In a heart-wrenching incident that has left the "Sister Wives" community and fans worldwide in profound sorrow, Robert Garrison Brown, the son of the reality TV star Janelle Brown, tragically took his own life. Now, new details surrounding his death have been released.
On March 5, 2024, Robert Garrison Brown, the son of Kody Brown and Janelle Brown passed away at 25 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This devastating event unfolded after a series of ominous texts sent by Robert to a group of people closely associated with the Brown family, signaling his distressing state of mind.
It was reported that Janelle Brown, deeply concerned by the troubling messages her son had been sending, prompted one of her other sons to check on Robert. According to the police report obtained by TMZ, the officers spoke with Janelle, who recounted Robert's last texts to his friend group, which read, "I want to hate you for sharing the good times. But I can't. I miss these days."
This message, not initially sent to Janelle herself, alarmed her enough to reach out directly to Robert. They briefly conversed via text before he ceased responding. In a desperate attempt to ensure her son's well-being, Janelle contacted her children to see who could visit Robert. Gabriel, Robert's brother, stepped forward. Tragically, by the time Gabriel arrived at the Flagstaff residence, Robert had already passed away.
Further investigation revealed that Robert's roommates, with whom he shared the house, reported hearing a "pop" sound on the night of the incident but did not associate it with a gunshot. It wasn't until Gabriel discovered Robert's body, along with a handgun, and called 911, that the grim reality of Robert's suicide became apparent.
Robert, known to his friends for his struggles with alcohol, was 25 years old at the time of his passing. Despite these challenges, there were signs that he was seeking to improve his circumstances, having recently secured employment at a medical facility. Notably, Janelle disclosed to the police that Robert was estranged from his father, Kody.
The loss of Robert has stirred a wave of grief and reflection within the "Sister Wives" fan community and beyond. Fans have taken to social media to express their condolences and share their thoughts on this tragedy: "This just breaks my heart," "Just tragic," "[Kody] put his son down," and "Kody should be ashamed. Indirectly he's to blame for all of this."
The Brown family has issued statements of heartbreak at Robert's loss and asked that their fans afford them privacy during this difficult time. Many fans have sent them condolences and messages of love and support on their various social media posts.
As previously reported on March 6:
In an unexpected and heartbreaking turn of events, the world of reality TV mourns the loss of Garrison Brown, the 25-year-old son of "Sister Wives" stars Kody and Janelle Brown. Garrison's untimely death has sparked a wave of controversy and blame directed towards his father, with many fans and followers expressing their grievances and pointing fingers at him for his son's demise.
Garrison—one of the six children Kody shares with Janelle, including Logan, Maddie, Hunter, Gabriel, and Savanah Brown—was remembered by fans as someone who deeply yearned for his father's attention and love. This sentiment was echoed in the comments section of an Instagram post that Kody made last year about his divorce from one of his wives, Meri Brown.
People left messages like, "You could have prevented this…" and "He JUST needed LOVE from a father. RIP Garrison 🙏🏻." Others accused Kody of neglect, stating, "He probably did it to finally get your attention!!!! I was literally horrified when I saw him on TV begging for you to phone him and you continued to ignore him and blame him 💔💔💔💔," and “Hope you feel the weight of this!!!! The guilt you will have!”
The collective outcry from the public underlines a deep-seated belief that Kody's actions, or lack thereof, significantly contributed to Garrison's tragic end.
The root of this blame seems to stem from a history of perceived neglect and favoritism within the Brown family. Last year, Garrison's mother recalled her children's feelings of inequality in their relationship with Kody and mentioned how they felt sidelined by him as he appeared to favor other members of their polygamous family.
"They felt like he was choosing one family over another,” Janelle shared, shedding light on the deep-seated issues within their family dynamic.
In a TLC video published in October last year, where the Brown family was discussing Kody's relationships with his children, she further explained, “I can observe that Kody seems to have trouble relating to his older children, and he seems to dote on the younger children, and when my children were younger,[...] his guidance mattered to them [...] Now, because they question it a little bit, I think it might be harder for Kody to feel like he’s respected.”
This narrative was further highlighted when the same video showed a clip of Garrison Brown discussing his life achievements, like buying a home and car, all of which Kody seemed unaware of or uninterested in. In response to these portrayals, Kody claimed he had reached out to his sons on two occasions, and expressed his belief that Garrison and his brother Gabriel were not interested in engaging with him.
The Brown family patriarch also previously spoke about feeling "powerless" as a father figure and admitted that his family had begun to "unravel" due to their inability to work through differences and varying perspectives.
As the Brown family navigates through this difficult time, the dialogue surrounding Garrison's death raises important questions about the responsibilities of parenthood, the challenges of growing up in a divided household, and the impact of reality TV and fame on personal relationships. The young adult's passing has left a void in the hearts of many, including his family, friends, and fans around the world.
As previously reported on March 6:
Robert Garrison Brown, known affectionately to the public as one of the bright young faces on the hit TLC series "Sister Wives," has died, leaving a community in mourning and a family grappling with an unimaginable void.
The Flagstaff Police Department, responding to a distressing call on the morning of March 5, 2024, arrived at Robert's residence to a tragic scene. The 25-year-old, who had established his independence with his own home after moving away from his family, was found deceased.
Lieutenant Charles M. Hernandez II of the Flagstaff Police Department disclosed that Robert's younger brother, Gabriel, age 22, made the heart-wrenching discovery. The preliminary investigation suggests a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with no indication of foul play. As the Flagstaff PD continues their meticulous investigation, the absence of any apparent foul play leads them to approach this as an apparent suicide.
Robert's journey on "Sister Wives" commenced in 2010, at the inception of the series. Viewers were introduced to the polygamous family, with Robert's father, Kody Brown, at the helm, married to multiple wives, including Robert's mother, Janelle Brown. The show not only captured the dynamics of Kody's relationships but also highlighted the upbringing and lives of the Brown children, with Robert becoming a familiar, endearing fixture.
The recent years saw changes in the Brown family dynamic, including the divorce of Janelle and Kody in the previous year. Despite the changes, the children's bond throughout the adversity remained resolute. The children often posted one another on social media, with Robert being no exception.
Robert's passage into adulthood was marked by a commendable interest in serving his country. Initially aspiring to join the Army, Robert found his calling with the National Guard, a commitment that spoke volumes of his character and his desire to contribute to something greater than himself.
TLC, home to the series that chronicled Robert's upbringing and his family's unique lifestyle, released a statement expressing their devastation at the news of Robert's passing. The network extended their deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Brown family during this extraordinarily painful time.
Janelle shared poignant photos of her son on Instagram during his time of service, her words painting a portrait of a mother's love and a tribute to a life cut tragically short. "Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown," her caption read. "He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away. We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory."
In a solemn acknowledgment of their bereavement, Robert's family chose his own Instagram platform to communicate the news. A statement read, "Our beloved brother/son Robert (aka Garrison) passed late last night. We appreciate the love and support from all those who have given it." It concluded with a plea for privacy during their time of profound grief.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
