Fertility Clinic Bombing Suspect's Father Breaks Down in Tears: ‘He Just Changed'
The father of the man accused of setting off a bomb outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, has said he does not recognize the person accused of the attack.
Richard Bartkus, who hasn't spoken to 25-year-old suspect Guy Edward Bartkus in more than a decade, gave an emotional interview to CBS News Los Angeles where he described how he remembered his son as someone who always 'tried to help people.'
'He's a good kid,' Richard Bartkus said through tears. 'After Twentynine Palms, he just changed,' he added, referring to the California city where his son lived, which is also home to a Marine base.
The FBI has identified Guy Edward Bartkus as the main suspect in the blast, which occurred outside the American Reproductive Centers clinic on Saturday. The agency believes the 25-year-old died after detonating explosives in his 2010 silver Ford Fusion outside the IVF center.
On Saturday, Akil Davis, head of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said they were treating the incident as an 'intentional act of terrorism.'
Davis added that online posts and other evidence suggested the suspect had 'nihilistic ideations,' and that this was a 'targeted' attack against an IVF facility.
FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller also said the agency was investigating whether the suspect's alleged 'antinatalist views' were a motive behind the attack, reported NPR. Antinatalism is the belief that it is morally wrong to have children.
Richard Bartkus told CBS News Los Angeles that he learned about his son's suspected death in the blast through news reports.
He also recalled how, as a child, his son accidentally burned down the family home while playing with matches, and used to make 'kid things' like smoke and stink bombs.
Despite this, Richard Bartkus said he never saw anything to suggest his son would one day become a suspect in a terrorist attack.
'He didn't make anything dangerous. When I say bombs, it wasn't like a real bomb,' he explained. 'It was like something you just throw on the ground and it pops.'
'I don't know what changed his mind. Maybe a girl, maybe the people he was hanging out with up there. It wasn't him. Before that, Guy was more about helping people.'
California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a Saturday statement that he was 'working closely' with local and federal authorities. Attorney General Pam Bondi also said she had been briefed on the explosion, describing the attack against the fertility clinic as 'unforgivable.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Are the Epstein files still sealed? Here's what we know
The Brief Elon Musk claimed Donald Trump is named in the Epstein files, reigniting public interest and online speculation. The FBI says it's reviewing tens of thousands of Epstein-related materials but has not confirmed any names or release dates. Only partial records have been made public, and pressure is mounting on the DOJ to release more. LOS ANGELES - After years of speculation and partial disclosures, the Epstein files have returned to the national spotlight — this time because of Elon Musk. In a social media post Thursday, Musk accused former President Donald Trump of being named in the documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose high-profile associations have fueled conspiracy theories across the political spectrum. RELATED: Musk says 'Trump is in the Epstein files' as public feud escalates Musk offered no proof, but his claim immediately reignited public interest in the long-secret files. What exactly is in the Epstein files? Why haven't they been fully released? And is there any truth to the idea that names are being protected? What we know The government has acknowledged ongoing internal reviews of Epstein-related materials, but so far, only select records have been released. The term "Epstein files" refers to thousands of documents, videos, and investigative materials gathered by federal and state authorities across multiple cases tied to Epstein and his associates. Many court documents, particularly from Epstein's 2008 Florida case and the 2019 charges in New York, have been made public, but others remain sealed or redacted. Attorney General Pam Bondi said last month that the FBI is reviewing "tens of thousands" of Epstein-related videos and documents. Bondi said materials will be released once redactions are made to protect victims and ongoing investigations. FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a Fox News interview that they've seen the full file and maintain Epstein died by suicide. They also said surveillance video from Epstein's cell will be released in the coming months. What we don't know Despite growing public pressure, key questions about the files — including who is named and when the material will be released — remain unanswered. No official source has confirmed that Trump appears in any Epstein-related documents. Musk did not specify which documents he was referring to or provide supporting material. The timeline for the full release of videos or unsealed documents has not been made public. The total scope of what the FBI or DOJ intends to keep classified — permanently or temporarily — remains unclear. The backstory Donald Trump built much of his political identity on promises to expose the "deep state" and reveal hidden truths — including, at times, alluding to Epstein. As president, he claimed his administration would declassify major troves of government records. While he did release over 63,000 pages tied to the JFK assassination, he has not fully followed through on releasing Epstein-related materials. The skepticism deepened after Trump's own FBI officials dismissed theories that Epstein was murdered. Patel and Bongino both asserted Epstein's death was a suicide, contradicting some of their earlier public skepticism. Online, Trump supporters and critics alike responded with frustration, asking why the administration, which has stacked agencies with loyalists, still hasn't produced answers. What they're saying "You know a suicide when you see one, and that's what that was," FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News. "I have seen the whole file," Bongino added. "He killed himself." Their comments contradicted earlier statements Bongino made as a podcast host, when he suggested the government was covering up Epstein's death. Tucker Carlson echoed that sentiment on his show: "No matter who gets elected… the Epstein videos remain secret." Newsmax host Todd Starnes posted, "They told us for months leading up to the Election that it wasn't suicide. But now they tell us it was suicide. Pardon me, but what the heck is going on at DOJ?" Even some Trump allies questioned the silence. "If it's easy, why hasn't your administration found these criminals already?" one user posted on Trump's Truth Social platform. The other side Elon Musk's accusation came amid a personal and political falling out with Trump, whom he had supported just months earlier. After Musk blasted Trump's federal spending bill as "pork-filled," Trump threatened to pull billions in government contracts from Musk's companies. Musk responded by making the explosive Epstein claim — without documentation — on X. While many saw it as retaliation, the statement pushed the Epstein issue back into public view, and with it, longstanding demands for government transparency. What's next The DOJ has said more releases are coming — including possible surveillance footage from Epstein's jail — but hasn't provided a schedule. Bondi insists the delay is due to the need to protect victims, but some right-wing influencers and Trump supporters view the delay as stonewalling. There are no public plans to unseal the full list of names connected to Epstein's case files, despite repeated calls from across the political spectrum. Until more documents are released or the DOJ directly addresses Musk's accusation, public suspicion is likely to grow. The Source This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press and statements from Elon Musk and Donald Trump on social media. Quotes from FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Attorney General Pam Bondi were taken from a recent Fox News interview. Additional commentary came from figures like Tucker Carlson and Todd Starnes, as well as publicly available court records and previous DOJ statements regarding the Epstein investigation.
