British man encouraged ‘vulnerable’ American to kill himself on video call

British man encouraged ‘vulnerable’ American to kill himself on video call Dylan Phelan kept a recording of the suicide on his computer - Bookmark A British man has been jailed after he encouraged a vulnerable 21-year-old in the US to kill himself over a video call has been jailed for six years and four months. Dylan Phelan, also 21, from Morley, West Yorkshire, was in an online group that repeatedly goaded Travis Dyer to kill himself in Louisiana in October 2024. Mr Justice Cotter, sentencing at Leeds Crown Court, said Phelan was motivated by “morbid curiosity” and that Mr Dyer, who was struggling with his mental health, needed help and support. Phelan admitted encouraging suicide, making an indecent image and possessing extreme pornography. The judge told him: “You wanted to feel like you had control over the actions of another. “You showed no respect for the life of Travis Dyer.” The court was told that Mr 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: “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 messaging app Discord, where people shared thoughts about their mental health, but this was not a support group. In the run up to killing himself, Mr Dyer had carved Phelan’s name into his body, the court heard. And on 20 October 2024, he was on a video call with the defendant and two others, known as Mads and Rob, the court heard, when Mr Dyer took his own life. Phelan encouraged him several times to take his life, the court heard, and laughed when he finally did. 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 his mother, and last March Phelan went to Elland Road police station in Leeds and confessed to his involvement in Mr Dyer’s suicide. Police were to find an indecent image as well as 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, addressing the judge, said: “I invite you to accept his shame, regret, remorse, and considerably and genuinely felt.” Mr Justice Cotter said Mr Dyer had been 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 said Mr Dyer hesitated before killing himself but the others persisted in encouraging him to go through with it. Mr Dyer’s family said that Phelan did not act alone and “this group-think turned a digital space into a hunting ground”. But they said an online friend in England raised the alarm once they heard about what happened, so the authorities in the US were alerted. They said: “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 the US authorities if they knew the others who were part of 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.” If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you