On February 2, 2013, a tragedy occurred in the Rough Creek Lodge and Resort: the murder of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Kyle was a former Navy-SEAL popularly known as the most deadly sniper in American history. Kyle had survived six IED attacks, three helicopter crashes and numerous surgeries. When he returned to Texas after serving in combat, Kyle worked with other veterans to help them get back into “reality.” He often took many out to shooting ranges so they could be around other veterans who understood them, creating an atmosphere of group therapy. Littlefield was Kyle’s neighbor, workout buddy and longtime friend. The murder of both men is seen as the death of two heroes.

The afternoon of February 2, 2013 was a normal one for Kyle and Littlefield, as they were due to meet another veteran and take him to a rifle range. That veteran was Eddie Ray Routh. The men traveled to the range in Kyle’s pick-up truck, which was fully equipped for the evening, carrying the men’s guns. Things took a turn for the worse when ninety minutes after their arrival, Kyle and Littlefield were found dead by a resort employee and Routh was nowhere to be found.

Kyle was discovered with four shots to the back and one shot to the face, each of which came from his own pistol. Littlefield had six shots in to the back, which also came from Kyle’s handgun. Routh had left the scene driving Kyle’s pick-up truck. He was said to have stopped by a Taco Bell and other stores before a high-speed car chase broke out. The chase lasted around thirty minutes and resulted in the damage of a police car and Kyle’s pick-up. Routh was arrested and the trial began. Did Eddie Ray Routh murder two heroes? Was he too crazy to even know what he had done? Was he legitimately insane?

The trial began February 11, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. Eddie Ray Routh pleaded not guilty on the grounds of insanity. His lawyer stated that Routh was experiencing a psychotic phase at the time of the shooting. Prosecutors say that Routh was, in fact, fully aware that he was murdering two men.  Both sides do not deny that Routh was the one who shot and murdered both Kyle and Littlefield. The trial lasted an excruciating thirteen days.

The first witness to take the stand was Taya Kyle, the wife of Chris Kyle. She delivered an emotional testimony of the last time she spoke to her husband. Prosecutors showed videos of  Routh  during police interrogation. They stated that his talk of “flying pigs” and “the devil” are simply staged to corroborate his insanity plea. An expert witness testified that if a patient says that he/she has schizophrenia or suffers from a mental illness, then, in fact, they do not, thus proving Routh’s insane defense false.

The defense attorney brought into play the fact that Routh did attend psychological theory sessions. He argued that Routh’s psychotic behavior was at an all time high the day of the murder—and even Kyle and Littlefield noticed it.

At the end of the thirteen days, the jury went into deliberation. It only took approximately two hours for the ten-female and two-male jury to reach a verdict. Eddie Ray Routh was convicted of the double murder and the judge sentenced him to life in prison with no possibility of parole (the prosecution did not seek the death penalty).

“We have waited two years for God to get justice on behalf of our son,  and as always, God has proven to be faithful, and we’re so thrilled that we have the verdict that we have tonight,” affirmed Littlefield’s mother at the conclusion of the trial.