GUILTY TX - Noted sniper Chris Kyle & Chad Littlefield slain at Erath County gun range

[Gardenlady]

I know this might not be popular, but I have a lot of compassion for Routh. War can do horrible, horrible things to a person, and leave them a completely different person than they were before they went. It soun from the above like he was very, very damaged by what he experienced.

This is why we should always think very long, and very hard, before engaging in any military endeavor. The human cost on all sides is so very, very high, and continues long after troops are returned home, and ripples out even further and touches their families and friends as well.

I have never been in a combat situation, but do know what it is like to be affected by uncontrollable thoughts and triggers, and to be instantly "transported", body (heart racing and pounding, sweats, shakes, crying, hyperventilating, stomach pain, etc) and mind, to what was probably the most frightening time in one's life. I can't imagine what it must be like to suffer mental "re-enactments" of combat.

Such a sad waste of a life.

 

[iamnotagolem]

As someone who has been diagnosed with PTSD, I'm curious as to how common this "exposure therapy" is, and how accepted it is amongst mental health professionals. I cannot imagine being exposed to the situation/triggers that caused me PTSD as therapy. It seems a sure way to make me...well...lose my $hit.

Iknow that in some cases of phobias, exposure is used to help the person (like fear of flying, bridges, etc). But these phobias are not as debilitating as PTSD can be, and those exposures are, from the instances I know of, undertaken with a qualified therapist of some kind there to help the patient through.

Taking a person with PTSD due to war conditions to a shooting range, to expose them to triggers like this, with seemingly no therapist along to help, and putting a dangerous weapon in the patient's hands...well...it sounds like the height of folly. It also reminds me of how some of the mass school shooters (Eric Harris, Adam Lanza) were given gun training by their parents, taken to the range, etc, as some sort of hobby or bonding experience. IMO, shooting ranges, guns-as-hobby are a huge mistake for anyone having mental/personality/emotional difficulties. In fact, I don't think it's a healthy hobby for anyone, mental health problems or no. It focuses on violence and power, rather than anything positive, IMO.

And yes, the gun culture is also a factor here as well. How anyone can view shooting as a type of therapy for anything is quite beyond me.

BBM Do you have any kind of link to back that outrageous theory up? This isn't the thread for gun control discussions. Assuming that people who enjoy shooting as a hobby has anything to do with violence and power is beyond ignorant. It is a sport just like football, baseball, and golf.

 

[Gardenlady]

BBM Do you have any kind of link to back that outrageous theory up? This isn't the thread for gun control discussions. Assuming that people who enjoy shooting as a hobby has anything to do with violence and power is beyond ignorant. It is a sport just like football, baseball, and golf.

If you noticed, I preceded this paragraph and ended it with "IMO". It's not a fact that requires links, it's merely how I view the culture around guns and shooting.

 

[Lois Lane]

In his book, Kyle described how his gun range therapy worked:

"We go hunting a couple of times a day, shoot a few rounds on the range, then at night trade stories and beers. It’s not so much the war stories as the funny stories that you remember.... As you’d expect if I’m involved, there’s a lot of bustin’ going on back and forth, giving each other hell. I don’t always get the last laugh, but I do take my shots. The first time I had some of them out to one of the ranches, I took them out on the back porch before we started shooting and gave them a little orientation. 'All right,' I told them, picking up my rifle, 'since none of you are SEALs, I better give you some background. This here is a trigger.' 'Screw you, Squid!' they shouted, and we had a good time from there on out, pushing each other and making fun.

"What wounded veterans don’t need is sympathy," Kyle wrote. "They need to be treated like the men they are: equals, heroes and people who still have tremendous value for society."

More at the link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/...ontroversy-20130204,0,7353665.story?track=rss

 

[Lois Lane]

The man accused of killing Navy Seal sniper Chris Kyle and another man confessed to his sister and her husband that he had killed the men, according to court documents obtained by WFAA-TV.

Fearing for the safety of Routh and his family, police put him into protective custody and took him to Green Oaks Psychiatric Hospital for a mental evaluation.

Also, according to another police report out of Lancaster, Routh’s mother called police on the night of May 14 to report a burglary.

The report listed Routh as the suspect and indicated that nine pill bottles were taken.

It’s unclear what drugs were stolen.

