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Tom Arnold and sister Lori open up about their childhood and her life dealing drugs in Queen Of Meth

Tom Arnold and sister Lori open up about their tough childhood and her life as a drug dealer in Discovery+’s Queen Of Meth


Tom Arnold and sister Lori are opening up about their tough past and her wild life of crime in the new Discovery+ documentary Queen Of Meth.

The True Lies actor, 63, and his sister, 60, teased a bit of what to expect in the three-part series while talking to People on Thursday.

The chaos started young for the kids, whose mother left the family when they were just toddlers. 

And that ‘wild child’ spirit would guide Lori, who married at 14-years-old and went on to become one of the Midwest’s biggest drug dealers in the 80s.

Doc talk: Tom Arnold and sister Lori Arnold talk about their tough childhood and her life as one of the largest drug dealers in the Midwest in the new Discovery+ docuseries Queen Of Meth

Doc talk: Tom Arnold and sister Lori Arnold talk about their tough childhood and her life as one of the largest drug dealers in the Midwest in the new Discovery+ docuseries Queen Of Meth

The pair grew up in Ottumwa, Iowa and lived with their father until moving in with mom as teens.

‘My mother was a wild child,’ Lori said. ‘She did what she wanted.’ 

And in mom’s house there ‘weren’t any rules,’ according to Tom.

She even supported Lori when the 14-year-old, eighth grader wanted to marry a 23-year-old man, driving the pair to Missouri where they could legally obtain a marriage license. 

Tom knew in his heart it was a lifechanging decision for his sister, telling People: ‘I had this terrible feeling like her childhood was over, and whatever innocence she had.’

As a teen Lori began dabbling in drug dealing, initially selling speed and prescription drugs before moving to crystal methamphetamine when the drug began to explode in the mid-1980s.

Early on: The chaos started young for the kids, whose 'wild child' mother left the family when they were just toddlers

Early on: The chaos started young for the kids, whose ‘wild child’ mother left the family when they were just toddlers

Age gap: She even supported Lori when the 14-year-old, eighth grader wanted to marry a 23-year-old man, driving the pair to Missouri where they could legally obtain a marriage license

Age gap: She even supported Lori when the 14-year-old, eighth grader wanted to marry a 23-year-old man, driving the pair to Missouri where they could legally obtain a marriage license

Dealing: As a teen Lori began dabbling in drug dealing, initially selling speed and prescription drugs before moving to crystal methamphetamine when the drug began to explode in the mid-1980s

Dealing: As a teen Lori began dabbling in drug dealing, initially selling speed and prescription drugs before moving to crystal methamphetamine when the drug began to explode in the mid-1980s

She herself would fall into drug and alcohol addiction all while running one of the largest meth operations in the Midwest. At one point she was grossing as much as $200k a week. 

Though she lived the high life for years, Lori’s luck ran out in 1989 when the FBI arrested her and seized more than $10millinon in assets.

After being convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering, Lori went to prison for more than 15 years. 

Upon her release Lori learned about how meth was ravaging communities, triggering deep regret in the former dealer.

‘I hear about all these young kids that are killing themselves, and OD-ing,’ she told People. ‘And I feel guilty about it. I wish I could go back and do things differently. I can only hope that others can learn through my mistakes.’

Mistakes: 'I hear about all these young kids that are killing themselves, and OD-ing,' she told People. 'And I feel guilty about it. I wish I could go back and do things differently. I can only hope that others can learn through my mistakes'

Mistakes: ‘I hear about all these young kids that are killing themselves, and OD-ing,’ she told People. ‘And I feel guilty about it. I wish I could go back and do things differently. I can only hope that others can learn through my mistakes’

According to Discovery+’s official description: ‘Queen of Meth takes viewers on a deeply personal journey unveiling how one of America’s most infamous and unexpected drug lords turned addiction into an enterprise. 

‘Lori Arnold, a former “queenpin” and sister to celebrity Tom Arnold, revisits her hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa, where for six years, she ran a sprawling multi-state meth empire. 

‘Lori and Tom’s vivid recollections of their formative years reveal how Lori’s disturbing childhood and wild adolescence led her down a drug-riddled path, leaving immeasurable destruction in her wake.’

Queen Of Meth comes out Friday, May 7th and will be available to stream exclusively on Discovery+.

Stream: Queen Of Meth comes out Friday, May 7th and will be available to stream exclusively on Discovery+

Stream: Queen Of Meth comes out Friday, May 7th and will be available to stream exclusively on Discovery+

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