Utah Siblings Barricade Themselves, Use TikTok to Defy Court Order Returning Them to Their Father
Two siblings in Utah barricaded themselves in a bedroom at their mom's home and have been doing a livestream on social media for almost a month after the court ordered them back under the custody of their father, who they accuse of sexual abuse.
Fifteen-year-old Ty Larson and 12-year-old Brynlee defy court order as they lock themselves inside their bedroom while Ty livestreams on TikTok to call for help and attention from the proper authorities and people about their case.
@stupid_flipper My story…. Why I am barricaded in my room because the police is trying to force me to my abusers house #help #foryou #mylife ♬ original sound - Stupid Flipper
Judge Derek P. Pullan decided that the two teens were victims of "parental alienation," a case that strongly influences family courts even if mainstream scientific groups reject it. More than that, the judge gave the police the authority to use "reasonable force" to take the kids away from their mother and place them under the custody of their father, Brent Joel Larson, despite Utah's Division of Child and Family Services stating that he had "severely and chronically" abused his kids both sexually and emotionally.
"My own word does not matter, and they don't believe my truth. The court system isn't trying to save us, nobody's trying to keep us safe. I am the one that's going to have to choose my own safety," Ty expressed in a TikTok video he posted last month, which received over 370,000 views.
Father has numerous criminal charges, then and now
The authorities already visited the sibling's home last December in an attempt to remove the teens. However, according to police reports, they did not break down the bedroom door despite the father's request.
They opted to seek clarification from the court first before carrying out the order given the "potentially combustible situation," ProPublica reported.
Utah's Division of Child and Family Services found that the siblings had experienced "severe and chronic" sexual and emotional abuse from their father. This resulted in Brent Joel's restricted parenting time of supervised visits every month and a 150-day restraining order prohibiting him from having any other contact with his children.
This month, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office revealed that Brent Joel has an ongoing criminal investigation with new allegations against him. There was also a reported previous criminal investigation in February 2021, which prosecutors concluded lacked enough evidence for a probable conviction.
Further, both Herriman and Lone Peak police departments stated that they are investigating the man for child abuse.
Ron Wilkinson, Brent Joel's lawyer, denied the 2018 findings, stressing that his client did not abuse his kids. As to the new allegations, the lawyer emphasized that there have been similar, repeated false claims for years, and the stories continue to change and expand.
On the other hand, Brent Joel accused the sibling's mother, Jessica Zhart, of parental alienation, which he said sabotaged his relationship with his children. His lawyer also accused Zhart of maltreating her children, which he said is "heartbreaking."
Zhart responded that she had not done anything but support her children in having a healthy relationship with her ex-partner since their split in 2012.
Parental alienation
Parental alienation is a disputed psychological theory where one parent is accused of brainwashing children to turn them against their other parent.
Mainstream scientific groups like the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization have already rejected this theory, questioning the legitimacy of the diagnosis.
The National Center for Juvenile Justice dismissed it because it failed to meet the court's evidentiary standards.
Nonetheless, these dismissals have not stopped some courts in the country from recognizing it and mandating treatments to reverse it.
Pullan concluded in his order last January that Zhart's "campaign" was one of parental alienation and the reason for the sibling's "abuse narrative." Thus, he ordered the children to go through a "reunification therapy" to address the alleged harm. He further called the switching of custody from mother to father, emphasizing that it is the "only way to recover the children from this psychological battlefield."
Ty, however, stressed that their mother is not brainwashing them. He pointed out that their mother doing so is a fake narrative.
The court order also stated that when the kids are back in their father's custody, the judge still prohibits him from having unsupervised parenting time or spending nights with them. He ordered Ty and Brynlee to be separately housed pending further court orders.
Last week, more or less 50 individuals gathered at the Utah Capitol to protest against how the court has handled the sibling's case. This included advocates for family court reform. The Utah Attorney General's office reported receiving complaints against the court order and requests for intervention. These came from people who have watched Ty's viral videos on social media.
Related Article: Shared Parenting Laws: A Solution To End 'Parental Alienation'?
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