The article explores how sexual-abuse allegations, family-court decisions and a contentious custody fight led siblings Ty and Brynlee Larson to barricade themselves in their mother’s bedroom for 54 days in January 2023. Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services found the claims "supported," but no criminal charges were filed. The standoff, livestreamed on TikTok, and the family’s broader dispute are the focus of the Hulu documentary The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn?, which premiered May 19. The case raises questions about reunification therapy, parental alienation claims and the emotional and financial toll of prolonged custody battles.
How Abuse Allegations and a Bitter Custody Battle Led Two Siblings to Barricade Themselves for 54 Days
Ty Larson livestreamed himself barricaded in a room at his mother's home in Utah in 2023 for 54 days to avoid a judge's order that required him and his sister return to the custody of their father, whom they had accused of sexual abuse. Their father denied the allegations.Credit: ABC News Studio
In January 2023, siblings Ty and Brynlee Larson locked themselves inside a bedroom at their mother’s home in Salem, Utah, and remained there for 54 days rather than comply with a court order that would have placed them in their father’s custody.
Allegations, Family Court Findings and No Criminal Charges
In 2018 Ty and Brynlee accused their father, Brent Larson, of sexual abuse; Ty also alleged emotional abuse. Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services later found the claims "supported," and Brent’s in-person contact with the children was limited to supervised visits. However, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office declined to file criminal charges.
The 90-Day Order, Reunification and the Barricade
A judge ordered the children to live with Brent for 90 days, to have no contact with their mother, Jessica Zahrt, or her family during that period, and to potentially participate in reunification therapy intended to restore the parent-child relationship. In response, Ty and Brynlee barricaded themselves in a bedroom at Zahrt’s home and livestreamed the standoff on TikTok, drawing wide public attention and online support. They ended the lockdown after a judge postponed enforcement of the custody order.
Jessica Zahrt at her home in Utah with her daughter, Brynlee Larson.Credit: ABC News Studio
Personal Toll and Legal Fallout
The dispute took an emotional and financial toll on everyone involved. Zahrt says she accrued nearly $300,000 in legal fees while fighting to protect her children and has strongly rejected accusations that she exploited them. A judge criticized Zahrt in a detailed ruling, saying he believed she encouraged the barricade and interfered with reunification efforts; she has denied those claims and says she has tried to move forward for the sake of her family.
Brent Larson has repeatedly said the family court process unfairly treats accused parents as if they are criminals, describing years of supervised visits, repeated reunification attempts and heavy legal costs. Each family member has described feeling harmed by the court system.
Ty’s Decision, Emancipation and Life After the Barricade
Ty says the idea to barricade himself came from a 10th-grade criminal justice class discussion about the limits of law enforcement authority. He prepared food and supplies he believed would last months and livestreamed the standoff to document the situation and raise public awareness. He says he discouraged Brynlee at first, but she ultimately chose to join him.
Brent Larson and Jessica Zahrt divorced in 2012 and spent years locked in a bitter custody battle.Credit: ABC News Studio
After the barricade ended, the court ordered Ty and Brynlee to resume visits with their father. In April 2023, at age 17, Ty filed for emancipation and moved out of his mother’s home; he worked multiple jobs while finishing his education and was advised by counsel to limit contact with his family during that period. In December 2024 Ty moved back in with Zahrt. As of the latest reports, both siblings—now adults/teens—live with their mother, and Zahrt has full custody of Brynlee.
Documentary and Public Conversation
The family’s legal battle and the 54-day standoff are chronicled in the two-part Hulu documentary The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn? The series includes previously unseen footage of supervised visits, police interviews and courtroom testimony and began streaming on Hulu and on Hulu via Disney+ on May 19.
Broader Issues Raised
The case has prompted debate about how family courts handle abuse allegations, the effectiveness and risks of reunification therapy, and the controversial concept of parental alienation. Observers say the story highlights gaps and tensions between child-protective findings, criminal prosecution standards, and family-court procedures.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to 741-741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor via the Crisis Text Line.
The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn? premiered on Hulu and Hulu via Disney+ on May 19.
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