Dallas police say Eddie Ray Routh also had a run-in with them just last month.

On Jan. 19, a woman had called police to an apartment complex in the 7600 block of Churchill Way in North Dallas because she feared for Routh’s safety.

Routh was in distress and wanting to get help, so officers took him to Green Oaks for a mental health evaluation.

It was his second trip to the psychiatric hospital in four months.

More at the link:

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crim...lling-sniper-chris-kyle-to-family-members.ece

 

[Lois Lane]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Snip...for-a-new-truck-affidavit-says-189729711.html

Article includes links to arrest warrant affidavits.

Direct links to the docs are here:

http://images.bimedia.net/documents/doc1-020413.pdf

http://images.bimedia.net/documents/doc2-020413.pdf

http://images.bimedia.net/documents/doc3-020413.pdf

More at the article link.

 

[Lois Lane]

The flags around Midlothian are flying at half staff following the weekend murders of two well-known residents, one of whom was the military's deadliest sniper.

Relatives, former Navy SEALs and close friends rushed to offer comfort, including Dalworthington Gardens Police Chief Bill Waybourn.

"His wife is a spectacular woman who is doing as well as can be expected, and so is his family," Waybourn said. "They're surrounded by a lot of people, and we're just trying to love them through it."

"Reaching out" has become a theme for former Navy SEALs through a program called Carry The Load. It was started by burly former SEAL Clint Bruce, who has been supporting Kyle's family nearly around the clock since the shooting on Saturday afternoon.

Carry the Load, which began in Dallas, is a walking relay from New York to Texas meant to raise awareness of sacrifice and to generate donations for charities that help the families of fallen veterans. That now includes Kyle's family. The 20-hour event takes place on Memorial Day. Proceeds also go to officer and fire department support charities like Friends of Dallas-Fire Rescue, Heroes on the Water and Assist the Officer Foundation.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Community-members-offer-support-to-murdered-SEALs-189705871.html

 

[alwaysonmymind]

He has an attorney, according to a tweet.

Shay Isham out of Stephenville.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lois Lane]

In what might be his final interview, retired Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle pondered his legacy to Tarleton State University, his alma mater.

“I would love for people to be able to – when they think of me - think ‘Here’s a guy who stood up for what he believed in and helped make a difference for the vets,” Kyle said. “Somebody who cared so much about them he wanted them taken care of.”

Kyle gave the interview to TSU on January 28. He was a 1994 graduate.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/In-f...Chris-Kyle-pondered-his-legacy-189736581.html

“There’s definitely still a lot of hurt from losing my guys, or the fact that I got out when I felt like it wasn’t my time yet, “ Kyle said. “So being able to do this makes me still feel like I’m a part of it and still giving back. I feel that we definitely owe these guys everything that we can, so I’m just trying to do my part,” Kyle said.

http://www.texannews.net/exclusive-slain-sniper-chris-kyles-lasting-words/

Direct links to audio of the interview can be found at both links.

 

[Lois Lane]

He has an attorney, according to a tweet.

Shay Isham out of Stephenville.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

R. Shay Isham has been licensed to practice law since 1996. He is Board Certified in Criminal Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Isham is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern and Western Districts of Texas.

He has extensive jury trial experience in criminal cases including murder, DWI, possession of controlled substances, sexual assault, indecency, burglary and theft. He is married, and a father of three.

http://gtiglaw.com/?page_id=190

No indication from the firm bio that Isham has any experience in capital murder cases. If that is the case, I expect there will be additional counsel.

I've seen dual counsel provided by the state of Texas in murder cases that were not capital cases.

 

[SapphireSteel]

Most of the reactions to this story downunder are essentially "live by the sword, die by the sword". There couldn't be less sympathy for Mr Kyle.

It is a terrible thing to have happened, but I have to wonder why Kyle thought the best way to help a PTSD vet was to take him to a place where gunshot was all around, and hand him a gun and some ammunition? It seems (in retrospect) like just begging for trouble or more trauma.

Someone opined he was "getting him back on the horse" but us pacifist Aussies wonder why being able to fire a gun again was considered desirable outcome or therapy goal in the first place? :dunno:

He might've simply had a flashback and genuinely thought he was killing Taliban or something...PTSD does that. If this is the case, this guy will never recover from killing his friends.

