‘Riverdale’ actor Ryan Grantham sentenced to life for killing his mother
In March 2020, Ryan Grantham pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after fatally shooting his mother
Ryan Grantham, an actor, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his mother.
Grantham, well-known for his roles in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Riverdale, pled guilty to second-degree murder in March 2020 for the murder of his mother, Barbara Waite.
On Wednesday, the 24-year-old was sentenced to life in prison by the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver. According to Canada’s CBC, he will be ineligible for parole for 14 years.
According to the site, Justice Kathleen Ker stated that riveting comments from the victims’ loved ones, such as Grantham’s sister, demonstrated the tragedy’s “life-shattering” impact. She went on to say that the actor’s “saving grace” was that he was aware of what he was doing and did not go on a rampage.
Speaking about Grantham’s mental health issues, Ker noted that he had been having difficulties weeks before the actor pulled the trigger and had been viewing violent footage on the dark web.
He is getting psychiatric treatment while in jail and appears to be showing improvement, said Ker according to CBC.
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The child actor’s lawyer Chris Johnson said, according to CTV, that Grantham is not shocked at the sentencing.
“I think he anticipated what the judge gave him as a sentence,” Johnson said. “I think he’s pretty apprehensive about the whole thing. He’s a fairly tiny person, and to go to the prison system, I’m sure it’s a daunting and scary thought for him.”
Ker also mentioned Grantham’s “miniature” size and stated that she would not recommend he be sent to a maximum security jail.
Grantham was 21 years old when he shot his mother in the head while she was playing the piano.
After the March 31, 2020, murder, Grantham allegedly planned to kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He loaded his car with three guns, ammunition, 12 Molotov cocktails, camping supplies, and a map with directions to Rideau Cottage, where Trudeau lived with his family, CBC reported at the time.
Grantham never arrived at Trudeau’s house, instead going to Vancouver police headquarters to report himself up.
According to the CBC, Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly cited two medical assessments that revealed the actor had been suffering from a “severe period of clinical depression” in the months preceding the crime.
Grantham never arrived at Trudeau’s house, instead going to Vancouver police headquarters to report himself up.
According to the CBC, Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly cited two medical assessments that revealed the actor had been suffering from a “severe period of clinical depression” in the months preceding the crime.
According to the CBC, the files also revealed that Grantham was “experiencing cravings to conduct harm and kill himself.” According to the CBC, Grantham decided to kill his mother “to protect her from witnessing the horrors he intended to do.”
According to Complex, Grantham’s sister Lisa Grantham discovered their mother on April 1. Lisa provided the court with a victim impact statement stating that her mother, who was facing cancer, was her inspiration.
“She was vulnerable and Ryan gave her no chance to defend herself. It pains me to know he was a danger to her life,” she said, according to Complex. Both she and her mother’s sister told the court they “fear his release from prison.”