'Sister Wives' on TLC: Robert Garrison's death is just latest in string of tragedies
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA: ‘Sister Wives’ on TLC is a popular series that features a broad spectrum of polygamous marriages and their intricacies. Over the past many years, the iconic Brown family has lost many of its cherished members. The last few years have been tough for the Brown family especially Kody Brown as his polygamy marriage turned into a monogamy. Christine Brown split from Kody Brown in November 2021 followed by Janelle Brown in November 2022 and Meri Brown in early 2023.
Additionally, Kody's relationships with his sons Garrison and Gabriel Brown became increasingly strained in 2022 due to his strict COVID-19 rules. TLC show star Kody and Garrison's relationship became only turbulent with time with the family patriarch blaming Janelle for the rift leading to the split.
After a series of divorces, Kody recently lost his son, Robert Garrison Brown, whom he shared with his ex-wife Janelle. As Kody and Janelle lost one of their beloved children, here we look at all Brown family members who have died in the series.
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1. Garrison Brown died in an apparent suicide in March 2024
Kody and Janelle Brown's son Garrison Brown died on March 5 at the age of 25. According to the reports, Garrison reportedly 'suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound'. He was found dead in his Flagstaff home by his younger brother Gabriel. Kody and Garrison had a turbulent relationship with the father and son duo not on talking terms.
After Garrison's death, Kody took to his social media and paid tribute to his son. He wrote on his Instagram, "Janelle and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown." Kody shared that Garrison was a 'bright spot' in his close ones' lives. He further noted that his son's death has left a 'big hole' in his and Janelle's lives adding, 'that it takes our breath away'. The 'Sister Wives' star then asked her followers to respect their privacy and join them in honoring his memory.
2. Kody’s brother Curtis Brown lost his life in a motorcycle accident in June 2013
Curtis appeared with his brother Kody Brown on Season 4, Episode 7, titled ‘Brown Boys Do Vegas’, which aired in 2012. Curtis was born on September 24, 1978. Motorcycles were a passion of his life, as was his family.
Curtis died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on June 17, 2013 and was buried on June 22. He and his wife Erica Brush had three children between the ages of 7 and 12 when he passed away.
3. Brown family patriarch William Winn Brown died in 2013
Season 6 of the TLC series gave more than one blow to the audience. Family patriarch Winn Brown, Kody's father, was also buried in the same episode as Curtis. They died only a few months apart.
William “Winn” Brown was born on August 28, 1934. He had appeared on ‘Sister Wives’ Season 2 Episode 2 titled, ‘Free Range Browns’. He had 10 children, namely Cindy, Scott, Lorilyn, Kody, Christy, Tricia, Curtis, Travis, Nicole, and Michael.
4. Meri Brown lost her younger sister Teresa in February 2006
For those unaware, Meri Brown is the first wife of Kody, who owns the bed and breakfast named ‘Lizzie’s Heritage Inn’. Meri lost her younger sister Teresa Barber Kunz. Teresa was born May 2, 1973 and died young at 32 on February 6, 2006. Her family buried her five days later.
Teresa married her husband Jeff Kunz in 1996 and died a decade later. She left four children behind. Meri often shared that she lost her younger sister due to colon cancer in just less than a year after her diagnosis.
Interestingly, in the early episodes of ‘Sister Wives’, Meri opened up about cancer and stressed on the importance of colonoscopies. All siblings then got their polyps removed, which probably saved them from Teresa's fatal illness.
5. Meri Brown’s elder brother Marc Barber died in March 2015
Marc was born on June 29, 1967, and died on March 10, 2015, at the age of 47. Meri revealed that her mother, Bonnie Ahlstrom, called her at 2:00 am with the news.
Even though Meri Brown didn’t give details on how he passed away, she shared that he was in emotional and physical pain. It sounded like a mental health issue. When he died, Marc had nine living children and six grandchildren.
6. Meri Brown’s nephew Brady Barber Laws died in May 2009
Meri’s nephew Brady Barber Laws died on May 9, 2009 and was buried a week later. He was 22. Meri never revealed a cause of death after his demise at the Rollins Brook Community Hospital in Texas.
He was the son of Meri’s older brother Marc Barber. Brady was born January 12, 1987, to Marc and his then-wife Cristy Merrill Barber. In 2000, after his parents’ divorce, Brady moved in with his mother at age 13 to Lampasas in Texas.
Brady lived in Texas until the end and had taken his stepfather Tony Laws’ last name.
7. Meri Brown’s mom Bonnie Ahlstrom died in March 2021
Bonnie Ahlstrom was running ‘Lizzie’s Heritage Inn’ in Parowan, Utah with her daughter Meri when she died on March 26, 2021. She had seven children of her own, while Bill had 18 other children with his four other wives.
Bonnie Ahlstrom appeared on several episodes of ‘Sister Wives’, including Season 15, Episode 7 titled, ‘Birthday Breakdown’ when she stayed with Meri during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meri’s full-blood siblings from Bonnie and Bill were Adam, Teresa, Deborah, Rebekah, Marc, and Elaine. Out of these all, Marc and Teresa passed away young.
8. Meri Brown’s father Bill Barber died in September 2007
Meri Brown lost her father a few years before their TLC show began. Bill Barber died on September 5, 2007. Meri revealed he died after saying he wanted all of them to have a party. So, they had a party. They held a viewing and funeral in Sandy, Utah, and the event sounded both festive and sad. Bill Barber was 65 at the time of his death.