Riverdale TV actor Ryan Grantham has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the March 2020 Squamish death of his mother.
The charge was read to Grantham in B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday as Barbara Waite's family looked on.
"Guilty," the 23-year-old said, appearing by video, dressed in standard red prison garb.
The case now moves to sentencing submissions, set for June 13. Justice Kathleen Ker asked lawyers if anything troubling would be presented at that time.
Defence lawyer Chris Johnson said there would be a "video made by the accused on a GoPro" camera.
Grantham was charged after his 64-year-old mother was found dead in her Squamish home on April 1, 2020. Police were called to 40000-block Government Road after a family member found Waite's body.
“Frontline officers determined that the victim, later confirmed to be Ms. Waite, had met with foul play and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was called in,” said a release from homicide investigators.
Grantham made his first appearance in B.C. Provincial Court on April 9, 2020.
Homicide investigators worked with the Sea to Sky RCMP, the Vancouver Police Department, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and the BC Coroners Service.
Ker asked Grantham if he understood that his plea meant he was admitting to the charge, the elements of the offence and that the sentence is life in prison without parole eligibility for 10 to 25 years.
"I understand, your honour," Grantham said.
Riverdale is a series based on the Archie comics. Grantham began his career as a child actor at age nine and has had multiple TV and movie roles.
At 11, he was cast for a role in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, a 2009 film directed by Monty Python’s Flying Circus comedy team alumnus Terry Gilliam.
An agreed statement of facts between Crown and defence is expected to be presented during sentencing submissions. Psychiatric reports are also expected to be filed.
