Hulu’s docuseries The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn? puts a spotlight on the custody dispute that drove two Utah siblings to barricade themselves inside a bedroom. While the unusual confrontation ended after a reported 54 days, the legal saga only dragged on for Ty and Brynlee Larson and their biological parents, Brent Larson and Jessica Zahrt.
Now streaming, the two-part documentary reveals new information about both Brent and Jessica more than three years after the family’s case gained prominence. Ty and Brynlee both alleged their father sexually and emotionally abused them as children—prompting the barricade in defiance of a court order—while Brent has repeatedly denied the claims and accused his ex-wife of parental alienation.
The saga went viral after Ty began posting videos and livestreaming to social media during the nearly eight-week standoff. Brent and Jessica continued to face off in court over their parental rights, including a custody trial starting in December 2023.
Here’s what we know about the ultimate outcome and where both parents are today.
Where Is Brent Larson Now?
At the conclusion of the trial in 2024, Brent, known as B.J., wasn’t granted custody of Ty and Brynlee but did receive supervised visitation rights. In the docuseries, a phone conversation between Zahrt and a member of her legal team reveals Judge Derek Pullan determined there wasn’t enough evidence to prove Brent had sexually abused the children, and that Zahrt had interfered with their court-ordered reunification therapy.
Brynlee chose to participate in visits with Brent for several months, while Ty initially locked himself in a bathroom and refused. He eventually filed for emancipation and lived on his own for a time.
Ultimately, Brent decided to voluntarily relinquish his parental rights to Ty and Brynlee in 2024 after going to mediation as part of another petition from Zahrt. “B.J. said, ‘I fought a good fight. It’s, it’s done,’” his mother, Jolleen Larson, recalled in the docuseries.
According to Page Six, Jolleen said her family still has unresolved legal bills, but didn’t provide a specific amount. Court testimony shown in the docuseries reveals she and her husband provided financial assistance to Brent amid the custody battle.
Video footage of Brent from the trailer hinted he might give a new interview for the project. Instead, he appears at the end of the second episode and delivers a prepared statement on camera. He reiterated his love for Ty and Brynlee and explained his decision to give up parental rights.
“I never could have imagined that signing a piece of paper would be the hardest thing I would ever do, but I did it for them,” he said. “I could no longer watch my children endure more pain for something they did not and could not control. If they ever her these words, I need them to know that I never stopped fighting, I never stopped loving, and I never once stopped believing that they drserved more than what this broken system put us through.”
Where Is Jessica Zahrt Now?
Zahrt spoke to People prior to the documentary’s release and described living in a “dissociative state” during Ty and Brynlee’s barricade.
“I didn't know what was going to happen, and so I just felt like I was floating through that whole experience,” she said.
Ty, 18, and Brynlee, 15, both live with Zahrt in Utah. She has full custody of Brynlee, while Ty previously filed for emancipation.
According to the documentary, Zahrt remarried and her husband Aaron decided to officially adopt Ty and Brynlee.
The custody saga took a financial and emotional toll on Zahrt, who claims she owes almost $300,000 in legal fees. “I'll never succeed at swaying people's opinions of me,” she told People. “It’s never going to happen, especially when it comes to something as highly sensitive as family court. What has been important to me is focusing on where I can make a difference: within the walls of my home, making sure my kids know that I was never exploiting them or that I was never doing anything to hurt them.”
Watch The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn? on Hulu
Ty Larson is featured prominently in the docuseries, offering his perspective of the custody dispute and how it affected his life. He also spoke to People about how his priorities have changed since the barricade and finding a stable home with Zahrt and his stepfather.
“I love traveling,” Ty said. "That’s probably the biggest change in my life. I'm just trying to live a little bit of my childhood that I couldn’t when I was young.”
You can dive fully into the case with The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn? now streaming 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.
