Personally, no, I couldnt. 1970. Ryan Kester, a teenage crime . . It was 2 a.m. June 6, 1996 when Darlie Lynn Routier called the police from her home on Eagle Drive in Rowlett to report that an intruder was in her home and stabbed her 5- and 6-year old sons and . Of course, this is more difficult in the age of a 24-hour news cycle and social media, though Routiers trial took place in 1997, shortly before social media really took off. Damon, 5, and Devon, 6, were stabbed to death in their parents' large Texas home. The last known appeal for re-examination of physical evidence was filed by her current and longtime appellate attorney, Stephen Cooper, and accepted by State District Judge Gracie Lewis in 2014 requesting updated forensic DNA testing of evidence found at the crime scene. . Routier, now 48, has been on death row in Texas' Gatesville Prison for more than 20 years and has always maintained her innocence. Making the call is Darlie Routier, the mother of three boys, Devon, Damon, and Drake, and the wife of Darin. Janet Overton . Infamous Texas House: The Site of the Routier Murders Is Up for Sale [Photos] The murder of the Routier children, and the subsequent criminal trial of their mother Darlie Router, dominated headlines and news channels for months in 1996 and beyond. This is also the same route that Darlie Routier reported seeing the intruder leave via (family room, kitchen, utility room, garage).However, after further investigation, law enforcement found a bread knife in the Routiers kitchen which had evidence of the same fiberglass rods left on as the fiberglass rods of the window screen. I didnt do this. [26], In June 2011, Darin Routier filed for divorce from his wife, saying that the decision was mutual and "very difficult," and that he still believes his wife is innocent. Since at least 2018, DNA tests have been ordered multiple times after technology has advanced. However, reading through the court transcript shows that this isnt something that was directly claimed.During cross examination, the doctor was asked if she could specify the amount of minutes which Damon could have survived for after the attack, under the assumption that Damon had sustained all of the stab wounds at the same time. In fact, Darlie mentions in her statement to police that she had been feeling depressed after the birth of her youngest child, Drake. In the case of Darlie Routier I believe two things could be true simultaneously, she did not receive a fair trial and she murdered Devon and Damon. Accusations of police incompetence, moved evidence, a compromised crime scene, and witness tampering, amongst other things, run rife throughout this case. I suspect that she may be guilty, but certainly not beyond reasonable doubt. Honestly, I believe there's compelling evidence for both Darlie's innocence and guilt and I'm really unsure if she killed her children or not. Darlie Routier has spoken to television presenter Susanna Reid in a documentary airing tonight (Thursday, December 10) on ITV. bng iu khin; Xp hng cao nht; Ngi chin thng; Ngi thua cuc Darlie received treatment for her injuries and was discharged from the hospital two days later. A judge has signed an order allowing . Being depressed doesnt explain brutally murdering your five-year-old and six-year-old sons. In the early morning hours of June 6, 1996, 911 dispatchers in Rowlett, Texas received a panicked call from 26-year-old Darlie Routier. It's part of an all-out push by the Innocence Project to . Although Darlie Routier said a man broke into her house and killed her sons, evidence proved that she had committed the horrible crimes herself. Medical professionals who treated Darlie after the attack did pass comment to law enforcement that they suspected the injuries may have been self-inflicted, which could explain why they werent as deep as the wounds sustained by the boys. Below is a short section taken from the court transcripts.Q = lawyerDr JT-P = Doctor Janis Townsend-ParchmanQ: Okay. Its a complicated case and it invokes complicated emotions two little boys were murdered and understandably that brings out strong feelings in people. [8], Routier was represented at trial by lawyer Douglas Mulder. In Search of the Truth: The Story of Darlie Lynn Routier by Anne Good Part 1: INTRODUCTION The Mystery Unravels On June 6, 1996, in the quiet suburbs of North Dallas, little Damon, 5,and Devon, 6, lay sleeping on the floor in front of the television. Having thus secured the site, police permitted paramedics to attend to the victims. The video was edited by the prosecution to make it appear that Darlie didn't mourn her children, instead having a "party" at their grave. What are the mental health and personality factors at work in this cas. At least, that's what many people believe about the notorious Rowlett woman now on death row after savagely stabbing her 5- and 6-year-old sons 20 years ago Monday as her husband and 7-month-old son slept upstairs. However, an unknown fingerprint was found on the windowsill that did not belong to anyone in the family. Heres the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Darin took the baby upstairs and put him in his crib and came back downstairs. