{"id":5407,"date":"2026-06-12T20:12:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T20:12:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/family-praise-true-english-friend-who-revealed-the-truth-after-us-man-encouraged-to-shoot-himself\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T20:12:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T20:12:25","slug":"family-praise-true-english-friend-who-revealed-the-truth-after-us-man-encouraged-to-shoot-himself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/family-praise-true-english-friend-who-revealed-the-truth-after-us-man-encouraged-to-shoot-himself\/","title":{"rendered":"Family praise &#8216;true English friend&#8217; who revealed the truth after US man encouraged to shoot himself"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1a5e55\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">DISTRESSING CONTENT: The family of an American who was encouraged to kill himself by a twisted online group, including a British man jailed for more than six years, praised one &#8216;true friend&#8217; who helped expose the crime<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37288942\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image of Travis Dyer\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288942.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288942.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288942.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288942.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Travis Dyer tragically took his own life\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Travis Dyer tragically took his own life<cite aria-label=\"Image: West Yorkshire Police \/ SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: West Yorkshire Police \/ SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The family of an American man who was &#8220;groomed&#8221; into killing himself over a video call have praised another Brit who helped to revealed the truth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dylan Phelan, 21, from Morley, West <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/yorkshire\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Yorkshire<\/a>, was in an online group that repeatedly goaded Travis Dyer, also 21, to shoot himself in Louisiana, in October 2024. Phelan admitted encouraging suicide, making an indecent image and possessing extreme pornography, and has been <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/prisons\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">jailed<\/a> for six years and four months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/courts\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">court <\/a>heard how in the run up to killing himself, Dyer had carved Phelan&#8217;s name into his body and on October 24, 2024, the <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/united-states\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">American<\/a> was on a video call with the defendant and two others, known as Mads and Rob. Phelan encouraged him several times to pull the trigger and laughed when he finally did, the court heard.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37288941\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37288941\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image of Dylan Phelan\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288941.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288941.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288941.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288941.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Dylan Phelan (pictured) encouraged Travis Dyer to take his own life\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Dylan Phelan (pictured) encouraged Travis Dyer to take his own life<cite aria-label=\"Image: West Yorkshire Police \/ SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: West Yorkshire Police \/ SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Phelan kept a recording of the suicide on his computer, months later telling a female acquaintance about what happened. She was horrified and later told Phelan&#8217;s mother, before his parents took him to Elland Road police station in Leeds, last March, and confessed to his involvement in Dyer&#8217;s suicide.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Travis Dyer&#8217;s family provided a Victim Personal Statement to the court and praised this woman for her actions, saying: &#8220;We recognise that the defendant was part of a group. This &#8216;group-think&#8217; turned a digital space into a hunting ground. In stark contrast, we want the Court to know that Travis did have a true online friend in England who shared games and laughter with him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It was this true friend who did the research to find our family and tell us the truth. This proves that the digital <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">world<\/a> can be a place of light, making the defendant\u2019s choice to use it for darkness even more egregious.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37288945\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37288945\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image of Travis Dyer\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288945.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Thumbnail.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288945.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Thumbnail.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288945.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Thumbnail.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37288945.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Thumbnail.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Travis Dyer was 21 when he died\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Travis Dyer was 21 when he died<cite aria-label=\"Image: Samart Funeral Home\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Samart Funeral Home)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Andrew Pettersen, prosecuting, said Phelan joined an online community on messaging app <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/discord\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Discord<\/a>, where people shared thoughts about their mental health, but this was not a support group. Police said they also found an indecent image as well as extreme pornography on Phelan&#8217;s digital devices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Justice Cotter, sentencing at Leeds Crown Court, said Phelan was motivated by &#8220;morbid curiosity&#8221; and that Mr Dyer, who was struggling with his mental health, needed help and support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The judge told him: &#8220;You wanted to feel like you had control over the actions of another. You showed no respect for the life of Travis Dyer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The court was told that Dyer had suffered a series of tragic losses in his family, including losing his mother and sister to drowning. His great-grandmother Vivian Mahoney, who followed proceedings from the US via a videolink, said in a victim statement: &#8220;Travis Dyer was a shy, smart and resilient young man who survived more tragedy than most endure in a century. He was deeply adored and had a bright future ahead of him. That future was stolen.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Justice Cotter said Dyer had been victim of a &#8220;campaign of cruelty during which (he) was groomed to take his own life&#8221;, including being encouraged to spend all his money on drink and drugs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The judge said Mr Dyer hesitated before killing himself but the others persisted in encouraging him to go through with it. Dyer&#8217;s family said that Phelan did not act alone and &#8220;this group-think turned a digital space into a hunting ground&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The family also paid tribute to the late 21-year-old and said: &#8220;Travis Dyer was a shy, smart, and resilient boy who survived more tragedy in his young life than most do in a century. He had a job, a little family left, and a mountain waiting for him. That future was stolen. We hope our words ensure Travis is remembered as the deeply loved son, grandson, and nephew he was.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In an unusual move, the judge urged anyone with information to contact the US authorities if they knew the others who were part of the joint enterprise. He said one of them in particular &#8220;was a very real danger to vulnerable people online, having boasted of being a sociopath and in being involved in a number of suicides&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">For mental <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/health\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">health<\/a> support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/mailto:jo@samaritans.org\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">jo@samaritans.org<\/a> or visit <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/samaritans.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">samaritans.org<\/a> to find your nearest branch.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/travis-dyer-english-friend-court-37288780\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DISTRESSING CONTENT: The family of an American who was encouraged to kill himself by a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_Brit-jailed-for-six-years-for-encouraging-US-teen-to-kill-himself-on-Discord.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5407"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5407\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}