You might have seen the name pop up next to some of the most famous people in the world, or maybe you caught a glimpse of her during a late-night true crime binge. There is a lot of confusion about who she actually is. Some people think she’s a secret member of the Tennessee dynasty that gave us Miley, while others know her from the heartbreaking headlines out of upstate New York.
The truth is, Tandy Cyrus isn't a pop star. She’s a mother who lived through a tragedy that most of us can’t even imagine, and her life has been under a microscope for over a decade.
The Tragedy That Put Tandy Cyrus in the Spotlight
To understand where she is today, you have to look back at October 2011. Tandy was living in Potsdam, New York, working two jobs—one as a bank manager and another as a bartender—just to keep things afloat for her two boys, Garrett and Aaron. She was a regular person living a quiet life until her 12-year-old son, Garrett Phillips, was found strangled in their apartment.
It’s the kind of story that rips a small town apart.
The investigation that followed was messy. Honestly, "messy" is putting it lightly. The police immediately focused on Tandy’s ex-boyfriend, Oral "Nick" Hillary. He was a local soccer coach and one of the few Black men in a very white town. The case became a lightning rod for discussions about racial bias and small-town politics. Tandy was caught right in the middle, often seen in the HBO documentary Who Killed Garrett Phillips? looking completely drained and caught between her grief and the legal chaos.
Where Is Tandy Cyrus Now?
So, what happened after the cameras stopped rolling and the trial ended in an acquittal? Tandy has basically disappeared from the public eye. Can you blame her?
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After Nick Hillary was found not guilty in 2016, the case went cold. Tandy, now known as Tandy Cyrus Collins after getting remarried, has made a conscious effort to stay away from the media. She isn't chasing fame. She isn't posting "day in the life" videos on TikTok.
A Private Life in the North Country
Reports from local North Country news outlets and public records suggest that Tandy has stayed relatively local to the upstate New York area. She’s tried to build a life of normalcy for her remaining son, Aaron.
- Remarriage: She married Joseph Collins, which is why you’ll often see her referred to in legal documents as Tandy Collins.
- Employment: For years, she continued to work in the financial sector, maintaining that bank manager role that provided stability during the worst years of her life.
- Advocacy: While she isn't a public "influencer," she has consistently pushed for justice for Garrett, even when the legal system seemed to hit a dead end.
Clearing Up the Celebrity Confusion
Let’s address the elephant in the room. If you search for her name, Google often tries to tell you about Billy Ray Cyrus or Miley Cyrus.
Tandy Cyrus is not related to Billy Ray Cyrus.
It's just a coincidence of the surname. Billy Ray’s kids are Miley, Noah, Braison, Brandi, Trace, and Christopher Cody. Tandy doesn't fit into that family tree at all. The confusion usually stems from people seeing the last name and assuming she’s a "lost sibling" or an aunt. She’s a completely different person with a story that has nothing to do with Hollywood.
Why People Still Search for Her
The reason her name still trends in 2026 is because of the "true crime effect." Whenever a new documentary drops or a podcast like Killer Queens re-examines the Garrett Phillips case, people start googling.
They want to know if she ever got closure.
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The sad reality is that the murder of Garrett Phillips remains unsolved. Because of that, Tandy is stuck in a sort of permanent limbo in the public consciousness. She’s the mother from the documentary who never got a definitive answer.
The Current State of the Case
In recent years, there hasn't been much movement. There was a civil lawsuit filed by Nick Hillary against the village of Potsdam and several officials, which brought Tandy back into the periphery of legal news, but she wasn't the focal point of that battle.
Most people who follow the case closely notice that she’s stayed remarkably quiet. In the HBO doc, critics pointed out how she seemed to lean on her other ex, John Jones (a local sheriff's deputy), which sparked a million internet theories. But honestly? Most of that is just people playing armchair detective.
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Moving Forward
If you're looking for Tandy Cyrus on Instagram, you're probably not going to find her—at least not under that name and not with a public profile. She has chosen the path of privacy.
For those who want to support her or the memory of her son, the best way to do that is to keep the conversation about Garrett alive. Justice for Garrett Phillips is still a rallying cry in Potsdam.
What you can do next:
If you want to understand the complexities of her situation better, watch the two-part HBO series Who Killed Garrett Phillips? It provides the most comprehensive look at the evidence and the environment Tandy was living in. Just remember to view it through the lens of a mother who lost her child, not just as a character in a mystery. You can also check local news archives from the Watertown Daily Times or North Country Now for the most accurate updates on any new leads in the investigation.