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. [22], One crucial aspect of the defense case was the bloody sock found outside the house. I did not murder my children, I did not attack myself. Darlie Routier has spoken to television presenter Susanna Reid in a documentary airing tonight (Thursday, December 10) on ITV. Change). In February 1997, she was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the murder of Damon, but was not trialled for Devon's murder. An appeals court dismissed these claims, as did a court ruling on her habeas corpus petition. Groggy and confused, Darlie instinctively followed the man through her kitchen toward the utility room that leads out to a garage. DARLIE Routier has spent the last 23 years on death row. She said during the interview: "Im at peace with myself. When is Darlie Routier due to be executed? [9], Both Damon and Devon sustained fatal injuries. I have quoted this part of the statement below.Soon after the boys fell asleep. They believed Darlie had killed Devon and Damon and then staged the crime scene so it would look like an intruder had entered the property and attacked her and the boys. [4] Four days later, on June 18, Routier was arrested and charged with capital murder. Polyphony, also known as a counterpoint or contrapuntal music, is a formal musical texture that contains at least two or more lines of independent melody. I looked over at Darin and saw the glass table had been knocked halfway off and the flower arrangement had been knocked over. Episode 23 is a continuation of our true crime series. Lubbock Residents Continue To Hate On The Chicks And To What End? I love you three more than anything else in this worldI dont want you to see a miserable person every time you look at me. Routier has been accused of killing her sons, Devon, six, and Damon, five. I got halfway through the kitchen and turned back around to run and turn on the light, I ran back towards the utility room and realized there was a big white handled knife lying on the floor, it was then that I realized I had blood all over me and I grabbed the knife thinking he was in the garage so I thought he might still be there and I yelled for Darin. This is a case that really divides people and in which people feel strongly about their opinions on Routiers guilt (or innocence). I remember telling Damon to hang on mommy was there. [23][18], Women sentenced to death under Texas law are housed in the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas. I also think that the wound only missing the carotid artery by millimetres is helpful in Darlies defense would Darlie really have known that she was close to a major artery, would she have known enough to have missed it by so little? Routier remains on death row at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas. Overview of the crime scenePictured left is a diagram of the Routier house and includes markers of where Darlie claims to have fallen asleep and where the bodies of Damon and Devon were discovered when first responders got to the scene. The raison d'etre for the Leeza segment on Darlie--actually two hourlong segments, which aired May 4 and May 5--is a self-published book written by a Lewisville businessman who claims to have . Texas has the most active death chamber nationwide. Firstly, Darlie Routiers blood was found on the nightshirt, one stain was her blood mixed with Devons blood, and the other stain was Darlies blood mixed with Damons blood. Updated on May 29, 2022 . [9] The prosecution countered that Routier could have planted the sock before self-inflicting her own injuries, and the medical examiner's stated survival time for Damon after he was stabbed was only an estimation. After putting Darlie in jail with bail set at $1 million, the state of Texas placed baby Drake in a foster home in 1996. [22], The prosecution also suggested there was a financial motive for the murders since both boys had a life insurance policy on them. [citation needed] The case was again revisited on Unsolved Mysteries with Dennis Farina. After that I just remember screaming and showing Darin my neck. After Darlie Routier was sentenced to death for the murder of her two boys, her defense team immediately started the appeals process. Police found it highly suspicious that Routier and her sons had been severely wounded by an armed intruder without waking her until after the attack had occurred. The media focused a lot on this case and perhaps influenced the publics perception of Darlie Routier. Darin was screaming Who Did This Who Did This and I started asking if my babies were dead. Now parts of a window that was removed from Darlie Routier's house in Rowlett are headed to a lab in California. It would mean that the intruders route would have therefore been through the garage and into the utility room, through the kitchen, and finally into the family room, where the attack took place. In this article, we will unravel Darlie Routier's net worth and her history. Presumably, the current owners have lived there for 25 years fairly peaceably. She has also [] Darlie Lynn Peck Routier (born January 4, 1970) is an American woman from