Continue scrolling to see their stories. This timeline thats created through this version of events leaves no time for Darlie to have planted the sock 75 yards away, as we know the bloody sock must have been taken out of the house after the attacks. It's a beautiful home, but remember the living room in which you'd sit is the same onewhere two little boys bled to death. [31], An October 1999 episode of the TLC documentary series Medical Detectives titled "Invisible Intruder" .mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}(S4; E1), reports on how detectives discovered who the killer was by analyzing the crime scene's blood spatter, Darlie's 911 call and the offender profiling of her behavior. There are no eyewitnesses and no other confessions while Routier continues to maintain her innocence. Between 1987 & 1991, a masked man dubbed "Mr. Cruel" broke into the homes of 3 Australian families & bound the parents. The kitchen will always be where Darlie washed her hands: What, will these hands neer be clean?No more o that, my lord, no more o that: you mar all with this starting. After putting Darlie in jail with bail set at $1 million, the state of Texas placed baby Drake in a . Large lot with lots of parking in the back. Routier told authorities that the crime was perpetrated by an unidentified intruder. 18th June 1996Just four days later, Darlie Routier was arrested and charged with capital murder. 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. How can a jury on a case such as this remain impartial after all the negative media coverage on Routier?Every person in the United States of America has the right to a fair trial that cant just apply to people that you think are innocent, it has to apply to everyone, guilty or otherwise. She was . Darlie has always maintained that a masked intruder is the perpetrator of this heinous crime, but police say the evidence points to her. [14], Newscasts showed Routier and other family members holding a birthday party at the boys' grave to posthumously celebrate Devon's seventh birthday eight days after the murders. 5. [12] Family members point out that the newscasts did not show an earlier video that depicted a solemn ceremony honoring the children. Darlie received treatment for her injuries and was discharged from the hospital two days later. At around 2:30 in the morning of June 6, 1996, Rowlett, Texas homemaker Darlie Routier awoke on her family room couch to see the silhouette of a man walking away from her in the dark. I did not murder my children, I did not attack myself. The wound also appears to have been done from right to left on a downward angle. Damon, 5, and Devon, 6, were stabbed to death in their parents' large Texas home. 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. Routier remains on death row at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas. 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. 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. Meanwhile, Darin, once a successful computer hardware entrepreneur, lost the family's huge Georgian-style house, cabin cruiser, and 1986 Jaguar. Had the jurors seen the footage in its entirety, things may well have been very different for Darlie Routier, as stated by one juror. 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. [8] Tom Bevel testified that cast-off blood found on the back of Routier's nightshirt indicated that she had raised the knife over her head as she withdrew it from each boy to stab again. She has also [] The media focused a lot on this case and perhaps influenced the publics perception of Darlie Routier. 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. Of course, I believed Routier to be guilty based on that. 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. 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. 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. (LogOut/ Darlie Routier - Part 1. Darlie herself was injured. 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. We talked about a few problems we were having with the car and the boat and had a few words between us. [17] On February 4, she was sentenced to death by lethal injection. However, this could be flipped on its head and used as evidence to prove that Darlie Routier had just gone through something so horrific that most of us cant imagine. Darlie says she approached the intruder, who dropped the knife and fled through the utility room and garage. [4][5] Routier told the operator that her home had been broken in to and that an intruder had stabbed her children, six-year-old Devon and five-year-old Damon, and cut her throat. A Little Judgy. 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. 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. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Subsequent documentaries andnews reports have shown or explained that prior to the "party" at the grave, Darlie mourned her children as any mother would. Em 1996, a vida aparentemente perfeita da famlia Routier passou por uma tragdia inimaginvel. The home at 5801 Eagle Drive in Rowlett is a member of an exclusive club that no Realtor wants their listing to be a part of. I didnt do this. It's part of an all-out push by the Innocence Project to try and prove Routier did not kill her two boys in 1996. 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 also received wounds in the attack; one of which was only 2 millimetres away from the carotid artery. And I agree with your conclusion. If youd like to read the statement in its entirety or see the section Ive taken in its whole context then you can do so by clicking here. 