Tragedy struck Tyrone High School English teacher Kathy Beigle and her family in November 2020 when her 27-year-old son, Tyler Slippy, was stabbed to death in his Hollidaysburg apartment.

Beigle, Tyler’s older brother Steven, and Slippy’s large network of friends were left to pick up the pieces after losing a son, brother, and friend in such a tragic and violent manner.

Tyrone Area High School graduate Jeremy Byers, one of Beigle’s former students, had never met Tyler. But he knew of him through his teacher and was shocked to learn that he had been killed.

“Mrs. Beigle was a favorite teacher of mine in high school,” Byers said. “Of course, this affected Ms. Beigle, but it also affected her students. I know a lot of us felt hurt, even though we didn’t know that type of pain.”

Byers is also a professional filmmaker who began making films as a teenager. He founded his own film company, Joker Studios, in 2018.

“So with the talents I have, I thought maybe [producing a film about Tyler] would be a good way to help with the healing process.”

According to Byers, it took a lot of courage to approach Beigle with the idea.

“It was a little nerve-wracking, reaching out to her, but I knew my intentions weren’t anything malicious. So, I was hesitant, but it worked out well,” Byers said.

Beigle said she still remembers when Byers first approached her about making a documentary about Tyler.

“I remember [Jeremy] reaching out to me, and I could tell that he was really hesitant, but when he did, I knew immediately that I wanted [Jeremy] to tell this story, because I wanted to give Tyler a voice, and I wanted some of the rumors that were circulating to be dispelled and, and Jeremy was really good about that,” Beigle said.

Byers said he wanted to tell more than just the story of Tyler’s murder. He also wanted to focus on Tyler as a person, the people he impacted, and hear from those with whom he was closest.

“[The film] tells the story of the situation that took Tyler’s life, but more importantly, it tells the story of who Tyler was, the impact he had on others, and the legacy that he will leave behind,” Byers said.

Byers said that the film took almost three years to produce.

According to Byers, many legal issues arose because at the time he started working on the film, the murder was technically not a closed case.

“We had a lot of problems with the police department and the district attorney, and the legalities of things. What we could say, what we couldn’t say. It was rough making it — actually, very rough,” Byers said.

There were several people that Byers would have liked to have interviewed for the film, but were unwilling to appear on camera.

“At one point, the District Attorney [Pete Weeks] agreed to an interview, then he backed out, and then he agreed again, and then, legally, he said he couldn’t say anything. So it was very frustrating trying to coordinate interviews,” Byers said.

Byers and Beigle both also spoke at length with a man whom the killer confessed to, but he was also not willing to appear on camera.

“I talked to him, and he told me everything. He told me everything that [the killer] told him. And he said, ‘I’ll help as much as I can’. And he did, he talked to the police, but then he backed out of being interviewed [for the film],” Beigle said.

Byers said he knew that interviewing Beigle would be one of the most difficult parts of the film.

He had to ask tough questions if the film was going to be what he envisioned.

“I was worried that [Mrs. Beigle] was going to hate me after asking all these hard questions,” Byers said.

In the film, Beigle is very candid about the details of the crime, its aftermath, and how it impacted her and Tyler’s friends and family.

Beigle hopes that everyone who watches the film will come away from it knowing the special person that Tyler was.

“Tyler was truly one of a kind. He lit up a room with his humor, outgoing personality, and brilliant smile. Honestly, to know him was to love him. He truly touched everyone’s lives that he was friends with. His kindness and free spirit will live on forever,” Beigle said.

Beigle was very pleased with how the film turned out.

“Everyone who has watched it told me how well it was done, how tasteful it was,” Beigle said.

Those who have seen the film gave it very positive reviews, sharing reactions of shock, heartbreak, and hope.

The film was featured at the Centre Film Festival in State College and won second place in a statewide documentary film competition.

This is not Byers’ last film. He is currently working as a producer on a $2.5 million project in Los Angeles and hopes to start filming in the fall.

Byers is also a screenwriter. He currently has two scripts that he is trying to get funding to make into films. To see other films that Byers has produced and directed, click this link.

As for this project, Byers wants viewers to learn more about Tyler and also realize that anything can happen in life.

“I never had the chance to meet Tyler,” Byers said, “but I hope that this [film] is one of those things that can be preserved as a way to remember him. I also hope [viewers will] appreciate their friendships more and keep in touch with those around them, because you don’t know what could happen. I think that’s the deeper message in this.”

Beigle wants everyone who sees the film to learn about her son and remember him as a person, not just a victim.

‘I just want everyone to remember Tyler. That’s a parent’s worst fear when they lose a child. I don’t ever want anyone to forget him,” Beigle said.

Tyler Slippy: Forever 27 will premiere on Monday, May 5th at 7 pm on Joker Studios’ YouTube Channel.