Helping a Friend Commit Suicide Results in First-Degree Murder Charges for Utah Teen
A Utah teen is facing first-degree murder charges after he helped a friend commit suicide then left her body hanging from a tree.
Helping a friend commit suicide
18 year old Tyerell Przybcien from Spanish Fork, Utah was arrested on murder charges and reckless endangerment after he admitted to helping his friend, 16 year old Jchandra Brown commit suicide by hanging herself from a tree in Payson Canyon. Przybcien helped Brown acquire the supplies needed, drove her out near Maple Lake Campground, and then filmed her while she dangled from the rope.
Suicide pact
Pyzybcien told police that he and Brown had a suicide pact but he hadn’t carried out his own suicide after helping her. He admitted to having a fascination with death and was curious to see someone die so he knew whether or not he could go through with it. Weeks prior to Brown’s death, Pyzybcien had texted a friend about the plan and eluded that he was looking forward to the incident. Shortly after Brown’s suicide however, he texted the same friend again, only this time confessing his feelings of guilt.
First-degree murder for watching?
Although Pyzybcien played a large part in helping his friend prepare to commit suicide, even going so far as to tie the noose, he didn’t actually force Brown to take her life or even encourage it. He simply went along and did what she had asked him to do. So why then was he charged with first-degree murder? According to Utah Code 76-5-203 from which his charges are based, “Criminal homicide constitutes murder if:
a) The actor intentionally or knowingly causes the death of another;
b) Intending to cause serious bodily injury to another, the actor commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of another;
c) Acting under circumstances evidencing a depraved indifference to human life, the actor knowingly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another and thereby causes the death of another; ( . . . )”
By purchasing the supplies, tying the rope, and not attempting to talk his friend out of killing herself, Pyzybcien could very well be seen as having “depraved indifference to human life” and acting in a way that would be a “grave risk to another”.
Utah suicide prevention
The rate of depression among Utah teenagers is dangerously high. When those depressive moods or feelings of hopelessness lead a teen to consider suicide, those around should be supportive of the teen, not their choice to end their life. For more information on how to talk to teens about depression and suicide, contact the Utah Department of Health. For those who are having thoughts of suicide, contact the Suicide Hotline at #1-800-273-TALK or speak to a responsible adult for support.
