The star of Sister Wives, Janelle Brown, said she “should have reached out” to her late son Robert Garrison Brown for help before he died by apparent suicide, according to a report from the Flagstaff, Arizona police obtained by In Touch on Wednesday, March 6.
The day prior, Garrison’s body was found by his brother Gabriel Brown at their Flagstaff home after Janelle, 54, grew concerned upon learning of concerning texts her son had shared. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Janelle commented, “He just stopped texting last night,” when speaking to police about Garrison, whom she wished she had helped “in the past.”
The police report doesn’t specify what help Janelle sought for Garrison, but his roommate and brother mentioned struggles with alcohol addiction and depression.
According to the report, 22-year-old Gabe said Garrison had struggled with mental health issues and alcohol abuse. However, he believed his brother had been doing better since starting a new job at the Flagstaff Medical Center.
A roommate named Addison told police he had “talked to Garrison about him being depressed recently.”
He said Garrison was “an alcoholic and would drink every night.” When asked if the reality TV star was intoxicated the night before his body was found, Addison told police it was the last time they spoke. He also mentioned Garrison would ask him to drive at night to get food because he was too intoxicated to drive.
However, Addison advised that Garrison had never said anything that would make him suspect suicide. He noted that Garrison “was having trouble with his ex-girlfriend and wasn’t in the best mood.”
Addison’s roommate, Tyler, also told police that Garrison “had issues with alcohol,” but he didn’t know if TLC’s personality received any advice on this matter.
A third roommate named Cheyenne told police she had “talked a little bit deeper” with Garrison about how he “had been struggling with alcohol abuse and depression surrounding that issue.”
Janelle described in an October 2023 episode of Sister Wives how the coldness of Garrison and Gabe towards their father, Kody Brown, had affected her sons.
“I worry about my children’s mental health,” she revealed in a confession. “Gabriel feels everything, very, very deeply. But he’s also a child of very few words.”
She added that Garrison “seemed more angry or sad, like he wasn’t as happy, fortunate as he used to be.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
