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. [43], In 2019, ABC also aired a two-part documentary about Routier's case as part of its 20/20 newsmagazine. CBS correspondent Bill Lagattuta interviewed Darin Routier, the incarcerated Darlie Routier and Davis about the slayings; associated public officials and defense attorneys were also interviewed. 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. The doctor who performed Damons autopsy is often cited as claiming that Damon could have only survived for 9 minutes after the attack. 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. Whatsapp Update Byjus Rbi Facebook Down Global Markets. 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. They asserted that it was unrealistic to accuse Routier of staging a crime scene. 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. My life has been such a hard fight for a long time, and I just cannot find the strength to keep fighting anymore. Its a modernized version of polyphonic music that contrasts deeply with the original, classical tone most polyphonic songs derive from. Darlie Routier, who's on death row with Melissa. The news and media, however, were still very involved in her case, reporting on the murder of Devon and Damon and their opinions of Darlie Routier as a person and mother, before the trial began.Many issues have been raised regarding the trial which found Routier guilty and sentenced to death, including the use of the silly string video footage why wasnt the whole tape shown? Doubts remain two decades later", "5 controversial moments in the case that sent Darlie Routier to death row for her son's murder", "Doctor recalls Routier's 'superficial' wounds", "How the case against Darlie Routier unfolded", "Trial Transcripts, Testimony of Dr. Alejandro Santos, pg. 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. Both Drake and Darin were unharmed during the attack. [15], Routier later commented on the video, saying, "He wanted to be seven. 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. She has always maintained her innocence and has claimed the boys were killed by an intruder. I ran back through the kitchen and realized the entire living area had blood all over everything. My first instance of coming across this case years ago was the infamous silly string video, something that both intrigued and disgusted me. 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. Darlie Routier Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. Although Darlie Routier said a man broke into her house and killed her sons, evidence proved that she had committed the horrible crimes herself. 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 . [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. Its also worth quickly noting here that the murder weapon was from the Routier house, the kitchen to be exact. 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. Apparently, because a judge had ruled this tape could not be admitted into evidence because it was recorded without a warrant and therefore illegal. However, it goes further than protecting suspects and defendants, without fair trials, victims can have no confidence that justice will be done. 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. She was wearing shorts. We explore the case of Darlie Routier, a mom of 3 who is currently on death row for the murder of her two sons, Devon and Damon Routier. Darlie Routier . 2:31 am - A 911 call is placed from 5801 Eagle Drive, the home of the Routier family. [29] The author has since changed her mind and now supports Routier by donating all the income from the book to her family. DARLIE Routier has spent the last 23 years on death row. She is one of the six women sentenced to death in the state. 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. Routier told authorities that the crime was perpetrated by an unidentified intruder. . A court later gave custody to his father's parents, Sarilda and Leonard Routier. 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. 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. 3 ordered a third round of DNA testing with the backing of both prosecution and defense. The sockOne of the main discussion points in the true crime community, and something that is often cited as evidence for Darlies innocence is something that weve not yet touched on in this post as I didnt feel it was something I could properly condense and quickly mention before getting to this section, so lets get to it. Routier has been accused of killing her sons, Devon, six, and Damon, five. You can listen to the 911 call by clicking here, or you can read through the transcript of the phone call here.Darlie explained to the police officers that she had fallen asleep on the sofa with the two boys whilst watching TV, whilst Darin and seven-month-old Drake were asleep upstairs and awoke to an intruder in her home. Did this seemingly happy housewife and mother commit this brutal act or did tunnel vision taint the investigation from the start? Her lawyers continue to appeal her sentence. 5. I suspect that she may be guilty, but certainly not beyond reasonable doubt. Darlieroutierfactandfiction.com. We really dont get any sort of describing factors regarding the man that days earlier broke into the Routier house, killed two of the children, and attacked Darlie herself. The notorious killer, who is one of the longest serving death row inmates in the USA, claims she loves . Large lot with lots of parking in the back. Routier was portrayed as a selfish and materialistic woman and a bad mother. 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. I did not murder my children, I did not attack myself. For other inquiries, Contact Us. [8], On February 1, Routier was convicted of murdering Damon. The prosecution argued that Darlie had committed the murders for a financial motive to receive insurance money, $10,000 for each child but that fee didnt even cover the funeral expenses, and if Darlie was willing to kill for a financial motive then would it not have made more sense to kill her husband, who would have had a much bigger insurance pay-out, in the region of $800,000. The thing is it happens, its happened before and itll happen again, parents killing their children happens, its not impossible. 1 Age, Biography and Wiki; 2 Darlie . There are always things I dont understand when covering different cases and Ive realised that its because were dealing with people sometimes things dont make sense to us but were dealing with nonsensical situations.The silly string videoThe now infamous silly string video is how I stumbled upon this case a few years ago, footage that at first watch feels damning and becomes more confusing when you discover that Routier had invited the newscasts. Twenty-six years later, the homeis now for sale. In February 1997, she was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the murder of Damon, but was not trialled for Devon's murder. If her execution goes ahead, it could be carried out there - a maximum security prison for female inmates on death row. 