Fertility Clinic Bombing Suspect Dies in Federal Custody in Los Angeles

A Washington state man accused of providing bomb-making materials to the perpetrator of a deadly car bombing at a Palm Springs fertility clinic has died while in federal custody in downtown Los Angeles.

Daniel Park, 32, was found unresponsive at approximately 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Staff immediately initiated life-saving measures and called emergency medical services. Park was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A cause of death has not been publicly released.

“No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured and at no time was the public in danger,” the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement.

Park had been in federal custody since June 13 under pretrial detention following a high-profile arrest related to the May 17th bombing of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs. Earlier this month, he was formally charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist.

Background: Domestic Terror in Palm Springs

The Palm Springs bombing was described by FBI officials as “the largest bombing scene that we've had in Southern California.” At approximately 10:50 a.m. on May 17, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated outside the American Reproductive Centers at 1199 N. Indian Canyon Drive, severely damaging the facility and nearby buildings. The blast left a debris field stretching over 250 yards and injured four people. None were seriously hurt. The bomber, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, was killed in the explosion.

Authorities say the clinic was a deliberate target due to its role in preserving embryos and supporting fertility treatments, making it a symbol of procreation that directly clashed with Bartkus’s ideological beliefs. His online manifesto expressed pro-mortalist and anti-pro-life extremist views, railing against childbirth, family structures, and modern reproductive medicine.

Park's Role in the Bombing

According to federal prosecutors, Daniel Park was more than just a sympathizer. Investigators say he shipped approximately 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate to Bartkus and arranged for an additional 90 pounds—components commonly used in homemade explosives. Evidence also suggests that Park shared Bartkus's extremist ideology.

U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, stated that Park visited Bartkus's residence in Twentynine Palms in late January and early February. During that time, they allegedly conducted experiments in Bartkus’s garage, where FBI agents later discovered laboratory equipment and large quantities of chemical precursors.

Records from an AI chat application used by Bartkus show that three days before Park’s visit, Bartkus researched ammonium nitrate-fuel bomb construction. FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis said Park was found to be in possession of an "explosive recipe" strikingly similar to the device used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people.

Authorities believe Park and Bartkus met online through forums or chat platforms that catered to fringe ideologies. Their digital footprints revealed a disturbing alignment of beliefs and intent.

Flight and Arrest

Park left the United States shortly after the Palm Springs attack, traveling to Europe. He was arrested on June 3 at JFK International Airport upon his deportation from Poland, where he had been detained. Upon returning to the U.S., he was taken into custody and later housed at MDC Los Angeles.

His sudden death now raises questions amid one of the most high-profile domestic terrorism investigations in recent years. An autopsy and toxicology report are pending.

Aftermath and Investigation

The fertility clinic remains closed while undergoing reconstruction. Clinic officials confirmed that no embryos or critical materials were destroyed, despite the facility suffering extensive structural damage.

Federal investigators are continuing to explore whether Park and Bartkus had planned further attacks. Though Bartkus attempted to livestream the explosion, technical failures prevented it from broadcasting. There is currently no evidence indicating additional targets had been selected.