Diary of a Wimpy Kid Star Goes to Prison for Murdering His Mom. What Happened?
Most of us might remember Ryan Grantham as Rodney in the 2010 film Diary of a Wimpy Kid. While the film's success didn't really translate into bigger roles for the former child star, it was still his claim to fame. Unfortunately, he may live in infamy from now on, following his arrest for the murder of his own mother, Barbara White.
In front of the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver last Wednesday, September 21, the 24-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He had been initially charged with murder of the first degree. The difference between the two is the intent or mindset of the defendant when the acts were committed. Second-degree murder means an automatic life sentence.
Grantham admitted to the court that he shot his mother in the back of the head while she played the piano in their Vancouver home. Prosecutors found out that he had plans of killing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well.
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What Exactly Happened?
Back in March 2020, the former star shot his 64-year-old mom in Squamish, just north of Vancouver. In the aftermath of the grisly incident, Grantham confessed to the act on his Go-Pro Camera. "I shot her in the back of the head. In the moments after, she would have known it was me," he said.
Grantham spent the hours that followed the murder by smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. The former child actor would then load his vehicle with three guns, ammunition, and Molotov cocktails, with the goal of visiting the Prime Minister's cottage residence. He drove 200 kilometers before deciding to turn himself in at a local Vancouver police station.
According to The New York Times, he told officers that he killed his mother to spare her from the frenzy that would come after killing Trudeau and shooting up a local university. Grantham has been in custody since April 2020. The Hollywood Reported noted that the court appointed two psychiatrists to assess him.
“The psychiatrists agreed that at the time of this horrendous event he was suffering from a major depressive disorder and a cannabis use disorder, among other things,” his attorney Chris Johnson explained to the Hollywood Reporter.
The sentencing last week determined if he could apply for parole. Prosecutors argued for a waiting period of 17 to 18 years while his defense asked for 12. It was decided that the actor would not be eligible for parole anytime soon, as he needs to serve at least 14 years of his life sentence first.
Grantham has also appeared in shows like Riverdale and Supernatural.
