Sunday’s Sister Wives featured an emotional segment focused on the family speaking about the death of Kody and Janelle Brown’s son Garrison Brown.
Garrison tragically took his own life at 25 on March 5, 2024 at his Flagstaff, Arizona home; authorities said he died as result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Kody Brown, 56, told Robyn Brown, 46, that it was ‘just heartbreaking’ he and Garrison ‘didn’t get a chance to really just make things right, just not being able to say goodbye’ on Sunday’s episode of the TLC staple.
The grieving father added, ‘I just don’t know what to do with his death because it’s like I’ve got to do something different because I could have had more time with him, and I thought there would be more time.’
Janelle said that she had been in touch with her son all day long prior to his tragic death.
‘This was not unusual because he and I talked probably three times a day,’ she said. ‘I knew he was struggling. I always just picked up the phone and I always make it a point to just talk to him. And it wasn’t really about anything.’
Sunday’s Sister Wives featured an emotional segment focused on the family speaking about the death of Kody and Janelle Brown’s son Garrison Brown, who died last year
Kody is still haunted by a regret in the wake of the family tragedy
She said of the communication: ‘I think he needed the connection, and I know he was talking to [and] calling his brothers and stuff too.’
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Flagstaff police told TMZ in March of 2024 that Garrison appeared ‘to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound’ after they responded to his house after receiving reports someone had died.
Garrison was found dead in his home by his brother Gabriel, authorities told the outlet.
Janelle said that she knew Garrison had ‘been drinking again’ as he ‘would go through periods where he was really good, and then he just would have a binge, just as part of the cycle, I think.’
Janelle took to Instagram the day of the tragedy to announce news of her son’s passing on behalf of the family: ‘Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown. 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.’
TLC said in a statement to People at the time, ‘We are devastated to hear of the tragic loss of Garrison Brown. We extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Brown family at this difficult time.’
Garrison had an Instagram account under the handle @robertthebrown, with more than 67,000 followers at the time of his death.
His most recent post came days before his death, as he posed alongside a cat he had adopted, which was his third overall. He said, ‘Newest edition to my home, Ms Buttons. She’s 9 years old and was on the line for euthanasia but my savior complex couldn’t suffice. #crazycatlady.’
In his last social media post, Garrison posed alongside a cat he had adopted
Janelle announced the tragic news in an Instagram post in March of 2024. She said that Garrison’s ‘loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away’
He had also chronicled his travels on his social media page, documenting trips to locales including Spain and Italy.
Kody previously parted ways with Christine Brown in 2021, and would go on to split with Meri later in 2022. He remains married to Robyn Brown.
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Garrison moved with his family from Utah to Nevada, and he eventually enlisted in the National Guard, according to the outlet.
He and his father Kody had been estranged for some time in recent years: In February of 2022, Kody said on the series that he and sons Garrison and Gabriel were ‘not good’ and ‘not talking’ as they clashed with him over what they felt to be onerous protocols he implemented amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Kody said of his sons on the show: ‘It’s changed everything for everybody, and they want it all to be the same – they need to realize that they should go and date that girlfriend, that’s fine, but you need to move out of the house so I can be home.’
In an episode of the TLC series chronicling the tension in the family, Janelle said in a confessional interview that she felt Garrison ‘just seems angry or sadder.
She added, ‘He’s not as happy-go-lucky as he used to be’ amid the family strife over pandemic precautions.
Janelle said of her late son, ‘He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him’
Garrison was seen hugging his mother in a May 2016 Mother’s Day post on Instagram
The reality TV personality documented trips to locales including Spain and Italy
She added, ‘I have worried about my boys’ mental health. Gabriel feels everything very, very deeply. But he’s also the kid who doesn’t say anything.’
Amid the clash in philosophies over the pandemic, Garrison moved out from his parents home and eventually settled in Arizona in 2021.
Gabriel said on the show’s 18th season in 2022 that he ‘was met with just a wall’ when trying to speak about COVID-19 protocols with his father, as it had created serious friction in the household.
‘There was no line of dialogue,’ Gabriel said. ‘I think that that is what really drove the wedge between us.’
Kody talked about the issues with his sons in a May 2023 episode of the series, saying he was upset with the situation.
‘I haven’t been in touch with Gabriel and Garrison for quite a while,’ Kody said. ‘I’m pretty sad that I’m not close [to them] anymore.’
He added that ‘there was just so many things in our lives that we did that were rich together, you know, just special experiences.’
Kody said that he thought and hoped that they could ‘get over this’ in time.
Garrison had an Instagram account under the handle @robertthebrown, with more than 67,000 followers
Garrison was seen posing with one of his pets in a January 2022 post on Instagram
‘Right now, there’s not really an open door with Gabe and Garrison,’ he said. ‘They’re they’re not willing to engage me.’
The sons appeared to be on the outs with Kody as recently as last fall, as Janelle told E! News in a November 2023 interview she was hopeful they’d eventually reconcile.
‘I do hope that that eventually time heals,’ she said. ‘I’m hoping that over time, he can find a relationship with the children that he’s estranged from now.’
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