Headline:
Tragic Tesla Cybertruck Blast Claims Life of Decorated Army Veteran: Ex-Girlfriend Speaks Out
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The former girlfriend of explosion-las-vegas-trump-b2672787.html” title=”Who was Matthew Livelsberger, the US Army veteran named as a suspect in …”>Matthew Livelsberger, a decorated soldier who died in a Tesla Cybertruck explosion, says she feels she let him down despite signs of distress.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – The new year started with a devastating explosion that claimed the life of Matthew Livelsberger, a former Army special forces soldier, as his Tesla Cybertruck went up in flames outside the Trump International Hotel on January 1, 2025. Now, his former girlfriend, Alicia Arritt, has spoken out, revealing that despite signs of distress, she feels she may have let him down.
Livelsberger, 37, was a highly decorated soldier who served with the Army’s elite Green Berets unit. He earned five Bronze Stars and completed nine deployments, five of them in Afghanistan. However, his military service left him grappling with severe physical and emotional injuries.
"We don’t leave anyone behind, but it seems like the military leaves us behind after we’re done," said Arritt in an interview with ABC News.
Days before his death, Livelsberger reached out to Arritt after two years of no contact. He sent her messages and photos of the Cybertruck he had rented, comparing it to a pair of shoes he used to own and jokingly referring to himself as "Batman." However, on December 29, the FBI knocked on her door with tragic news.
"I saw a video of him in the Cybertruck, and I thought he was burning alive. My heart just broke knowing he was so hurt to get to that point," Arritt recalled through tears.
Arritt, also a veteran, worked as an Army nurse at institutions like Walter Reed Medical Center. She explained that Livelsberger suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) due to explosions he experienced during his deployments.
"He started showing signs of paranoia, night terrors, severe depression, and extreme exhaustion in 2019. He was describing every symptom from a textbook," Arritt told KKTV.
Livelsberger sought to hide his struggles, fearing that seeking help would label him as "non-deployable" and a burden to his unit. Despite Arritt’s urging, he hesitated to seek professional help due to the stigma surrounding mental health in the military.
The Army stated that Livelsberger had access to mental health resources through the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program but asserted that he did not display concerning behaviors before being granted personal leave.
The tragic incident has reignited the debate surrounding military mental health care. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill stressed the need for better support and open conversations about mental health in the military and across the United States.
Although Livelsberger’s passing marked a somber start to the year, those who knew him remembered his dedication and love for the Army. "He gave everything he had for his teammates," said Arritt, paying tribute to the fallen soldier.
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