee were missing for months when police say the couple lied about the children's whereabouts and then slipped away to Hawaii, where they got married in November 2019.

WATCH: NANCY GRACE SAYS IDAHO MOTHER LORI VALLOW LIED

"At that point, law enforcement was involved," Robertson said. "That's when they put out the flyers about the endangered kids. Multiple agencies got involved. We were tracing Lori and Chad in Hawaii because Lori was using her dead husband, Charles', Amazon account, and we had the login, and we were watching her buy this s--t on Charles' Amazon account and ship it to an address in Hawaii."

IDAHO ‘CULT MOM’ LORI VALLOW WANTS CASE DISMISSED OVER ‘SPEEDY TRIAL' CONCERNS AFTER 1,169 DAYS IN JAIL

Local agencies from Hawaii, Arizona and Idaho, as well as the FBI, then became involved in the search for J.J. and Tylee, which is when Robertson "stepped back" from his own investigation.

Authorities eventually found J.J. and Tylee's bodies buried on Daybell's property in rural Idaho in June 2020.

Robertson noted that Tylee and J.J.'s cause of death have not been released yet, though he suspects they will be brought up in trial. Investigators found Tylee's remains dismembered and burned while J.J.'s body was wrapped in plastic and tied with duct tape.

Vallow and Daybell allegedly collected J.J.'s and Tylee's Social Security benefits between Oct. 1, 2019, and Jan. 22, 2020, after their murders.

Authorities arrested Vallow in February 2020 and Daybell in June 2020.

The couple was indicted in late May 2021 on multiple counts each of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception, first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder related to the deaths of Tylee, J.J. and Tammy Daybell, officials announced at the time. Arizona officials in June 2021 also indicted Vallow in the July 2019 murder of her ex-husband, Charles Vallow.

Daybell has written several apocalyptic novels based loosely on Mormon theology. Both were involved in a group that promotes preparedness for the biblical end times. Vallow and Daybell bonded over their religious beliefs after initially meeting in 2018, when they appeared together for the first time on a podcast discussing theories about the end of the world.

The couple was initially scheduled to stand a joint trial in 2021, but proceedings were delayed due to Vallow's competency examinations and an "exceptionally voluminous" collection of evidence, among other factors. Judge Steven Boyce ruled in February that their cases would be severed because Vallow has refused to waive her right to a speedy trial.

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Former President Donald Trump will appear before a familiar face in court Tuesday for his arraignment after being formally charged for crimes related to hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

At 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Trump will appear before Judge Juan Merchan for the first preceding in the unprecedented case against the former president. But it won't be the first time Merchan has presided over cases involving Trump and his business dealings.

Merchan was the judge overseeing the case and trial of the Trump Organization and its former CFO, Allen Weisselberg. During that trial last year, Merchan shot down assertions from Trump lawyers that the case was politically motivated, according to CBS News.

"I will not allow you in any way to bring up a selective prosecution claim or claim this is some sort of novel prosecution," Merchan said, later adding that he "will have very little patience at trial any questions that are not in a good-faith basis."

FORMER AG BARR SAYS TRUMP INDICTMENT DESIGNED TO SPOIL GOP’S SHOT AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2024

Merchan ultimately sentenced Weisselberg to five months in prison and ordered Trump's companies to pay a $1.6 million fine, the maximum amount under New York state law.

Merchan is also the judge presiding over the fraud case against Steve Bannon in relation to the "We Build the Wall" organization.

STEFANIK RIPS PELOSI AS ‘RADICAL AUTHORITARIAN’ FOR SAYING TRUMP NEEDS TO ‘PROVE HIS INNOCENCE’

Merchan was born in Bogota, Colombia, and emigrated to New York City when he was 6 years old. He was raised in Queens as the youngest of six children.

