My name is Colleen, and I never imagined I would be writing something like this. Today, I ask for your support in raising money to create change in our Mental Health System in Montana. I ask that you help Tyler be a voice and a light for Reign.

Every morning before work, Reign got five kisses and five hugs. It wasn't optional—it was their tradition. Throughout the day, Tyler would video call Reign to show him the equipment he was operating, and every evening, Reign would be waiting at the door, excited for his dad to come home.

On April 24, that routine ended in the most unimaginable way.

Tyler received a message while he was working that no parent should ever have to receive—that his precious son, Reign, was gone. In an instant, the life Tyler had built around his little boy was shattered forever.

Reign was only five years old. He was preparing to start kindergarten in the fall. He was bright, curious, incredibly smart, and full of life. He could already count to 100 before ever stepping foot in preschool. He loved being with his dad and wanted to do everything alongside him. He truly was Tyler's entire world.

Many people have heard pieces of this story through the news and social media, but much of what has been reported has been inaccurate or incomplete. We want people to know that this tragedy is deeply complex.

Reign's mother struggled with severe mental illness for years. Tyler, her family, and those closest to her repeatedly sought help through hospitals, mental health facilities, and countless resources. Time after time, they were met with short-term interventions instead of the long-term care that was desperately needed. Tyler never stopped trying to help because he believed Reign deserved to have a healthy mother, and he believed she deserved the opportunity to get well.

Last week, on June 24th, 2026, Kathryn Garaas plead guilty to the Deliberate Homicide of her son Reign. Although we are very relieved that Tyler and those who loved this precious little boy will not have to sit through a trial, and she will face justice and spend the better part of her life in Warm Springs, it doesn't change the lack of action as to how she got here to begin with.

Reign's life could have been SAVED if the state hospital would have listened to Tyler and her family on ANY of her many other stays at their facility where she was medicated to oblivion and released back to the care of her unknowing family.

This fundraiser is not about creating anger or hatred. It is not about placing blame. Nothing will ever bring Reign back.

Instead, we hope people will understand that untreated and inadequately treated mental illness can have devastating consequences—not only for the person suffering, but for entire families. This is happening every day in our State of Montana.

How many lives must be lost before our state focuses on filling the gross gaps left for every citizen in mental health care. We don't have the beds at any of our facilities needed to help everyone who needs them, not half of them, not even 5% of them.

We can do BETTER!

Montana has 174 acute psychiatric state hospital beds at the ⁠Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs. Out of these, roughly 120 are dedicated to civil commitments for severely mentally ill patients, while the remaining 54 are reserved for forensic mental health holds. To put this into perspective, Over 163,000 adults in Montana—roughly 1 out of 5—live with a diagnosable mental health condition. Of these, approximately 44,000 adults experience a serious mental illness (SMI) such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

That's one bed for every 255 severely ill Montanans if they need it. These beds are usually given AFTER a terrible incident has happened. As it is in this case against Kathryn. They will now give her a bed for 25 years. Just maybe, had they have listened one of the countless times they were begged for help, Reign would have a 6th birthday and that bed could be used to treat and save countless more lives in the next 25 years.

Today, Tyler is facing the impossible. He is grieving the loss of his son while trying to navigate court proceedings, overwhelming expenses, media attention, and the emotional trauma that no parent should ever have to endure. Through it all, he remains focused on honoring Reign's memory with love instead of bitterness.

I created this GoFundMe to help ease the financial burden Tyler faces, and to launch the fight to help other families who's voices aren't being heard. Your donations so far have helped cover funeral and memorial expenses, legal costs, counseling and grief support, time away from work, and other unexpected expenses as he begins the long journey of rebuilding his life. We would like to finish our mission, which is to use your donations to create change and bring awareness to the dismal resources for families with mental health issues in our state. If we can save one life, it is worth it!!

Most importantly, we want Reign to be remembered for the joyful little boy he was—not for the tragedy that took him from us. He loved his dad with all his heart, and Tyler loved him just as fiercely.

If you are able to donate, thank you. If you cannot, please consider sharing Reign's story and keeping Tyler, Reign, and everyone who loved this beautiful little boy in your thoughts and prayers.

Our hope is that Reign's legacy will be more than heartbreak. We hope it sparks conversations about mental health, encourages families to keep asking for help, and inspires meaningful changes so that no other family has to endure this kind of unimaginable loss.

Thank you for standing with Tyler, honoring Reign's life, and helping us carry his memory forward with love.

Donations can also be made at ANY First Security or Valley Bank location fee free, please tell them you would like to help support the Reign Tyler Blair Memorial fund account.