Eddie Ray Routh, an Iraq War Veteran, has been charged with murdering Chris Kyle, the well-known former Navy SEAL sniper, and Kyle’s friend Chad Littlefield. Routh had been in and out of a mental hospital for the last five months.

Last September 2, Routh was taken to a Green Oaks Hospital because he threatened to murder his family and himself. When he was found walking shirtless and shoeless, Routh informed police he was a Marine veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. Routh’s mother said that Routh had been drinking, went haywire when his father threatened to sell Routh’s gun, and suicidally said he was going to “blow his brains out.” In January, a woman called police, worried about Routh hurting himself, and Routh was taken back to Green Oaks Hospital

After Routh killed Kyle and Littlefield, he took Kyle’s truck.  He drove to his sister’s house, confessed the murders, and told her that he had "traded his soul for a new truck." His sister called police, who chased him down after he fled his sister’s house.

In jail, Routh has exhibited the same signs of mental illness, trying to assault jailers who wanted to retrieve his food tray, and consequently being subdued by a stun gun. He is being held in solitary confinement with his arms and legs restrained.