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. She was injured as well, but not as severely. She was laughing. I went back to Damon and by then he had stopped moving and the police walked through the door. It is not known when Darlie Routier, 50, will be executed. Reactions: silkyskunk13, claudicici and MajorHoople. The kitchen strikes me as eerily similar. Top Slideshow. There's nothing especially remarkable or unusual about the Routiers marriage. Darlie Routier was convicted of stabbing her 5 year old son Damon to death in 1996. DARLIE Routier has spent the last 23 years on death row. (LogOut/ 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. It is not known when Darlie Routier, 50, will be executed. She was convicted of the murder of one of her sons while remaining accused of killing the other. Subsequent documentaries andnews reports have shown or explained that prior to the "party" at the grave, Darlie mourned her children as any mother would. 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. To date, Routier has not been tried for Devon's murder. Her lawyers continue to appeal her sentence. 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. How do you know how you're going to act? Footage recorded by news outlets showed Routier laughing and spraying silly string whilst singing happy birthday to her recently murdered son. Damon, 5, and Devon, 6, were stabbed to death in their parents' large Texas home. Janet Overton . Attorney's for convicted killer Darlie Routier are having old evidence tested again in an effort to try and prove Routier is innocent. [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. The blood spatter picked up via the luminol was also consistent with someone who had been bleeding whilst standing still and not running through the room. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 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. This was considered as a possible entryway into the house for an intruder. 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 . Damon and Devon were stabbed to death with a large kitchen knife in Routier's home, while Routier sustained knife wounds to her throat and arm. A SUPPORT community for an innocent woman on TX Death Row, Darlie Lynn Routier. 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. Two of them, The Innocence Project . After 22 years, Darlie Routier remains on death row for son's murder: Part 11. Youth coach fired for PUNCHING 9-year-old in head but says he shouldn't be criticized because boy's parents forgave him, Fisherman lands monster 9lb goldfish that measures 15-inches long. 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. Darlie has always maintained that a masked intruder is the perpetrator of this heinous crime, but police say the evidence points to her. 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. [34][35], The Investigation Discovery network aired an episode of Werner Herzog's series On Death Row titled "Darlie Routier" that covered the case in Season 2, Episode 2, broadcast on September 10, 2013. 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. And there is no way she received a fair trial. Darlie Routier, 26, has cut and stab wounds on her neck and upper body. (LogOut/ Unfortunately, both Devon and Damon sustained fatal injuries and were killed in the attack. Updated on May 29, 2022 . The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Between 1987 & 1991, a masked man dubbed "Mr. Cruel" broke into the homes of 3 Australian families & bound the parents. On the night of June 6, 1996, Darlie slept on the sofa in her family room while her oldest and middle . The children were murdered in June 1996, and Routier . 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. Darin Routiers statement is also available to read (in the same link, just below Darlies statement).After awhile I started to get sleepy. Steve Wade - officer who secured the entrance to the Routier's house in the early morning hours of June 6, 1996. 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. This is a must-see! Accusations of police incompetence, moved evidence, a compromised crime scene, and witness tampering, amongst other things, run rife throughout this case. "If they choose to kill me, thats my innocent blood that will be on their hands.. How does lethal injection work and what drugs are used? It was June 6, 1996, and the call was made at 2:31 a.m., with the police arriving merely three minutes later. Darlie Routier. 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. I looked over at Darin and saw the glass table had been knocked halfway off and the flower arrangement had been knocked over. 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. Many different people testified that Darlie and Darin constantly fought. Personally, no, I couldnt. I took a few steps and opened the door and screamed for Karen. . [6] They discovered a window screen in the garage had been cut, which indicated a possible entry point for an intruder. Race and Gender of Victim 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. Making the call is Darlie Routier, the mother of three boys, Devon, Damon, and Drake, and the wife of Darin. The paramedics came and tried to work on the children. Many people believe that Darlie is innocent and the victim of juror bias, particularly because of "The Silly String" video. The six women on death row in Gatesville, Texas have been incarcerated for an average of almost two decades. Damon, 5, and Devon, 6, were stabbed to death in their parents' large Texas home. Could This Goofy Proposed Florida Law Be Coming To The State Of Texas? As of 2023, Darlie Routier is possibly single. Throughout the book Cruz collaborates with a former FBI special agent on her examination of the case. Ryan Kester, a teenage crime . 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. This is a case that really divides people and in which people feel strongly about their opinions on Routiers guilt (or innocence). After putting Darlie in jail with bail set at $1 million, the state of Texas placed baby Drake in a . However, the seller is required to disclose the deaths prior to the sell of the home, as dictated by Texas law. There's new surfaces, but I think the bones of the island and cabinets are the same. pray@altoonamirror.com. Its a complicated case and it invokes complicated emotions two little boys were murdered and understandably that brings out strong feelings in people. She initially claimed that she was the . We talked about a few problems we were having with the car and the boat and had a few words between us. While talking to the British journalist, Routier continued to maintain her innocence and said she "didn't do this". Here's an update on one of the more notorious murder cases in recent history.. 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. [25] On January 29, 2014, Chief Judge of the Western District Fred Biery granted a request from prosecution and defense for her case for further DNA tests vital to the defense to be performed on a bloody fingerprint found in the house, a bloody sock and her nightshirt. She was convicted of the murder of one of her sons while remaining accused of killing the other. 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