The soldier accused in the massacre of Afghan villagers could be on his way to the United States Friday.

The New York Times is reporting the soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord was suffering from stress related to his fourth combat tour and had been drinking when he snapped under strain.

The Times said that information came from a senior American official and was confirmed by a senior Pentagon official.

The Times reports the military is preparing to move the staff sergeant to a prison in the U.S. as early as Friday.  The destination would most likely be Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

    The soldier has reportedly been moved from a detention site in Kuwait because of a behind-the-scenes diplomatic uproar with that country when Kuwaitis found out he was there.

  The soldier's legal team now includes well known Seattle-based lawyer John Henry Browne, who talked to the soldier on the phone.

Browne said he's not sure where his client will be tried.

“I think Afghanistan is completely off the table, but I don’t know whether he’ll be tried in the Middle East or whether he’ll be tried on the base in the U.S.   That’s up in the air at the moment,” said Browne.

As for reports his client had been drinking, Browne told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News the 38-year-old does not have a drinking problem and is an exemplary soldier and loving father.        

  The senior American official quoted in the New York Times said when (the cause of the soldier’s actions) comes out it will be "a combination of stress, alcohol and domestic issues.  He just snapped."

As far as reports that the soldier was having marital problems, Browne said that was not the case.

  Browne spent time with the soldier's family members, who he said are in shock.

“We questioned the family members and he had no animosity toward Muslims. He had no animosity toward Middle Eastern people,” said Browne.

Browne said his client was quiet during a phone conversation.