Cybertruck Bomber’s Ex Reveals ‘Warning Signs’ Before Attack

The ex-girlfriend of Matthew Livelsberger, the former Green Beret who detonated a rented Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day, has come forward to shed light on the mental health struggles he battled in silence.

A decorated soldier with five Bronze Stars, Livelsberger, 37, ended his life in the shocking act, leaving behind unanswered questions and a haunting message about the hidden wounds of war.

Alicia Arritt, a former Army nurse and Livelsberger’s ex-girlfriend, spoke candidly about the toll his military service had taken. “He was textbook PTSD,” she told KKTV. “Paranoia, nightmares, exhaustion—he was carrying all of it. And he refused to put the burden down.”

Arritt, 39, shared that their relationship began in 2020, when they connected on a dating app and bonded over their military backgrounds. “He had just come back from Afghanistan. He was dealing with concussions, blast injuries, and this constant mental fog. But he didn’t want to admit how much he was struggling,” she recalled.

Their relationship ended in 2021, but Livelsberger reached out the day before his suicide, sending her videos of the Cybertruck he later used in the bombing. “It was surreal,” Arritt said. “I didn’t know it was a goodbye until it was too late.”

Livelsberger had sought treatment for depression in 2020, according to CNN. But Arritt believes he avoided deeper care due to the stigma attached to mental health in the military.

“If he admitted to depression or a traumatic brain injury, he would’ve been labeled non-deployable,” she explained. “And that was his nightmare. He wanted to stay with his guys. For him, stepping back felt like failure.”

Her perspective highlights an enduring issue in the armed forces: the tension between mental health care and operational readiness.

Livelsberger’s military service was marked by exceptional bravery. In addition to five Bronze Stars, he bore the scars of numerous tours in conflict zones, including Afghanistan. But those achievements came at a personal cost.

“He talked about needing to cleanse his mind after seeing so much death,” Arritt said. “He had this tattoo—bullets going through two skulls—that represented the lives he’d taken. It haunted him.”

The Associated Press reported that Livelsberger left messages before his death, describing his guilt and anguish over killing in combat and losing comrades.

Arritt expressed frustration with the military’s handling of active-duty mental health. “The VA has improved so much for veterans, but on active duty? They just keep sending them back into the fight until they’re broken,” she told the AP.

Experts agree that while strides have been made in veteran care, barriers persist for active-duty personnel seeking help without career repercussions.

Livelsberger’s tragic end is a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by service members—and the support they still need. “He was a hero, but heroes need help too,” Arritt said.

For those struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for confidential support 24/7.