In March 2020, the actor who also stars in 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after fatally shooting his mother Barbara Waite in the family's Squamish home.
- Sep 23, 2022
AceShowbiz - Ryan Grantham has been sentenced to life behind bars for fatally shooting his mother Barbara Waite in March 2020. The actor who played Jeffrey Augustine in the fourth season of "Riverdale" previously admitted to killing his mother in an effort to spare her from having to witness his plot to assassinate Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The by-the-book second-degree murder punishment was handed down by British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Ker on Wednesday, September 21 in Vancouver. In addition, the 24-year-old actor will not be eligible for parole for 14 years.
According to CBC report, Kathleen said gripping statements from the victim's loved ones, such as Ryan's sister Lisa Grantham, showed the "life-shattering" impact of the tragedy. She added that the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" actor's "saving grace" was that he was aware enough of what he did and he didn't go on a spree.
Speaking about Ryan's mental health issues, Kathleen noted that he had been having difficulties weeks before pulling the trigger and had been viewing violent footage on the dark web. Kathleen added that he's now getting psychiatric treatment while in jail and appears to be showing improvement. She also said she wouldn't recommend for him to go to a maximum security prison while referring to his "diminutive" size.
The child actor's lawyer Chris Johnson said in a statement that Ryan is not shocked at the sentencing. "I think he anticipated what the judge gave him as a sentence," Chris stated. "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."
Ryan was 21 years old when he shot his mother Barbara in the back of the head as she played piano in the family's Squamish home on March 31, 2020. After killing his mom, the actor allegedly planned to kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin. He loaded his car with three guns, ammunition, 12 Molotov cocktails, camping supplies and a map with directions to Rideau Cottage, where the Prime Minister lived with his family.
Ryan, however, never made it to Justin's residence and instead went to Vancouver police headquarters to turn himself in. "I killed my mother," he reportedly bluntly declared to police at the front desk of the station.
As for Barbara, her body was found on April 1, 2020, by her daughter Lisa, who arrived at the scene after Barbara failed to answer her calls and texts. "How can I trust anybody when my only sibling chose to execute my mom when her back was turned," Lisa said in court.
During his court appearance in June, Ryan expressed his sorrow. "I cannot explain or justify my actions. I have no excuse," he said at the time. "It hurts me to think about how badly I've wasted my life. In the face of something so horrible, saying sorry seems so pointless. But from every fiber of my being, I am sorry."
