Teddy Joseph Von Nukem

Teddy Joseph Von Nukem (born Ted Landrum, November 23, 1987 – January 30, 2023) was an American white nationalist and far-right activist noted for his role at the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In March 2021, Von Nukem admitted to attempted drug smuggling after being arrested at the Mexico–United States border. He failed to show up for a January 30, 2023, court appearance in Arizona, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot injury the same day.

Early life Nukem was born Ted Landrum on November 23, 1987, in Phoenix, Arizona. He was of German heritage and attended middle school in Lebanon, Missouri. A photograph of him holding a tiki torch at the Unite the Right rally became the image that was most commonly used to represent the 2017 right-wing protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. Von Nukem admitted attempting to smuggle drugs, but denied knowledge that the product was fentanyl.

He failed to attend a scheduled Arizona District Court appearance on January 30, 2023, prompting judge Rosemary Márquez to issue an arrest warrant. Within one hour, his wife telephoned the court to inform them of an emergency at the Von Nukem family home after finding his body in the snow behind a hay shed. He was a supporter of libertarianism and believed that "white people are disadvantaged in the arena of identity politics." He was aged 35 at the time of his death.

Marie Lasater, the Texas County coroner, confirmed his death was suicide.