FBI arrests a man in New York linked to explosion at a California fertility clinic, officials say
Jun 4, 2025, 9:00 AM | Updated: 9:05 am
Damage to a building is seen after an explosion in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo: Eric Thayer, The Associated Press)
(Photo: Eric Thayer, The Associated Press)
The FBI made an arrest in New York in connection with an explosion at a Palm Springs, California fertility clinic, two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter confirmed with The Associated Press Wednesday.
The arrest took place at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, according to the officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a criminal case that has not been publicly disclosed.
The arrest stems from an apparent car bomb detonation at a fertility clinic last month by a man who authorities said had nihilistic writings. The FBI identified Guy Edward Bartkus as the suspect and said he was believed to have died in the explosion. Officials said at the time that they were investigating whether Bartkus had any help.
Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing tied to WA homicide
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Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, carried out the bombing in Southern California just before 11 a.m. Saturday. The explosion came from a large vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Bartkus was known as someone who built computers and played video games in his spare time.
According to the FBI, it was one of the largest bombings ever investigated in Southern California. The explosion injured at least four people, and investigators have called the attack an intentional act of terrorism.
Bartkus was motivated by ideologies known as 鈥渁nti-natalism鈥� and 鈥減ro-mortalism,鈥� investigators claimed after searching through his 鈥渙nline writings.鈥� Other published pieces online that have been linked to Bartkus suggested he chose the clinic because he believed bringing life into the world causes suffering.
鈥淭he subject had nihilistic ideations and this was a targeted attack,鈥� Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI鈥檚 Los Angeles field office, told聽. 鈥淲e believe he was attempting to livestream it and, yes, that is also part of our investigation.鈥�
Investigators also found evidence that he attempted to live-stream the bombing online.
Investigators uncovered his remains within the blast site. Authorities are not looking for additional suspects, as of this reporting, believing Bartkus acted alone.
The clinic is resuming operations in Palm Desert at a temporary location.
Connection to Pierce County murder investigation
Bartkus left behind some 鈥渁nti-pro-life鈥� writings before carrying out his attack, investigators found. They also claimed he appeared to be 鈥渁nti-life鈥濃�攁n 鈥渁ntinatalist鈥� who believed that procreation is unethical or unjustifiable鈥攁nd interacted with like-minded people in social forums.
Additionally, in Bartkus鈥� alleged manifesto, according to聽, he wrote that he was affected by the death of his best friend, a woman named Sophie, who was killed in Pierce County in April.
鈥淚鈥檝e never related to someone so much, and can鈥檛 imagine I ever would again,鈥� Bartkus allegedly wrote in his manifesto.
Sophie Tinney, 27, referenced in court documents as 鈥淪.T.,鈥� was shot multiple times and killed in a homicide, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner鈥檚 Office.
Her boyfriend, Lars Eugene Nelson, 29, was arrested in connection with her death and booked for murder in the second degree, according to聽. Nelson initially reported her death as a suicide on April 20, but after authorities conducted an autopsy, they found multiple gunshot wounds to her head.
Her death drove Bartkus 鈥渙ver the edge,鈥� according to聽,听which reported that Bartkus and Tinney were best friends. Tinney had similar views to Bartkus, describing childbirth as unethical and questioning the value of human existence. She discussed this on social media, primarily on TikTok and Reddit.
Investigators found a website that contained no name, but appeared connected to the bombing. It laid out the case for 鈥渁 war against pro-lifers鈥� and said a fertility clinic would be targeted.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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