On March 9, 2021, Casey James Irby, a 33-year-old Army veteran from Texas, tragically ended his life at home, leaving behind his wife, Elisha, and their five children—four daughters and one son.
Casey enlisted in the Army in 2006 and served a 13-month deployment, during which he developed PTSD. After returning to Texas, he struggled with the psychological scars of war.
The day before his death, Casey intervened to save a fellow veteran who was on the brink of suicide. Despite his heroic actions, the weight of his own trauma proved overwhelming.
On March 9, Casey was at home in his living room with his wife and eldest daughter when a PTSD episode convinced him he was back in a war zone and needed to “clear” his house. In his confusion, he held a gun to his wife’s head, believing he needed to protect himself by harming his loved ones.
Elisha and their daughter courageously de-escalated the situation, bringing Casey back to reality. However, the realization of his actions was too much for him to bear. In the next room, Casey’s young son listened in terror as the conflict unfolded, culminating in a gunshot that took Casey’s life. The boy was spared from witnessing the horrific scene that his mother and sister faced.
In the aftermath, Elisha and her daughter carried the trauma of that night with them, both physically and emotionally. Following Casey’s funeral, Elisha temporarily relocated to stay with relatives in the Northwest. Eventually, the family returned to the Dallas area, seeking to rebuild their lives.
As of October 2021, Elisha shared that they are taking life one day at a time, with the children gradualloy returning to their normal activities, such as sports. Elisha is committed to helping others facing similar challenges and is actively working to raise awareness about veteran mental health issues.
We are honored to know Elisha and are committed to supporting her and others in this important cause.
How to help a veteran. or how to save a Veteran from suicide.
