Why Sister Wives' Star Garrison Brown Blocked His Dad a Year before His Death

• The reality TV show "Sister Wives" has been following the lives of Kody Brown and his four wives for over a decade.
• The family recently experienced the loss of 25-year-old Garrison who was Kody's son with his second wife, Janelle.
• Garrison had a falling out with his father, whom he stopped talking to a year before his death.

Kody and Janelle Brown, stars of the reality TV show "Sister Wives," were known for their unconventional family structure. They were part of a polygamous family, a lifestyle that was chronicled on the hit TLC series since its inception in 2010.

However, in December 2022, they revealed during separate interviews that they had decided to part ways after nearly three decades together. This separation came as a shock to many, as the couple had six children together, one of whom was their 25-year-old son, Robert Garrison Brown.

Garrison, as he was affectionately known, was a familiar face on "Sister Wives." Viewers watched him grow from a child into a young man, living in Utah and later in Las Vegas with his large family. As he came of age, Garrison developed an interest in serving his country. Although he initially wanted to join the Army, he ended up enlisting in the National Guard.

The lives of Janelle and her children took a turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. A massive feud within the family led to Kody, the family patriarch, setting out strict guidelines for holiday celebrations.

He suggested that if Garrison and his younger brother Gabriel wanted to maintain their social lives, Janelle should ask them to move out, allowing him to spend more time with their younger child. Janelle, however, was adamantly against this proposition. She insisted on keeping her sons at home.

She told Kody that Garrison had returned to his family home to save enough money to purchase his own house. She disclosed that Garrison was on the brink of realizing his homeownership dream but was short of the necessary funds to move out immediately. She asserted, "I'm not going to kick him out this close to his goal."

In her conversation with Kody, Janelle mentioned that Garrison's social life was quite limited as most of his friends had relocated, leaving him in a state of loneliness. Despite Kody's apprehensions about potential health risks, Janelle remained steadfast in her decision to let Garrison stay at home.

Ultimately, Garrison fulfilled his dream and Kody's wish in January 2022. The then 23-year-old became a homeowner in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he resided until his demise. The two-story house was equipped with four bedrooms and two bathrooms and was situated just a short twenty-minute drive from his father Kody’s residence.

Before Garrison moved back to his family home and eventually bought his own house, he had an interesting living arrangement. He resided in a refurbished camper trailer, embracing a minimalist lifestyle. He was proud of his achievement and even showcased the interior on Instagram.

In a post that reflected his sense of humor and adventurous spirit, he wrote, "Livin in a van down by the river." Tragically, on March 5, 2024, Garrison passed away in his Flagstaff home. The Flagstaff police department reported that officers responded to a call about a death at Garrison's residence.

Upon arrival, they discovered Garrison dead at the scene, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The news of Garrison's death was a devastating blow to his family.

Janelle expressed her profound grief on social media, sharing, "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."

In the hours leading up to his tragic death, Garrison shared a cryptic message in their family group chat. He wrote, "I want to hate you for sharing the good times. But I can't. I miss these days." This message, as reported in a police document, raised concerns for Janelle, who noticed that her son had gone quiet on the text chain after sending it.

The news of Garrison's death sent shockwaves through his family, prompting heartfelt tributes from his ex-stepmothers, Christine and Meri Brown. Christine remembered Garrison as a "wonderful, caring brother" who understood his younger sister Truely's need for a hobby and built her a flowerbed.

She expressed her grief on Instagram, writing, "We'll miss him forever. #gratitude #missyou #loveyou #tellthoseyoulovethatyoulovethem.” Meri also took to social media to honor Garrison's memory. She wrote, "Garrison, you are loved and will be missed!"

Kody echoed Janelle's sentiments in his own social media post. He shared the same pictures and caption, expressing his grief over the loss of their son. He wrote, "Janelle and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown."

Beneath the shared grief, there were underlying tensions within the family, especially between Garrison and his dad, Kody. According to Janelle, Kody had difficulty connecting with his older children, even though he seemed to dote on the younger ones.

She explained, "And when my children were younger, it was very easy for him to be a father because he was still important to them. His opinion mattered to them. His guidance mattered to them. And now, because they questioned it a little bit, I think it might be harder for Kody to feel like he's respected."

Garrison's own words echoed this sentiment. He said, "Since I last talked to Dad, I bought a house. I've gotten into school. And I got the car that I wanted that he told me I should never get." When asked if Kody was aware of these milestones, Garrison replied, "No. He doesn't care to."

Kody admitted that he had tried to reach out to Garrison and Gabriel, but they were not interested in talking to him. He said, "I've reached out to Garrison and Gabriel. I reached out to them just before Christmas. And I reached out to them after. Now, they're blocking me. They're not interested in talking to me."

In late 2022, Garrison made it clear to his father that he wanted nothing to do with him, primarily due to Kody's treatment of his mother, Janelle. Kody recalled, "Garrison calls me up with his narcissistic attitude and goes, 'This is your fault, and I'm never going to be around you again.'"

While Kody believed his sons were upset because of the COVID rules, Janelle felt it was because he wasn't treating them well and giving them his time. Janelle, who has been living in Flagstaff close to three of her children, including Garrison and Gabriel, embarked on a new adventure in June 2021.

She decided to follow in Garrison's footsteps and began living in an RV on her property. In December 2022, Janelle confirmed the end of her spiritual marriage with Kody which lasted 29 years. However, she doesn't label herself as divorced. She clarified that since they were never legally married, she can't technically say she’s divorced.

Instead, when talking about her relationship status with others, she prefers to say that she’s no longer with her partner. Janelle has consistently used this phrase when describing her situation, choosing to identify as single in her current status. Alongside managing these personal transitions, Janelle has been focusing on her career as a life coach.

This role enables her to offer guidance and support to others as they navigate their own life challenges, leveraging her personal experiences and resilience. Following Garrison's death, his roommate, Addison Miele, broke his silence. Addison remembered Garrison as a wonderful person who radiated positivity.

He expressed gratitude for Garrison’s help when he needed a place to stay, describing him as a good friend and a considerate landlord. He added that Garrison was someone he looked up to, highlighting the impact Garrison had on those around him. Garrison was also quite active on social media, often sharing snippets of his life and his love for cats.

His last post on Instagram featured a new addition to his household, a cat named Ms. Buttons. Garrison shared that Ms. Buttons was a 9-year-old feline who was on the verge of being euthanized. However, his desire to help couldn't let that happen.

He welcomed her into his home, saving her life and adding to his feline family. He ended the post with a touch of humor, dubbing himself a "#crazycatlady."

Indeed, the memories and tributes shared by those who knew Garrison testify to his compassionate and positive nature. His love for animals, his unique sense of humor, and his kindness have left a lasting impression. These qualities defined Garrison and will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him.