Ryan Grantham: 'Riverdale' and 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' Star Admits Killing Mom to 'Save Her' From Seeing His Assassination Attempt on Justin Trudeau
Ryan Grantham, known for his roles in "Riverdale" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing his mom two years ago.
According to Daily Mail, the former "Riverdale" actor admitted to murdering his mom, Barbara Waite, to "spare her" from having to see his plot to assassinate Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Grantham, 24, will not be able to appeal for parole for 14 years after pleading guilty to a second-degree murder charge. He was handed a life sentence in the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver, Canada on Wednesday.
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Ryan Grantham: Star of 'Riverdale' and 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' Kills His Mom
Ryan Grantham fatally shot his 64-year-old mom while she was playing piano back on March 31, 2020. In June, prosecutors revealed that Grantham had shot his mom in the back of her head and recorded a video on a GoPro in which he confessed to the crime and showed his mom's lifeless body.
He reportedly said on the footage that his mother "would have known it was me." The actor then bought beer and weed, experimented with making Molotov cocktails, and watched Netflix before he covered his mom's body with a sheet and went to bed.
On Wednesday, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Ker ruled that Grantham would have to serve 14 years before he could be granted parole. Under Canadian law, a second-degree murder charge comes with a life sentence.
However, Ker said one of the mitigating factors she considered was Grantham's downward spiral in the months leading up to the crime. As she spoke about the actor's mental health issues, Ker noted that Grantham had been having difficulties weeks before killing his mother and had been looking at violent footage on the dark web, according to People.
Ker said the actor seemed truly remorseful in his apology and was already seeking psychiatric help in jail. He reportedly appears to be showing improvement. Ker added that she would not recommend for Grantham to go to a maximum security prison because of his "diminutive" size.
The actor's lawyer, Chris Johnson, said his client was not shocked at the sentencing. Johnson noted that Grantham seemed to have anticipated what the judge gave him as a sentence.
Grantham had allegedly planned to kill Trudeau and loaded his car with three guns, ammunition, and 12 Molotov cocktails after killing his mom. He also had camping supplies and a map with directions to Rideau Cottage, where Trudeau and his family lived.
However, the actor never made it to Trudeau's residence as he went to Vancouver police headquarters instead to turn himself in. CBC reported that two psychiatric reports showed that Ryan Grantham had been going through an "intense period of clinical depression" months before he murdered his mom.
The reports also revealed that the actor was "experiencing urges to commit violence and kill himself."
Ryan Grantham's Case
The defense argued against considering Ryan Grantham's mental state, including his admission of remorse. According to Complex, Grantham's sister Lisa and her aunt said they feared his release from prison.
His sister said the murder had destroyed her life and career. Lisa noted that her mother, who was her best friend, was battling cancer.
She said their mother was vulnerable and that he gave her no chance to defend herself. She noted that it pained her to know his brother was a danger to her mom's life, and there was no doubt in her mind that her brother was a dangerous person.
Ryan Grantham's last seen appearance was in a 2019 episode of "Riverdale," He also previously appeared in "iZombie," "Supernatural," and "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
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