Ryan Routh Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Family, Criminal History, Career, Net Worth

Ryan Wesley Routh lived most of his 58 years as a minor footnote in the criminal records of Greensboro, North Carolina—a failed roofing contractor with a string of felony convictions, a messy divorce, and increasingly erratic political obsessions. Then, on September 15, 2024, he transformed from local nuisance to national villain, becoming the second man in two months to attempt to assassinate donald trump. His life sentence, handed down by Judge Aileen Cannon on February 4, 2026, closed a bizarre chapter in American political violence that exposed the dangers of untreated mental illness, radicalization through foreign conflicts, and the failure of law enforcement to connect the dots on a clearly troubled individual.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Ryan Wesley Routh was born on February 18, 1966, in Guilford County, North Carolina, and spent most of his life in Greensboro. His early years showed promise that would later curdle into criminality and extremism.

Educational Background:

• Guilford Junior High School (now Guilford Middle School) – attended in late 1970s
• Northwest Guilford High School – graduated in 1984
• Eagle Scout Award – earned in 1980 (age 14)
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro – attended 1988-1990, dropped out
• North Carolina A&T State University – attended two semesters in 1995, dropped out

Former classmates described young Routh as “social and had friends at school, but he was not popular.” The Eagle Scout achievement suggested early discipline and community involvement that would starkly contrast with his adult criminal record.

Career Journey

United Roofing (Early 1990s–2000s)

In the early 1990s, Routh founded United Roofing, a Greensboro-based roofing company that at its peak employed 90 workers. The business represented his most significant professional achievement, though it was plagued by legal troubles from the start.

Routh abandoned the business in the early 2000s, though he was reportedly seen dumping trash at the location as recently as May 2024. The company’s collapse coincided with his divorce and escalating criminal behavior.

Self-Publishing & Political Activism (2020s)

In 2023, Routh self-published “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War,” a book that combined foreign policy commentary with increasingly unhinged personal manifestos. The book included:

• Condemnation of Trump’s Iran nuclear deal withdrawal
• Statement that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump”
• Claims that the world would be better run by women
• Self-identification as refusing “Democrat or Republican” labels

The book represented his pivot from local criminal to would-be political assassin, providing prosecutors with written evidence of his intent.

Ukraine War Volunteer Efforts (2022–2023)

Routh’s most bizarre career phase involved attempting to become a foreign fighter in Ukraine:

• March 2023: Traveled to Ukraine at age 56 with no military experience
• Rejected by International Legion: Turned away due to age and lack of combat background
• Self-styled recruiter: Attempted to recruit Afghan veterans to fight for Ukraine
• Scheme to buy passports: Told New York Times he could “purchase some passports through Pakistan, since it’s such a corrupt country”
• Claimed contact with 100+ soldiers: Posted videos saying “I am going to fight and die for Ukraine”

Ukrainian military officials described his proposals as “delusional ideas” and denied any formal affiliation. American volunteers in Ukraine called him a “wack job” with a “Messiah complex.”

Criminal History & Legal Issues

Routh’s criminal record spans four decades and includes over 100 felony charges:

Early Convictions (1980s–2000s)

• Multiple bad check charges (1980s–1990s)
• 2002: Felony possession of “weapon of mass death and destruction” (binary explosive with 10-inch detonation cord and blasting cap)
• 2003: Convicted of driving without license, carrying concealed weapon, hit-and-run

Major Felony (2010)

• February 10, 2010: Convicted of multiple counts of possessing stolen goods
• Police searched three warehouses finding 100+ stolen tools and building materials including kayaks, welding torches, power cords, spa tubs
• Sentence: Probation (concluded July 2012)

Later Incidents (2014–2021)

• 2014: Arrested for failure to appear in court
• 2019: FBI closed investigation over tip alleging felon in possession of firearm
• 2019: Removed from property for alleged squatting
• 2021: Called police claiming resident punched him in nose

Federal Investigation (2024)

• September 2024: Arrested for Trump assassination attempt
• September 2024: Convicted on all five counts after self-representation
• February 2025: Co-conspirators Tina Cooper and Ronnie Oxendine indicted
• February 4, 2026: Sentenced to life in prison plus 7 years by Judge Aileen Cannon

Personal Life

Marriage to Lora Frances Wilson

Routh married Lora Frances Wilson in January 1989, when he was 22 years old. The marriage produced three children but ended in acrimony:

• Divorce filed: January 22, 2003
• Divorce granted: March 10, 2003 (two months later)
• Child custody: Daughter Sara and youngest son Adam lived with Routh full-time; eldest son Oran lived with Lora full-time
• Child support: Terminated in 2009 when Lora expressed concerns about Routh’s “financial situation”

Family Life in Greensboro

Neighbors described the Routh household as “weird” and “potentially dangerous”:

• Live horse in the house: Neighbor Kim Mungo reported Routh kept “a whole live horse in the house”
• Visible firearms: Neighbors observed guns and weapons
• Social isolation: Family described as keeping to themselves
• No political expression: Despite later extremism, neighbors said the family “never expressed any strong political views”

Children

Routh has three adult children who have largely avoided public attention:

• Oran Alexander Routh (eldest son) – lived with mother after divorce
• Adam A. Routh (youngest son) – lived with father, submitted letter of support during sentencing asking for leniency so father could “continue to be someone who contributes to our family”
• Sara Ellen Routh (daughter) – lived with father after divorce

His daughter was reportedly present in court during his trial and witnessed his suicide attempt by pen stabbing.

Move to Hawaii

At some point in the 2010s–2020s, Routh relocated to Hawaii, where he worked in affordable housing construction and solar panel installation. Public records indicate he maintained voter registration in North Carolina while living in Hawaii. His Hawaiian residence became his base for Ukraine volunteer efforts and political activism before the assassination attempt.

The Trump Assassination Attempt

Planning & Preparation (July–September 2024)

Routh spent months meticulously planning the attack:

• July 2024: Contacted former employee Tina Cooper to help acquire rifle due to felony record
• August 2, 2024: Purchased SKS rifle from Ronnie Oxendine (former roofing competitor) for $350; Cooper received $100 for arranging sale
• Serial number removal: Routh removed rifle’s serial number shortly after purchase
• Weeks of stalking: Traveled from North Carolina to West Palm Beach, living in vehicle at truck stop
• Digital surveillance: Searched “Trump’s upcoming rallies,” “Palm Beach traffic cameras,” “Directions to Miami airport,” “flights to Mexico”
• Equipment: GoPro camera, armored plates, handwritten list of Trump’s scheduled appearances

The Attack (September 15, 2024)

• Location: Trump International Golf Club, West Palm Beach, Florida
• Position: Sniper hide in shrubbery near sixth hole fence line
• Weapon: SKS-style rifle with scope (chambered round, ready to fire)
• Target: Donald Trump playing golf one hole behind (fifth hole)
• Intervention: Secret Service agent Robert Fercano spotted rifle barrel and partially obscured face; fired shots at Routh
• Escape: Routh fled in black Nissan vehicle
• Capture: Arrested on I-95 in Martin County within hours using license plate readers and AI technology

Evidence Left Behind

• Loaded SKS rifle with scope
• GoPro camera
• Two backpacks
• Plastic bag with food
• Digital camera
• Notebook with criticism of Russian/Chinese governments and Ukraine war notes

The Letter

Investigators found a handwritten confession offering $150,000 to “whomever can complete the job” of assassinating Trump, stating: “I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job.”

Trial & Sentencing

Self-Representation Disaster

Routh made the fateful decision to represent himself (pro se) at trial:

• Pre-trial filings: Called Trump “a racist pig,” challenged Trump to “a beatdown session” or golf match where “if he wins he can execute me, I win I get his job”
• Trial conduct: Constantly interrupted by Judge Aileen Cannon for off-topic statements about drug use, Ukraine, January 6, Patrick Henry, and “the common man”
• Defense strategy: Argued assassination was “never going to happen” and therefore “if the attempted assassination was not taken, it is not an attempt”
• Closing argument: Interrupted at least 10 times by Judge Cannon

Conviction & Suicide Attempt (September 2024)

