Tyler Roby Pippen remains largely unknown to basketball fans, although her brief life profoundly impacted one of the NBA’s most celebrated families. Born on July 20, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois, she arrived as a twin alongside her sister Taylor Pippen. Tragically, Tyler passed away on July 29, 1994, at only nine days old. Her story reveals the deeply human side of the Pippen family, marked by a paternity dispute, private grief, and the resilience of her twin sister. This article explores Tyler’s life, the circumstances surrounding her passing, and the lasting legacy she left behind.
Who Was Tyler Roby Pippen
Birth and Early Days
The summer of 1994 brought twin daughters into Scottie Pippen’s life under circumstances that would soon become complicated. Tyler Roby Pippen entered the world on July 20, 1994, in Mundelein, Illinois, alongside her twin sister Taylor. Her middle name carried her mother’s surname, a deliberate choice that acknowledged both sides of her family heritage.
Tyler spent her brief existence at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. The nine days between her arrival and departure marked the entirety of her time with her family. Her mother, Sonya Roby, worked as a model and faced the dual challenges of caring for newborn twins while navigating a contested paternity situation.
The naming convention reflected intentionality. By incorporating “Roby” as Tyler’s middle name, the family created a lasting connection to her maternal lineage. This decision took on added significance given the paternity dispute that overshadowed the twins’ arrival.
Twin Sister Taylor Pippen
Taylor Pippen survived those critical early days and grew up carrying the memory of her twin sister. Born minutes apart on the same July day, the sisters shared a beginning but not a journey. Taylor has spoken about the absence of a twin who never made it past infancy, acknowledging Tyler as part of her identity even though they never had the chance to grow up together.
Initially, Scottie denied paternity of both twins. A DNA test conducted on October 29, 1994, settled the matter conclusively, proving his biological connection to the girls. Following the test results, he agreed to provide medical insurance through the NBA for Taylor, although Sonya retained sole custody.
Taylor pursued athletics, playing volleyball through high school and college before spending a season playing professionally in Spain in 2016. She later transitioned into corporate finance, eventually becoming a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase. Her professional success came despite a strained relationship with her father, whom she has described as largely absent from her life.
The Pippen Family in 1994
The year 1994 found Scottie Pippen at the peak of his basketball career. As a Bulls forward, he had helped steer the franchise to championship victories and stood among the most recognizable players in the NBA. The contrast between his public success and private turmoil created a complicated backdrop for the twins’ arrival.
Tyler represented Scottie’s second and third children, born during a period when his personal life involved multiple relationships. Her brief existence became part of a larger family story that eventually included eight children from different partnerships.
The twins’ birth occurred during the Bulls’ transition period, a time when Scottie carried significant responsibilities both on and off the court. Away from the arena, he faced paternity questions and the reality of Tyler’s fragile health. The loss of one daughter while establishing legal and financial responsibilities for the other created circumstances that Scottie has never addressed publicly.
Tyler’s presence in the Pippen family narrative remains quiet but permanent. Her sister carries forward their shared beginning, and family histories acknowledge both twins even though only one survived.
Scottie Pippen and Sonya Roby’s Relationship
How They Met
Sonya Roby worked as a professional model when she crossed paths with the Bulls superstar. Their relationship developed during Scottie’s rise to prominence in the NBA, though specific details about their initial meeting remain private. The connection between the 28-year-old model and the basketball player evolved into a romantic involvement that would produce twin daughters.
The relationship existed outside of marriage, marking one of several partnerships Scottie maintained during this period of his life. Sonya’s career in modeling placed her in social circles where professional athletes frequently appeared, creating opportunities for their paths to intersect.
The Pregnancy and Denial
When Sonya became pregnant with twins in late 1993, the news set off a chain of events that would play out in courtrooms rather than private family settings. Scottie denied being the biological father of the twins before their birth and continued that stance after Taylor and Tyler arrived on July 20, 1994.
His refusal to acknowledge paternity forced Sonya to file a legal suit. She sought recognition of Scottie’s fatherhood and financial support for the newborns, one of whom faced serious health challenges from birth. The denial persisted even as Tyler spent her final days at Mercy Hospital.
A DNA test conducted on October 29, 1994, proved what Sonya had maintained all along. The results indicated a 99.9 percent probability that Scottie was the biological father of her daughters. However, even confronted with this scientific evidence, Scottie did not immediately admit paternity.
Public Scrutiny and Private Struggles
The paternity case landed in Circuit Court, where Judge David Delgado presided over proceedings that drew public attention. In May 1995, the judge ordered Scottie to pay $10,000 to Sonya to cover birth expenses for Taylor Roby Pippen. By this point, Tyler had already passed away, leaving Sonya to navigate both grief and legal battles simultaneously.
The following month brought another court appearance. In a crowded courtroom handling dozens of paternity cases daily, Scottie finally admitted in June 1995 that he had fathered twins with Sonya. He answered lawyers’ questions curtly before signing court papers containing the admission. The agreement included payment of $15,000 in outstanding medical bills from the twins’ birth.
