Ryan Grantham
Netflix Ryan Grantham in an episode of Riverdale
Actor Ryan Grantham was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting death ofhis mother.
Grantham, known for his role in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and appearance in_riverdale,_ pled guilty to second-degree murder in March 2020 for killing hismother, Barbara Waite.
The 24-year-old was handed a life sentence in the British Columbia SupremeCourt in Vancouver on Wednesday. He will not be eligible for parole for 14years, Canada’s CBC reports.
Per the outlet, Justice Kathleen Ker said gripping statements from thevictim’s loved ones, such as Grantham’s sister, showed the “life-shattering”impact of the tragedy. She added that the actor’s “saving grace” was that hewas aware enough of what he did and he didn’t go on a spree.
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Speaking about Grantham’s mental health issues, Ker noted that he had beenhaving difficulties weeks before the actor pulled the trigger and had beenviewing violent footage on the dark web.
He is getting psychiatric treatment while in jail and appears to be showingimprovement, Ker said according to CBC.
The child actor’s lawyer Chris Johnson said, according to CTV, that Granthamis not shocked at the sentencing.
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“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 tinyperson, and to go to the prison system, I’m sure it’s a daunting and scarythought for him.”
Ker also made reference to Grantham’s “diminutive” size and said she wouldn’trecommend for him to go to a maximum security prison.
Grantham was 21 when he shot his mother in the head as she played piano.
Story continues
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After the March 31, 2020, murder, Grantham allegedly planned to kill CanadianPrime Minister Justin Trudeau. He loaded his car with three guns, ammunition,12 Molotov cocktails, camping supplies and a map with directions to RideauCottage, where Trudeau lived with his family, CBC reported at the time.
Grantham never made it to Trudeau’s residence, and instead went to Vancouverpolice headquarters to turn himself in.
Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly referenced two psychiatric reports thatshowed the actor had been going through an “intense period of clinicaldepression” in the months leading up to the crime, CBC reported.
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The reports also showed, according to CBC, that Grantham was “experiencingurges to commit violence and kill himself.” CBC added that the reports saidGrantham made the decision to kill his mother “to spare her from seeing theviolence he intended to commit.”
Complex reported that Grantham’s sister Lisa Grantham found their mother onApril 1. Lisa shared a victim impact statement with the court and said hermother, who was battling cancer, was her “best friend.”
“She was vulnerable and Ryan gave her no chance to defend herself. It pains meto know he was a danger to her life,” she said, according to Complex. Both sheand her mother’s sister told the court they “fear his release from prison.”
**_If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to theCrisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis