A desperate plea from prison: Convicted Trump assassin plotter asks for assisted suicide state transfer
Ryan Routh, the North Carolina man convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump while he was golfing in South Florida last year, has requested that a federal judge recommend that he be transferred to an assisted suicide state where he can end his life on his own terms.
The unusual request, which is almost certainly to be denied, highlights the collision of criminal justice, mental health, and end-of-life law in one of the country's most politically charged cases. Routh, 59, who was found guilty in September on five counts including attempted assassination of a president and use of a firearm in a crime of violence, is currently serving his sentence at the Federal Detention Center in Miami.
In a letter filed last month, Routh urged Judge Aileen M. Cannon to make a non-binding recommendation to the Bureau of Prisons that he be transferred to a state with laws protecting assisted suicide. The letter, which was entered on the court's docket as United States v. Routh, No. 9:24-cr-80116-AMC, described Routh as "a constant failure" who is unworthy of rehabilitation and asserts that life in custody without love is meaningless.
Routh's request is legally impossible but symbolically potent, raising questions about what control federal inmates have over their confinement and lives. The plea also highlights the strain on mental health crises inside the federal system and the uneasy intersection between acts of political violence and debates about personal autonomy at life's end.
Federal authorities are unlikely to honor Routh's request, as the Bureau of Prisons does not maintain facilities in states where assisted suicide is legal, and federal law does not recognize physician-assisted death. Medical staff are also prohibited from participating in any act that could be construed as assisted suicide.
Routh's writings portray a defendant who alternates between remorse and grandiosity, at one point calling himself "insignificant and useless," and at another suggesting his imprisonment could serve a "diplomatic victory." In closing his letter, he apologized to expend everyone's time on one so insignificant and signed off simply: "Sorry, Ryan W. Routh."
The case will remain under public and political scrutiny given its connection to an attack on a presidential candidate. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 2025, and Routh faces up to life imprisonment.
Ryan Routh, the North Carolina man convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump while he was golfing in South Florida last year, has requested that a federal judge recommend that he be transferred to an assisted suicide state where he can end his life on his own terms.
The unusual request, which is almost certainly to be denied, highlights the collision of criminal justice, mental health, and end-of-life law in one of the country's most politically charged cases. Routh, 59, who was found guilty in September on five counts including attempted assassination of a president and use of a firearm in a crime of violence, is currently serving his sentence at the Federal Detention Center in Miami.
In a letter filed last month, Routh urged Judge Aileen M. Cannon to make a non-binding recommendation to the Bureau of Prisons that he be transferred to a state with laws protecting assisted suicide. The letter, which was entered on the court's docket as United States v. Routh, No. 9:24-cr-80116-AMC, described Routh as "a constant failure" who is unworthy of rehabilitation and asserts that life in custody without love is meaningless.
Routh's request is legally impossible but symbolically potent, raising questions about what control federal inmates have over their confinement and lives. The plea also highlights the strain on mental health crises inside the federal system and the uneasy intersection between acts of political violence and debates about personal autonomy at life's end.
Federal authorities are unlikely to honor Routh's request, as the Bureau of Prisons does not maintain facilities in states where assisted suicide is legal, and federal law does not recognize physician-assisted death. Medical staff are also prohibited from participating in any act that could be construed as assisted suicide.
Routh's writings portray a defendant who alternates between remorse and grandiosity, at one point calling himself "insignificant and useless," and at another suggesting his imprisonment could serve a "diplomatic victory." In closing his letter, he apologized to expend everyone's time on one so insignificant and signed off simply: "Sorry, Ryan W. Routh."
The case will remain under public and political scrutiny given its connection to an attack on a presidential candidate. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 2025, and Routh faces up to life imprisonment.
He thinks he can just ghost the system with his assisted suicide wish? But honestly, I think it's a cry for help 
. The dude is clearly struggling with his mental health and can't seem to cope with the reality of his situation. It's like, we get it, you're not happy in there, but taking your life isn't gonna make things better, fam 
.
? That's some crazy stuff right there. I'm all for compassion and rehabilitation, but come on, man! You gotta serve your time for that kinda nonsense 
.
. It's like, what kind of system do we have if a dude can just plead for assisted suicide because he's feeling down? 
.
. At least have some integrity and take care of yourself while you're behind bars 
.
. It's gonna fall flat, trust me.
. He got himself into this mess with his own actions, and now he wants to end it? That's not on us, that's on him 
But you can't just give up on rehabilitation and expect everyone else to take a mental health day too 
.
. Let's focus on supporting the victims and their families instead of coddling this guy 
.
ryan routh is literally stuck in this never-ending cycle of despair and it's devastating to think about his mental health struggles. like what kind of life do you want to live if you're constantly feeling worthless and trapped? 
anyway, i hope routh gets some kind of support or therapy before his sentencing in dec 2025 
. I mean, what even is this guy's perspective on life now?
and can you imagine the mental health team going 'nah bruh we can't even give this dude the tools to end his life in peace' 
anyway its wild how much pressure he must be under and i guess this whole situation is a good reminder that we need better support systems for people struggling with mental health issues 
#AssistedSuicide #PrisonLife #MentalHealthMatters. I mean, can you blame him tho? His sentence sounds super harsh and lonely, it's no wonder he feels like a "constant failure" 
#CriminalJustice #Politics.
#HopeForTheBest.
what's going on in his head? is he serious about wanting to end his life? 
is wild. It's like, dude, you made a choice to harm someone and now you're feeling hopeless? 
I'm all for compassion, but this feels like a cop-out to me 
. I mean, I get it, mental health is a big deal and all, but come on, Ryan Routh, you're not exactly the poster child for rehabilitation 
. 
.
. Can't we just try to understand where he's coming from and offer him some support? 