A man from Colorado, who tragically detonated explosives outside the Trump International Hotel, once boasted to an ex-girlfriend about how his lightning-fast Cybertruck made him feel like Batman.
Matthew Livelsberger, aged 37, sent text messages to several former romantic partners in the days leading up to his self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a massive Tesla Cybertruck. The vehicle then caught fire right outside the Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day.
While detectives delve into possible reasons behind the incident, it has come to light that Livelsberger had recently ended his marriage and had been in contact with an ex-girlfriend before the tragic event unfolded.
Livelsberger’s second wife, Jennifer Davis, had left him just six days before the incident because she suspected he was cheating on her.
Now, his ex-girlfriend Alicia Arritt has shared screenshots of a conversation they had at 9am on Sunday.Â
She said he was ‘like a kid with a new toy’ in a series of texts before the blast.
‘I rented a Tesla Cybertruck. It’s the s**t,’ read a text to Arritt, obtained by the Denver Gazette.
‘I feel like Batman or halo,’ he added, seven minutes later, referring to the science fiction video game franchise.
His ex-girlfriend has shared screenshots of their conversation, revealing he was ‘like a kid with a new toy’ after picking up the Cybertruck used in the explosion
‘I rented a Tesla Cybertruck. It’s the s**t,’ he text Alicia Arritt at 9am on Sunday. ‘I feel like Batman or halo’
Arritt and Livelsberger dated from 2018 to 2021, in between the soldier’s first and second marriage.
The ex-gal pal found it strange that Livelsberg had reached out given the years-old split. Still, she responded to his message like she would an old friend.
‘How fast is it?’ she wrote.
‘Ungodly,’ he responded.
Livelsberger also bragged the his ex about ‘building drones’ in his new role. ‘You would love it,’ he added.
Arritt said she is struggling to comprehend the days that followed their exchange, describing her ex as a conservative patriot who loved his country.
‘I just want everyone to know that Matt was the kindest man I ever knew,’ Arritt told the publication.Â
FBI agents tracked Arritt down after reading the text messages between the pair, and informed her that he had reached out to other ex girlfriends in the days before his death. Â
Livelsberger went on to tell Arritt that he is now ‘building drones’ in his new role, adding ‘you would love it’
His decision to contact past flames coincided with his separation from his second wife, Davis.
Livelsberger and Davis share a young child.
Davis, who lived with Livelsburger in Colorado Springs, told him that she knew he was cheating just six days before he self-immolated and shot himself in Las Vegas, according to the New York Post.
Livelsberger’s relationship woes date back as early as his first marriage, to Sara Liveslberger.
A friend of Sara’s, Stacie Wilssens, said the special forces soldier was ‘bizarre and unhealthy.’Â
She said he and Sara were ‘polar opposites,’ as the wife supported Bernie Sanders while Livelsburger stood with Donald Trump.
‘Nothing ever felt stable or steady between the two of them. She was trying to get healthy, and he would mock her. He preyed on her,’ said Wilssens, who hadn’t spoken to Livelsberger in years.
The Denver Gazette reported that she began divorce proceedings in 2017 and that became final a year later. Sara reportedly left Colorado and remarried.
Livelsberger had access to high-level intelligence and was part of a special forces military unit which oversaw the operations and maintenance of dronesÂ
Fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel were in the bed of the car, and were likely connected to a detonation system controlled by the driver
Police were initially probing whether Livelsberger’s death was a politically motivated stunt, given his choice of an Elon Musk-built truck and the Trump hotel location.
But as more information about his deteriorating personal life come to light, it muddies the waters about any potential motivating factor.
MAGA supporters are now questioning whether Livelsberger has been ‘framed’, given his apparent devotion to Trump and his country.
Trump ally, former congressman Matt Gaetz, went so far as to describe Livelsberger as a ‘Chad’ – a colloquial social media term for an alpha male.
‘The Vegas dude seems like a real CHAD??,’ Gaetz wrote. ‘So bizarre.’
Livelsberger had access to high-level intelligence and was part of a special forces military unit which oversaw the operations and maintenance of drones.
Over his 19 year military career, Livelsberger worked in several critical roles which granted him access to sensitive intelligence and data.
In November 2024, he accepted a role as a remote and autonomous systems manager while stationed at Camp Panzer Kaserne just southwest of Stuttgart, Germany.
Livelsberg is seen in another picture from his deployment
Police found credit cards, his passport and military ID on him, but they are still referring to him as a person of interest as they await DNA confirmation
Livelsberger is suspected of renting the Tesla Cybertruck in Colorado Springs, via the Turo app, and driving it across the border to Nevada on Wednesday morning – where he carried out the attack (pictured)
Davis, who lived with Livelsburger in Colorado Springs, told him that she knew he was cheating just six days before he self-immolated and shot himself in Las Vegas and shortly after they’d had a baby together
In that job, he helped to integrate drones into the Army and ensured they were operated and maintained to a sufficient standard.
But prior to that, he was involved in intelligence and operations for the special forces for seven years.Â
As part of this role, he conducted vulnerability assessments, cultural studies and technical data analysis.Â
Livelsberger was on a break from duty which allowed him to return to the US to carry out the plot.Â
He rented the Cybertruck in Colorado Springs and drove it across the border to Nevada on Wednesday morning to carry out his attack.
In a press conference, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the car arrived in Las Vegas at 7.30am. The explosion took place at 8.40am in the valet area outside the hotel.
At the scene of the explosion, charred fireworks, gas cannisters and camping fuel were found in the bed of the truck when authorities were finally able to put out the fire.
Police found credit cards, his passport and military ID on him. The weapons found in the truck were purchased legally on December 30, 2024.Â
Livelsberger (pictured) – who died in the bombing – grew up in Colorado Springs and was an active member of the Army. He previously received a Meritorious Honor Award for work benefiting the US Embassy in Tajikistan
Livelsberger was first marrried to Sara Livelsberger (both pictured) but they split in 2017
Jennifer Davis, the second wife of Tesla Cybertruck bomber Matthew Livelsberger, reportedly left him just days before the incident over belief that he was cheating on her shortly after they gave birth to a daughter
Livelsberger was the sole fatality in the attack, and authorities largely credit Musk’s hulking stainless steel truck with preventing further damage because it was able to contain much of the explosion.
None of the nearby windows of the hotel were damaged despite the violence of the blast.
Law enforcement sources have also revealed that Livelsberger previously served at the same military base as New Orleans terrorist Shamsud Din Jabbar, who on Wednesday drove a rented truck into a crowd of New Year revelers, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens.
Moreover, both also served in Afghanistan in 2009 – however officials say they have seen no evidence they were in the same providence or unit. That remains under investigation. Â
Hours before Livelsberger’s explosion, Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, drove an electric vehicle into crowds in New Orleans.
The timing immediately sparked fears of a coordinated terror attack as the United States was still reeling from the violence on the streets of New Orleans. Â
The Texan-born terrorist had an ISIS flag draped on the back of the vehicle when he drove into the crowds.
