Vile man who laughed as online group encouraged American to take his own life jailed
Dylan Phelan, who kept a recording of vulnerable Travis Dyer taking his own life, has been jailed
A vile man from Morley laughed after watching another take his own life, following encouragement from an internet group.
Sick Dylan Phelan, 21, recorded as Travis Dyer, also 21, from Louisiana, US, took his own life during a video call on social network Discord.
Leeds Crown Court heard on Friday that Phelan, along with others in a private server named "Recovery for All," encouraged Mr Dyer to drink alcohol, take drugs, and take his own life over the course of a month.
During the horrific campaign, Mr Dyer also carved Phelan's name onto his own skin, which he said made him feel "special."
The group then went on to brag about "finishing it off," while Mr Dyer's grandfather found his body at his home. Users with online names such as Mads and Rob were involved, with the judge urging anyone with any information on their whereabouts to contact the American Law Enforcement Agency.
Prosecutor Andrew Petterson told the court there was a video call with the "Recovery for All" group on October 30, 2024, in which Mr Dyer was encouraged to take his own life.
The barrister said: "They all encouraged the deceased... At one point he appeared to be hesitating. At different stages, the defendant said the following: 'Just try it,' and 'This is the last time, seriously. Last time you will ever feel it. When are you going to feel it again?' Immediately after the defendant said that, Travis Dyer took his own life.
"The defendant laughed while others on the call discussed calling the police."
Another user was said to have posted: "I want everyone to know we encouraged this suicide" and "we just finished it off last night."
Phelan went on to tell a woman he knew through Discord what had happened, and even said he had encouraged Mr Dyer to "practice." After meeting with her in Portsmouth and discussing Mr Dyer's death, she became "disgusted" and told his mother what had happened.
Phelan was then taken to Elland Road Police Station by his parents. Mr Petterson said: "He was upset by this and told police of his involvement prior to his official interview."
Officers went on to discover the sick video Phelan had recorded of Mr Dyer taking his own life, as well as horrific images, including one indecent image of a teenage boy and videos of bestiality and human dissection.
He went on to admit charges of encouraging suicide, possession of an indecent image of a child and three counts of possessing extreme pornography.
During the sentencing, the court heard a victim personal statement written by a member of Mr Dyer's family in which they detailed his traumatic upbringing featuring loss. They also said members of the online community sought them out to let them know what had happened.
The statement said: "Travis was our final beacon of hope...His death has shattered the very foundation of our existence. His early life was defined by traumatic losses...His great-grandfather died in a tragic accident and his mother and sister died in a drowning accident days later and he was taken in by his grandparents...
"His devotion to his family was evident even from a young age..."
Speaking of Mr Dyer's grandfather finding his body, he said: "It is a burden that haunts him every moment...It is a scene we try hard not to imagine. It is a haunting emotion that will never go away for any of us...
"It is not just the life Travis lost, but a lifetime of memories that were extinguished from all of us...The impact has rippled through our entire family...We hope all individuals involved are held accountable and this lesson compels the defendant to grow into a man to help others. We also pray for his parents who have undoubtedly suffered pain and anguish knowing their son was involved in Travis' death.
"Travis Dyer was a shy, smart and resilient young man who survived more tragedy than many endure. We ask the court to remember Travis, not for how he died, but as the cherished son, grandson and nephew he was. The boy who deserved to grow old and be here with us today.
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"The man who could have possibly created his own loving family."
Mitigating, Matthew Harding, told the court Phelan had had a "detachment with reality." He said: "The reality seen on the screen is a factor...Detachment from the reality of what took place and detachment in himself appears to be a feature in Mr Phelan's own life. He appeared to be isolated for a time..."
The court heard that Phelan told the author of a report he would "find classrooms away from others" while in school. Mr Harding added: "It seems the difficulties and challenges for this defendant started some time ago. None of this of course can excuse in any way what it was that Dylan Phelan went on to do, but it may go some way to explain that behaviour.
"He does not seek to excuse his behaviour and I quote from the report: 'He did not attempt to minimise or deflect from his actions at any times. He accepts Mr Dyer was vulnerable.'
"In my submission, what can be distilled from the reports is that Dylan Phelan does not seek to blame others for what he did. He showed candour with report authors. To quote, 'Maybe the actions of others led him to an echo chamber.' He felt he needed to engage in these sorts of behaviours because he might be regarded as interesting by others and watched the material to be seen as interesting."
The court heard Phelan described his world online as "this weird club under the guise of a friendship group."
It was said Phelan suffers with his mental health and has autism spectrum disorder.
The Honourable Mr Justice Cotter KC jailed Phelan for six years and four months, of which he will have to serve half in custody before being released on licence. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
He told Phelan: "This was a campaign of cruelty, during which Travis Dyer was groomed to take his own life. You took advantage of Travis Dyer and encouraged him to carve your name into his skin. 'Jimmy,' 'Jimbo' and 'Phelan' were carved into his skin...
"You said it made you feel special. On the 30th of October, 2024, you, other individuals encouraged Travis Dyer to kill himself...He was clearly, at times, hesitating. Clearly, desperately struggling...You encouraged him to take his own life at different stages...Travis Dyer took his own life. Astonishingly, you laughed."
The judge said he sentenced on the basis Mr Dyer did not have a "settled intention" to take his own life.
He said: "All human life is uniquely precious. Travis Dyer was a vulnerable and troubled man. And on the 30th October 2024, you and two others exploited his vulnerability.
"He needed help and support. He got the very opposite of that from you. Where an individual socially isolated, depressed, vulnerable or experiencing suicidal thoughts, online groups focusing on self-harm and suicide are very, very dangerous places because of the advise and encouragement of those not wanting to help them.
"You showed no respect for the life of Travis Dyer. Your gratification was more important to you. Life can always change and get better and without your encouragement and that of others he might have been experiencing that today...You and all others who use the internet to discuss suicide and self-harm must realise they are not beyond the reach of the law. This sentence should stand as a warning to us. I urge anyone to help the American Law Enforcement Agencies to identify Mads or Rob should do so.
"Mads appears to be a very real danger to those online. Your behaviour in downloading images also showed a complete disregard to others. Viewing or sharing examples of these images simply encourages the production, and with that production comes real suffering."
Following the sentencing, Alex Johnson, Senior Specialist Prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime Division, said: “This was a deeply disturbing case involving the sustained exploitation of a vulnerable young man through an online platform. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that offending. 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.
“Our thoughts remain with Travis Dyer’s family and friends. We hope today’s outcome provides them with a measure of justice.”
Detective Inspector Dan Ridgway, of Leeds CID, said: “After Phelan handed himself in at a police station, what followed was a complex investigation which required enquiries to be conducted both here in the UK and with Homeland Security in America to understand the wider circumstances around Travis Dyer’s tragic death and Phelan’s involvement.
“We were able to secure digital evidence of the video call as well as wider evidence of Phelan’s communications with Travis and others prior to Travis’ death. Specialists from our Digital Forensics Unit also found a number of extremely concerning illegal videos on his seized devices.
“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.”