Following his admission, Scottie left court without addressing questions from the press. Sonya similarly declined to comment. Her attorney, Bernard Rinella, expressed frustration with the timeline, stating that while Scottie had finally done what was right, the process had taken far too long.
The settlement established several provisions. Sonya received sole custody of Taylor, though Scottie was afforded visitation rights. He agreed to obtain medical insurance for Taylor through the NBA. His lawyer indicated uncertainty about whether Scottie would pursue a relationship with his daughter, noting that future contact remained undecided.
Child support negotiations proved contentious. Sonya requested $11,500 monthly, considering Scottie’s $2.25 million annual salary. Scottie contested this amount. Court-appointed representative David Pasulka suggested an alternative arrangement involving a $100,000 immediate payment into a trust fund, followed by $2,500 monthly contributions. The final settlement, approved in December 1995, included a trust agreement, an education and welfare fund, and formal establishment of the parent-child relationship.
Scottie never appeared at the final settlement hearing and has never spoken publicly about Tyler’s death.
The Paternity Case and Legal Battle
Initial Denial of Fatherhood
Sonya Roby’s paternity lawsuit thrust the private matter into Cook County’s court system, where Judge David Delgado presided over the case. Scottie refused to acknowledge his biological connection to the twins both before and after their July 1994 birth. This denial carried legal weight, forcing Sonya to pursue formal court action to establish paternity and secure financial support for her daughters.
The stance placed Sonya in a difficult position. With one newborn fighting for survival and another requiring full-time care, she simultaneously navigated hospital visits and legal proceedings. Scottie’s refusal meant no financial assistance for mounting medical expenses, no insurance coverage through his NBA benefits, and no formal recognition of his daughters.
DNA Test Results
The scientific evidence arrived on October 29, 1994, three months after Tyler’s death. Laboratory analysis of DNA samples produced results showing a 99.9 percent probability that Scottie was the biological father of Roby’s daughters. This level of certainty left virtually no room for dispute under legal standards used to establish paternity.
However, the test results alone did not immediately resolve the case. Scottie maintained his position even after receiving the scientific evidence. The findings became part of the court record, serving as the foundation for future proceedings but requiring additional legal steps to formalize paternity and establish financial obligations.
Court Proceedings in 1995
Circuit Judge David Delgado ordered Scottie to pay $10,000 to cover birth expenses of Taylor Roby Pippen in May 1995, following the conclusive DNA results. At that point, Pippen had not admitted paternity despite the overwhelming scientific evidence. The case continued through the spring until June 17, 1995, when Scottie appeared in court and formally conceded that he had fathered twins with Sonya.
The admission came nearly a year after the twins’ birth. Scottie signed court papers acknowledging paternity and agreed to pay $15,000 in outstanding medical bills arising from the birth. The court granted Sonya sole custody of Taylor, while affording Scottie visitation rights. David Pasulka, appointed to represent Taylor in the proceedings, noted that Pippen made no commitment about pursuing a relationship with the child.
Financial and Medical Responsibilities
The child support dispute extended beyond the paternity admission. Sonya requested $11,500 monthly, which Pippen contested as excessive. Pasulka proposed an alternative structure: $100,000 paid immediately into a trust fund, followed by $2,500 monthly contributions.
The final settlement, approved in December 1995, established multiple provisions. Judge Delgado confirmed a trust agreement, an education and welfare fund, and an order establishing the parent-child relationship. Specific terms remained sealed from public disclosure. Pippen did not appear at the settlement hearing. Simultaneously, another paternity case filed by Yvette Deleone remained pending, with her daughter born in February 1995.
Tyler Roby Pippen Cause of Death
Nine Days of Life
Tyler Roby Pippen’s health complications began immediately after her arrival into the world. The severity of her condition required continuous medical intervention at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, where she spent every moment of her brief existence. Medical staff worked to stabilize her condition, but the challenges proved insurmountable. On July 29, 1994, Tyler passed away at the hospital.
During those nine days, Sonya faced the devastating reality of watching one daughter fight for survival while caring for her healthy twin. The hospital became the center of the family’s world, a place where hope and fear coexisted. Medical teams provided intensive care, but the specific interventions and treatments Tyler received remain undisclosed.
Privacy Around Her Passing
The Pippen family maintained strict confidentiality regarding Tyler’s medical condition and the specific cause of her death. No public statements emerged explaining what health complications led to her passing. This decision to preserve privacy has held firm for decades, with neither Sonya nor Scottie ever discussing the medical details that surrounded Tyler’s final days.
Scottie has never spoken publicly about losing Tyler. His silence on the matter extends beyond the typical reserve athletes show about personal matters. Even during the paternity proceedings that followed, court documents focused on financial and legal aspects rather than the emotional toll of losing a child. The family chose to grieve away from public scrutiny, keeping Tyler’s memory and the circumstances of her death within their private circle.
