Guy Edward Bartkus May Have Left 'Pro-Mortalist' Manifesto, FBI Says

Yahoo

18-05-2025

Guy Edward Bartkus was identified as the suspect accused in the bombing targeting a Palm Springs, CA, fertility clinic, and authorities are investigating a possible manifesto, according to the FBI.
The bombing occurred on May 17, 2025, near American Reproductive Centers, which says on its website that it offers services that include surrogacy, egg freezing, and in vitro fertilization.
The "pro-mortalist" website with the purported manifesto has been widely disseminated on social media and was reviewed by Men's Journal. The opening line refers to "my suicide & bombing of an IVF clinic!"
According to The Urban Dictionary, pro-mortalism is "a philosophical position for any sentient being, it is always the best to die as soon as possible."
"We are fairly confident that Mr. Bartkus is our primary suspect," said Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI in Los Angeles, in a May 18 news conference. He described Bartkus as having "nihilistic ideations."
In the news conference, when asked about a widely shared pro-mortalist website being described as a manifesto, Davis confirmed: "We are looking through that. We are tracking a possible manifesto out there, and it's part of our investigation."
Later in the news conference, he said that authorities believe Bartkus had "nihilistic" beliefs "based on some of the posts he made online, some of the comments made in his manifesto that we're combing through right now."
"We believe he was attempting to live stream it," he added of the attack.
Asked if the audio recording on the pro-mortalist website was confirmed to be the suspect, Davis said he was not going to comment on that aspect yet.
Bartkus, 25, was from Twentynine Palms, CA, and authorities revealed he's the person they believe died in the explosion. "We believe he was the subject found near the vehicle... a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan," Davis said in the news conference.
The website manifesto refers to the writer as a pro-mortalist. The New York Post reported that Bartkus was a "self-described 'pro-mortalist." LAist reported that, on the site, Bartkus "does not use his name in writing or in an audio file detailing his beliefs. The site also featured a FAQ explaining his intention for the attack." In it, according to LAist, Bartkus describes himself as being a "misandrist" as well as a "promortalist."
The Los Angeles Times reported that the online website 'contained no name, but appeared connected to the bombing' and 'laid out the case for 'a war against pro-lifers,'' saying a 'fertilization clinic would be targeted.'
All of those descriptions match the website reviewed by Men's Journal.
The website widely shared contains the question, "PRO MORTALIST?! So you're just pro psycho killers?!"
"No, understand your death is already a guarantee, and you can thank your parents for that one," it says. "All a promortalist is saying is let's make it happen sooner rather than later (and preferably peaceful rather than some disease or accident), to prevent your future suffering, and, more importantly, the suffering your existence will cause to all the other sentient beings," the answer says.
The manifesto website says that related philosophies include "Negative Utilitarianism, Efilism, Abolitionist Veganism, basically, philosophies" that oppose religion.
The website says, referring to Bartkus and a friend, "We were both antisex (don't mistake for asexual, I'm talking like r/antisex) misandrists, VegAntinatalist, negative utilitarians. Both also had borderline personality 'disorder.'"
What is nihilism? "Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy," the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy explains.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said in the news conference that there is "no continuing threat to our community as a result of this incident."
"I have been briefed on the explosion at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, CA, that took place today. Federal agents are on the ground now responding alongside local law enforcement," U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X, adding, "Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable."
Davis called the incident 'one of the largest bombing investigations we've had in Southern California.'
'Make no mistake, this is an intentional act of terrorism,' he said. "The FBI is investigating it as such."
Davis said that authorities are still working to 100% identify the deceased person at the scene as Bartkus, but that they believe it is.