RECAP: ‘Sister Wives’ Kody Brown Takes Zero Accountability for Garrison’s Death
Christine Embraces Joy, Reflects on Her Past
As her relationship with husband David Woolley grows deeper, Christine Brown finds herself looking back on her years with Kody Brown through a clearer lens. In this episode of Sister Wives, she admits that despite having a plural family, she felt more isolated than she had realized.
Now with David, she experiences the kind of emotional support she once longed for, leading her to acknowledge the silent loneliness of her past. The contrast is stark — and healing.
Meri and Jenn Plan a New Chapter
With the closure of Lizzie’s Heritage Inn officially behind them, Meri Brown and her best friend Jenn Sullivan begin brainstorming what comes next. For Meri, shutting the doors on the bed and breakfast feels symbolic — marking the end of a major era in her life and her relationship with the Brown family.
Tragedy Strikes: Garrison Brown’s Death Shakes the Family
The heart of the episode centers on the devastating loss of Garrison Brown, who died on March 5, 2024, at the age of 25. His passing sent shockwaves through the family, and viewers watched as the Browns tried to process the unimaginable.
Kody Brown, visibly emotional, reflected on how the grief has weighed on him, particularly due to their strained relationship in recent years. “It’s so sad,” he said somberly, remembering the day he and Janelle had to decide on funeral arrangements.
“I remember sitting there with Janelle and I was just going, ‘Hey, I really just want to take my boy home,’” Kody shared. “And so I said, ‘Let’s take him back to Wyoming and let’s bury him next to Grandma Cheryl.’ We just totally agreed that would be the right thing.”
“His Loss Takes Our Breath Away”
Following Garrison’s passing, Kody and Janelle issued a joint public statement mourning their son’s death. “He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him,” the statement read. “His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away. We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory.”
Kody Grapples With Guilt and Regret
Later in the episode, Kody opened up to Robyn during a quiet moment by the fire, admitting he continues to wrestle with unresolved feelings.
“It’s just heartbreaking,” he said. “Rob and I didn’t get a chance to really just make things right, just not being able to say goodbye.”
Referring to Garrison by his given name, Robert, Kody continued, “I just don’t know what to do with his death because it’s like I’ve got to do something different because I could have had more time with him, and I thought there would be more time.”
He added, “Everybody thinks they got more time.”
“What If” Becomes a Painful Loop
Kody also confessed he’s been caught in a spiral of second-guessing his past actions. “It just wasn’t supposed to be this way,” he told Robyn. “I’m going to what if, what if, what if to death.”
“What if I’d have called him? What if I’d have been in touch more? What if we’d have gone done more? What if, what if, what if?” he continued. “It still makes me sad. It still makes me wonder if something could have been done. It’s the what-ifs. The what could have been. I think they just helped the mourning process.”
Meri Brown learned Garrison had died while filming ‘Sister Wives’
Meri Brown, was preparing to film a segment about her birthday when she received a call from Kody. At first, she ignored it, telling producers, “He can text me if he needs me.” But when he called again and responded to her text with an urgent message, her mood shifted instantly. “It’s an emergency,” she said, before answering the phone and reacting with visible alarm: “What?”
The screen then faded to black, revealing that on March 5, 2024, Kody and Janelle’s son, Garrison Brown, died by suicide at the age of 25. Janelle later revealed it was their son Gabriel who found Garrison. Meri recalled Kody’s heartbreaking words from that call: “He told me the words that I’ll never forget. He goes, ‘Garrison took his life.’ And it was just like this weird, weird, surreal moment… I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ And he’s like, ‘No.’”
Meri said she rushed to Kody and Robyn’s house, where she was met by Gwendlyn Brown. “She just came out and she just like hung on to me,” she said. Later, she checked in with Janelle, saying, “I’m stopping, I’m getting food and I’ll be over in a little bit, then I’ll just be there.” She also opened up about the family’s private viewing of Garrison’s body, calling it “really, really painful.” In a separate confessional, Kody expressed deep regret over their estranged relationship, saying, “I didn’t get a chance to really just make things right… I thought there would be more time.” Overcome with guilt, he added, “I’m going to what if, what if, what if to death.”
A Painful Reminder of What Was Lost
The episode closes with the family trying to find meaning in the aftermath of unimaginable loss. While Christine, Meri, and Janelle begin to carve new paths for themselves, Kody is left holding the weight of fractured relationships — and the silence left behind.
Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.
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Nancy Zhāng is an Entertainment Blogger for All About The Tea. Nancy covers hot topics, recaps and celeb news. She loves to multi-task as a writer and a private chef. She received a B.S. in Mass Communications from LSU. Nancy’s married and the proud mom of 2 German Shepherds.