Rowlett, Texas, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of her five-year-old son Damon in 1996. [citation needed], An episode of the CBS News series 48 Hours titled Precious Angels is derived from the true-crime book of the same title, authored by Barbara Davis, which first aired August 10, 2001. Darlie Routier . "[21], San Antonio chief medical examiner Vincent DiMaio testified that the wound to Routier's neck came within two millimeters of her carotid artery and that it was not consistent with the self-inflicted wounds he had seen in the past. (LogOut/ While talking to the British journalist, Routier continued to maintain her innocence and said she "didn't do this". The Zillow listing mentions nothing of what happened there: Beautiful home on north east corner lot with high vaulted ceilings and lots of natural light. One bloodstain expert said it's like looking at the clouds . To date, Routier has not been tried for Devon's murder. herculoids gloop and gleep sounds Or was it just by chance that the wound missed the carotid artery? The prosecutions argument consisted of the theory that Routier was financially motivated to kill her two boys as the family were experiencing financial difficulty and she was concerned that her lavish lifestyle was coming to an end. Darlie Routier, however, remains on death row in Texas, awaiting execution based on the same bloodstain interpretation evidence that convicted Julie Rea. Joined Dec 14, 2007 Messages 13,687 Reaction score . Both Drake and Darin were unharmed during the attack. Darlieroutierfactandfiction.com. Her ex-husband still . This has definitely stirred enough of an interest to find out more about this case. During the trial, the prosecution argued that Routier's injuries were self-inflicted, that the crime scene had been staged, and that she murdered her sons because of the family's financial difficulties; the defense argued that there was no reason Routier would have killed her children, and that the case did not have a motive, a confession, or any witnesses. Two appeals filed by Routier, who maintains her innocence, based on allegations of irregularities during the trial were denied. Darlie Routier. The thing is it happens, its happened before and itll happen again, parents killing their children happens, its not impossible. Darlie Routier, who's on death row with Melissa. On June 6, 1996, Routier stabbed to death her 5-year-old and 6-year-old sons. Top Slideshow. Routier, Darlie Lynn: TDCJ Number: 999220: Date of Birth: 01/04/1970: Date Received: 02/05/1997: Age (when Received) 27: Education Level (Highest Grade Completed) 12: . This means that the sock was taken out of the houseafterthe attacks had taken place. Is it really impossible that Darlie could have self-inflicted her wounds?Its also worth quickly discussing the nurses who treated Routier and their observations and testimonies in court about Darlie. I then stood up and turned around and saw glass all over the kitchen floor. [8] Routier was treated at a hospital and released two days later. Her appeals were remanded to the state level for improved DNA testing. Some argue they were self-inflicted, some argue they could not have been. I tried to glance over to see if anything was out of place or if anything was missing. Apparently, because a judge had ruled this tape could not be admitted into evidence because it was recorded without a warrant and therefore illegal. Darlie Routiers statementBelow is a section of the statement given by Darlie Routier to law enforcement discussing her version of events on the night of the 5th of June and the early hours of the 6th of June. Darlie has always maintained her innocence. [7] A search of the house and grounds did not locate an intruder. Her six-year-old son, Devon, was also fatally wounded in the attack, though Darlie has not yet specifically been tried for his murder. Responding to Darlie Lynn Routier's frantic 911 call from her Dallas County home in 1996, police found her two sons, Devon Routier, 6, and Damon Routier, 5, dying of stab wounds. Her husband Darin Routier, who also alleges the children's killings were carried out by an intruder, says right now there is an innocent woman on death row, KCBD reports. The first police officer was on the scene within 3 minutes of the 911 call being placed, though the call between Darlie and the dispatcher lasts for a total of 5 minutes and 44 seconds. Another wound on her right forearm was also sustained, and offering yet more doubt that Darlie Routier would have been able to inflict these upon herself. There's new surfaces, but I think the bones of the island and cabinets are the same. But how did we get here, what are the key pieces of evidence in this case and what do they tell us? [12][13] Her youngest son, 7-month-old Drake, was asleep upstairs with her husband Darin at the time of the murders; both escaped harm. Darlie subsequently told investigators that an intruder had broken in and attacked her [] If it hadn't been for that crazy Silly String, Darlie Lynn Routier might be a free woman today. For all we know, Darlie Routier may be all these things but they dont make for a murderer, and they most certainly dont make for a fair