The widow of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle broke down in tears as she recalled the text message that first made her fear something was wrong with her husband.
Chris Kyle earned his place in history as the most lethal sniper the U.S. military has ever seen, credited with over 160 confirmed kills.
His story was immortalized in his bestselling memoir American Sniper, later adapted into the Oscar-nominated film that brought his legacy to the big screen.
After years of battlefield service, the former Navy SEAL retired in 2009 and turned his focus to a different kind of mission: helping veterans find peace in civilian life.
According to his widow, Taya Kyle, he believed the healing power of fresh air and shared experience could reach deeper than any hospital stay.
That belief led him to agree to a meeting on February 2, 2013, with Eddie Ray Routh, a Marine Corps veteran he had never met. The visit to Rough Creek Lodge gun range in Glen Rose, Texas, was arranged at the request of Routh’s mother, who hoped Kyle could help her troubled son.
Kyle brought along his longtime friend Chad Littlefield to join them. It was a decision that turned deadly.
Taya took the stand on the first day of Routh’s murder trial, becoming the prosecution’s opening witness. Pausing to wipe away tears, she described the moment her gut told her something was wrong.
Her husband had called her from the range that day. But when she sent a follow-up text and got no reply, dread set in. “I’m not nervous. I’m just emotional,” she said softly in court, per ABC News.
Shortly after, a police officer knocked on her door. That’s when she learned Kyle had been killed.
The emotional testimony revealed how even a war hero like Kyle wasn’t immune to the struggles of civilian life. Taya admitted her husband battled night sweats, drank to cope, and had put on weight.
Also called to the stand was Judy Littlefield, mother of Chad Littlefield, Kyle’s 35-year-old friend and fellow victim. Her voice nearly gave out as she began to speak about her son, saying: "He was a very good son.”
Chad wasn’t a veteran, but he shared a bond with Kyle after meeting him at their children’s soccer game. He became a quiet protector, someone who looked after others without needing to say much.
“Chad didn’t talk much but was always watching to make sure people were safe,” Judy told the court.
After the emotional testimonies, Frank Alvarez, the manager of the shooting range, recalled rushing to the scene, where he witnessed people attempting to resuscitate both Kyle and Littlefield.
Then came the moment that made Taya shake her head in disbelief. Prosecutors began presenting graphic photos of the crime scene, including one of Chris Kyle’s body.
Jurors also heard from the first police officer to discover the bodies, along with a local paramedic and a fire department responder.
Just days later, on February 24, 2015, a Texas jury found Routh guilty of murdering Kyle and Littlefield. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.