• Verdict: Guilty on all five counts after 2-hour jury deliberation
• Suicide attempt: Stabbed himself in neck with pen while daughter screamed “Oh my god, he’s trying to kill himself!”
• Subdued: Deputy U.S. Marshals intervened
• Post-verdict statement: Wrote “just a quarter inch further back and we all would not have to deal with all this mess”

Sentencing (February 4, 2026)

• Judge: Aileen Cannon (Trump appointee who dismissed Trump’s classified documents case in 2024)
• Prosecution request: Life sentence to “send a message that seeking to assassinate a Presidential candidate will result in the most severe punishment”
• Defense request: 27 years (arguing Routh would be in his 80s and “would not pose any threat”)
• Sentence: Life in prison plus mandatory 7 years for firearm offense
• Recusal motion: Routh’s lawyers had requested Cannon recuse herself due to Trump’s praise of her; she refused, stating “no proper basis for recusal”

Mental Health Assessment

Government psychiatrist retained by defense acknowledged Routh suffered from:

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• Bipolar II diagnosis

However, psychiatrist concluded these conditions provided “no basis to claim incompetence, insanity, or diminished capacity” and did not excuse his criminal conduct.

Co-Conspirators

Tina Brown Cooper (b. c. 1966)

• Relationship: Former United Roofing employee (1999–2004)
• Role: Arranged rifle purchase knowing Routh’s felony record
• Actions post-arrest: Deleted all traces of Routh from cellphone; instructed Oxendine to refuse FBI cooperation
• Plea: Guilty to firearm trafficking (March 2025)
• Sentence: Up to 15 years in prison, $250,000 fine

Ronnie Jay Oxendine (b. c. December 1969)

• Relationship: Former roofing competitor, owner of Oxendine and Son Roofing Company
• Role: Sold SKS rifle to Routh for $350
• Actions post-arrest: Initially lied to FBI claiming rifle was pawned; later admitted truth
• Plea: Guilty to possessing unregistered short-barreled shotgun (found in storage unit)
• Sentence: Up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 fine

Both claimed no prior knowledge of assassination plot.

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”

— Handwritten letter found by investigators

“To merely have a weapon in the presence of another is not intent.”

— Routh’s closing argument at trial

“I get so tired of people asking me if I am a Democrat or Republican as I refuse to be put in a category.”

— “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War” (2023)

“You are free to assassinate Trump.”

— Routh to Iran in his 2023 book

“I am going to fight and die for Ukraine.”

— Social media post

“Just a quarter inch further back and we all would not have to deal with all this mess.”

— Post-verdict suicide attempt note

Favorites

• Political Figures: Bernie Sanders (early support), Tulsi Gabbard, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, kamala harris (later support); Donald Trump (initial support, later extreme opposition)
• Causes: Ukraine war effort, Afghan veteran recruitment, anti-Trump activism
• Hobbies: Self-publishing, social media activism, foreign conflict involvement
• Location: Hawaii (later residence), North Carolina (origin)
• Voting: Registered unaffiliated (2012); voted Democratic primary (March 2024)

Net Worth & Financial Status

Routh’s financial status was consistently precarious:

• United Roofing: Defunct by early 2000s
• Child support: Terminated 2009 due to financial concerns
• Assassination offer: Claimed $150,000 bounty with “no indication Routh had the money”
• Donations: 19 small donations totaling $140 through ActBlue (2019–2024)
• Current status: Likely indigent, represented by court-appointed attorneys

His poverty starkly contrasted with his grandiose schemes and self-image as international player.

Interesting Facts

• Routh was the second person in two months to attempt to assassinate Trump (following Thomas Crooks in Pennsylvania, July 2024)
• He maintained Eagle Scout status from 1980 despite decades of criminality
• His sister Nancy Meyers requested he be imprisoned in North Carolina for family visitation
• He was caught using AI-powered license plate readers and solar-powered camera networks
• Never fired a shot during assassination attempt—thwarted before pulling trigger
• 19 donations to Democrats totaling only $140, suggesting performative rather than genuine political engagement
• Claimed to lead “International Volunteer Center” in Ukraine—organization denied any connection
• Azov Brigade (Ukrainian military unit) denied association despite video of him at their rally

Did You Know?