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
FBI Warns iPhone And Android Users—Do Not Answer These Calls
You have been warned — do not take the call. Republished on June 7 with new warnings and more detail on potential threats. The FBI is warning smartphone users this week to be alert to nationwide attacks that frighten citizens into sending money. There's a nasty twist to this scam, and it's one where law enforcement is especially keen to stop Americans becoming victims. 'Scammers are spoofing FBI phone numbers nationwide,' the bureau says, 'impersonating government agents. Victims are tricked into thinking an arrest is imminent unless they send money.' If you receive such a call, the advice is simple and clear: 'The FBI will never call you demanding money to get out of criminal charges. It's a scam. Hang up and visit the FBI's to file a report.' The FBI is not alone in being spoofed in this way — this has become a powerful attack methodology and it's catching on fast. Last week I warned that multiple police forces across several states have issued the same warnings." New York State Police has told its citizens that 'an ongoing phone spoofing scam" is now "impersonating members of law enforcement or government agencies in an attempt to solicit sensitive personal information from individuals across New York State and beyond.' Those scammers 'demand personal information such as Social Security numbers and have threatened punitive action against recipients who refuse to comply.' Whether it's federal, state or local law enforcement, the advice is exactly the same. Do not take the calls. As soon as you hear the initial pitch from the scammer, hang up and file a report, either with your local police or with the FBI's national IC3 service. As with the FBI, New York State Police warns that attacks spoof legitimate phone numbers "to make it appear as if calls are coming from trusted agencies. These scams are designed to create confusion and fear, often leading victims to comply with demands or share information that can be used to commit further fraud.' While law enforcement impersonation scams continue to prompt warnings from various cities and states, the threat is now widening its net with multiple warnings as we head into the weekend. Attacks now include scammers impersonating bank investigators, fire department charity collections and even jury duty calls that tell citizens they must pay given failure to appear, to avoid more serious consequences. The bureau's advice though remains unchanged. 'There are many versions of the impersonation scam, and they all exploit intimidation tactics. Typically, scammers will use an urgent and aggressive tone, refusing to speak to or leave a message with anyone other than their targeted victim; and will urge victims not to tell anyone else, including family, friends, or financial institutions, about what is occurring.' The scammers' demands could be in various forms: 'Prepaid cards, wire transfers, and cash, sent by mail or inserted into cryptocurrency ATMs,' even handing cash or other valuables 'to a courier who arrives at their home.' You have been warned — this scam is nasty and preys on natural fears. Do not be afraid to hang up the phone. If you have any doubts, call back your local police force using a publicly available number. But all law enforcement agencies stress they never make such threats by phone or text — it's a scam every single time.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pearl Street attack suspect appears in federal court for hate crime charge
DENVER (KDVR) — The man accused of throwing incendiary devices at people on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall appeared before a federal judge on Friday afternoon on a federal hate crime charge. The hearing took place on the heels of another state hearing that took place in Boulder on Thursday. Denver bar announces final day of business after nearly 30 years Mohamed Soliman sat in a jury box at the federal courthouse in downtown Denver for the entire hearing. He was told about the hate crime charge. Soliman said 'yes' in Arabic through a translator when he was asked if he understood the court process and why he was there. He was wearing a green jail uniform, and his hands and ankles were handcuffed. A United States Marshall sat behind him. The 45-year-old Egyptian national sat still and did not look at the full courtroom during the initial hearing. One of the first questions the judge asked was if he had a copy of the criminal complaint that detailed the crime he was accused of. Federal prosecutors outlined their case against Soliman in that complaint. The court record detailed why investigators believe the attack was a hate crime. 5 people and a dog were hurt in that attack. The incident happened on Sunday, when the Egyptian national allegedly threw makeshift incendiary devices at a group of demonstrators, were calling for the release of Hamas hostages. An FBI agent said, in the complaint, 'Soliman threw two lit Molotov cocktails at individuals participating in a pro-Israel gathering'. That agent went on to say, 'Soliman yelled 'Free Palestine!' and the Molotov cocktails ignited.' In the complaint, the agent also said, 'He (Soliman) stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead. Soliman stated he would do it again.' Soliman stated that he hated the Zionist group and did this because he needed to stop them from taking over 'our land,' which he explained to be Palestine. FOX31 Legal Analyst Christopher Decker said prosecutors will have to dig deep into what motivated Soliman's alleged actions. Pothole that formed in under 30 minutes causes backups on I-70: CDOT 'Federal prosecutors in this case are going to be looking to uncover and present evidence of the motive and bias behind this criminal act and to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that it was based on his bias against the race, religion, or national origin of the victims involved,' Decker said. Just a day before, 118 charges were filed in state court in connection with this case. Those charges include attempted murder and assault charges. Soliman's next hearing is set for June 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
