'We Believe In Miracles' Fertility Clinic Rebuilds After Bombing

PALM SPRINGS, CA — One week ago, a Palm Springs fertility clinic, at 1199 N. Indian Canyon Drive, was hit with a deadly bombing, in which the bomber died. Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of Twentynine Palms was identified as the suspect killed in the explosion and believed to have authored an "anti pro-life manifesto."

City officials and others expressed optimism regarding the future of the Palm Springs fertility clinic that was targeted in what authorities have described as an act of domestic terrorism, vowing the clinic will go on and acknowledging the outpouring of community support in the wake of the bombing.

"Our clinic, where hope is nurtured and futures begin, was the target of a senseless and destructive act," Amer Abdallah, a representative for the American Reproductive Centers, said at a news conference. "Today, we reaffirm our mission to provide the highest-quality fertility care in a safe and compassionate environment, with the highest level of quality, integrity and service. We believe in miracles, we witness it every day."

Adballah revealed that his cousin and head doctor of the clinic, Dr. Maher Abdallah, narrowly escaped the explosion Saturday, as he originally had a meeting inside his office but relocated it to a different location.

"The swift courage and response from our police and fire was nothing short of miraculous," said Mayor Ron deHarte.

Meanwhile, authorities Friday continued investigating the bombing at a Palm Springs fertility clinic, the FBI said the suspect had access to a large supply of commercial chemicals that could be used to make a homemade bomb.

The FBI announced earlier this week that DNA from the human remains found at the scene matched Guy Edward Bartkus, the suspect in the bombing. Authorities had previously said the remains were presumed to be those of the 25-year-old Twentynine Palms resident.

The blast occurred around 11 a.m. Saturday at the American Reproductive Centers facility clinic, 1199 N. Canyon Drive. The clinic was closed at the time of the explosion, but four people were injured at the scene.

Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, issued a statement Thursday, saying, "...the FBI can confirm that investigation to date revealed that the Palm Springs bombing subject Guy Bartkus had access to a large quantity of commercially available chemical products, which could be combined to create a home-made explosive device."

Davis added that specific details about the device are not being released due to the ongoing nature of the case.

Authorities described the attack as an intentional act of domestic terrorism and said Bartkus was believed to have written an "anti pro-life manifesto," which investigators are reviewing.

The clinic and several other businesses nearby sustained damage, with debris strewn for hundreds of feet around the blast. However, all embryos inside the IVF center were safe, officials said Sunday.

"As a city, we will continue to work closely with Dr. Abdallah to do whatever it takes to make the transition as seamless as possible to provide immediate care to your patients, said Councilwoman Naomi Soto. "Their work creates our future residents, our future neighbors, our future community members."

She said, "This weekend, hate failed; this week, hope wins."