January 1, Actor Sentenced to Life in Prison for Matricide

Actor Ryan Grantham has been sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting of his mother, CBC reported.

Grantham, known for his brief roles in the 2010 movie “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and the popular CW show “Riverdale,” had pled guilty to second-degree murder for the 2020 shooting of his mother, Barbara Waite.

On March 31, 2020, Grantham shot his 64-year-old mother in the back of her head while she played piano in their British Columbia home. The then-21-year-old recorded a GoPro video shortly after the murder, in which he confesses to the killing and films his mother’s body. The video was shown in the courtroom.

Prosecutors said Grantham left the crime scene with Molotov cocktails and firearms, planning to kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He also considered committing a mass shooting before surrendering to police, CBC reported.

Grantham, 24, will be eligible for parole in 14 years. Second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence under Canadian law.

Source: CBC