The New York Post is reporting that Eddie Ray Routh, the man accused of killing former Navy SEAL, “American Sniper” author Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a Texas gun range on Feb. 2 of 2013, is still collecting $2,800 a month in Veterans Affairs benefits following the shooting..
Apparently, Routh will continue to collect that sum unless he is convicted of murder, even then he’ll receive 10 percent or $280 per month.
On top of the monthly stipend, Routh was given $30,000 in back-pay benefits after he was arrested and charged with murder.
Prosecutors asked Routh’s mother, Jodi, on Tuesday if she was aware that “after killing two men the VA deemed him to be disabled and gave him money.”
Jodi told prosecutors she was keeping the money in a bank account that she manages with her husband. Prosecutors also inquired about whether that money was used for a downpayment on a house that Routh’s sister purchased with her husband. Jodi said she didn’t know, according to the Post.
Routh is being represented by three court-appointed attorneys, all of whom are being paid for by the county. Routh’s defense is not guilty by reason of insanity.
The doctor in the video is blaming Chris Kyle for not knowing what he was getting into…what a farce! Chris Kyle knew he was dealing with dangerous people and did it anyways… a real hero… not the one to blame. The killer should get the electric chair – insane or not..no excuses for what someone does. What they do they do, and they alone are responsible for their actions. Stop blaming everyone else for the guilty party. The doctor in the video is a flower child who wants everyone to live in a utopia that does not exist here on earth. This thinking where no one can be responsible for their own actions because “no one knows what is going on someone’s mind” is the idea that there are no absolutes since everyone thinks what they do is right. That thinking would absolve ANYONE doing something wrong while under the influence or inside a “psychotic break”. Is that where we are at in this society? If I believe it is okay for me to kill someone, that would absolve me of the crime? No. God forbid it should ever be. This murderer is what he is. It is NOT complicated. It is not a complex situation. Give him the chair.
Innocent until proven Guilty. Until he is convicted, he is NOT GUILTY and NOT a Criminal.
What you people FAIL to realize and understand is ” If you take this horrible person’s Constitutional Rights away from him, you set precedent for taking anyone’s Constitutional Rights.”
It is his money, his benefit, he legally receives it.
What next? Old Joe my neighbor drives a blue car so lets hang him without a trail because he is a blue car driver.
get a clue and a set of balls, some of you. Take his Rights and then it is a cake walk to take your rights next. Everyone knows it is “always the other guy never the guy in the mirror,” right??????
The “American Sniper” killer is still collecting disability checks from VA because he is disabled. The action that found him disabled by VA has nothing to do with his arrest and charges and he will continue to get paid until he is found guilty in a court of law for the crime he is accused. For the VA to take away his benefits for a felony conviction such as murder, another action action needs to be initiated by the VA and only the VA not the courts. Yes, his benefits can be taken away but not before he is convicted. By the way, why are people up in arms about his benefits? It seem in this country the lynch mob mentality is at the fore front of public discussion and always by people that are uneducated, politically motivated or totally misinformed on this or any issue. Let the courts do their job, which is to find balance. Anything else is just vengeance and that is not what justice is about. The poor bastard killed and not even his lawyers deny that. The point is the mental state of the culprit. Chris Kyle should have known better than to take a mentally unstable person to shoot guns and since he did knowing or at least suspecting full well his metal state, he should have watched him more carefully, which apparently was mission impossible. Not only Kyle and his friend lost their lives, at least three families were affected by this incident and the public perception about weapons took another hit as how many veterans will be judged by many in the civilian population. This is conducive to hysterics and prejudice. The whole incident was stupid, careless and unnecessary and there lies the real tragedy. Being a NAVY SEAL or a combat veteran is no substitute for safety and common sense. My condolences to those directly affected by the tragedy.
Sorry to be such a conspiracy wacko, but there sure have been a lot of actualy conspiracies to commit murder in this administration already that are still in hearing (and probably only will ever be in hearing). So might as well add another that won’t be investigated in this corrupt Not-So-United States.
How is it that yet another Navy Seal who along with other Seals are now at serious odds with the current administration, simply ends up dead by a random killer with the ability to plead PTSD but effective enough to take out two threats to the current admins. Then seems to be compensated for the trouble. The other seal is outed by the administration and his life put in danger as well. A lot going on between the SEALs and the Gov. these days. Just sayin’. Wonder if it was a coincidence that Kyle ended up shot dead.
So the mom is managing his money in a separate account yet she doesn’t know if her daughter used 30k of it as a down payment on a house??? Either she is lying (most likely) or she doesn’t know how to really manage money that is sitting in an account (not likely).
Sorry about my humanity George, I was only in one war, how many were you in?
“Do we doubt this sub-species of man is mentally ill”?
The question is…..is he hideously dangerous?
And….”did he know that what he was doing at the time was wrong”?
The answer to both is obviously yes….
My only question is: Why no death penalty?
Why is the state with far more executions of richly deserving murderers….going so easy on Routh?
Burghdahl should have a blood transfer while Routh is receiving the “wardens cocktail”.
His “benefits” (which will end with his new Huntsville address) are the LEAST we should take.
We “sent him to war”…Ohhhhh the “humanity” of it all…..sob!!!
You will find out someday that Obama set it up.
Do you doubt this man is mentally ill ?
We sent him to war, made him sick in the head and now want to take his benefits?
I loved the Chris Kyle story except the ending, but even so Chris was trying to help this sick puppy.
Any problem with the deserter Burgdahl getting his pay and still on active duty?
Must have missed the trial… innocent until proven guilty, you sensationalist scum!
This is still America and you don’t get to cherry pick the Constitution any more than the liberals do Just because your lord and savior chris kyle may have been murdered.
First and for most to call a good man , Quote: Lord and Savior”, does no one justice, the law is explicated in these matters
after 60 days of incarceration , the pension is to stop. Due to all you’re needs are met food shelter medical ect. , but the disability
pension is a Grant for life for service To Our Country ie, being injured in a combat zone, or while on duty ect. If convicted this
will stop. But cherry pick, this is obvious, Eddie Ray Routh: although served he was in the rear with the gear, not directly engaged in combat , where his PDST comes from is suspect at best, In committing a Murders more that one I believe the screening process is truly suspect.
he’s no different than the senators or congress them a$$holes are incompetant and they still collect a check.
This is really a terrible incident. Tragic loss of two good men. To add insult to injury , the people have to pay for his defense. All of the money should be paying for his attorney bills. His family should have to turn over the cash. This is a slap in the face ,to the memory of two good men. For shame , for shame. My heart goes out to the families of both men.
“In the event you cannot AFFORD an attorney, one will be provided for you”
I think $30k lump sum, and $2800 a month is more than adequate to pay for your own fecking lawyer.