... one week after reports started surfacing that he was ...
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One of the lead investigators in the murder of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was found dead in his home early Tuesday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A Texas Rangers statement reported that Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant’s death occurred at 12:05 a.m. but did not mention the cause. However, local officials told the Stephenville, Texas, Empire-Tribune that it was an apparent suicide.
Bryant’s death comes one week after reports started surfacing that he was cheating on his mandatory continuing education.
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A week before his death, Bryant addressed the accusations, claiming he was confused about why there was an investigation against him in the first place.
“I don’t know of any investigation against me and I don’t know why there would be one,” Bryant said. “I have done nothing wrong.”
The Texas sheriff told the Empire Tribune he had self-reported an incident this summer after a deputy completed a training course for him, but that he had otherwise not been contacted by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement about any wrongdoing.
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The commission confirmed that it had opened an investigation against Bryant in June.
Kyle, a decorated Navy sniper whose memoir, American Sniper, was turned into a hit film directed by Clint Eastwood, was murdered Feb. 2, 2013, along with his friend Chad Littlefield.
The killer was Eddie Ray Routh, a former Marine with PTSD whom Kyle was trying to help.
Routh was convicted Feb. 24, 2015, and sentenced to life in prison.
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Empire-Tribune columnist Tim Turnbeaugh, concerned about the well-being of Bryant’s family, made a Facebook post Tuesday urging people to focus on the positive aspects of the deceased sheriff instead of his shortcomings.
“Let’s really lift his family up in prayer and love and offer them words of encouragement because it’s gonna be a tough holiday for them,” Turnbeaugh wrote. “Due to all this, there’s gonna be an empty chair at dinner and a few unopened presents so no matter what you thought of him, let’s try and refrain from any negative comments about Mr. Bryant.”
Bryant is survived by his wife, Donnie, and son, Thom Allen.
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