trial. However, the silly string footage wasnt the only footage the newscasts recorded that day; there had been two hours beforehand where Darlie and her family had behaved appropriately sad for the occasion, crying and hugging one another. Not only did the prosecution argue that Darlies wounds were self-inflicted because of how they appeared, but they also felt they had blood evidence, or rather a lack of, to support this theory.Darlie claims to have been sleeping on the sofa at the time of the attacks, including when she was attacked, but apparently, there was a distinct lack of blood evidence found on the sofa. Brother Damon Now the court orders testing on crucial crime scene evidence is no place to indulge the &! I began researching this post with very basic knowledge about the case and an opinion that leaned slightly more towards Darlies guilt. Its also interesting to note that despite some people claiming the wounds Darlie sustained were superficial, there are others who would disagree the wound on her right forearm was so deep that it went down to her bone. Published: August 9th, 2021 / Modified: September 21st, 2022 . I ran back through the kitchen and realized the entire living area had blood all over everything. However, with what we know about how the nightshirt was preserved, theres serious doubt whether that is, in fact, the only way the blood could have got there.Theres plenty more information regarding different DNA evidence and blood evidence, including unknown prints, in the Routier home, however, this post is already much longer than my usual and I cant go into the detail it really needs, however, if youre interested in reading more about it then theres a great summary here by Justice4NewComers which gives you a good understanding of just how much evidence was left at this crime scene. [5] Investigators said that the garage contained no blood drops, and added that indications were that no one had run through there at all. He said that they decided to divorce to end the "limbo" that they had been in since her arrest and conviction. This leads to questions over the possible contamination of the evidence.With that being said, we still must discuss what the nightshirt does tell us, bearing in mind the above issues. Many different people testified that Darlie and Darin constantly fought. The defense went on to argue that there was no motive for Darlie to kill Damon and Devon, no confession or witnesses and that it was unrealistic to think Darlie had staged a crime scene. Its also worth quickly noting here that the murder weapon was from the Routier house, the kitchen to be exact. Kathy Cruz. (LogOut/ A court later gave custody to his father's parents, Sarilda and Leonard Routier. First of all, we need to acknowledge that this piece of evidence wasnt treated in the way it needed to be, and by that, I mean Routiers nightshirt was cut off her by a paramedic and it appears the shirt was put into an evidence bag without it being dried first. Have You Been To The Only Nude Beach In Texas? Both of her sons, 5-year-old Damon and 6-year-old Devon, were killed in the attack, but she was only tried for the murder of Damon. She has also been charged with capital murder in the death of her six-year-old son, Devon, who was murdered at the same time as Damon. Her other son, Devon, was also killed the same . Trauma can do strange things to our memories and this (lack of a) statement could be proof of that.The second point I wanted to make regarding Routiers statement is the claim that she had a towel over Damons back. Darlie picked up the knife and chased the intruder away and then realised her children had been attacked and she then called 911. If her execution goes ahead, it could be carried out there - a maximum security prison for female inmates on death row. I did not murder my children, I did not attack myself. I felt Damon press on my right shoulder and heard him cry, this made me really come awake and realized there was a man standing down at my feet walking away from me. Here's an update on one of the more notorious murder cases in recent history.. Routier's ex-husband believes that she is innocent. This seemingly idyllic Colonial-style home may have majestic rooftop dormers . Thank you. The prosecution used the sock as evidence of Darlie staging a crime scene and that she used the sock whilst stabbing the boys to avoid fingerprints on the knife, whereas the defense used the sock as evidence that Darlie was telling the truth about an intruder in the home because it creates too small of a window of opportunity for Darlie to have been able to plant the sock. She suffered the trauma of having been awakened by an intruder who slit her throat. Darlie Routier is a famous Criminal who has a net worth of $1-5 million. In this post well be going over the murders of Devon and Damon Routier, the trial, and the evidence which has caused much discussion over the last 25 years and left the true crime community divided on their opinion of Darlie Routiers guilt. She was convicted of the murder of one of her sons while remaining accused of killing the other. Another issue with the nightshirt is that the bag containing the nightshirt