Ryan Grantham, Actor Who Appeared on ‘Riverdale’, Allegedly Plotted Murder of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Ryan Grantham, an actor who appeared in a 2019 episode of Riverdale, killed his mother and planned to also kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Grantham, who previously pleaded guilty to the murder of his mom, Barbara Waite, plotted to carry out another murder when he drove toward Ottawa with multiple weapons and the intent to kill Trudeau, the CBC reports.

The actor allegedly brought “three guns, ammunition, 12 Molotov cocktails, camping supplies and a map with directions,” on his trip to murder Trudeau, prosecutors said during Grantham’s hearing Monday (June 13). Grantham eventually turned around before reporting himself to Vancouver police, whom he informed of his mother’s murder, per CBC.

Grantham allegedly killed his mom to keep her from witnessing the further violence he planned to commit, according to psychiatric reports shared at the hearing, again per CBC. A prosecutor alleged that the actor was experiencing severe depression and thoughts of violence toward himself and others.

The actor shot his mom in the back of her head while she was playing piano at home in March 2020, the CBC reports. Before carrying out the act, Grantham practiced how he would kill his mom and filmed a video in which he confessed to the killing and showed his mom’s body, it was revealed in court Monday.

Riverdale is Grantham’s most recent acting credit. He appeared in the episode “Chapter Fifty-Eight: In Memoriam,” in which he played Jeffery. He previously appeared in shows like Supernatural and iZombie and in films like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Becoming Redwood.

Grantham now faces a second-degree murder sentence, which could land him in prison for life. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in March.  His hearing is expected to conclude today.