'Riverdale' Actor Ryan Grantham Afraid He Will Be Brutalized in Prison After Killing His Mother
"Riverdale" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" actor Ryan Grantham will serve life in prison in Canada after shooting his mom, Barbara Waite, in the head in 2020. However, the convicted murderer is afraid his fellow inmates might brutalize him if he ever serves his sentence at a Canadian maximum-security prison.
His lawyer, Chris Johnson, recently told TMZ about his client's fear of being sent to prison. Johnson said that Grantham was small in stature and slight in build, standing only at 5'2" and weighing only around 100 lbs.
Because of this, Johnson said Ryan Grantham could be "physically, psychologically and sexually intimidated" inside a maximum security prison.
'Riverdale' Star Ryan Grantham's Lawyer Concerned for Client's Wellbeing
Chris Johnson also said he feels that Ryan Grantham does not belong in a maximum security facility not just because of his physicality but also because the punishment does not fit the specific crime under particular circumstances.
That was in reference to the Canadian court finding the 24-year-old actor guilty of murdering his mother and sentencing him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in 14 years.
According to Fox News, Grantham pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge. He admitted to murdering his mom to "spare her" from having to see his plot to assassinate Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The actor's lawyer noted that due to his client's "diminutive" stature and "young-looking" appearance, he could be at a higher risk of being abused in prison. He also raised this during the trial.
British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Ker, who presided over the case, then told corrections authorities to send Grantham to a medium-security prison instead of a maximum-security prison.
However, the lawyer said that while the judge honored his request, the judge had no final say in where the actor will be sent. The decision is up to Canadian correctional authorities. Johnson is now reportedly asking the Deputy Commissioner of Prisons to put his client in a medium-security prison.
Ryan Grantham Shot His Mother in the Back of Her Head
Ryan Grantham, who gained popularity for his role in "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," shot his 64-year-old mom while she was playing piano on March 31, 2020.
Prosecutors earlier revealed that after he shot his mom in the back of her head, Grantham 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 mom "would have known it was me." Grantham 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.
Grantham also allegedly planned to kill Trudeau and loaded his car with three guns, ammunition, and 12 Molotov cocktails after killing his mom. He 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 Grantham had been going through an "intense period of clinical depression" months before he murdered his mom.
The psychiatric reports also revealed that the actor was "experiencing urges to commit violence and kill himself." Under Canadian law, a second-degree murder charge comes with a life sentence. However, Ker ruled that Grantham could be granted parole after he served 14 years.
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 mom and had been looking at violent footage on the dark web.
Ker said the actor seemed truly remorseful in his apology and was already seeking psychiatric help in jail. Ryan Grantham reportedly appears to be showing improvement.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: What's Next for Riverdale Actor Ryan Grantham After Prison Sentence - From E! News
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