Weeks after Eddie Routh was convicted of capital murder for killing Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL who inspired the movie American Sniper, Routh’s parents shed light on their troubled son. His mom, Jodi, says at the time, her son was suffering from PTSD and severe mental illness, and she and her husband, Ray, struggled to get Routh the help he needed. Jodi says she reached out to Kyle, who had established an organization to help veterans with PTSD, to help her son as a last resort.
“I said, ‘Chris, would you be willing to help my son? He’s a former Marine, and he has PTSD, and he really needs some help, and we’re not getting what we need,’” she tells Dr. Phil in the video above. “And he said, ‘Yes. I would be willing to help,’ and that was my first day in several years that I really felt like anybody even cared if Eddie got the help that he needed or not.”
Jodi had no idea that a week later, her son would murder Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield. “I would’ve never asked if I had an idea that this could happen,” she says, fighting back tears.
Eddie Ray Routh walks across the court after a break during his capital murder trial at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, in Stephenville, Texas. Routh, 27, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero,Pool)
American Sniper Trial
Eddie Ray Routh walks to his chair in court after a break during his capital murder trial at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, in Stephenville, Texas. Routh, 27, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero,Pool)
American Sniper Trial
Eddie Ray Routh walks acros the court during his capital murder trial at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, in Stephenville, Texas. Routh, 27, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero,Pool)
American Sniper Trial
Don and Judy Littlefield, parents of Chad Littelfield, begin to walk out of the courtroom after a break in the capital murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, in Stephenville, Texas. Routh, 27, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of Littlefield and Navy SEAL Chris Kyle at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero,Pool)
American Sniper Trial
Taya Kyle, wife of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, leaves the courtroom after a break in the capital murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, in Stephenville, Texas. Routh, 27, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero,Pool)
American Sniper Trial
Jodi Routh, right, mother of former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh, speaks as she looks at a photo of her son that was admitted into evidence during his capital murder trial at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, in Stephenville, Texas. Routh is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero,Pool)
Eddie Routh Murder Trial
Prosecutors play the tape of the police interview with former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh at his capital murder trial at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center on Feb. 16, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. (Paul Moseley/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images)
Eddie Routh Murder Trial
A small but growing line of trial spectators, watched by television crews, wait to enter the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center in Stephenville, Texas, Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 for the capital murder trial of former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh. Routh is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose,Texas. (Paul Moseley/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images)
Eddie Routh Murder Trial
Chris Kyle's widow, Taya Kyle, hugs supporters before court is in session during the capital murder trial of former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center on Feb. 12, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. Routh, 27, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (Paul Moseley/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images)
"American Sniper" Murder Trial Begins In Texas
STEPHENVILLE, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Taya Kyle, wife of slain Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, leaves the courtroom after the capital murder trial of former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh at the Erath County Donald R. Jones Justice Center February 11, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. February 11, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. Eddie Ray Routh, 27, of Lancaster, Texas is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (Photo by Tom Fox - Pool/Getty Images)
"American Sniper" Murder Trial Begins In Texas
STEPHENVILLE, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Crime scene photos from the Rough Creek Lodge and Resort where the deaths occurred are shown on television monitors during the capital murder trial of former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh at the Erath County Donald R. Jones Justice Center February 11, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. February 11, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. Eddie Ray Routh, 27, of Lancaster, Texas is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (Photo by Tom Fox - Pool/Getty Images)
American Sniper Trial
Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash listens to testimony during the capital murder trial of former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center in Stephenville, Texas, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. Routh, 27, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (AP Photo/Star-Telegram, Rodger Mallison, Pool)
American Sniper Trial
Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek takes a seat with the Kyle family during the capital murder trial of former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center in Stephenville, Texas, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. Routh, 27, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (AP Photo/Star-Telegram, Rodger Mallison, Pool)
"American Sniper" Murder Trial Begins In Texas
STEPHENVILLE, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Grumps Burgers and Beverages show their support for Chris Kyle's and Chad Littlefield's families on their street sign February 11, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. Eddie Ray Routh, 27, of Lancaster, Texas is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Wade/Getty Images)
"American Sniper" Murder Trial Begins In Texas
STEPHENVILLE, TX - FEBRUARY 11: Taya Kyle, wife of slain Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, arrives for the opening day of the capital murder trial of former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh at the Erath County Donald R. Jones Justice Center on February 11, 2015 in Stephenville, Texas. Eddie Ray Routh, 27, of Lancaster is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose, Texas. (Photo by Tom Fox-Pool/Getty Images)
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.