Truly tragic all around...not least because it seems so avoidable.

 

[Lois Lane]

Jodi Leigh Routh, the suspect's mother, had reached out to Kyle to ask him to help her son, said Clint Burgess, a Tarrant County constable and Kyle's friend.

But it is not clear how much she told Kyle about her son's condition.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/02/04/4599409/man-accused-of-killing-retired.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Lois Lane]

Chris Kyle's Facebook account.

CAUTION -- There are some rough comments.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Kyle/401933139867923

 

[BuzzieCat]

I'm very sorry about what happened to Mr. Kyle, but this kind of operation should not have been undertaken without professional counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc. Oh my. I'm not a professional, but my understanding is that exposure therapy should be done gradually. It should probably also take into consideration how badly the patient is affected. IMO. I would be interested to know if Kyle had any professional advice/help for his program.

 

[Lois Lane]

Eddie Ray Routh was immobilized with a Taser strike after he refused to give up a spork and dinner tray and became aggressive with guards in his jail cell Sunday night, Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said Monday.

Routh is on suicide watch and under 24-hour camera surveillance, Bryant said Monday.

Since the suspect's arrest Saturday, multiple threats have been made against his life, Bryant said. Some of those, the sheriff believes, came from military veterans who are upset over the killings.

Because of the threats, Routh will likely remain at the jail for his pre-trial hearing rather than going to a courthouse, due to security concerns, Bryant said.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/04/justice/texas-sniper-killed/index.html

More at the link including direct links to these pages for those interested:

Thousands pledged to toast to Kyle and Littlefield Monday night, and hundreds expressed condolences on Kyle's Facebook fan page.

 

[Lois Lane]

Bryant said he received a call Sunday night from Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford who said his dispatchers received a call from a man who said he wanted to harm Routh.

In an email sent to Alford, the man identified as "John" stated, "I will take care of this. Kyle was a friend. There is not one jurisdiction that can save him."

Deputies were dispatched to the man's home, where he told him that he needed help before he did something to the man who killed Kyle, Bryant said.

The man was reportedly intoxicated. He was not arrested, but there are plans to get him checked into a place where he can get help, Bryant said.

http://www.yourglenrosetx.com/hero/article_2d4dfca6-6f11-11e2-a53c-001a4bcf887a.html

 

[Lois Lane]

Murder of former Navy SEAL turns spotlight on veteran hunting and shooting clubs

Firing bullets at a gun range — as a Marine reservist was doing Saturday when he allegedly killed ex-Navy SEAL and "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle — can ignite combat flashbacks, a leading expert on post-traumatic stress disorder said Monday, adding, however, that hunting and target practice can be therapeutic for veterans if their shooting buddies intimately know war.

Much more at the link:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...ht-on-veteran-hunting-and-shooting-clubs?lite

 

[Lois Lane]

(Reuters) - The slayings of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and another man trying to help a troubled U.S. military veteran, now charged in their murders, has renewed focus on the psychological wounds of war.

Law enforcement officers have not said Routh specifically suffers from post traumatic stress, a severe anxiety disorder caused by witnessing or participating in traumatic events, but the killings renewed the focus on PTSD among veterans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated in a report released last fall that about 30 percent of returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffered from some form of post-traumatic stress.

More at the link:

http://whtc.com/news/articles/2013/...illing-puts-focus-on-wars-psychological-toll/

 

[Lois Lane]

Eric Allenbaugh, Taya Kyle's uncle, said friends and family have rallied to support Taya and the children, an 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.

For being one of the Iraq war's few celebrated military heroes, Allenbaugh said Chris Kyle was humble – a remarkable trait given that his more than 150 confirmed sniper kills outnumber the previous record by more than 50. That humility was complemented by compassion. All the proceeds from "American Sniper" went to an organization Chris Kyle started to help fellow veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Making up the other half of this "vibrant" couple, was Taya Kyle – a strong and even feisty woman, Allenbaugh said. And she needed to be a force, having married a Navy SEAL, he said.

Much more at the link:

http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2013/02/taya_kyle_daughter_of_lake_osw.html

 

[Lois Lane]

September 2012 Lancaster PD incident report that ended with Routh's hospitalization at Green Oaks:

http://media.nbcbayarea.com/documents/12-004152+(Eddie+Routh).pdf