was picked up and taken to the fire station accidentally, before being picked up by police. This diagram provides context for later on in the post when we discuss DNA and blood evidence and gives you an idea of the layout of the bottom floor of the Routier house. She has also been charged with capital murder in the death of her six-year-old son . What came to be known as the larg Being depressed doesnt mean youre going to kill two of your children and injure yourself. Darlie Routier called the police to say that an intruder had attacked her sons, Devon and Damon, aged 5 and 6, respectively. [2], Routier's case has been the subject of multiple books and television shows. Her attorneys advised her not to appear on the witness stand, but she testified anyway and "withered under cross-examination by prosecutor Toby Shook. Secondly, one expert testified that the boys blood could have only got onto certain parts of the nightshirt if Darlie had been stabbing them and holding the knife up high as she was bringing it down, dripping blood onto the back of the shirt. A Thursday. If youre interested in listening to a podcast covering the murders of Devon and Damon Routier in more detail, The Prosecutors podcast have 4 episodes covering the case, you can access the first episode by clicking here. Darin took me out to the front of the house and by then Darin ran upstairs to make sure the baby was okay and then handed him to Karen our neighbor. Darlie Routier is now 48 years old. The 4th victim, however, was murdered. 1996 stabbing man through her kitchen toward the utility room . Her husband Darin Routier, who also alleges the children's killings were carried out by an intruder, says right now there is an innocent woman on death row, KCBD reports. Both episodes shared evidence from both sides of the case, including those who claim Darlie to be innocent and those pointing towards her guilt. Continue scrolling to see their stories. The prosecution argued that this meant Darlie had to have been bleeding at the time the boys were attacked. Husband . I walked after him and heard glass breaking. [21] Crime scene consultant James Cron testified that evidence suggested the scene inside the Routier residence had been staged. If you remember her at all, you're probably seeing the same mental image that most of us have: a young, attractive blonde woman chewing gum and spraying Silly String onto the new graves of her little boys. Meanwhile, Darin, once a successful computer hardware entrepreneur, lost the family's huge Georgian-style house, cabin cruiser, and 1986 Jaguar. January 17, 2022. And so what if she felt suicidal briefly in May? Great blog! Darlie Routier is sitting on death row for killing her two young boys, although she has only been officially charged with one of their murders. Two of them, The Innocence Project . Money Making Ideas Stock Ideas Bullish Signs Icici Bank Newsmakers Of D Street. Darlie Routier. Darlie has always maintained her innocence. They've likely gotten a few "murder tourists" on the lawn, though. Linda Carty, 63, is a Kittian American and former school teacher, who is on death row in Texas. Darlie Lynn Peck Routier is an American-born woman originally from Rowlett, Texas. She has also been charged with capital murder in the death of her six-year-old son, Devon, who was murdered at the same time as Damon. Please do not hate me or think in any way that this is your fault. I put the knife on the counter and ran into the entrance, turned on a light and started screaming for Darin, I think I screamed twice and he ran out of the bedroom with his jeans on and no glasses and was yelling, what is it, what is it. NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) Darlie Routier, the Rowlett mother convicted of murder and sent to death row more than 20 years ago now has a new generation of support. 3 ordered a third round of DNA testing with the backing of both prosecution and defense. Unfortunately, both Devon and Damon sustained fatal injuries and were killed in the attack. 2022. This two-story home has formal living and dining areas at the entrance perfect for entertaining. Officer Mayne testified in Routiers trial that there had been blood soaked into the bottom of the bag in which the nightshirt had been kept, confirming that it had been placed inside the bag without being dried and therefore could have allowed blood to have seeped from part of the nightshirt to another. There was no sexual assault and nothing taken from the house, ruling out a sexual motive or a burglary gone wrong. Another possibility is that Darlie Routier snapped and killed her two children, injured herself, and staged a crime scene but theres forensic evidence that doesnt truly fit with this theory.But we cannot just ignore the glaring possibility that Darlie Routier just snapped due to mental health issues and killed two of her children and then attempted to stage the scene to appear like an intruder had broke in. They criticized the way she grieved, her accounts of the night of the attack before she was charged with murder, the fact that she used diet pills to maintain her figure, and more, to portray her as a self-absorbed, bad mother.