A British man has been sentenced to prison after he groomed a vulnerable 21-year-old in the United States, repeatedly urging him to take his own life during a video call. Dylan Phelan, also 21, from Morley, West Yorkshire, received a six-year and four-month sentence for pushing Travis Dyer to shoot himself in Louisiana in October 2024.
Court Details
At Leeds Crown Court, Mr Justice Cotter stated that Phelan was driven by morbid curiosity, while Mr. Dyer, who was grappling with mental health issues, required help and support. Phelan admitted to charges of encouraging suicide, making an indecent image, and possessing extreme pornography.
The court learned that Mr. Dyer had endured a series of tragic losses in his family, including the drowning deaths of his mother and sister. The judge told Phelan: "You wanted to feel like you had control over the actions of another. You showed no respect for the life of Travis Dyer."
Victim Impact
Mr. Dyer's great-grandmother, Vivian Mahoney, who followed the proceedings from the US via videolink, said in a victim statement: "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."
Andrew Pettersen, prosecuting, said Phelan joined an online community on the messaging app Discord where people shared thoughts about their mental health, but this was not a support group. In the lead-up to his suicide, Mr. Dyer had also carved Phelan's name into his body, the court heard.
On October 20, 2024, Mr. Dyer was on a videocall 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. Phelan kept a recording of the suicide on his computer, and months later, he told a female acquaintance about what happened. She was horrified and later informed his mother.
Confession and Defense
Last March, Phelan went to Elland Road police station in Leeds and confessed to his involvement in Mr. Dyer's suicide. Police also found an indecent image and extreme pornography on his digital devices. Matthew Harding, defending, said Phelan has been assessed to have mental health impairment, having expressed his own detachment from reality. Mr. Harding told the judge: "I invite you to accept his shame, regret, remorse, and considerably and genuinely felt."
Mr Justice Cotter said Mr. Dyer had been the victim of a "campaign of cruelty during which (he) was groomed to take his own life," including being encouraged to spend all his money on drink and drugs. The judge noted that Mr. Dyer hesitated before killing himself, but the others persisted in encouraging him to go through with it.
Family Reaction and Police Appeal
Mr. Dyer's family said that Phelan did not act alone and "this group-think turned a digital space into a hunting ground." However, they said an online friend in England raised the alarm once they heard about what happened, alerting US authorities. They stated: "This proves that the digital world can be a place of light, making the defendant's choice to use it for darkness even more egregious."
In an unusual move, the judge urged anyone with information to contact US authorities if they knew the others involved in the joint enterprise. He said one of them in particular "was a very real danger to vulnerable people online, having boasted of being a sociopath and in being involved in a number of suicides."
After the hearing, Detective Inspector Dan Ridgway said: "This case highlights the dangers that certain individuals can pose on an international level in these online communities. Whether in person or online, if someone is making you feel unsafe or encouraging you to harm yourself or others then please report it. We must remember at the heart of this investigation is a 21-year-old man who sadly took his own life. I would urge anyone who is struggling with their own mental health to please seek professional support."
Alex Johnson, senior specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime division, said: "Those who use online spaces to encourage self-harm or suicide will be held to account. The anonymity of the internet does not place anyone beyond the reach of the law. Dylan Phelan did not simply witness these events – he deliberately and persistently encouraged Travis Dyer to take his own life, intending that he would do so. His actions were calculated, cruel, and had devastating consequences."
