Kyle became so notorious that Iraqi insurgents dubbed him Al Shaitan Ramadi: the Devil of Ramadi. When is the right time to give my child cold medicine? The contrasting portraits emerged as Routh's murder trial got underway in a Stephenville, Texas, courtroom Wednesday. His sister, Laura Blevins, called 9-1-1 and told the emergency operator: "They went out to a shooting range Like, he's all crazy. Could new DNA tech crack the JonBenet Ramsey case? They say pictures of weapons, shell casings, and even the bodies of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. 2 Eddie Ray Routh was 25 when he murdered Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield in 2013 Credit: AFP On February 2, 2013, Kyle and his buddy Chad Littlefield took another veteran to the shooting range. [12] His trial was set to begin May 5, 2014, but was delayed to allow more time to comply with DNA testing requirements. Chris Kyle was shot and killed at a shooting range in Erath County, Texas, alongside his friend Chad Littlefield on February 2, 2013. Helicopter crash near Ukraine kindergarten kills kids and top officials, California faces dangerous mudslides after monster storms, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar and George Santos get House committee seats, Qantas plane lands safely on single engine after mayday call over Pacific, New Mexico lawmaker says shootings suspect confronted her outside her home, Gov. The Texas sheriff who was known for investigating the murder of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle was discovered deceased from a gunshot to his head, apparently self-inflicted. He kept running, regretting bitterly he was armed only with a snipers rifle whose 20-round magazine was pitifully inadequate. Another expert, Dr. Michael Arambula, testified he did not believe Routh was schizophrenic, and was not insane at the time of the murders because he was intoxicated. American Sniper - Chris Kyle Funeral Procession & Tribute - YouTube 0:00 2:57 American Sniper - Chris Kyle Funeral Procession & Tribute Eric Paulson 772 subscribers Subscribe 9.7K. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle had $20,000 bounty placed on his head by Iraqis With up to 160 confirmed kills became deadliest sniper in US military history Shot at shooting range in Texas by troubled. And, just like with Belushi, his tragic demise in December 1997 turned into a police investigation after it was learned that a woman had witnessed the struggling star's final drug-fueled hours. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. He had hoped to do the same to his killer, 25-year-old Eddie Ray Routh, a former Marine who struggled with his mental health after leaving the service. Deployed to Iraq in 2003, Kyle reportedly made 160 kills, shattering the record held by Vietnam War sniper Adelbert Waldron, who killed 109. When he was 25, Kyle became a sniper with the U.S. Navy SEALs. Cops caught up with him at his home in Lancaster. STEPHENVILLE, TX Another dramatic day of testimony in the American Sniper Trial. In February 2013, Kyle and a friend drove Routh to a gun range near Kyle's home in Texas. In September, Routh had been transported to a psychiatric hospital after he threatened to kill himself and his family, and he later told officers that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, Lancaster police records show. With his friend Chad Littlefield riding shotgun, Kyle picked up Routh and drove him to a shooting range at Rough Creek Lodge in rural Texas. Inside The Death Of Chris Kyle, The Real-Life American Sniper Shot To Death By A Fellow Veteran. Bestseller: Kyle's naked hatred of enemies, who he described as savages shocked some, but the American Sniper became an instant bestseller, selling 800,000 copies to date. Littlefield was hit seven times, including four that would have been instantly fatal. Today with their high-tech gadgetry, monstrous firepower and steely individualism they have become the superstars of the battlefield. Online calculator reveals how inflation-busting 14.4% hike will Father-of-four 'killed a woman he met on dating website by spiking her with Oxycodone to knock her out for 'Thiswas not on my 2023 bingo card! Routh allegedly turned his gun on both Chris and Littlefield and is now awaiting trial for capital murder. It was an ignominious end for a war hero whose military prowess caused a sensation last year when he wrote a graphic memoir, American Sniper, about his four bloody tours of Iraq. The two men apparently never returned fire. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Since prosecutors decided beforehand not to seek the death penalty, the trial judge, Jason Cashon, immediately sentenced Routh to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Who Shot Chris Kyle Death? A keen deer hunter, Kyle the son of a church deacon said he already knew how to shoot, but sniper school taught him the science behind it all. Two years after Chad Littlefield and Chris Kyles death, Eddie Ray Routh was found guilty of first degree murder. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in July 2011 after serving for seven years. By then, Chris Kyles legacy had grown significantly. Chris Kyle survived four tours in Iraq. Many fans were drawn to Kyles unashamed patriotism and unvarnished account of modern warfare. He told Routh that he, too, had had PTSD. Rather more unconventionally, he also discovered he shot far more accurately if he had a wad of chewing tobacco wedged inside his cheek. Meanwhile, Kyle and Littlefield were also unsettled by their passenger in the backseat. Although he was never convicted for their murders, it's widely believed that Simpson killed Brown Simpson and Goldman. He had wanted to join the Marine Corps since he was thirteen years old, and did so after high school. The case attracted national attention due to Kyle's fame as author of a bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, published in 2012. In police video played in court, Eddie Routh answered "Yes, sir" to "You know what you did today is wrong, right?"SUBSCRIBE for the latest news and updates f. The phone, a box of 9 mm ammunition, drug paraphernalia and a blue-jean jacket were seized from the 25-year-old Routh's home after he was arrested near his house in Lancaster, Texas, according to a police search warrant affidavit, inventory sheet and other documents. Or, learn about other legendary snipers like Carlos Hathcock and Chuck Mawhinney. He remains jailed in Erath County on $3 million bond. But the way Kyle died is important, too. ': Kim Kardashian is hailed the 'Queen of TikTok' after giving herself a Want the best deals for peak-season holidays? He was 38. Bringing cake into the office is as harmful to colleagues as secondhand smoking, Britain's top food tsar Bradley Cooper to make SEAL film - m.NYPOST.com, Do not sell or share my personal information. World News Tonight keeps the American public informed, up to date, and empowered by providing the latest information and analysis of major breaking news from around the country and the world. Even eating so much bacon. I can promise you, they dont love war. On another occasion he calmly broke off a phone conversation with his wife to fight off a fierce night attack. "[6][10] Local police captured Routh after a short freeway chase, which ended when Routh, who fled the scene in Kyle's Ford F-350 truck, crashed into a police cruiser in Lancaster. CHRIS Kyle became a household name after his autobiography, American Sniper, was adapted into a movie by Clint Eastwood. Shock first photos inside Serena Williams' crumbling childhood home, Ana Walshe's pals reveal what 'delayed her fate' after husband charged, Child's body found in search for missing girl, 4, who was 'beaten to death', Missing woman's husband charged with murder after blood found in basement, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Chris Kyle is the author of the autobiography American Sniper, which depicts his career as the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history, Chris Kyle's book sold over 1.2 million copies and was adapted into a Clint Eastwood film, Eddie Ray Routh shot and killed Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield, Kyle had taken Routh, who was suffering from PTSD, to a shooting range. He went to a military recruiting office interested in the Marine Corps, and eventually achieved 24-week Basic Underwater Demolition/SEA, Air, Land (SEAL) training in 1999 and graduated in 2001. Jeffrey Barnard performed autopsies on both Chris Kyle, who inspired the popular recent movie "American Sniper," and his friend Chad Littlefield after they were killed Feb. 2, 2013 at a rifle. Routh was a 25-year-old Marine who had experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. Until that shocking moment, Kyles story had been one of legend if not controversy. Like Kyle, Eddie Ray Routh had served time in Iraq. Tom Fox Pool/Getty ImagesEddie Ray Routh was found guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Originally published on 12 February, 2015Former Marine Eddie Ray Routh, 27, is being tried for the 2013 murder of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle, 38, and the m. Scene: The shooting took place at Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose, Texas earlier this month. [20] Hundreds of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to view the procession and pay their final respects to Kyle. Im just a regular guy, he said. This man was considered the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history and had claimed to kill 255 people. Chris Kyle, American Sniper, killed at a shooting range TomoNews US 2.69M subscribers 2.9M views 9 years ago Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in U.S. History, and his friend Chad. Taya Kyle cried at points during her testimony, including when she described last seeing her husband before he left to pick up both Routh and Littlefield on their way to Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose, Texas. When Rouths mother approached Kyle and begged him to help her son, Kyle agreed. He died trying to help a former Marine.On Feb. 2, 2013, Chris and his friend Chad Littlefield took 25-year-old former Marine Eddie Ray Routh to a Texas shooting range after Rouths mother had asked Chris for help with her son, whom she said was suffering from PTSD. Routh was found guilty of the murders on February 24, 2015. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Kyle, who was a former Navy SEAL, and his friend Littlefield were walking down range to set up targets when Eddie Ray Routh opened fire and hit both of them. [19], A memorial service was held for Kyle at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 11, 2013. To do this, SEALs had to adapt to the hot and sweaty ghillie suit made out of hessian cloth on which the sniper attached hay, grass or whatever was needed to blend into the environment he was entering. After talking to Jodi, Chris Kyle promised to meet with Eddie. "Out of respect for Chris's and Chad's family who have suffered such a tragic loss and due to Law Enforcement's ongoing criminal investigation, we have no comment at this time," he wrote via email. Born on April 8, 1974, in Odessa, Texas, Christopher Scott Kyle dreamt of joining the military from a young age. Decorated Sniper's Death Not Only Gun Disaster At Resort. The New York Post revealed today that Bradley Cooper will star as the sniper in an upcoming movie about his life and death. As a sniper his job was to hide himself away in a building and then pick off any enemies he could spot as other troops moved forward a role known as overwatch. