LAS VEGAS (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—In an exclusive interview with CBS News, later shared with other news outlets, Alicia Arritt, a former girlfriend of Bucyrus native Matthew Livelsberger, revealed that he confided in her about suffering a traumatic brain injury during his military service in the Middle East.
Arritt, who had an on-and-off relationship with Livelsberger from 2018 to 2021, stated that she exchanged approximately 30 text messages with him in the days leading up to the tragic incident involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas.
Arritt emphasized that Livelsberger gave no indication that he was contemplating suicide or planning the explosion. “He loved the Army and he gave his life and his mind for it,” she said.
Livelsberger’s case is a sad example of the mental health challenges faced by elite special operators in the U.S. military. Research from the National Center for PTSD indicates that between 10% and 18% of veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with depression rates among returning troops reaching as high as 24%. In the United States, 22 veterans a day commit suicide.
Comments by readers on the Crawford County Now website are calling attention to experiences in their own families with PTSD. One reader shared that her nephew fell victim to suicide. Another reader shared her ongoing experience suffering with PTSD after a mugging. The experience haunts her. Research says that at some point, 6% (equating to about 13 million according to one 2020 study) of Americans will suffer from PTSD.
Veterans are more likely to suffer from PTSD than civilians. The demanding nature of special forces careers, such as Livelsberger’s, has long raised concerns about the impact of prolonged exposure to combat on soldiers’ mental health.
Livelsberger’s father shared with CBS News that his son had been at home in Colorado Springs with his wife and 8-month-old child during Christmas on approved military leave before renting the Cybertruck and embarking on his journey to Las Vegas.
The Pentagon stated to CBS News that there were “no red flags” prior to Livelsberger’s departure from Germany, where he was stationed with the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group. However, a CNN report indicated that Livelsberger had visited military behavioral health services multiple times.
A review of Livelsberger’s social media, interviews with friends, and an email he sent to a colleague revealed signs of his struggles. In a recent episode of The Shawn Ryan Show—a podcast hosted by former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor Shawn Ryan—the letter was discussed in detail. In the email obtained by CBS News, Livelsberger expressed deep concerns about civilian casualties resulting from a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan. This incident reportedly aligns with a May 2019 airstrike targeting drug-processing facilities, which resulted in the deaths of over 30 civilians, including children.
As investigations continue, Livelsberger’s story underscores the critical need for mental health support for veterans and active-duty military personnel. If you or someone you love suffers from PTSD and are willing to share your story, please send a message to Crawford County Now. Participants can remain anonymous.
Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing story.