Ryan Grantham confessed to shooting his mother in the head while she played piano
Ryan Grantham, a Canadian actor who appeared in the TV show Riverdale and the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid, has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his mother and plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Grantham, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder earlier this year and received his sentence on Wednesday at the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver.
Grantham admitted that he shot his 64-year-old mother, Barbara Waite, in the back of the head with a handgun on March 31, 2020, at their home in Squamish, about an hour away from Vancouver. He then recorded a video with a GoPro camera, in which he confessed to the killing and showed his mother’s lifeless body. He also wrote about his motive and his plans in his journal.
According to his statement to the police, Grantham said he killed his mother because he wanted to spare her from having to deal with the aftermath of his intended crimes. He said he had planned to kill Trudeau and possibly carry out a mass shooting at a local university, but he changed his mind. He said he was suffering from a major depressive disorder and a cannabis use disorder, and he had been watching violent videos on the dark web.
Grantham drove to Ottawa with guns and explosives before turning himself in
After killing his mother, Grantham bought beer and weed, experimented with making Molotov cocktails, and watched Netflix. He then covered his mother’s body with a sheet and went to bed. The next day, he hung a rosary on his mother’s piano and arranged lit candles around her body. He then loaded his car with three guns, ammunition, 12 Molotov cocktails, camping gear, and directions to Rideau Cottage, where Trudeau lives in Ottawa.
Grantham drove for a few hours toward Trudeau’s residence, but he turned around with thoughts of committing a mass shooting on the Lions Gate Bridge or at Simon Fraser University, where he was a student. Instead, he drove to the Vancouver Police Department and turned himself in, telling an officer, “I killed my mother.”
Grantham later confessed to detectives about his plan to kill the prime minister, and he also wrote about it in his journal. He said he had a personal dislike for Trudeau and he wanted to make a political statement. He said he had been influenced by the anti-government and anti-lockdown movements that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grantham must serve 14 years before becoming eligible for parole
Grantham’s sentencing hearing was largely to determine when he could apply for parole. Prosecutors asked for a waiting period of 17 to 18 years, while Grantham’s defense requested one of only 12 years. The judge, Justice Kathleen Ker, decided that Grantham must serve 14 years before being eligible to apply for parole, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Grantham has been imprisoned since April 1, 2020. Two court-appointed psychiatrists assessed him and agreed that he had serious mental health issues. His attorney, Chris Johnson, said Grantham was remorseful and had expressed his wish to apologize to his family and to Trudeau.
In delivering the sentence, Ker described the case as tragic, heartbreaking, and “life-shattering”. She said Grantham had enough attachment to reality and comprehension not to commit an act of mass murder, which she called a “saving grace”. She also said Grantham had a chance to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society, but he would need intensive treatment and supervision.
Grantham had a promising career as an actor before his downfall
Grantham had a promising career as an actor before his downfall. He started acting at the age of six and appeared in several movies and television shows. Besides Riverdale and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, he was also in the television show Supernatural. He was nominated for a Young Artist Award in 2010 for his role in the movie 2012.
Grantham’s family and friends said he was a talented, kind, and funny person who loved music and animals. They said they were shocked and devastated by his actions and they hoped he would get the help he needed. They also expressed their condolences to Waite’s family and friends, who described her as a loving, generous, and adventurous woman who enjoyed traveling and volunteering.
