Was it murder? Przybycien's lawyer, Gregory Stewart, argued that none of his actions directly caused Brown's death.
But on Tuesday, a judge ruled it is "reasonable to infer" that Przybycien intended to cause Brown's death, and were it not for his actions, the girl would not have died.
Utah County district court Judge James Brady on Tuesday ordered Przybycien to go to trial on a first degree murder charge. He also faces one misdemeanor count for failing to report a dead body. If convicted of murder, Przybycien could face 15 years to life in prison.
In his 16-page ruling, Brady wrote that Przybycien's actions were a "substantial factor" in bringing about Brown's death, which was "foreseeable." He said prosecutors are not required to show that Przybycien's actions were the sole cause of her death in order to support a murder conviction. Przybycien, Brady wrote, cannot "escape criminal responsibility" just because the girl apparently wanted to die. The man knew what he was doing, the judge wrote, and took no precautions to prevent the death.
"Likewise, encouraging and helping to facilitate the suicide of an impressionable minor who could have benefited from support, counseling or therapy is completely lacking of social value," Brady wrote.
The case marks the first time someone has been accused of aiding and recording a suicide in Utah, prosecutors said, according to the Associated Press. It also parallels some aspects of the landmark case of Michelle Carter, the Massachusetts woman who was found responsible for the death of her boyfriend, whom she urged through phone calls and text messages to kill himself.
She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to more than two years in the Bristol County House of Correction in Massachusetts. Laurie Levenson, a criminal law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, told The Post that the conviction sent a strong message that "there are new means of committing old crimes," and prosecutors will be more likely to look at these types of cases.
The judge ruled on Przybycien's case after a preliminary hearing last month.
Przybycien's lawyer said he is exploring all options available for his client, who will probably plead not guilty to all charges at his arraignment next Tuesday.
In the weeks leading up to Brown's death, Przybycien began spending more and more time with her as she told him she was considering suicide, according to court documents.
On April 19, he messaged a friend, asking "What you do if you knew a friend was trying to commit suicide?"
The friend replied "Talk them out of it."
"The thing is," Przybycien replied, "I wanna help kill them. It be awesome. Seriously im going to help her. Its like getting away with murder! . . . I'm seriously not joking. It's going down in about a week or two."
On the morning of May 6, a turkey hunter came across Brown's body. A handwritten note was also left near her body. It stated her name and referred any questions to a video captured on her black smartphone, which was also left at the scene.
Once they charged the phone, officers watched the 10-minute video, which was later shown in court. At one point in the video, Przybycien is heard saying to Brown, "Thumbs up if you're OK," according to the Salt Lake Tribune. At another point, he said, "That's when the brain stops getting oxygen."
When Brown passed out, he is heard saying, it "didn't work. That did not even work," according to court documents.
As officers investigated, Przybycien returned to the scene and soon after admitted to his role in the suicide. He told authorities he had an interest in watching someone die, and admitted that he got "carried away" with the idea of Brown's death. He said that he, too, was suicidal and wanted to watch Brown die to see if it was something he could go through with himself. He admitted to telling her he would also kill himself, according to court documents.
Przybycien also said he wanted to retrieve the rope for sentimental value, and told police, "That was my plan. That was the plan." He said he checked her pulse after the hanging and left the scene after not finding one.
Just before midnight the night of Brown's death, according to court documents, he wrote to a friend: "Bro It happened. I helped her do it too and I feel so guilty."
After her death, Przybycien dropped off a suicide letter to Brown's family. The letter, addressed to her mother, ended with Brown writing, "Again, this was my decision," according to television station KSL.
In a hearing last month, Brown's mother sat in the courtroom with her hair dyed blue as a tribute to her daughter, KSL reported. Sue Bryan said she felt her daughter was "groomed" by Przybycien to take her own life.
Przybycien and Brown were both students at Spanish Fork High, KSL reported.
"Friends don't let friends die," the mother told Fox 13, "So Tyerell was not a friend."
Brown's aunt, Polly Mejia, went further with her words, as she spoke to KSL.
"Her problem was she thought she'd found a friend," Mejia said. "Instead she'd found a monster."
WHERE TO GET HELP:
If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.
OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:
• LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• SUICIDE CRISIS HELPLINE: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633
• NEED TO TALK? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7)
• KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757
