'Riverdale' actor Ryan Grantham sentenced to life in prison for killing his mother
Former child star Ryan Grantham's fate has been decided.
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Riverdale actornhas been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his mother in 2020 and will not be eligible for parole for 14 years, according to E! News.
Grantham earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in British Columbia, which is meted with an automatic life sentence in Canada. The court also issued a lifetime firearm ban on the 24-year-old actor during his Sept. 20 sentencing.
The actor's attorney, Chris Johnson, told E! News that he has "worked really hard to turn his life around" after his arrest.
"He's received a lot of psychological assistance and he has struggled with what he's done and facing that, but he hopes to be able to dedicate the rest of his life to making amends," Johnson said in a statement.
In June, CBC reported that Grantham shot his 64-year-old mother, Barbara Waite, in the back of the head while she played piano at home on March 31. He also took videos where he confessed to the murder and showed his mother's dead body.
The next day, he packed his car with three guns, ammunition, 12 Molotov cocktails, and camping supplies and planned to travel to Rideau Cottage, plotting to kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
According to two psychiatric reports referenced in court, Grantham suffered urges to commit violence and kill himself due to clinical depression. He allegedly decided to kill his mother "to spare her from seeing the violence he intended to commit."
"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," he said after his June hearing.
CBC said the actor is currently receiving psychiatric help in prison.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, NCMH’s crisis hotline is 0917-899-USAP (8727); (02) 7-989-USAP or 1553 (landline, toll-free).
Mental health advocacy group MindNation also has a 24/7 chat hotline that can be accessed here.