Alleged Tumbler Ridge co-conspirator James Cody Bryant denied bail
Assistant United States attorney Todd Greenberg, who is prosecuting the case against Bryant, has argued that Bryant poses a flight risk and a danger to the public, and should not be granted bail. He says there are substance abuse issues and mental health concerns that should also be factored in.
Seattle court will hear arguments regarding bail Tuesday afternoon
Ruby Cornish · CBC News
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A district court judge in Seattle will determine whether alleged Tumbler Ridge co-conspirator James Cody Bryant should be granted bail Tuesday.
Bryant, a 30-year-old resident of Bellingham, Wash. — whose lawyers say uses she/her pronouns and goes by the name Melody — was arrested Oct. 6 and charged with one count of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.
Prosecutors say that conspiracy involved encouraging and supporting Tumbler Ridge Secondary School shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar in the lead-up to the Feb. 10 attack, in which she killed five students and one staff member at the campus, after shooting and killing her mother and stepbrother at their home.
Police allege that in online interactions on the social media platform Discord, Bryant agreed to livestream the attack, gave Van Rootselaar money, and provided months of logistical support.
Assistant United States attorney Todd Greenberg, who is prosecuting the case against Bryant, has argued that Bryant poses a flight risk and a danger to the public, and should not be granted bail.
The home of alleged Tumbler Ridge shooting co-conspirator James Cody Bryant in Bellingham, Wash. (Caroline Barghout/CBC)
"It does not get much more serious or dangerous for the community," he said in a memorandum filed Tuesday in support of a detention order.
"Bryant’s participation in the charged murder conspiracy took place primarily through online communications … There are simply no conditions of release that can be fully and effectively enforced to ensure that Bryant does not pose a continuing threat to the community through online behavior."
Efforts to assist in shooting
Tuesday's memorandum drew on conversations alleged to have taken place between Bryant and Van Rootselaar as the attack was planned.
On Feb. 9, the day before the shooting, Van Rootselaar reportedly told Bryant she didn't want to carry out the shooting if she didn't "know for certain" someone would livestream it, the court documents outline.
"I literally fixed my sleep schedule to help me stay up to be there after work," Bryant replied.
According to the memorandum, a livestream was initiated in the moments before the attack but failed after about 20 seconds due to technical issues.
"The livestream’s failure was despite Bryant’s best efforts to make it happen," Greenberg said.
Greenberg also pointed to a payment of $14.33 Bryant sent to Van Rootselaar's PayPal ID to enable her to purchase a lighter to ignite an explosive device constructed for use in the attack. The payment was reversed because the account had been deactivated.
The District of Tumbler Ridge town hall as pictured on Aug. 21, 2026. (Tom Summer/CBC)
"Van Rootselaar ultimately deployed this explosive device," Greenberg said.
"Although $14.33 may not be a lot of money, it speaks volumes about the seriousness of the offense and the defendant’s character that Bryant was willing to help purchase the ignition source for an explosive device that was to be used to attack schoolchildren."
He also argued substance abuse and mental health concerns should be factored in, including evidence of suicidal ideations that were shared with Van Rootselaar but not disclosed to the Probation Office.
"Bryant repeatedly acknowledged being in a unique position to stop Van Rootselaar," he said.
"Anyone whose character allows them to help plan a mass shooting and then sits back and (literally) tries to watch as schoolchildren are murdered … is a danger to the community and should be detained pending trial."
Defense argues for conditional release
In their application opposing a motion for detention, assistant federal public defenders Gregory Murphy and Dennis Carroll argued Bryant had co-operated with investigators in the days following the attack.
"She expressed horror at Van Rootselaar’s crimes," they said.
The defence argued that law enforcement had acknowledged Bryant repeatedly tried to dissuade Van Rootselaar from carrying out the attack, and pointed to their client's clean criminal record.
"There is no evidence that she has ever personally committed an act of violence. There is no evidence that she is in contact with anyone else planning an act of violence," Murphy and Carroll said.
Defense counsel underscored Bryant's stable residence, close ties to the community, and long-term employment at a local McDonald's restaurant.
In his submission, Greenberg said Bryant had admitted to being "on thin ice" at work due to repeatedly calling in sick.
"It’s not clear whether that job remains available due to the arrest in this case," he said.
Murphy and Carroll also disputed Greenberg's mental health concerns, arguing that although Bryant had "briefly" seen a psychologist during high school and had taken medication for panic attacks, there was no evidence to support claims of suicidality.
"There is no evidence she has expressed a thought of harming herself in the last fourteen months. There is no evidence she ever has made plans to hurt herself," the application read.
They said Bryant did not have connections to any other countries and had no means by which to flee.
"The Court should release Ms. Bryant on conditions, which may include home detention, a mental health assessment, and strict limitations on her use of the internet," the defense team said.
More to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruby Cornish is a journalist with CBC News based in Vancouver. She spent more than a decade reporting, producing and presenting with Australia's public broadcaster before relocating to Canada in 2026.
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