• Routh’s assassination attempt came exactly two months after Trump survived being shot in the ear at a Pennsylvania rally
• Judge Aileen Cannon, who sentenced him to life, is the same judge who dismissed Trump’s classified documents case in July 2024
• His daughter witnessed his suicide attempt in court and screamed for help
• He kept a live horse inside his house in Greensboro, according to neighbors
• The SKS rifle used in the attempt was purchased from a former roofing competitor he hadn’t spoken to in 10 years
• He represented himself at trial despite clear mental health issues and legal complexity
• His book “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War” remains available on Amazon as of 2026
• Ukrainian officials described his recruitment schemes as “delusional” and potentially harmful to their cause

Social Media Links

• X/Twitter: @RyanRouth (suspended/inactive)
• Website: ryanrouth.com (defunct/archived)
• Amazon Author Page: Available for “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War”
• Facebook: Inactive/deleted

Note: All social media accounts have been suspended or abandoned following arrest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ryan Routh?
Ryan Wesley Routh is a 59-year-old former North Carolina roofing contractor convicted of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course on September 15, 2024. He was sentenced to life in prison on February 4, 2026.

What was Ryan Routh’s criminal history before the Trump assassination attempt?
Routh had over 100 felony charges spanning four decades, including possession of a “weapon of mass destruction” (2002), possession of stolen goods (2010), multiple firearms offenses, and hit-and-run. He was convicted of felonies that should have prevented him from legally purchasing firearms.

Did Ryan Routh have military experience?
No. Despite traveling to Ukraine in 2023 at age 56 to volunteer for the International Legion, he had no military background. He was rejected by Ukrainian forces due to his age and lack of combat experience.

What was Ryan Routh’s connection to Ukraine?
Routh attempted to volunteer for Ukraine’s International Legion in 2023. When rejected, he attempted to recruit Afghan veterans to fight for Ukraine, claiming he could procure fake passports. Ukrainian officials called his schemes “delusional” and denied any formal affiliation.

What was Ryan Routh’s book about?
In 2023, he self-published “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War,” which condemned Trump’s foreign policy and stated Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for leaving the nuclear deal. The book combined foreign policy commentary with personal manifestos.

How was Ryan Routh caught?
A Secret Service agent spotted Routh’s rifle barrel and partially obscured face in the shrubbery at Trump’s golf course. After the agent fired, Routh fled in a black Nissan. License plate readers, AI-powered cameras, and a witness who photographed his license plate led to his arrest on I-95 within hours.

Did Ryan Routh act alone?
While he carried out the assassination attempt alone, two co-conspirators—Tina Cooper and Ronnie Oxendine—were indicted for illegally providing him the rifle knowing his felony record. Both pleaded guilty to firearms charges.

What was Ryan Routh’s sentence?
On February 4, 2026, Judge Aileen Cannon sentenced Routh to life in prison plus a mandatory 7 years for the firearm offense. Prosecutors had requested life; his defense had requested 27 years.

What mental health issues did Ryan Routh have?
A psychiatrist retained by his defense diagnosed him with Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Bipolar II, but concluded these did not constitute legal insanity or diminished capacity.

Where is Ryan Routh now?
Ryan Routh is incarcerated in federal prison serving his life sentence. His sister requested he be placed in a North Carolina facility to allow family visitation.

Conclusion

Ryan Routh’s life trajectory—from Eagle Scout to roofing contractor to convicted would-be assassin—represents a catastrophic failure of multiple systems: mental health care, criminal justice monitoring, and firearms regulation. His case exposed how easily a determined individual with felony convictions could acquire weapons and approach a presidential candidate, despite being on law enforcement’s radar.

The life sentence handed down by Judge Cannon ensures Routh will never again threaten public figures, but his case leaves troubling questions about prevention. How did a man with over 100 felony charges, known to the FBI, and openly publishing assassination encouragement slip through the cracks? Routh’s story serves as a dark reminder that in an age of political polarization and easy access to information, the line between online extremism and real-world violence can be terrifyingly thin.

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Sources: Wikipedia, CNN, NBC News, USA Today, NPR, New York Post, Fox News, Time Magazine, Palm Beach Post, POLITICO, WHYY, KERA News, TCPalm