Life Without Parole: The 5 Shocking Facts About Who Killed 'American Sniper' Chris Kyle

The question of who killed Chris Kyle, the legendary U.S. Navy SEAL sniper and author of the best-selling autobiography American Sniper, remains one of the most tragic and shocking stories in modern military history. As of today, December 10, 2025, the facts are clear: Kyle was murdered by a veteran he was attempting to help, an event that highlighted the devastating consequences of untreated mental health issues among those who serve. The killer, Eddie Ray Routh, was convicted of capital murder and is currently serving a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The double murder, which also claimed the life of Kyle's friend, Chad Littlefield, occurred on February 2, 2013, at a remote shooting range in Texas. This article delves into the comprehensive details of the victims, the perpetrator, the shocking motive, and the definitive outcome of the "American Sniper" trial that captured the world's attention.

The Victims and the Killer: A Full Biographical Profile

The tragedy at the Rough Creek Lodge shooting range involved three men, two of whom were celebrated figures and one who was a troubled former Marine. Understanding their backgrounds is crucial to grasping the full weight of the events of that fateful day.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

Christopher "Chris" Scott Kyle (The American Sniper)

• Born: April 8, 1974, in Odessa, Texas.
• Military Service: U.S. Navy SEAL. Served four tours in the Iraq War.
• Distinction: Credited with 160 confirmed kills (unofficially over 255), making him the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history.
• Post-Military: Founded the FITCO Cares Foundation (later the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation) to provide support and fitness equipment to veterans with disabilities and their families.
• Legacy: Author of the 2012 memoir American Sniper, which was later adapted into the Oscar-nominated 2014 film directed by Clint Eastwood.

Chad Littlefield (The Friend and Volunteer)

• Born: February 11, 1977, in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Occupation: Director of Operations for a water treatment company; co-founder of the organization We and Me, which focused on building trust and connection.
• Role: Littlefield was a close friend of Chris Kyle and a dedicated volunteer in Kyle's mission to help struggling veterans.
• Circumstances of Death: He accompanied Kyle to the shooting range to help and mentor Eddie Ray Routh.

Eddie Ray Routh (The Killer)

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

• Born: September 30, 1987.
• Military Service: U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served in Iraq and Haiti, but was not a combat veteran in the same capacity as Kyle.
• Mental Health: Suffering from severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental illnesses, including paranoid schizophrenia. He had been hospitalized multiple times before the murders.
• Current Status: Serving a life sentence without parole in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility.

The Tragic Day: A Mission of Compassion Ends in Double Murder

The murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were a profound betrayal of the very mission Kyle had dedicated his post-military life to: helping his fellow veterans. The events leading up to the shooting were rooted in a compassionate effort to provide outreach to a veteran in crisis.

The Outreach Effort

Kyle and Littlefield agreed to spend time with Eddie Ray Routh after Routh's mother, Jodi Routh, reached out to Kyle, desperately seeking help for her son's deteriorating mental state. Kyle had made it his personal mission to use the therapeutic effects of the shooting range to connect with and mentor veterans struggling with PTSD and other combat-related stress.

On Saturday, February 2, 2013, the three men drove to the remote Rough Creek Lodge and Resort shooting range in Erath County, Texas. During the drive, Kyle reportedly sent a text message to Littlefield expressing his concern about Routh's erratic behavior, saying, "This dude is straight up nuts." Littlefield responded: "He’s sitting right behind me, bro. Watch my six."

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

The Execution and Escape

The attack occurred shortly after the men arrived at the range and began setting up targets. Routh, who was 25 years old at the time, ambushed both men from behind, using two different handguns. He fired a total of 13 rounds: six shots into Kyle and seven into Littlefield. The weapons used were a .45 caliber M1911 pistol and a 9mm SIG Sauer P226 Mk.25 Mod 0 pistol. Both men were found with multiple gunshot wounds, with the medical examiner concluding they died almost instantly.

Following the brutal attack, Routh stole Kyle’s black Ford F-250 pickup truck and fled the scene. He drove to his sister’s house in Midlothian, Texas, where he confessed to the murders. His sister, Laura Blevins, immediately called the police, leading to a dramatic, high-speed chase and a subsequent standoff that ended with Routh’s arrest.

The Trial and The Rejected Insanity Defense

The trial of Eddie Ray Routh, which began in February 2015, became a national spectacle. It was one of the most closely watched capital murder cases in Texas history, largely due to the fame of Chris Kyle and the complexity of the insanity defense based on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and psychosis.

The Defense's Argument: Insanity

Routh’s defense team argued that he was insane at the time of the murders, claiming he was suffering from psychosis, chronic PTSD, and paranoid schizophrenia, exacerbated by drug and alcohol use. They presented evidence that Routh believed Kyle and Littlefield were "pig assassins" or demons sent to kill him, a delusion he mentioned to a psychiatrist.

The Prosecution's Case: Clear Intent

The prosecution countered the insanity defense by arguing that Routh was a heavy user of marijuana and alcohol, but that he was not legally insane. They presented evidence of Routh’s calculated escape, his attempt to hide the evidence, and a jailhouse confession where he offered a different, chilling motive: he shot the men because they "wouldn't talk to him." This conflicting evidence suggested that Routh knew his actions were wrong.

The emotional core of the trial was the testimony of Taya Kyle, Chris Kyle's widow. She described her final moments with her husband, the life they shared, and the mission he died pursuing. Her powerful, tearful testimony, alongside the presentation of family photos, humanized the tragedy for the jury and the public.

The Verdict and Sentencing

On February 24, 2015, after just two hours of deliberation, the Texas jury rejected the insanity defense and found Eddie Ray Routh guilty of capital murder. The automatic sentence for capital murder in Texas, when the death penalty is not sought, is life in prison without the possibility of parole. Routh was immediately sentenced and transferred to a state correctional facility.

Where is Eddie Ray Routh Now? The Finality of the Sentence

The man who killed Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield is now serving his sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). This is the final, unchangeable reality of the case.

Eddie Ray Routh was sentenced to life without parole, meaning he will spend the rest of his natural life incarcerated and will never be eligible for release. This sentence provided the victims' families, including Taya Kyle and the Littlefield family, with a permanent sense of closure and justice.

The case of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield remains a powerful, complex narrative that goes beyond the military heroism of one man. It serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by veterans returning home, the critical need for effective mental health support, and the ultimate sacrifice made in the name of compassion. The memory of both Kyle and Littlefield endures through the work of their respective foundations, continuing the mission of service and connection that their lives embodied.