Medical Context of 1994
Neonatal medicine in 1994 faced different challenges than modern healthcare systems encounter. The first 28 days of life represent the period of highest health risk for newborns, with multiple births like twins facing elevated vulnerability. Twin pregnancies carry inherent complications that can affect both babies differently, leading to disparate outcomes even when born simultaneously.
Hospital capabilities varied considerably during this period. Mercy Hospital provided care within the medical standards and technology available at that time. Whatever condition Tyler faced, it proved too severe for the interventions available. The passage of three decades has brought advances in neonatal care, but in 1994, certain complications remained beyond medical capacity to resolve.
The combination of twin birth and immediate severe complications created circumstances that the Pippen family has chosen not to detail publicly. Their decision reflects a boundary between public interest and personal grief that they have maintained consistently.
Taylor Pippen: Life After Loss
Growing Up Without Her Twin
Sonya Roby raised Taylor as a single mother, maintaining the full custody granted by the courts. The absence of Tyler shaped Taylor’s childhood in ways both visible and invisible. She carried forward the twin connection through her achievements, though the bond existed only in memory rather than lived experience.
Relationship with Scottie Pippen
Despite the legal acknowledgment of paternity, Scottie remained absent from Taylor’s life. The visitation rights afforded to him went largely unused. Taylor grew up near Chicago bearing a famous surname but without the father figure typically associated with it. The disconnect between public perception and private reality created a unique challenge for her identity formation.
Professional Volleyball Career
Taylor channeled her energy into athletics, following a path distinct from basketball. At Southern Illinois University, she became the only three-time First Team All-Conference selection in program history. Her career attack percentage of .345 set an all-time school record. She led the 2015 Salukis to their first NCAA Tournament appearance, earning American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American honors.
Subsequently, she signed with Figaro Peluqueros in Tenerife, Spain, in 2016. The team competed at the highest level of Spain’s professional league, Superliga Feminina de Voleibol. Her season overseas fulfilled a long-held ambition to play professionally in Spain.
Success at JPMorgan Chase
Taylor transitioned from athletics to finance, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Illinois University. She joined Wintrust Commercial Banking as a credit analyst in 2016, advancing to Assistant Vice President during her five-year tenure. In 2021, she moved to JPMorgan Chase, where she currently serves as Vice President, Middle Market Banker.
Speaking Out in 2016
During an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo in 2016, Taylor addressed her relationship with Scottie directly. “He never wanted to meet me,” she stated. “I don’t know what he’s like as a father. He decided that it would be like that, and I prefer not to think about the matter too much”. She acknowledged the weight of her surname but emphasized that “Pippen is just that, a last name”.
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Conclusion
Tyler Roby Pippen’s story represents far more than a brief nine-day existence. Her life, though tragically short, revealed the deeply human struggles behind a famous surname. The paternity dispute, eventually resolved through DNA evidence, highlighted the complicated circumstances surrounding her birth and passing. All things considered, Taylor’s remarkable achievements in both athletics and finance stand as a testament to resilience, despite growing up without her twin sister and largely without her father. Tyler’s memory endures through her family, particularly through Taylor, who carries forward their shared beginning. The Pippen family’s choice to maintain privacy around Tyler’s death deserves respect, as they navigate grief away from public scrutiny.
FAQs
Q1. Who was Tyler Roby Pippen?
Tyler Roby Pippen was the twin daughter of NBA star Scottie Pippen and model Sonya Roby, born on July 20, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois. She tragically passed away at only nine days old on July 29, 1994, at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. Her twin sister Taylor survived and went on to have successful careers in professional volleyball and corporate finance.
Q2. What was the paternity dispute involving Tyler and Taylor Pippen?
Scottie Pippen initially denied being the father of the twins both before and after their birth. A DNA test conducted on October 29, 1994, proved with 99.9% certainty that he was their biological father. He finally admitted paternity in court in June 1995, nearly a year after the twins were born, and agreed to pay medical bills and provide financial support for Taylor.
Q3. What happened to Tyler Roby Pippen’s twin sister Taylor?
Taylor Pippen grew up to become a highly accomplished athlete and businesswoman. She became a three-time First Team All-Conference volleyball player at Southern Illinois University and played professionally in Spain. She later transitioned to finance and currently serves as Vice President at JPMorgan Chase. However, she has publicly stated that her father Scottie was largely absent from her life.
Q4. Why has the cause of Tyler’s death never been publicly disclosed?
The Pippen family has maintained strict privacy regarding Tyler’s medical condition and the specific cause of her death. Neither Sonya Roby nor Scottie Pippen has ever publicly discussed the medical details surrounding Tyler’s passing. The family chose to grieve privately and has consistently maintained this boundary between public interest and personal grief for nearly three decades.
Q5. Did Scottie Pippen have a relationship with Taylor after admitting paternity?
Despite being granted visitation rights through the court settlement, Scottie Pippen remained largely absent from Taylor’s life. In a 2016 interview, Taylor stated, “He never wanted to meet me. I don’t know what he’s like as a father.” She was raised by her mother Sonya Roby, who maintained sole custody throughout Taylor’s childhood.