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. Her lawyers continue to appeal her sentence. And if you just think about that, there are six women on Texas' death row. The Innocence Project and Darlie Routier. [21] Crime scene consultant James Cron testified that evidence suggested the scene inside the Routier residence had been staged. This lack of detail can be used as evidence for Darlies guilt and also innocence. David Waddell - first officer on the scene. She has never been charged in the murder of her 6 year old son Devon, who was also stabbed to death the same night. "[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. Unfortunately, both Devon and Damon sustained fatal injuries and were killed in the attack. So, from the time that he received all of these injuries, he could have lasted as little as two to three minutes or as much as maybe five or six minutes, something like that?Dr JT-P: YesQ: OkayDr JT-P: Even conceivably a little bit longer.Q: Maybe as much as eight or nine minutes?Dr JT-P: You cant tell. [36], An American Broadcasting Company (ABC) seven-episode documentary series, The Last Defense examines the death row cases of Darlie Routier and Julius Jones. 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 . [15], Routier later commented on the video, saying, "He wanted to be seven. I took a few steps and opened the door and screamed for Karen. delayed the Texas execution of Melissa Lucio, four inmates are scheduled for execution in 2022, Why Does Texas Not Have A State Beverage And What It Should Be, Your Kid Could Be The Smarter One Buy Buying Them These Banned Books. But that doesnt mean I fully believe in her innocence either. As of 2023, Darlie Routier is possibly single. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Ryan Kester, a teenage crime . (Page is NOT. If an intruder had cut the window screen, how did they get the knife in the first place? In February 1997, the jury found Routier guilty of the murder of Damon, and sentenced her to death by lethal injection. [24], Defense attorneys allege numerous errors were made during Routier's trial and in the official transcript of it, as well as the investigation of the murders, especially at the crime scene. 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. 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. Sources Cited fo 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. Open concept living, breakfast and kitchen areas. Her ex-husband still . The primary suite features a fireplace and a balcony. But I would be interested in other peoples opinions, so if youd like to let me know then please feel free to leave a comment below. Her lawyers continue to appeal her sentence. neesaki Well-Known Member. The stars may finally be aligning for Darlie Routier, the Rowlett homemaker who was sent to Death Row 22 years ago by a Kerrville jury thanks in part to the sexism and character judgments of male law . Darlie speaks with the dispatcher and says that an intruder has broken into her home and stabbed her two boys, five-year-old Damon and six-year-old . After putting Darlie in jail with bail set at $1 million, the state of Texas placed baby Drake in a foster home in 1996. She suffered the trauma of having been awakened by an intruder who slit her throat. 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. Darlie Routier called the police to say that an intruder had attacked her sons, Devon and Damon, aged 5 and 6, respectively. 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. [23] In 2018, the Criminal District Court No. Darlie Routier. 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. Who is Darlie Routier and did she kill her sons. I did not murder my children, I did not attack myself. [10] 75 yards away from the house, a bloody sock was discovered. Darlie Routier. Oh, oh, oh! Darin was screaming Who Did This Who Did This and I started asking if my babies were dead. Apparently, because a judge had ruled this tape could not be admitted into evidence because it was recorded without a warrant and therefore illegal. Kathy Cruz. 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. June 6, 1996: Routier brothers Damon, 5, and Devon, 6, are found stabbed to death in the family's Rowlett home. The six women on death row in Gatesville, Texas have been incarcerated for an average of almost two decades. In February 1997, she was sentenced to death by lethal . [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. Many different people testified that Darlie and Darin constantly fought. 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. In February 1997, she was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the murder of Damon, but was not trialled for Devon's murder. Her other son, Devon, was also killed the same . 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Darlie Routier has been on death row for 23 years, Darlie Routier being escorted into the Mountain View Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Gatesville, Routier has been interviewed by Susanna Reid for a documentary. Darlie is also best known as, Texas woman who was sentenced to the death penalty via lethal injection for the murder of her five-year-old son, Damon Routier. Darlie Lynn Routier (born January 4, 1970) is an American woman from Rowlett, Texas, who was convicted of murdering her fiveyearold son, Damon. Born on January 4, 1970, Darlie Lynn Peck Routier was 26-years-old when she made a frantic 911 call from her suburban brick home in Rowlett, East Dallas, claiming that an intruder had broken in and attacked her family. And why did they put it back after the fact? They asserted that it was unrealistic to accuse Routier of staging a crime scene. But how do you know what you're going to do when you lose two children? The defense argued that this did not leave enough time for Routier to cut herself, stage the crime scene, plant the sock outside the house and then return before the paramedics arrived. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 6th June 1996 Rowlett, Texas, United States of America, Difference between Darlies wounds vs Devon and Damons wounds, The unsolved murders of Harvey and JeannetteCrewe, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlie_Routier, https://www.fairtrials.org/right-fair-trial#:~:text=A%20fundamental%20element%20of%20the%20right%20to%20a,guilt%20and%20to%20discharge%20the%20presumption%20of%20innocence, https://soapboxie.com/government/Darlie-Routier-An-American-Railroad, https://randothoughtsfromme.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/10-reasons-darlie-routier-may-be-innocent-eat-your-heart-out-listverse/, https://www.darlieroutierfactandfiction.com/statement-9/, https://darliefacts.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/6_janis-townsend_parchman.pdf, https://www.darlieroutierfactandfiction.com/darlie-and-darins-statements/, https://www.darlieroutierfactandfiction.com/myth-14/, https://www.change.org/p/darlie-lynn-routier-give-her-a-fair-trial-using-real-dna-evidence-this-time, https://darliefacts.com/darlies-injuries/, https://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/darlie-routier, https://justice4newcomers.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/blood-evidence-does-not-lie/#:~:text=The%20blood%20evidence%20showed%20that%20Darlie%20Routier%20lied,the%20Routier%20case%20over%20a%20number%20of%20years, http://taydenise.onmason.com/media-coverage-of-the-cases, https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/maybe-darlie-didnt-do-it/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_fair_trial, https://prosecutorspodcast.com/2021/07/20/85-darlie-routier-part-1-texas-two-step/. Mr Cruel has never been identified, and police have offered a $1million reward for information. 00:54:52 - In the summer of June 1977, three young girls were found brutally murdered at a Girl Scout campground in Oklahoma. In February 1997, she was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the murder of Damon, but was not trialled for Devon's murder. To date, Routier has not been tried for Devons murder. Furthermore they asked why, if she was willing to murder for money, she did not kill her husband instead as he had an $800,000 life insurance policy. This means that the attack must have only occurred one minute before the 911 call was placed (2:31 am). 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. [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. She was convicted of the murder of one of her sons while remaining accused of killing the other. Making the call is Darlie Routier, the mother of three boys, Devon, Damon, and Drake, and the wife of Darin. [6] They discovered a window screen in the garage had been cut, which indicated a possible entry point for an intruder. There's nothing especially remarkable or unusual about the Routiers marriage. While the police contended that this was merely a ruse designed to falsely implicate an intruder had fled the scene, the defense contended that it proved Routier could not have committed the crime. It seems that the nurses had noted down in Routiers records that Darlie was very emotional and would go through periods of crying and sobbing. However, when discussing Routier in court, the nurses seemed to downplay Darlies behaviours and downplaying just how emotional she had been during her two-day stay.DNA and blood evidenceThis brings us on to the DNA and blood evidence found in the Routier house, though there is one thing, in particular, Id like to start with as a follow on from the previous section and thats regarding Darlies wounds. I did the only thing I knew to do to honor him and give him all his wishes because he wasn't here anymore. 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. Siga nosso Instagram para contedo extra @parceiraspodcast 3 ordered a third round of DNA testing with the backing of both prosecution and defense. Thread starter JenniferTx; Start date Apr 18, 2019; New Posts. 1970. This seemingly idyllic Colonial-style home may have majestic rooftop dormers . Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlie_Routierhttps://www.fordarlieroutier.org/https://www.fairtrials.org/right-fair-trial#:~:text=A%20fundamental%20element%20of%20the%20right%20to%20a,guilt%20and%20to%20discharge%20the%20presumption%20of%20innocence.https://soapboxie.com/government/Darlie-Routier-An-American-Railroadhttps://randothoughtsfromme.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/10-reasons-darlie-routier-may-be-innocent-eat-your-heart-out-listverse/https://www.darlieroutierfactandfiction.com/statement-9/https://darliefacts.com/blood-evidence/https://darliefacts.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/6_janis-townsend_parchman.pdfhttps://www.darlieroutierfactandfiction.com/darlie-and-darins-statements/https://www.darlieroutierfactandfiction.com/myth-14/https://www.change.org/p/darlie-lynn-routier-give-her-a-fair-trial-using-real-dna-evidence-this-timehttps://darliefacts.com/darlies-injuries/https://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/darlie-routierhttps://justice4newcomers.