Father Heartbroken Over Son's Alleged Car Bomb Attack at California Fertility Clinic
ICARO Media Group
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A 25-year-old man suspected of carrying out a car bombing outside a fertility clinic in California has left his father devastated and heartbroken. Richard Bartkus, speaking to Noticias Telemundo, expressed his disbelief and sorrow over the incident, describing his son, Guy Edward Bartkus, as someone who had a "good heart" and suggesting he might have been "brainwashed."
Richard Bartkus revealed that he lost contact with his son more than a decade ago when Guy moved to Twentynine Palms to live with his mother. Richard finds it hard to reconcile his memories of his son with the recent events. "It's hard for me to believe that this was him," he admitted. Guy was last seen driving a 2010 silver Ford Fusion when he allegedly detonated an explosive outside 1199 North Indian Canyon Drive around 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The location of the blast is a street lined with several medical facilities, including the American Reproductive Centers (ARC). Despite the severity of the explosion, ARC stated on Facebook that their laboratory and all eggs and embryos stored there were not damaged. "We are heavily conducting a complete safety inspection and have confirmed that our operations and sensitive medical areas were not impacted by the blast," ARC assured.
Tragically, Guy Edward Bartkus was killed in the explosion while four others were treated for injuries and subsequently released from the hospital. Law enforcement officials suggested that the attack may be linked to anti-natalist ideology, a belief system opposing human reproduction. Richard Bartkus, however, was taken aback by this revelation. "I've never even heard him talk about something like that before," he claimed, painting a picture of his son as a young man who enjoyed outdoor and leisure activities like hiking, mining, rock hunting, and playing video games.
Emotional and clearly affected by the situation, Richard asserted, "He had a good heart. Something changed in him." Investigators are now delving into social media posts, including an audio recording and an online forum post that seem to align with anti-natalist views and mention suicide by an explosive device. They suspect that Guy might have been struggling with depression and personal relationship issues.
The FBI has classified the explosion as an act of terrorism, and tactical officers were seen at a residence in Twentynine Palms following the incident. The blast caused significant damage to multiple businesses in the area. Eyewitnesses described the incident as shocking, with one individual noting it "felt like an earthquake," while another recalled seeing a lot of black smoke and shattered glass.
Simone and Sophie, a couple who are clients of American Reproductive Centers and recently conceived their newborn son with the clinic's help, shared their distress over the event. "It was terrifying," Sophie said, emphasizing the personal impact by adding, "My embryos were there."
The community remains on edge as investigators piece together the motive and circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.