A Leeds man has been sentenced to prison for coaxing a vulnerable 21-year-old American man to end his own life. Dylan Phelan, 21, residing in the Churwell region of Morley, engaged in conversations with Travis Dyer from the US, who was grappling with mental health issues, over a period of months via the online platform Discord.
During a brief video call on October 30, 2024, Phelan, along with two associates based in the US, goaded Dyer into committing suicide, with the judge labeling Phelan’s actions as stemming from a macabre curiosity. Following Dyer’s tragic act, Phelan was reportedly heard laughing in the background, as disclosed in Leeds Crown Court.
Phelan, along with his accomplices Mads and Rob, were part of a private Discord server named ‘Recovery4all,’ where discussions revolved around mental health matters. Contrary to its name, the group did not offer support to individuals struggling with mental health issues. The deceased, Dyer, had shared his suicidal intentions and plans within the group.
Prosecutor Andrew Petterson revealed that Dyer was coerced by the trio to exhaust his financial resources on substances and to inscribe their initials on his body, including Phelan’s name carved on his hip. Petterson characterized this manipulation as a prolonged period of cruelty that led to Dyer taking his own life.
The post-mortem examination confirmed that Dyer succumbed to a gunshot wound.
