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KGET17 News
Last Update: 1/27/2009 8:02 pm
A Bakersfield woman says post-traumatic stress disorder led to her husband being arrested. After serving his country for 17 years as a U.S. Marine, Lisa Beville says her husband was diagnosed with P.T.S.D. two years ago, and over the weekend, he snapped.
Beville says her husband is joining hundreds of other veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder that end up behind bars or homeless. The Bakersfield woman is crying out for help, not to get her husband out of jail, but to get him the treatment he needs.
“He literally gave his mind and body for his country and I think it’s time for his country to step in and take care of him,” Beville tearfully said.
Beville says numerous medals and 16 confirmed kills later, Walthall Beville was diagnosed with P.T.S.D. and forced to medically retire two years ago.
“He doesn’t remember anything except shooting and the next memory he has is the C.O. saying, ‘Ok, you need to stop. You need to stop,’” Beville said of the incident that led to her husband medically retiring from the Marines.
Since then the Bakersfield woman says her husband has suffered from severe depression and nightmares. But it wasn’t until early Saturday morning that she says she saw a completely different side of him. Police say Walthall Beville was drinking with friends when a fight broke out and he beat three people.
“The suspect battered one of the people and when the other two people tried to intervene, he battered them,” said Sgt. Greg Terry of the Bakersfield Police Department.
Walthall Beville was arraigned on those charges Tuesday. His wife blames P.T.S.D. and says the disorder has pushed the good-natured man she married over the edge. Lisa Beville says he has been given medication by Veteran’s Affairs doctors, but no treatment or counseling.
And rather than throwing her husband in jail, the Bakersfield woman hopes someone will get her husband the help and guidance he desperately needs.
“And that is where I feel literally my husband and other veterans suffering from P.T.S.D. that aren’t in full course treatment, that’s where they have been failed,” Beville said.
17 News contacted Veteran’s Affairs and went to the VA’s Bakersfield clinic. No one there would talk to us about Walthall’s case but a spokesperson said he would contact Lisa about the services offered in Bakersfield.
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OBITUARY — Dignity Memorial
GySgt Walthall Lee Beville II
JANUARY 24, 1972 – JUNE 5, 2019
GySgt Walthall Lee Beville II USMC/RET, a 1991 graduate of EHS, passed away on June 5, 2019 in Bakersfield, CA. Lee left for Parris Island Marine Corp Base three days after graduation and began his longtime dream of becoming a member of The Few. The Proud. The Marines. Lee served for 17 years and was a decorated combat Veteran of conflicts in Somalia and Operation Iraqi Freedom. For the last 11 years he was an advocate for Veterans of all branches of the military, especially those suffering from PTSD. He worked with Operation Freedom Paws, a non-profit organization that works with veterans and rescued shelter dogs, making them a Service Dog Team. He is survived by his mother, Linda Beville, a son, Harland Beville of Hemet, CA and his brother, Ben Beville, a 1994 graduate of EHS. Memorial services will be held at Noon on July 20, 2019 at the Resthaven Arch L. Heady Funeral Home 4400 Bardstown Road, Louisville. KY Expression of sympathy may be made in his memory to: Operation Freedom Paws at [www.operationfreedompaws.org] (http://www.operationfreedompaws.org/) or checks may be mailed to: Operation Freedom Paws 777 First Street, PMB 515, Gilroy, CA 95020