The man charged with murdering Chris Kyle, the ex-Navy SEAL and author of “American Sniper,” had been in a mental hospital more than once in the last five months, the Associated Press reported Monday.
Twenty-five-year-old Eddie Ray Routh, an Iraq War veteran, has been charged with one count of capital murder and two counts of murder for killing Kyle at a Texas shooting range last weekend.
From the AP:
Routh, a member of the Marines Corps Reserve, was first taken to a mental hospital Sept. 2 after he threatened to kill his family and himself, according to police records in Lancaster, where Routh lives. Authorities found Routh walking nearby with no shirt and no shoes, and smelling of alcohol. Routh told authorities he was a Marine veteran who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Eddie stated he was hurting and that his family does not understand what he has been through,” the report says.
Routh’s mother told police her son had been drinking and became upset when his father said he was going to sell his gun. She said Routh began arguing with them and said he was going to “blow his brains out.”
Police took Routh to Green Oaks Hospital for psychiatric care.
Dallas police records show Routh was taken back to the same mental hospital in mid-January after a woman called police and said she feared for Routh’s safety.
Green Oaks will not release patient information, citing privacy laws. Most people brought by police to the hospital are required to stay at least 48 hours.
In another brush with authorities, Lancaster police in May responded to a burglary reported by Routh’s mother that included nine pill bottles. Police say Routh was involved but no other details were available.