Merchan began his legal career in 1994 as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan after graduating from Hofstra University School of Law. After five years conducting trials and prosecuting financial fraud cases, he moved to the State Attorney General’s Office, where he held positions overseeing civil cases on Long Island, according to a profile in the New York Times.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed Merchan to be a judge on Family Court of the City of New York in Bronx County. In 2009, Merchan was appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau to be an acting justice in State Supreme Court, where he presided over felony criminal trials.

TRUMP HIRES NEW DEFENSE ATTORNEY ON EVE OF NYC ARRAIGNMENT

On March 30, Trump was indicted as part of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's years-long investigation into hush-money payments made leading up to the 2016 election.

These include the $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and the $150,000 payment made to former Playboy model Karen McDougal, Fox News Digital has learned.

Hush-money payments made to both McDougal and Daniels had been investigated by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York and by the Federal Election Commission.

Federal prosecutors in SDNY opted out of charging Trump related to the Stormy Daniels payment in 2019. The Federal Election Commission also tossed its investigation into the matter in 2021.

Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.

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A judge presiding over Donald Trump’s arraignment in a Manhattan courthouse Tuesday afternoon has denied a request from several media outlets to allow cameras to cover live courtroom proceedings, according to court documents.

New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan said the court would allow a "limited number" of videographers, photographers, and radio journalists to be present but denied the motion to allow photos or live video during the court session.

However, five pool photographers will be allowed to take pictures for several minutes before the hearing begins.

In his ruling, Judge Merchan said he considered "all relevant factors" — which included whether the camera coverage would "interfere with the fair administration of justice… with law enforcement activity, the objections of the Defendant; and limitations related to the physical structure of the courtroom" — but ultimately denied the motion.

TRUMP CONFIRMS HE WILL APPEAR IN COURT IN NEW YORK CITY ON TUESDAY FOLLOWING HIS INDICTMENT

He ruled integrity of the court’s impartiality outweighed the "monumental significance" of the case and the "unparalleled public interest" it has generated.

Merchan went on to affirm that members of the media will be allowed to enter the courtroom, but electronic items like cell phones would not be permitted.

"The use of cell phones, laptops or any electronic devices will be strictly prohibited in the courtrooms. Any such devices will have to be turned off and secured outside of public view while in the courtrooms," he wrote.

In the ruling, Merchan said cameras could be used in the hallway of the building. He also approved the use of two overflow rooms for additional seating, which was another request from media members.

Trump landed in New York on Monday. His arraignment is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.

In his reasoning, Judge Merchan said Trump's arraignment has "unparalleled public interest and media attention" and "that this indictment involves a matter of monumental significance [that] cannot possibly be disputed."

"Never in the history of the United States has a sitting or past president been indicted on criminal charges," he added.

MOST AMERICANS SUPPORT TRUMP INDICTMENT, BUT THINK POLITICS PLAYED A ROLE IN BRAGG'S DECISION: POLL

"The populace rightly hungers for the most accurate and current information available," Merchan continued. "To suggest otherwise would be disingenuous."

"Understandably, the News Organizations want to fulfill their responsibilities and argue that obtaining the broadest possible public access helps advance that mission. Unfortunately, although genuine and undoubtedly important, the interests of the News Organizations must be weighed against competing interests. This Court is now called upon to engage in that balancing exercise."

In the request, District Attorney Alvin Bragg, on behalf of the people of New York, argued the presence of cameras in the courtroom "raises a number of concerns."

TRUMP'S INDICTMENT PUTS HIM IN SAME COMPANY AS BERLUSCONI, NETANYAHU, OTHER WORLD LEADERS

Among those concerns included "the prejudicial impact of pretrial publicity on the jurors, the impact on the truthfulness of the witnesses, responsibilities placed on the trial judge to assure a fair trial and the impact on the [defendant]," court documents show.

Merchan was first appointed to the New York State Court of Claims by Democratic Gov. David Paterson in 2009. He then began serving as an acting justice on the New York Supreme Court that same year.

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The details of Trump's indictment are still unknown because they are under seal until the arraignment takes place. 

A potential guilty verdict in the case would not prevent Trump from running for the White House in 2024. 

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