A man accused of aiding the California fertility clinic bombing has died in federal custody. Daniel Park, 32, was found unresponsive at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. Staff tried life-saving procedures and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Doctors declared him dead shortly after. Authorities have not yet revealed the cause of death. No other inmates or staff were injured, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
Park had been charged earlier this month in connection with the bombing at the American Reproductive Centers clinic in Palm Springs. The explosion happened on May 17 and injured four people. The other suspect, Guy Bartkus, 25, died in the blast. The FBI believes the attack was intentional and linked to extreme beliefs. Bartkus left behind writings that supported the anti-natalist movement, which opposes human reproduction. Investigators also found that he attempted to livestream the explosion but failed.
Park was arrested after traveling to Denmark and Poland days after the bombing. He was detained in Poland and deported to the United States. Authorities took him into custody at New York’s JFK Airport on June 13. He was later transferred to Los Angeles to face federal charges, including malicious destruction of property and providing support for a terrorist act.
Federal agents said Park had shipped about 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Bartkus. That chemical is commonly used in homemade explosives. Investigators also believe Park visited Bartkus earlier this year. During his visit in late January and February, the two are said to have experimented with bomb-making. The FBI said they met through online forums where they shared extreme anti-natalist views. This ideology argues that people should not be born and that life causes harm. Officials said the men bonded over their shared belief that human birth should end.
Bartkus targeted the clinic because it helps people conceive children. Services at the clinic include in vitro fertilization and fertility evaluations. After the explosion, investigators found written materials from Bartkus that explained his actions. He claimed that birth was unethical and that humans should stop reproducing altogether. These beliefs motivated the attack, according to law enforcement.
The explosion caused significant damage to the clinic and nearby buildings. Windows shattered, and a loud boom was heard across the area. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and said they saw a charred car and a body outside the clinic. Four people inside were injured in the blast. Authorities have not confirmed if Bartkus meant to die in the explosion or if it was an accident.
While searching Park’s home in Seattle, agents discovered a hand-written explosive formula. The recipe resembled one used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, which also involved ammonium nitrate. Experts say the blast in Palm Springs appeared to involve a high-level explosive, possibly similar to TNT or dynamite. Former federal explosives expert Scott Sweetow said the damage was not from low-power items like gunpowder. He explained that while strong explosives are hard to buy legally, people can now find ways to make them using simple ingredients. Knowing basic chemistry and sourcing items from local stores can make it possible, he warned.
Authorities described the Palm Springs incident as one of the largest bombing scenes in Southern California in recent years. The explosion was strong enough to be felt a mile away. Investigators are still working to understand how the attack was planned and whether anyone else may have been involved. They are also examining how Park and Bartkus got access to the explosive materials.
Before his death, Park appeared briefly in a New York courtroom. He was charged with providing material support for terrorism. He wore a shirt that said “fight like Ukrainians” and had a bandaged hand. He waived his right to a detention hearing and was transferred to California to face further charges. Less than two weeks later, he died in custody.
Many questions remain about the motive behind the attack. Officials have not said why Bartkus chose that specific clinic. They are still exploring the timeline and whether there were signs of radicalization. The case has raised concerns about growing threats linked to fringe ideologies spreading through online communities.
The investigation is ongoing as federal agents work to uncover the full story behind the California fertility clinic bombing.