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/blood-evidence-does-not-lie/#:~:text=The%20blood%20evidence%20showed%20that%20Darlie%20Routier%20lied,the%20Routier%20case%20over%20a%20number%20of%20years.http://taydenise.onmason.com/media-coverage-of-the-caseshttps://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/maybe-darlie-didnt-do-it/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_fair_trial https://darliefacts.com/blood-evidence/https://prosecutorspodcast.com/2021/07/20/85-darlie-routier-part-1-texas-two-step/. She is one of the six women sentenced to death in the state. She said during the interview: "Im at peace with myself. Of free Darlie Routier Story - Forensic Tales /a > darlie routier 2022 update friend Darlie. There was an incident, two years before the murder, where Darlie told Darin she wanted a divorce. Thank you. She said during the interview: "Im at peace with myself. I told Darin I was depressed because I hadnt been able to take the boys anywhere because we only had one car. I suspect that she may be guilty, but certainly not beyond reasonable doubt. So, could I have said Darlie Routier was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Darlie picked up the knife and chased the intruder away and then realised her children had been attacked and she then called 911. 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. By . What happened next remains a mystery. Their mother, Darlie Routier, 26, slept on the couch. DALLAS, Texas UPDATE: As Darlie Routier waits on death row, hoping that the re-testing of forensic evidence proves she didn't murder her two sons, a 16-year-old will meet prosecutors in court . Darlie Routier - Part 1. One bloodstain expert said it's like looking at the clouds . 2022. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Courtesy of Lincoln Square Productions. [5] Her wounds, described as superficial,[11] came within two millimeters of her carotid artery. If it hadn't been for that crazy Silly String, Darlie Routier might be a free woman today.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. Darlie Routier has spoken to television presenter Susanna Reid in a documentary airing tonight (Thursday, December 10) on ITV. No one heard a thing until the only survivor climbed out a window and started screaming," one user said. 536. You can view the footage in the short YouTube video below. It is not known when Darlie Routier, 50, will be executed. [5] Investigators said that the garage contained no blood drops, and added that indications were that no one had run through there at all. (No Ratings Yet) Darlie Routier is a famous Criminal who has a net worth of $1-5 million. 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. How does lethal injection work and what drugs are used? Her six-year-old son, Devon, was also fatally wounded in the attack, though Darlie has not yet specifically been tried for his murder. However, it goes further than protecting suspects and defendants, without fair trials, victims can have no confidence that justice will be done. More than 20 years after she was convicted of murdering her young son, a Rowlett woman on death row remains hopeful her conviction will be overturned. Another wrote, "Darlie Routier killed her sons with a knife while they were sleeping." "I attest to the Gainesville murders. 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. The 26-year-old homemaker and mother of three alleged that an intruder had broken into her home on June 6, 1996, stabbed two of her sons to death, and attacked her, leaving her with . 6th June 1996 Rowlett, Texas, United States of America2:31 am A 911 call is placed from 5801 Eagle Drive, the home of the Routier family. Both episodes shared evidence from both sides of the case, including those who claim Darlie to be innocent and those pointing towards her guilt. "[16], Routier's trial began on January 6, 1997, in Kerrville, Texas. But it does open a conversation about Darlies mental health and her struggles and if there was more going on than meets the eye, so to speak. Donnah Winger. 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. *I also want to make a quick note here that somewhere in this timeframe Darlie is also suspected of stabbing herself and then cleaning up the blood its a lot of things to be happening in such a short span of time. After Darlie Routier was sentenced to death for the murder of her two boys, her defense team immediately started the appeals process. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. An appeals court dismissed these claims, as did a court ruling on her habeas corpus petition. 899. I tried to glance over to see if anything was out of place or if anything was missing. Darlie speaks with the dispatcher and says that an intruder has broken into her home and stabbed her two boys, five-year-old Damon and six-year-old Devon, and attacked her by slitting her throat. January 25, 2022. Twenty six year old Darlie Routier was on the couch in front of the television with two of her boys. [5][10] The window sills in the garage had untouched layers of dust, including the window that had been cut, implying that no one had actually climbed through it, and the mulch in the flower beds between the garage and the backyard gate was undisturbed. 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. The kitchen strikes me as eerily similar. A pretty, young blonde woman murdering two of her three children would have been sensational enough to stay in headlines for weeks. The children were murdered in June 1996, and Routier . I looked over at Darin and saw the glass table had been knocked halfway off and the flower arrangement had been knocked over. Groggy and confused, Darlie instinctively followed the man through her kitchen toward the utility room that leads out to a garage. Real Name: Darlie Lynn Routier Case: Appeal Location: Rowlett, Texas Date: June 6, 1996 Details: Darlie and Darin Routier were married with three sons.