In early 2023, TikTok became the unlikely battleground for a child custody case, when siblings Ty and Brynlee Larson barricaded themselves inside a bedroom for 54 days. As the pair documented their act of defiance, thousands of viewers waited for a resolution in real time.
The upcoming Hulu docuseries The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Brynn? examines the legal saga that engulfed their family and went viral. The two-part project features archival footage and new interviews with both of their parents, promising to illuminate both sides of the divisive case.
Ty and Brynlee refused to return to court-ordered custody of their father, whom they allege sexually and emotionally abused them as children. Instead, the pair took matters into their own hands and locked themselves in a room at their mother’s home. But were they justified, or had they been the victims of involuntary alienation as their father contends?
Who Are Ty and Brynlee Larson?
The documentary focuses on Ty and Brynlee Larson, siblings who locked themselves inside a Salem, Utah, home in response to a controversial custody dispute involving their biological parents. The brother and sister are the children of Jessica Zahrt (alternatively identified as “Zhart” in court documents) and Brent Larson.
The couple split in 2012—leading to an intense rift among the family members, according to ProPublica. Complicating the situation further, both children have alleged they suffered years of sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of Brent.
According to a TikTok video posted by Ty Larson, the alleged abuse occurred when he was between ages 3 and 10 and Brynlee between 3 and 7. Per child welfare reports obtained by ProPublica, Ty first disclosed details of his claims in November 2018. Among other things, he accused Brent of improperly touching him while he slept and holding his head underwater in a bathtub during an incident when he was around 4 years old. He also alleged Brent threatened to kill his mother and family members if he ever told them about the abuse.
Similarly, Brynlee told representatives from Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) Brent had touched her inappropriately, resulting in significant pain. DCFS ultimately found both Ty’s and Brynlee’s allegations to be “supported” following separate investigations.
As a result, Brent’s parenting time was restricted to a handful of monthly supervised visits. However, he was never arrested or charged with any crimes and has repeatedly denied all allegations of abuse.
Why Did Ty and Brynlee Larson Barricade Themselves Inside Their Home?
Brent subsequently accused Zahrt of parental alienation, or manipulating their children into fearing or holding hostility toward another parent without justification, and attempted to regain custody of Ty and Brynlee. She has also denied all of these claims.
In November 2022, a court ordered Ty and Brynlee’s enrollment at Turning Points for Families, a reunification camp in which the children would undergo a “sequestration period” followed by visits with the “unjustifiably rejected” parent (in this case, Brent). Ty and Brynlee would then remain in Brent’s custody for a 90-day period, without contact from their mother.
Fearful of returning to their father, Ty and Brynlee—then ages 15 and 12, respectively—barricaded themselves inside a bedroom at Zahrt’s home starting on December 8, 2022. They stopped attending school, and Ty used a drill to cut holes into the wall so the pair could access a bathroom without entering the hallway. During this time, they received assistance from Zahrt, who washed their clothes and brought them food out of fear they would starve.
At one point that same month, police entered the home in an attempt to carry out the court’s order, but police refused to break down the siblings’ barricaded door without further clarification.
How Long Did Ty and Brynlee Larson Stay in Their Room?
The siblings spent a reported 54 days inside a room in their mother’s home while a judge reevaluated their custody case.
In the meantime, Ty began posting video clips and streaming live from the bedroom on TikTok as he and his sister were blockaded inside. The videos generated hundreds of thousands of views, and both interest in the case and support for the two children exploded.
In January 2023, Utah Fourth District Court Judge Derek P. Pullan affirmed the court’s order. “The only way to recover the children from this psychological battlefield is to remove the children from Jessica’s care and place them in the custody of Brent, subject to conditions,” Pullan wrote. Two of the conditions stipulated Brent was not allowed to spend overnights with Ty and Brynlee and his visitations required supervision.
Pullan also ruled police were “authorized to use all reasonable force necessary to unbarricade the children and exercise the writ,” though authorities never used force to extract Ty and Brynlee from the home.
On March 16, 2023, ProPublica reported Pullan had placed a stay on the court mandate, citing new information regarding allegations of abuse against Brent.
This meant Ty and Brynlee could finally leave their room. “I’m still in fight or flight,” Ty said, crediting the social media attention around the case for prompting the additional investigations.
The case eventually went to trial in December 2023, the Arizona Republic reported. Brent reaffirmed his commitment to proving the abuse allegations were false and suggested Zahrt had manipulated their children. “They need to know the truth,” he testified. Meanwhile, Zahrt responded to questions about her own social media posts in which she claimed she experienced domestic violence. She asserted she never disparaged Brent directly in front of their children.
A verdict from the case was not reported publicly—meaning The Nightmare Upstairs could offer new information about the proceedings.
Where Are Ty and Brynlee Larson Now?
On February 13, 2024, Ty Larson posted an update video to his TikTok account Stupid Flipper. He didn’t elaborate on the final outcome of the custody trial, but referenced it among “a lot of big W’s,” or wins, from his life.
“Brynlee’s been doing good,” Ty later added. “My mental health has just been, it’s been hard, but I’m getting through it.”
Ty also celebrated the passing of Om’s Law in the state of Utah in March 2024. Named after 16-year-old Om Gandhi, who was killed by his father in a 2023 murder-suicide, the law mandates judges handling custody matters first consider risks to the child’s safety. It also banned reunification therapies separating children from a parent to whom they are bonded as long as that parent isn’t a threat to their safety.
As of April 2026, Ty Larson has continued posting videos to TikTok as Stupid Flipper. He has more than 55,000 followers and regularly posts clips about gaming and technology, including product reviews.
Little has been shared publicly about Brynlee’s life. She appears in the trailer for the two-part documentary, with footage of her interacting with police officers while barricaded.
Watch The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn? now on Hulu
According to ABC News, The Nightmare Upstairs features “intimate footage from both sides of a fractured family, offering an unprecedented look at what unfolded behind closed doors.” In the trailer, Zahrt speaks directly to filmmakers for a new interview, while Brent Larson is briefly shown sitting in a chair—hinting at his own participation in the project.
We’ll find out how much each parent shares about their children’s desperate stunt and the aftermath when the two-part special begins streaming Tuesday, May 19, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
