When you dive into the chaotic world of TLC’s Sister Wives, the name David Preston Jessop usually pops up like a ghost from the past. For years, fans have been scouring the internet for a David Preston Jessop obituary, fueled by rumors, social media whispers, and the heavy shadow cast by his high-profile ex-wife, Robyn Brown.
Honestly, the situation is a mess of half-truths and reality TV drama.
If you’re looking for a definitive death notice from 2026, here’s the reality: there isn't one. While the internet loves a good tragedy, the most recent verified information confirms that David Preston Jessop—often just called "Preston"—has been dealing with a massive health battle, but he hasn't passed away.
The confusion usually stems from two things: a very real cancer diagnosis in 2023 and the fact that there are several other men named David Preston whose obituaries actually do exist online. It’s a classic case of mistaken identity and the "telephone game" of the digital age.
The 2023 Leukemia Diagnosis
Back in early 2023, the Sister Wives community was rocked when a GoFundMe surfaced for Preston. It wasn't a hoax. His family revealed that a routine eye exam led to a shocking discovery: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).
It’s heavy stuff.
The fundraiser, organized by his sister-in-law, painted a picture of a man who was fighting for his life while trying to provide for a "new" family that the public rarely sees. According to the campaign, the initial treatment involved "chemo pills" that were supposed to keep the cancer in remission for decades. But things didn't go smoothly. The side effects were brutal, and doctors reportedly warned that continued rounds could damage his heart and arteries.
Because of those risks, Preston reportedly started looking into alternative or "natural" treatments. As anyone who has dealt with medical bills knows, those aren't covered by insurance. This is why the GoFundMe was created—to bridge the gap between what he needed and what he could afford.
Why People Think He Passed Away
The search for a David Preston Jessop obituary often leads people to a different David Preston from Houston, Texas, who passed away in May 2022. That David was a veteran and a pilot, and while his loss was a tragedy for his community, he is not the man who was once married to Robyn Brown.
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Then you’ve got the Reddit threads.
On subreddits like r/SisterWives, users frequently post "I heard he died" without any source. One viral post from late 2025 claimed he passed from COVID-19 complications, but it was quickly debunked by researchers who realized the user was talking about a completely different branch of the Jessop family.
In the world of fundamentalist Mormonism, "Jessop" is a name as common as "Smith." There are thousands of them. If you don't look at the middle names or the birth dates, it’s incredibly easy to get the wrong guy.
The "Erased" Father of the Brown Children
One reason fans are so invested in Preston's status is the narrative presented on Sister Wives. Robyn has been very vocal about the "abuse" she says she suffered in that marriage. She famously had a portrait commissioned where Kody Brown was painted in place of Preston with her three oldest children—Dayton, Aurora, and Breanna.
It was... a lot.
Since Kody legally adopted those three children in 2015, Preston has basically been a non-entity on the show. He signed away his parental rights, a move that many viewers found suspicious or heartbreaking, depending on which side of the "Team Robyn" fence they sit on.
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Recent reports suggest Preston has turned down thousands of dollars from tabloids and even TLC itself. He reportedly doesn't want the spotlight. He doesn't want to "expose" Robyn. He just wants to live his life in Montana with his current wife, Jen, and their four younger children.
Relationship to the "Family Wreath"
The family trees in these circles don't just branch; they loop. To understand the gravity of the Jessop name, you have to look at how he's connected to the rest of the cast:
- Christine Brown: She and David Preston Jessop are first cousins.
- Kody Brown: Kody and Preston are third cousins.
- The FLDS Connection: The Jessop name is deeply tied to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the group formerly led by Warren Jeffs. While Preston's specific branch may not be part of that specific extremist group now, the lineage is there.
Current Status and Actionable Steps
As of early 2026, David Preston Jessop is still alive and continuing his battle with leukemia. He remains private, avoiding the "reality TV curse" that has followed his former family.
If you are following this story or looking for updates, keep these things in mind to avoid spreading misinformation:
- Check the Middle Name: Always ensure the obituary mentions "Preston." There are many David Jessops in Utah, Montana, and Texas.
- Verify the Spouse: Preston’s current wife is named Jen (Jennifer). If the obituary lists a different spouse or different children, it’s the wrong person.
- Support Real Causes: If you want to help, look for the "Preston’s Leukemia Fight" GoFundMe or similar verified medical fundraisers rather than clicking on tabloid links that use his name for "death hoax" bait.
- Respect Privacy: Remember that while his ex-wife chose a public life, Preston has consistently chosen the opposite.
The hunt for an obituary is often just a search for closure to a story that started on a TV screen years ago. But for the man in Montana, the story is still being written, one day at a time, away from the cameras.
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Actionable Insight: If you're researching genealogy or celebrity backgrounds, use sites like Find A Grave or official county records in Montana and Utah rather than relying on social media rumors, which often conflate different people with the same surname.