Chris Kyles Accused Killer On Suicide Watch, Tied To Chair After Being Tasered By Jail Guards

Eddie Ray Routh, the 25 year old former US Marine accused of murdering Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, remains on suicide watch in the Erath County Jail, after being charged with one count of capital murder and two counts of murder. The suspect is being held on three million dollars bail in the fatal shooting of Kyle, author of the best-selling book “American Sniper,” and his friend and neighbor, Chad Littlefield.

Routh was booked into the the jail in Stephenville, about 75 miles southwest of Fort Worth, after being arrested on Sunday night, following a short police chase near his home in Lancaster. Mr. Routh was placed in solitary confinement, due to police concerns about his mental state and the repeated death threats being made against him. After being fed late Sunday night, Routh refused to return his meal tray, and appeared ready to assault the jailers. Several guards entered his cell, tasered him once, and placed Routh in a restraint chair, shackling his arms and legs.

Details have begun to emerge about Mr. Routh’s turbulent life since his return from Iraq. He was a patient at the Green Oaks Psychiatric Hospital twice during the last five months for violent threats, depression, and unusual behavior. On September 2, 2012, he was taken to the hospital after making threats to kill his family and commit suicide, according to Lancaster police records.

Mr. Routh was found walking down the road with no shirt or shoes and smelling of alcohol He informed the police he was a former Marine and he was having great difficulty coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The police report noted, “Eddie stated he was hurting and that his family does not understand what he has been through.”

In January of 2013, Routh was returned to the psychiatric hospital, after a woman called the police and reported that she was concerned for his safety. There is speculation that Routh’s mother may have reached out to Chris Kyle in an attempt to find help for her son.

Kyle worked with veterans and their families through his FITCO Cares foundation, which gave exercise equipment to physically and emotionally wounded former soldiers. He and Mr. Littlefield also spent time privately counseling veterans and it is believed the two men were helping Routh work through his problems stemming from his depression and PTSD.

Chad Littlefield, who has been overlooked by the media since the shootings, was singled out for praise by FITCO director Travis Cox:

“He’s a very gentle, sweet-hearted man, just a great man, kind of quiet. He just really cared. … He wanted to do whatever he could to help veterans and help see that vision of serving others that Chris had. He shared that vision with all of us. He was a great man.”

Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were well known to their friends and neighbors in the community for their extraordinary efforts to help veterans who were having difficulty adjusting to civilian life. The pair took Routh to the Rough Creek Lodge on Saturday afternoon, hoping the companionship of two guys who understood what he was going through would help him relax and find some peace.

Tragically, it appears that Eddie Routh idolized and admired Chris Kyle. Since his arrest, he has refused to speak about the shootings with the police and he has yet to meet with his attorney. Perhaps someday we may know what caused the death of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield, but for the moment, all we can do is remember the kindness they were willing to show to a wounded warrior, and pray their families are able to find some peace in their time of trial and terrible grief.

Our hearts go out to the families of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield and to the family of Eddie Routh. We can only hope that our nation will finally begin to truly realize the enormous price our soldiers pay when they go off to distant foreign lands to fight and die in America’s wars. To every single man and woman who has ever served our country, we stand and salute you.