Chris Scruggs suffers PTSD Kills Wife

A story of love turns tragic when pregnant mother was shot in the head and killed by her fiance who then turned the gun on himself. But doctors were able to save their unborn daughter. Chris Scruggs, 32, who spent 13 years in the U.S. Airforce, shot his high school sweetheart Christian (Chrissie) Njorodge, 34, on their driveway in Cleveland.

Chrissie was six months pregnant and although she was killed in the attack, doctors were able to save their unborn baby daughter who was delivered via c-section.

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Chris’ mother, Mary Scruggs, believed her son was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after spending 13 years in the US Airforce.

He did not receive treatment but,“there were times he was not himself,” she said.

Mary goes on to say that she witnessed her son standing on the drive, with a gun to Chrissie’s head and begged him not to shoot.

Chrissie was screaming, ‘he’s going to kill me’, Mary said. Despite Mary begging her son to reconsider, he then shot his lover in the head before turning the gun on himself and pulling the trigger.

The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise suddenly, gradually, or come and go over time. Sometimes symptoms appear seemingly out of the blue. At other times, they are triggered by something that reminds you of the original traumatic event, such as a noise, an image, certain words, or a smell.

While everyone experiences PTSD differently, there are three main types of symptoms:

1. Re-experiencing the traumatic event – Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event, Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again), Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things), Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)
2. Avoiding reminders of the trauma – Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma, Loss of interest in activities and life in general, Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
3. Increased anxiety and emotional arousal – Difficulty falling or staying asleep, Irritability or outbursts of anger, Difficulty concentrating, Feeling jumpy and easily startled

She claimed that her son had found life difficult after the military, but upon ending his tenure in the airforce, he was studying to become a police officer. And Chrissie, pregnant with her third child, had two degrees, one in nursing.

Mary said the pair met in high school and were looking forward to getting married. She added, “He loved Chrissie. Chrissie loved him,” she added.

Mary hasn’t seen her newest granddaughter who was born three months premature at Metrohealth Medical Center, but will soon and looks forward to being in the child’s life.