Heartbreaking Details About The Teen Who Committed Suicide — And The Man Who Helped Her Film It
He tied the noose for her.
Facebook A Utah man admitted to helping a 16-year-old girl hang herself — and filming it — in the May 2017.
Tyerell Przybycien, 19, pleaded guilty to child abuse homicide Tuesday in the death of Jchandra Brown, a charge that was reduced from murder.
Brown died by suicide with the help of Przybycien, who bragged he was going to "help kill" her. He said it would be "like getting away with murder," prosecutors said.
Przybycien bought the rope, tied it in a noose, drove her to a campground in Payson Canyon, and set up the makeshift pedestal she stood on before hanging herself, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Prosecutors argued that if he had not supplied the materials she might not have died that night.
"I feel like I did murder her," he said in the courtroom Tuesday.
A handwritten suicide note found at the scene referenced a recording that would “answer questions about what happened.” In the 10-minute video Brown can be seen inhaling air cleaner, hanging, gasping for air, and dying, the Daily Herald stated.
Przybycien "can be heard saying her body should be depleted of oxygen. He was standing just a few feet away while filming her death," according to court documents.
At the end of the video, he says "I guess I’ll just leave this here now.”
Brown's body was found hanging from a tree by a turkey hunter on May 6. The cellphone containing the video of her death was removed from under her feet. Nearby was a receipt with Przybycien's name on it that showed he had purchased the items used in Brown's suicide.
Przybycien will face a minimum of five years behind bars with the possibility of life in prison.
The girl's mother, Sue Bryan, said the plea deal doesn't matter.
“It really doesn’t make a difference because nothing has changed. Jchandra is not coming back,” she said. “There is nothing just for what he did.”
Przybycien also pleaded guilty to having child pornography on his cellphone. Four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, failure to report finding a human body and two charges of tampering with a witness were dismissed in a plea deal, The Daily Herald reported. In September, he was charged with two counts of tampering with witnesses after he wrote a letter to a friend asking others to refrain from talking to prosecutors, according to court documents. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 7.
“I have total faith and trust in my state attorneys, who have done an excellent job, Judge Brady and our system,” Bryan said. “But again, it’s never going to bring my sweet daughter back. There is never going to be justice.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-273-TALK.
Sarah Gangraw writes about all things news, entertainment and crime. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.