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle leaves behind his wife Taya and two children. Police in the Dallas suburb also have obtained search warrants for the cellphone's pictures, text messages and recently called or missed phone numbers. A public memorial service for Kyle, 38, reputed to be the deadliest sniper in American military history, was set for Monday at Cowboys. I asked my daughter's teachers not to call her a boy they reported me to social services. The SEALs ran a gruelling sniper school and Kyle passed the course before his second Iraq tour. Routh later was arrested near his house in Lancaster. Were so thrilled that we have the verdict that we have tonight, Kyles mother, Judy, told reporters. The closest he came to dying was in 2008 during his fourth Iraq deployment, in the insurgent-infested Baghdad slum neighbourhood of Sadr City. They were just taking me to the range, so I shot them, Routh told police in his rambling post-arrest interview. psychotic. Taya Kyle reveals how American Sniper brought her husband back to life and why she trusted Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper. Storm: Kyle wrote a graphic memoir, American Sniper, about his four bloody tours of Iraq, released last year. Kyle was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2009 and moved to Midlothian, Texas, with his wife Taya and two children. I look through the scope, get my target in the cross hairs, and kill my enemy, before he kills one of my people.. Sometime in the early afternoon on Saturday February 2nd 2013 Chris Kyle and . Urging a squad of up to 20 Marines to follow him as he rushed into enemy fire, Kyle looked around to find he was alone. Even after several reconstructive surgeries, Long still cannot close his left thumb to his hand. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Chris Kyle, author of American Sniper and the most lethal sniper in American military history, was killed on Feb. 2, 2013. This made him experience hallucinations, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. Heres everything you need to know to find the right elliptical for your home. The upscale resort is facing a civil lawsuit over a 2009 incident that blew off the thumb of a 17-year-old boy, William Travis Long. He said that Routh actually had paranoid personality disorder exacerbated by drug use. Eddie Ray Routh, 25, shot and killed Chris Kyle. "We just said we loved each other and gave each other a hug and kiss, like we always did," she said. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The case attracted national attention due to Kyle's fame as author of a bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, published in 2012. In police video played in court, Eddie Routh answered \"Yes, sir\" to \"You know what you did today is wrong, right?\"SUBSCRIBE for the latest news and updates from ABC News http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=abcnews To read the full story and others, visit http://www.abcnews.com Watch more news stories from ABC News!More stories like this from ABC News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEdigLsKZyA\u0026list=PLQOa26lW-uI85qLlvNmzHhUz6AneEGDi1More World News Tonight with David Muirs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2MD_zLDgdM\u0026list=PL5E6638EB9ECF2329To read the full story and others, visit http://www.abcnews.comFollow ABC News across the web!Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/abcnews Twitter: http://twitter.com/ABCInstagram: https://instagram.com/ABCNews/ Watch as criminal investigations unfold, and witness the technology that helps the real life crime scene investigations (CSI) bring criminals to justice. The woman was already dead. One of the gunshot wounds was to the top of the head, indicating it was likely fired while Littlefield was already on the ground. Kyle, while driving to the shooting range, texted Littlefield, This dude is straight up nuts. Littlefield responded: Hes right behind me, watch my six, meaning, watch my back. Hall added that Kyles widow, Taya, had also asked him not to include her husbands murder for the sake of their children. Continue your flu-free streak with these tips to stay healthy this flu season. He believed that where most recruits failed in training was stalking the art of sneaking into a position without being seen. Kyle thought that shooting a firearm might offer some kind of . I didnt want it to be the thing that was hanging over their heads for the very rest of their lives as the film that showed their father getting shot, Hall explained. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Eddie Ray Rouths mugshot, taken after Chris Kyles death. Routh joined the Marine Corps after high school and was deployed to a base near Baghdad in September 2007, acting as a prison guard and repairing weapons. SEAL snipers work in pairs and their job in Fallujah was to cover the advance of U.S. Marines into the city. [7][8] Routh had also been in and out of mental hospitals for at least two years and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Starring Bradley Cooper, it garnered good reviews, though it excluded the story of Chris Kyles death. Chris Kyle died at the age of 38 after he was shot by a fellow military veteran in Texas. He is widely regarded as the deadliest sniper in U.S. history.The Odessa, Texas, native grew up hunting with his father and had uncanny aim as a marksman. It was a Chinese-made grenade and she had pulled out the pin just as a U.S. Marine foot patrol approached. A veteran considered to be the deadliest sniper in American history, a feat he described in his 2012 book American Sniper, Kyle faced criticism when it was discovered that he had exaggerated and lied about some of the claims in his memoir. Chris used to always talk about how he could be of service at home, Cooper, whose performance Taya calls eerie in its similarities to her late husband, said recently. Pictures: Ex-Navy SEAL fatally shot on Texas gun range. He would always say, Mow a vets lawn, help them deal with their groceries, do anything. Any little thing would have a massive impact, so if this [film] can help Chris spread the message he wanted to spread, then we will all have done our job.. Kyle described his .338 rifle his favourite sniper gun as an awesome weapon which, when fired inside a building, produced such a powerful explosion his ears would hurt after a few shots. Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield were shot and killed by a former Marine that they had taken to a gun range as therapy to address his PTSD in 2013. Taya Ranae Studebacker was born in Portland, Oregon, and is the daughter of the mayor of Lake Oswego, Kent Studebaker. Notorious YouTube prankster strikes again: How Daniel 'Jarvo' Jarvis invaded The Oval, X Factor stage, a 'My hatred for you keeps me alive and we will never forgive you', father tells drink-driver who was Is this the real reason Amazon 'axed' Jeremy Clarkson? It was hard, she says. At the Rough Creek. I'm sure they've forgiven me."[6]. He was deployed to a base near Baghdad in September 2007, where he worked for six months as a prison guard and repaired weapons. Anything we can do, I think its worth it for these guys who have put it all on the line, she says. From the start to finish ABC News is your source for the breaking stories of the rising crime rate in our nation. At the Rough Creek Lodge near Stephenville, investigators even found pistols on the bodies of Kyle and Littlefield. He hesitated a moment before his commander told him to shoot. According to the prosecution's timeline, Nash then went to his own home, got his dog and other items, and drove off in Kyle's truck. Eddie Routh had spent four years in the Marines but since leaving he had twice been hospitalized for mental illness. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. But Routh shot the pair with two pistols that belonged to Kyle, because "nobody would talk to me". And it also inspired a Texas woman named Jodi Routh to reach out to Kyle to see if he could help her son, Eddie Ray Routh. Scanning the deserted main street of a small town in the Nasiriya region, he spotted a woman step out of a house with her child. Meanwhile, Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash said in his opening argument, Routh was imbibing in drugs and alcohol. At his sisters house, Routh announced that hed sold my soul for a truck. He added, We went up to the gun range. Stay informed on the latest crime news with abcnews.com.ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Tune into ABC World News Tonight with David Muir for unparalleled reporting. Routh's mother, who worked at the school that Kyle's children attended, had heard of his work and asked him to help her son. So Kyle tried life as a cowboy first. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I killed them. When Routh fled again, his sister called the police, telling them, Hes all crazy, hes fking psychotic.. Mother reveals devastation after learning her daughter, two, is battling a rare disorder that affects only Netflix is hiring a flight attendant for one of its private jets with a mouth-watering pay of up to $385,000 Not quite love at first sight! He declined and stopped taking his medication. Kyle later downplayed the long-range kill as a "really, really lucky shot". Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. I remember Chris saying that he never knew [what it was like] until that first shot that there is no way you know until you are on the gun, says Taya, 40. After meeting in 2001, she married the infamous US Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, and had two children. A Chicago prostitute later admitted that she had left Chris alone in his apartment as he had began to pass out on the floor! NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth", "Details announced for Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's memorial service at Cowboys Stadium", "Residents Line I-35 to Pay Respects to Slain Navy SEAL", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Chris_Kyle_and_Chad_Littlefield&oldid=1117082417, Chris Kyle (April 8, 1974 February 2, 2013), age 38. Published: 16:01 GMT, 8 February 2013 | Updated: 17:10 GMT, 8 February 2013, Behind bars: Eddie Ray Routh is charged with two counts of murder after shooting Kyle and Chad Littlefield at a shooting range in Texas. Christopher Scott Kyle was a United States Navy SEAL sniper and the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history. Kyle, 38, and a friend had taken troubled Eddie Routh to a shooting range as therapy only for Routh to shoot them dead. In life, Kyle became the deadliest sniper in American history and spent his final years helping veterans like himself to adjust to civilian life. He also often drank alongside his medication, before he began refusing to take it. I was in some badass situations, but it wasnt just me. We've combined animation and video footage with a snarky personality to bring you the biggest and best stories from around the world. The comments below have not been moderated. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Routh, a 25-year-old Marine, had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. A public memorial service for the 38-year-old Kyle, reputed to be the deadliest sniper in American military history, is scheduled for Monday at Cowboys Stadium near Dallas. It was supposed to be a simple trip to the gun range.